Fake it, don't bake it

It's that time of year when we take a peek at our milk-white limbs and start to panic about airing them for all to see. As I'm so fair I really shouldn't sit in the sun.  I know it's not good for me...BUT...I do get in some sneaky sun sessions from time to time despite that.  My dermatologist told me that fifteen minutes wearing a good SPF, as long as it wasn't when the sun was at it's hottest, was fine!  Even good for me - my mood, and of course my vitamin D!  A sunbathing session, however, is out of bounds, so what's a girl to do?  Well of course there's the 'spray tan' as shown here but these days the products that are available for a DIY tan are so brilliant, less streaky and some even have a pleasant smell! Here's how to get the body beautiful and  my top buys for a DIY tan...
Prepare

• Choose a light or medium-toned product, for a more natural looking result.
• Before using the product, wash and exfoliate your skin with a wash cloth or sponge to remove excess dead skin cells and avoid a streaky or patchy result.
• It is recommended that legs are shaved 12 hours prior to application for an even result.

Apply

• Apply the tanning product lightly and evenly. Use less product on dry or thickened skin, such as over your ankles, knees and elbows as these areas tend to absorb more product.
• Five to ten minutes after applying the self-tan, rub areas such as your elbows and knees with a little lotion to ensure there are no patchy areas.

Rub lotion around wrists and the backs of your hands blending evenly up to your arms. Rub lotion around your ankles and the tops of your feet, blending evenly up to your legs.

After

• After applying the product to your face and body, wash your hands with soap and water to avoid colouring your palms and use a wet wipe for the soles of your feet. Be sure to remove any product from under your fingernails. Then use a cotton ball to apply the product to the top of each hand.
• To prevent staining your clothes, wait until the product dries completely, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Most tanning products don't contain a sunscreen and therefore don't protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun's rays. If you spend time outdoors, be sure to apply a sun protection cream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 before going outside.

Apply moisturiser to your "tan" every day.

Body scrub

1. Origins body scrub  - a skin-scouring Dead Sea salt and warming Ginger Zest buffered in emollient-rich Macadamia Oil, Soybean Oil, Kukui Nut Oil and Sweet Almond Oil helps to remove all traces of roughness to buff every bit of you before you start applying your cream. I love this because it smells amazing.
2. Xen Tan - If you like a darker tan, or you're naturally olive skinned, this is the lotion for you.  Used by stars all over the globe, it creates a deep olive colour and a flawless finish.

3. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze for fair skins.  This gives a natural looking tan without the self-tan smell.The ultra-wide micro-diffusion spray allows the product to dry instantly, for a radiant result with no need to rub in.

4. Lancaster Ultra natural bronzer for the face.  This gentle emulsion for face and décolleté glides on smoothly, evenly, keeps skin soft as it develops a gradual, natural-looking Lancaster golden glow. Moisturizes and contains an antioxidant RPF anti-ageing cover. Colour results are subtle, so reapply daily to increase colour intensity.

5. To help keep my tan in tip-top condition, I use Clarins After Sun Moisturiser which guards your skin against signs of premature wrinkles and aging.  This hydrating cream is uniquely formulated with moisture-replenishing Watermelon Extract and self tanning properties to keep skin soft and smooth while maintaining and deepening your tan.

What are your favourite sunning products?