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Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Lifestyle
Samantha Holender

What You Need to Know About Melanoton II, AKA the "Barbie Drug" for Tan Skin

A close up of a woman with tanned skin wearing a black bikini.

In just a few weeks, I'm guessing you’ll be on a white sand beach with a margarita, or at the playground with your kids, or moving your workouts outside. Point is: Summer is here. And your plan is to be sun safe with SPF 50+, a big ol' hat, and a fake tan. You turn to Reddit for self-tanner recommendations, and discover something called the "Barbie Drug," or more technically, Melanotan II.

Thread after thread promises the injection provides a natural-looking sun-free bronze, without the smell and maintenance of a self-tanner or the mess and price of a good spray tan. It lasts longer than faux tanning alternatives on the market, and you only need roughly $100 (and some patience) for the realistic-looking tan to develop.

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