A lot can go wrong with fake tan. And when fake tan does go wrong, it’s very very wrong. So it’s always worth a refresher course - like this one …

First Step: Always exfoliate before applying a tan. Pay particular care to smoothing out any rough patches (elbows, knees, feet, etc) - as dry skin can catch excess colour. Once you have towel-dried off, you may need to further soften the skin here by working in a little body cream.

FYI: Never shave immediately prior to self-tanning. This can leave skin sensitive and prone to reaction. Ideally, de-fuzz the day before. You don’t want to have to shave too soon after tanning, as this can have an exfoliating action and undo your hard work.

Work It: Start with the thigh and butt, applying fake tan all around the leg with a massage-like action. Proceed to the calf, then lightly whisk over the knee and foot with the remainder of product that is in you palms. Repeat on the other leg. Work up over the tummy and chest, and down each arm. The back can be a tricky zone - if you don’t have bendy-enough arms, you may need to enlist a sister or partner to help.

Face Up: The most natural-effect way to tint your face, neck and décolletage is to mix half self-tanner with half moisturiser and smooth it over the face, blending it down towards the chest so it merges with the rest of your tan.

Handy Hint: To finish off, scrub your hands, especially between the fingers, and wash with soapy water. Dry off then squeeze a small dollop of self-tanner onto the back of one hand, and blend it in with the back of your other hand.

Damage Control: Pre-tinted tanners make it easy to ensure even all-over coverage. If your self-tanner is untinted, you’ll need to pay attention as your tan develops. If any streaks and splodges start to appear, dampen a cotton pad with water and dilute down the colour build-up.

The Short-cut: Gradual tanners, also known as tanning moisturiser or tanner-isers, are tanning for dummies. You simply slather them on as you would a moisturiser. Because the colour is in a diluted form, any streaks barely show up. Keep in mind that you’ll need to apply daily to keep your colour topped-up and glowing. But because these tanners double as a body cream, daily application is hardly a chore. Check out versions by L’Oréal, Garnier, Nivea, Johnson’s and Dove.

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