Developing self-tans: The classic home tanning product. These usually come in mousse or liquid form and tend to give the deepest colour in one go. "These are created for the well-practised tanner at home, due to their long-lasting effects," says Harknett. "They're also ideal for a holiday, for those who don’t want to sunbathe but long for that sun-kissed glow. The benefits are colour that can last a good week with an aftercare regime. The downside is without correct skin preparation the tan can sometimes blotch, streak, and not develop evenly."

Most tanning waters will develop over a couple of hours, and won't transfer onto clothes or bedding, meaning you can apply them pretty much anytime throughout the day. Easy. How to apply tanning waters By now, we all know that sunbathing isn’t smart for our skin. At best, UV rays can rob our skin of skin-plumping proteins collagen and elastin, and at worst lead to more sinister side effects. As no skin expert would ever recommend frying in the sunshine for a bronzed glow, it makes sense to plump for the easier (and safer) option –the fake stuff. Just remember, whether you’re looking for the best fake tan for your face or body, there is one golden rule: “A fake tan which is a shade you would never achieve in the sun looks really outdated, and is just not flattering to the rest of your appearance,” advises spray tan guru to the stars James Harknett. “And if you’ve never self-tanned before, don’t choose the day before an occasion to try a new tan for the first time.” Last shout out goes to its staying power, which is where the real deal really does trump gradual tanners. I’m not exaggerating when I say that one full-body application will last me around a week, so this will be a key component of my summer holiday prep. Chicory Root Extract to rebalance and replenish skin, while protecting it from environmental pollutionTanning waters often come in the form of a clear spray, and can be used both on the face and body for an all over glow. According to Lookfantastic, tanning water "blends water, skin-loving vitamins and active tanning ingredients to hydrate, soften and tan your skin in one step." Just the sight of this jumbo-sized orange bottle might be enough to trigger misty-eyed nostalgia in anyone who came of age during the early '00s tanning boom. Garnier Summer Body was an icon and OG of the gradual tanning world, and while the formula has been tweaked and perfected over the years I'm pleased to report that all the things we loved about it remain intact. Namely, its low price, easy texture, subtle results, and sunshiney fragrance.

Enhance your natural glow with our soothing, rose water infused tanning mist. This ultra-hydrating mist balances skins PH levels while hydrating and replenishing skin. Perfect for prolonging a tan with a light, buildable sunkissed glow. Over 60 testers helped us assess five brands of gradual tanner. They evaluated how easy each is to apply, how well the colour develops, whether it leaves patches or streaks, and the scent. In the lab, we use a DigiEye machine to take photos of self-tanned parts of the body to analyse the tan's coverage over a week. The higher the score, the more even the tan.Step 2: Sienna X recommend using the Sienna X Luxury Self Tan Mitt or Latex Gloves to apply. Gentle rub the lotion in circular motions. Gently sweep any excess over elbows, hands and feet for a flawless finish. How to pinpoint the best self-tan for your needs? With our expert cheat sheet on the four main categories of tanning product available, that's how: If you find the idea of fake tan a bit daunting but are also finding your skin a little sallow and sun-starved, then this mist is the perfect solution to persuade you to give a faux glow a go. It’s a tanning water, which means it’s super lightweight and therefore doesn’t settle into pores or cling in patches. What I really like about it though is that it’s so low-maintenance to use. Butchers Broom will help fight water retention and reduce the appearance of cellulite, whilst also softening and hydrating the skin, leaving it feeling silky smooth

If using hands to apply this product, remember to wash palms to prevent colour developing. Directions Not only does it smell amazing, but the moisturising ingredients lend the skin a subtle glow which hides smaller colour mistakes by adding vibrancy and radiance to your complexion while looking natural and sunkissed. If you’ve struggled with areas of patchy tan in the past, you can kiss these goodbye with our Gradual Self Tan, as you can add as much or as little as you need to any areas to give you that perfect golden sheen.

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Just like with your skincare routine, opt to take a little time to cleanse the areas that you aren’t so keen on with a rich and creamy cleanser. Our new Skincare Collection has both the Cleansing Balm and Cleansing Lotion depending on your preferences. Both of these will make a great addition to your existing skincare routine. By using them to cleanse problem areas, you will also find that your tan will sit better and will minimise the risk of it becoming patchy. The brand's founder, Nicola Matthews, needed a flexible career that was suitable for motherhood, and so she started spray tanning in between school runs. It was then, during her pregnancy with her third child, that she had a light bulb moment and invented the patented mobile spray tan booth, offering a cost-effective solution for where she could tan her clients. This innovative solution has helped over 23,000 therapists start their careers in the tanning industry and grow their businesses with Sienna X and many more worldwide. Sienna X creates some of the most revered-by-professionals spray tans on the market, with a sideline in excellent home products too. The secret? Undertone. Almost everything this brand does shares a brilliantly natural-looking olive base that's miles away from the orange disasters some might associate with self-tanning.This gradual lotion would be a great introduction to the brand, offering the option to build up a believable bronze colour bit by bit. Apply it as you would your body lotion, enjoy the tropical coconut fragrance and non-claggy texture, and repeat as you like on subsequent days. Gradual tanning lotions: A great option for novices who are unsure of how to fake tan, these feel like body lotions but offer subtle bronzing so work particularly well as fake tan for pale skin. "These are great for a first-time self-tanner as it allows you to build your tan up," says Read. "The more you apply, the more golden your tan becomes. The first application will give you a weekend away look, and the second a darker tan. Go for a third application if you want to look like you’ve just spent two weeks in Barbados."We tend to apply these without a mitt, so hand washing post-application is essential. If you do forget read our guide on how to get fake tan off hands. Aqua (Water), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Dihydroxyacetone, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus (Butcherbroom) Root Extract, Iodized Hydrolyzed Zein, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract, Coumarin, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool.