Don't go back to pale and pasty as soon as the summer holidays are over. There are always parts of your body to show off on occasions, so while you may spend more time on your face, make the most of the rest of you, too, with these body makeup ideas

Instant colour magic

When showing off your legs, arms, shoulders, back or cleavage, you want golden skin in seconds. Bliss Spa founder Marcia Kilgore says: 'You need an instant sun-kissed pick-me-up that is moisturising, adds colour, a touch of shimmer, is transfer resistant and comes off when you decide with soap and water.' From her new range, Soap & Glory, One Night Tanned spray, £9, ticks all the boxes. Rimmel's Sun Shimmer Instant Tan Sexy Legs Sun Make-up, £4.99, is a gel with the same benefits that can be used anywhere on your body and comes in Golden, ideal for daytime, and Bronze for a night out. Just make sure you wash your hands after applying any body makeup.

Powder up

Bronzing powder is great as body makeup as well as for your face. Whether it's loose or a compact - we love Bourjois chocolate scented Delice de Poudre, £6.95 - choose a natural looking pinky-brown rather than one that's too yellow. And start sweeping it sparingly over dry but moisturised skin with a big, soft brush to give it extra staying power.

Invest in a shimmer powder that's pumped down the barrel onto the brush to prevent overload, like The Body Shop's Brilliance, £13.50, in two shades, and apply before you get dressed. A subtle fanning out of your body makeup powder from between your breasts will give them a more rounded appearance.

Special effects

Shimmering aftersun lotions, body glosses and light reflective body oils are great radiance boosters. Champney's Oriental Body Glistening Oil, £7.50, contains nourishing jojoba and fragrant ylang ylang to soothe and fragrance your skin whilst adding a pretty iridescence. Apply lotion body makeup to exposed areas when slightly damp to seal in moisture while it dries to a non-sticky finish.

Former model and makeup artist Jemma Kidd advises adding a sexy sparkle to your skin to liven up the plainest evening dress. 'I wouldn't be without my Dual Illuminator Crème Highlighter & Shimmer Dust (£12). I apply a little of the pearlescent cream over my cheekbones and eyes, then the powder over my shoulder bones and down the front of waxed, tanned legs to add a touch of glamour.'

Smooth out imperfections

For a spot-prone or blemished chest or back, use a body makeup spray foundation, like Dior's AirFlash, in four shades, £26.50. It's much easier than trying to blend with a stick concealer, which won't leave an even result. Hold the can about 20cm away from your skin and blend if you need to. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs, £9.99, comes in four shades and is a body makeup Godsend for disguising blotches, spider veins and unloved freckles, wherever they are!

Keep your holiday skin

You can have healthy holiday skin all year round with the latest influx of body lotions with a hint of the self-tanning ingredient DHA, such as Johnson's Holiday Skin, £4.99 for 250ml. These usually come in two shades to suit different skin tones and take about three to five applications to make a real difference. Do alternate these with your usual body lotion to stop you going darker.

Self tan in hours

Gel, cream and lotion self-tans need time to be blended properly if you want a streak-free finish. Self tanner sprays are the quickest and easiest to use without leaving edges if you only want to show off certain parts of your body. Remember, a bit of colour has a slimming effect on legs, can define muscles and make bat-wings look less flabby. Gatineau's Melatogenine, £19.50 (0800 7315805) contains anti-aging pro, while No7's Tan Enhancing Sunspray, £12.50, has an spf 15 and is oil-free. Keep the bottle moving as you spray - how subtle or deep the effect depends on how much you use, so start off with a light layer, which should dry in a couple of minutes. Viatek's I-Bod cordless, rechargeable spray self-tanning system, £39.99 (01452 614068) is the handy alternative to a salon version and has a guide light to show exactly where you're applying the mist.