For those of us who are feeling a bit pasty, a fake tan is safer than the real thing and more reliable, given the British weather!

Make sure you’re not looking like you’ve been tangoed with our fake tan tips!

Start off subtly
If you’re new to self-tanning and nervous, try one of the body lotions on the market that contains a hint of self-tanner, such as Holiday Skin or Dove Summer Glow. These give a very subtle effect, so you don’t have to worry about turning orange or looking streaky if you miss a bit. You apply it after a shower, like you would a normal body lotion and you can use it daily or every other day to build up the colour. Wash your hands well afterwards, then put a small blob on the back of one hand and rub the back of both hands together. You can use the same product on your face.

What type of self-tan?
There’s a lot of choice between types of product nowadays. You can buy lotion, mousse or spray. Personally, I find mousse easier to apply as it goes on more smoothly and you’re less likely to spill or drip it. The newest self-tan on the market is a spray that you don’t have to rub in; it’s easier to apply and dries more quickly than traditional products, but there are drawbacks as well – I’ll be going into more detail on this in a subsequent blog post.

There’s a huge variation in price, from the premium brands, such as St Tropez or Fake Bake, to cheaper, to own-brand self-tans, such as Boots Soltan. I believe the key to self-tan success is in the application, rather than how much you pay for the product and cheaper products work just as well.

Always apply with a mitt
I think this is the single most important tip. Not only does a self-tanning mitt protect your hands from being stained, but its sponge surface makes your application smoother, resulting in a more even tan. When you’ve finished applying, use the same method from my earlier tip to add colour to the backs of your hands.

Use sparingly
Whatever product you’re using, be careful not to over-apply – this is a recipe for streakiness as it will take longer to dry so it’s more likely to smudge. It’s much better to use a light coat then, if you want a darker colour, do another application the next day or later on in the week.

What to wear
Well, nothing during the application – apart from a shower cap! You may not look very glamorous, but it’s important to make sure all your hair is out of the way, especially if you have light hair, as it will absorb the product. I clip my hair on top of my head, then tuck it all under a shower cap.

Check your skin is dry to the touch before dressing. I wear a black vest top and black shorts – choose old, dark clothing so it doesn’t matter of it gets stained. Make sure whatever you wear is quite loose, so it doesn’t rub off the tan.

Use a tinted product
Whoever invented tinted self-tan is a genius – it takes all the guesswork out of the application as you can see if you’ve missed a bit, or put more on one leg than the other, which almost guarantees an even tan. The tan develops underneath the tint, and the guide colour will wash off next time you shower.

Exfoliate well
Use a body scrub or exfoliating mitt in the shower just before you apply the self-tan to remove dead skin cells – this is a must to achieve an even colour. Concentrate on dry areas. Also make sure you have removed every trace of your deodorant so your armpits don’t go patchy.

Only moisturise your dry bits before you apply
Moisturiser creates a barrier between your skin and the self-tanner, which means it can’t absorb properly and can result in a patchy colour. I use an all-over body moisturiser 24 hours before I apply my self-tan. The next day, after I’ve showered and exfoliated, I moisturise just the drier areas: wrists, elbows, knees, feet and ankles. This stops them absorbing too much tan and going darker than the rest of your skin. You can also apply a very thin layer of petroleum jelly – or hair wax – to these areas for extra protection.

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