How To Bronze - Part 1, Faking It

As unbelievable as this may sound, over the last few months I really have tried and tested all of the following products in the quest to find The Perfect Tan. Sunless Tanners, Bronzers, Gradual Tanners..they're all here, so don't waste your hard-earned cash on expensive products that just can't keep up with their competitors - here's my ultimate guide to faking it.

1. HOW TO FAKE IT

• Prep. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Get in the shower and scrub from feet upwards in circular moves, focusing especcially on dry bits like heels, ankles and knees. I love the Body Shop's exfoliating gloves, £3.


• Smooth. Apply body lotion all over, focusing again on dryer bits. If you can, try to use an oil-free moisturiser as oily products can alter the eventual colour of your tan, but as long as you don't use a body butter, any lotion will do. I love Nivea's 12-Hour Body Lotion, £5.
  
• Gloves. THE Golden Rule of Tanning. Wear Gloves. You can buy them in any tanning salon and most drugstores.


• The Tan. Whether you're using a sunless tan or a gradual tanner, the technique is the same. Start from your ankles and work upwards in circular motions making sure you cover every little bit. Then go back and use what's left on your (gloved) hands to lightly spread on your feet. Then comes the scariest bit - remove your gloves and tan your hands. The best way to do this (if using a lotion not a mousse) is to pump a small amount onto the back of one hand and then rub the backs of your hands together, taking care not to get too much or too little colour between your fingers, or ANY on your palms!


• Dry. Usually takes up to 10 minutes with a sunless tanner, and up to 30 minutes with a gradual tan. Let it all dry before getting dressed.


• Develop. The colour you have right now (with sunless tanners) is the Colour Guide. This is only there to indicate how much product you've used and where you've used it, it is not what you colour will look like once developed! All fake tans should ideally be left to develop overnight, but if you don't have that much time, leave for a minimum of 3 hours to develop.


• Rinse. Shower once your colour is fully developed to rinse away the colour guide (use a flannel to ensure it all comes off and so looks even).
  

2. HOW TO MAINTAIN IT

• Use a shimmering body lotion to give a golden glow all over, which not only will complement your tan but also will make you look slimmer! I love Superdrug's Vitamin E Body Shimmer Lotion, £2.


• Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Dull skin makes a patchy tan, so keep it smooth and even, and it'll all come off at the same rate!


• Use a gradual tanner every day to keep up your colour, but only if it's the same colour as your tan!
  

3. TOP TANS

• Xen Tan Dark Lotion, £25.95 - officially the tan of the summer. A great olive colour looks natural and fades evenly. And it doesn't come off on the sheets!
  
• St. Tropez Auto-Bronzant Lotion, £26.50. The Original, the easiest, and the best subtle colour. If you want a just-stepped-off-the-jet-home colour, this is the one. Also the easiest to apply streak-free for first-timers.
  
  

• Rodial Brazilian Tan, Dark, £39. The longest-wearing tan and a good colour but takes quite a lot of product to get a dark tan, and some skill/patience to apply evenly.

4. GRADUAL TANS

• Gradual tans are the best way to maintain your tan, but make sure that you still exfoliate regularly (every day or second day) - dry skin patches make a patchy tan!
• St Tropez Everyday, £12.95 is the easiest and gives the best colour, but the new formulae of Johnson's Holiday Skin, £6.99, and Dove Summer Glow, £6.99, are this year no longer orange but a subtle bronze - much more user-friendly!
• With all of these products though, make sure to follow the same rules and steps (above) as if you were applying a fake tan to avoid the giveaway streaks, patches, and tide-marks!