Fake tan phobics need not fear the streaky feet as it’s never been easier to achieve natural-looking glowing, sunkissed skin, thanks to self-tanning products evolving to be largely fool-proof, entirely customisable and capable of leaving you bronzed and beautiful.

‘Well-formulated products have the right amount of tanning agent versus colour-correcting pigments to ensure the colour is perfect for your skin tone,’ says St Tropez tanning artist Sophie Evans. So, if you’re wary of the stuff, but even warier of hitting the beach with your flesh looking blindingly pale or infuriatingly blotchy, don’t fret. 

Not only is there a texture and colour intensity just right for you, self tans also come with a host of added skincare benefits these days, so you won’t even have to worry about adding yet another product to your anti-ageing skincare routine. But first, lets go back to the rules of successful sunless tanning. 

Choose your weapon

Your chosen fake tan texture is down to preference. But as a rule of thumb, mousses offer the darkest tans, lotions and balms are best for dry skin and scaly bits like elbows, and gradual tan lotions are the most fool-proof with their subtle, buildable results.

Prep properly

Smooth, hydrated skin without rough patches means you’ll avoid streaks and mahogany ankles. Use a non-oily scrub (too much oil will prevent the tanning agent penetrating) like Q+A AHA Exfoliator Body Scrub, £8  before applying your tan to polish the skin surface. Post-scrub, if you’re using a water-based tan like a mousse, apply a light hydrating lotion like Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Body Lotion, £22 (boots.com) all over to add glide for your tanning product; add extra on knees, knuckles, elbows and heels.

Epilate the day before

Any hair removal should be done at least 24 hours before self-tanning product. If you don’t, the tan can settle in still-open follicle, causing brown polka dots.

Don’t be stingy

‘Streaks can be down to using too little product or over-blending,’ says Sophie, who recommends applying enough for it to glide smoothly over the skin and sit on the surface to let the tanning agents absorb. And don’t rub it in too much: ‘it can lift the product and cause unevenness.’

Face the difference

Sophie warns that the face has a higher pH level and will develop darker than the body if you use the same product. So either dilute your body self-tanner with a water-based moisturiser such as Simple Soothing Water Cream, £9.99 (superdrug.com) or better yet, use a dedicated facial self-tan (the brands don’t have to match!). It won’t block pores, create the right shade for the face and have added skin-perfecting properties.

Beware: SPF required

Fake tan works thanks to the tanning agent DHA reacting with the proteins in your skin to turn it a brown-ish shade (like rusting metal -seriously). Melanin is not involved as is the case with UV-induced tanning, meaning your fake tan offers absolutely no level of natural sun protection!

Don’t mix sun and self-tan

DHA can render some sun filters unstable.’I always advise to apply selftan at night and SPF during the day,’ says Ultrasun founder Abi Cleeve, who warns that for as long as your fake tan is developing, which can be up to eight hours, your sun protection may be compromised.

TANS FOR EVERY BODY AND FACE:

Pricey, but this breakthrough glowy face lotion with DHA and age spot-busting vitamin C and licorice is the only one to pass even Australian tests for complete sun-safety. 

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Slap on like a plumping body lotion and watch your skin bronze over several days.

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This feels light as water, develops into a serious body tan in 2-4 hours and has bloat-draining caffeine to boot.

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The face version of the popular body tan, you can’t go wrong with this buildable glow. Added algae-derived bio-retinol will plump lines but not irritate – perfect if you’re over 50. 

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This lightweight, mist-on formula blends beautifully and is perfect for tricky areas (think elbows as well). 

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A few drops of this DHA-rich, antioxidant and collagen-boosting serum turn any face (or body) lotion into a skin-smoothing self-tanner. 

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RACE YOU TO IT

Vitamin C serums are a dime a dozen but brand-new, light-textured Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced, £69, by one of the nation’s most reliably effective skincare brands, will get you real results. Turbo-charged with exosomes (hi-tech age-defying ingredient of the moment) and antioxidants, expect a visible improvement in age spots and fine lines – all without irritation. Apply in the morning before moisturiser.

5 of the best: HYDRATING CLEANSERS

A creamy foam, it cuts through sunscreen and makeup while controlling oil and calming sensitivity 

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A honey-thick gel becomes a balmy cream, then a rinse-off milk as it purifies and deeply hydrates. 

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A luxurious gel-oil with line-smoothing peptides, this gently slays pollutants and grime. 

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This glycerin-based hydrating jelly cleanser is so gentle it won’t even sting your eyes. 

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The pot lets you slice off just enough airy, plant-based balm to melt your makeup and cares away. 

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COSMETIC CRAVING

As my hair gets needier with age, I seem to pack so many more ‘essentials’ for it in my washbag, they are starting to elbow out my skincare must-haves. So this little pot, Hershesons Almost Everything Cream, £14 (hershesons.com), beloved of the beauty in-crowd, is a lifesaver. Capable of working with any hair texture, as a leave-in styler it controls flyaways and frizz, revives curls and straw-like ends, and adds texture and shine. But I can also use it as a hydrating rinse-out mask. That saves me at least four bottles in my suitcase – result.