When that first spring day arrives, you don’t want to spend precious moments inside slapping on your fake tan. Now is the time to figure out how that pesky sunless tanner works. Does it leave streaks? How long does it take to apply? And most important, what’s on the shelves?

Among the latest entrants to the self-tanning market is Almay, which has recently undergone a bit of a makeover. Though its packaging has changed, Almay has kept its commitment to hypoallergenic, fragrance-free products and has expanded its offerings to include sunless tanning options.

Now hitting mass-market retailers nationwide are Almay’s self-tanners in cream (which includes SPF 15) and gel (without protection), both in formulas for the face and body (all $9.99). While the gel can help during winter, the cream’s SPF has a dual purpose. “If you’re going on vacation, you can use the self-tanner while you’re at the beach,” a senior product manager, Sandra Lemmerman, said.

That’s not the only difference. While the cream goes on thicker and spreads easily, the gel has a tint to it, whereas the cream is colorless and will set in about three hours. “Someone who’s very dry would go to the cream rather than the gel. One is more moisturizing than the other,” Ms. Lemmerman said.

But before you even think about your tan, there’s that all-important exfoliating step. And Almay has introduced a Tan Prep Exfoliator ($8.99). “Before you put on any glowing self-tanner, you need to make sure that your skin is even,” Ms. Lemmerman said.

If you miss a spot, you can give it a touch-up with Almay’s Tanning Mist ($9.99), a spray product that can be held upside down for all those tricky angles. These and all Almay products will be grouped together in stores, so don’t hunt for the tanners in the tanning aisle – they’ll be at the Almay section.