Totally tan-tilising

By Lisa Haynes

Skip the sunburn, banish strap marks and avoid premature ageing this summer with the ultimate shortcut to bronzed, sun-kissed skin - faking it.

A golden glow delivers the instant feel-good factor but a natural tan isn't without risks.

"Many people feel better about the way they look when they have a tan, but sunbathing or using UV tanning beds can cause premature ageing of the skin, wrinkles and skin cancer," warns Dr Lawrence Samuels, chief of dermatology at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis, USA."

The safest way to undergo a bronze transformation is by swapping the sun lounger for self-tan.

Whether you're aiming for a light glow (think weekend in St Tropez) or dark bronze (fortnight in California), the self-tan market has it nailed with solutions that will keep everyone guessing.

Glow with the flow with our expert guide to a golden summer.

Base tan

Get your glow just right by carrying out a patch test first to see if it suits your skin tone. The same self-tan can look completely different on two people, as it reacts to amino acids in the upper layers of your skin.

Mousse, lotion or gel, whatever solution you prefer, avoid orange hand after-effects.

"Use a tanning mitt when applying your tan," recommends James Read, leading tanning expert.

"Work down in stages so that you don't miss bits. When tanning your hands and feet, use excess product from the arms and then work it down over and onto the hands, do the same with the legs onto the feet.

"Don't wash your hands for eight hours after tanning; you don't want the brown arms, white hands look!"

A bronzing spray is the easiest method for tanning hard-to-reach areas quickly. Instant formulas are ideal for a quick-fix night out glow but leave-on self-tans develop a deeper, longer lasting colour.

"Leave your tan on for five hours for a weekend away look, seven to eight hours for a week away look, or sleep with the tan on for a fortnight away vibe," says Read.

Face glow

A glowing complexion is one of the first things that people notice post-holiday, so any manufactured face bronzing needs to be convincing...

The aim of the self-tan game is to ensure your face and body seamlessly match up in colour.

"Don't over-tan the face," warns James Harknett, Sienna X's celebrity tanning expert. "A tell-tale sign is a dramatically darker colour on the face. Use a tanning lotion with a colour guide and blend with your day moisturiser, half and half, for a more subtle finish."

Preparation is all-important. As we apply more day-to-day products to our face, there's the risk of build-up, which may blight a smooth, non-patchy finish.

Harknett suggests: "Always ensure you have a clear, smooth base for your tan to cling to; avoid using any oil-based products the day before your tan and gently exfoliate to create even skin tone."

Self-tan products have a tendency to dry out the skin. To make your glow last longer, apply a hydrating mask to the face and neck area and leave on for three to four hours to seal in the colour.

Bronze boost

Once you have your base tan, intensify your glow with sun-kissed accents and flattering gleamy finishes.

To take an English rose complexion up a level to LA bronze, sculpt the face with a matte bronzer to contour the complexion.

"For foolproof sculpting, apply your bronzer tracing the number three," advises Hannah Murray, Topshop make-up consultant. "Starting from the temples sweep around and underneath cheekbone, then around and beneath the jawline without taking the brush off the face. Killer cheekbones in one move!"

A polished gleam over self-tanned skin can lead to instantly longer looking limbs, not to mention an uber-deluxe finish sported by just about every star that hits the red carpet.

"For supermodel-like glowing limbs, mix a liquid illuminator with your body moisturiser and apply over legs and arms," Murray recommends. "It will make skin appear flawless and your body leaner as the light hits it. Also try intensifying the highlight on the shin bones, shoulders and collarbone, applied straight from the tube."

The tan commandments

:: Thou shalt prep the skin 24 hours before tanning with a thorough body exfoliation.

:: Thou shalt wax 48 hours and shave 24 hours before tanning.

:: Thou shalt moisturise daily both before and after self-tanning to prolong the golden glow.

:: Thou shalt remove any traces of deodorant to avoid green underarms.

:: Thou shalt banish any traces of old self-tan with a wet wipe, especially focusing on dry areas like elbows.

:: Thou shalt use a self-tan with a guide colour if feeling unconfident about application.

:: Thou shalt ensure the body is completely dry before putting clothes back on to avoid tan transferral.

:: Thou shalt wear dark, loose clothing post-tan to avoid dry-cleaning bills.

:: Thou shalt prolong colour by showering with warm or cool water.

:: Thou shalt always softly press the skin dry using a soft, dry towel and avoid abrasive products.

Tried & tested

Nilima Marshall tests a three-step kit to battle breakouts and blemishes.

No matter how much I cleanse my skin, eat healthily, and drink water, I can't seem to get rid of stubborn acne on the oily areas of my face. I decided to try and outsmart my spots with an at-home acne clarifying system from Apothederm, targeted for mild-to-moderate acne. The first step in the three-part treatment is the Brightening Cleanser, which I applied on my face by gently massaging it into my skin and then washing off with lukewarm water. My skin felt smooth and supple almost immediately and its delicate fragrance made it one of my favourite products in the kit. Next, I used the refreshing Clarifying Toner generously on my face and neck, which removed any excess dirt, oil and traces of eye make-up missed by the cleanser. For the final step, I used the Acne Clarifying Treatment in the affected areas in small amounts using a cotton bud. The instructions warn of the possibilities of excessive drying, so I only applied a thin layer in acne-prone areas. The kit is virtually odourless, gentle to skin, and easy to use, but the results were slower than I anticipated. My spots have reduced but are still visible after two weeks of daily use. I found the combination of the cleanser and toner highly effective in reducing oiliness but, unfortunately, the treatment didn't make my acne magically disappear.

:: Apothederm Acne Clarifying System includes Brightening Cleanser, £24; Clarifying Toner, £24; Acne Clarifying Treatment, £29.50. For UK stockists visit www.skinbrands.co.uk

Buy it now

Inspired by British blue skies, Burberry has launched its limited edition Summer Splash make-up collection. The catwalk brand's colour-saturated range includes two beach-perfect Splash Eye Palettes; Midday Sun and Hot Tropic, £34 each (uk.burberry.com).

Beauty bulletin

:: Star products

Kiss and make-up with One Direction, the latest stars to climb aboard the celebrity bandwagon and release a cosmetics range. The MUA Cosmetics collaboration has just launched in Superdrug stores, with lip, nail and blush products all priced under £3. Despite the popularity of celebrity-branded beauty products, 52% of young women in the UK believe they aren't good value for money, according to a new survey by VoucherCodesPro.co.uk. More than a third (34%) said it was because these ranges were poor quality, while 29% believed they had too much hype, and 17% claimed they were too expensive.

:: Recessionista alert

Duchess of Cambridge, take note: expectant and new mums keen to minimise stretch marks can bag Bio-Oil for half price at the Co-operative Pharmacy. The 200ml Bio-Oil (usually £19.99) is currently £9.99 and 125ml (usually £14.99) is £7.49, available online at www.co-operativepharmacy.co.uk until September 4.