Top 10 self tanners

Careful application and improved formulations mean you can say farewell to pasty skin, use less make-up and a achieve a healthier-looking you. Here's our pick of the top 10 self-tanners to get you glowing

Sunspa salon tanning, from £20

(www.sunspatanning.co.uk or ring 01923 8929883)

Don your paper panties and let someone else spray you all over, covering all those hard to reach areas for an even tan, available in mature, normal or deep bronze. Tan starts to fade after five days, so moisturise daily.

Palmer Cutler Self Tanning Milk, Light-Medium, £28 for 150ml

You must be a self-tanning aficionado to use this as it is a quick dryer, so make sure you moisturise first. Spray this light milk into the palm of your hand before smoothing it into your skin for a natural looking tan that's easy to build up. Available at John Lewis stores.

Green People Self Tan Lotion, £14.99 for 200ml

(www.greenpeople.co.uk or ring 01403 740350)

A cream with a surprisingly pleasant, exotic scent of rosehip, geranium and sandalwood. It sinks in fast and a light, even tan develops in two to three hours - a credit to the organic industry.

Environ Self Tan Gel, £23 for 130ml

(www.vitaminskincare.eu or ring 020 8450 2020)

It pumps out like a lotion, but has the lightweight coolness of a gel, that goes a long way. A cocktail of anti-oxidant plant extracts cares for your skin as it tans you over the following two hours and is virtually odour-free.

Marks & Spencer Sun Formula Healthy Glow Self Tan, £5 for pack of 10

Lightly fragranced and non-greasy, these wipes, which can also be used on your face, make application a doddle. Keep wiping thoroughly and only skim over knees and elbows at the end to ensure an even, golden, streak-free tan.

Johnson's Holiday Skin Lightglow Body Lotion, £4.99 for 250ml

Probably the most famous of gradual tanners has gone one step further, to cater for anyone with either very fair skin or who wants to create a very natural glow. Moisturisers and a fresh aroma make it a joy to use.

Xen-Tan Mousse Intense, £21.95 for 118ml

Available at House of Fraser or ring 0870 8505626 for stockists

This is a wonderfully fragranced whipped foam that blends easily and has a beige-grey colour to help guide your application. That colour soon disappears as this quick drying formula then turns your skin a lovely, deep gold that lasts longer than your usual fake tan.

Tan Truth Self Tan Lotion with Colour Guide, £7.50 for 200ml

(08700 500 868 / www.beautyexpress.co.uk)

Don't be put off by this chocolate brown lotion - it helps you to know where you've applied it - best done in the evening! Wash off the surface tint in the morning to reveal a more caramel tan that really does look like you've been abroad. Good for olive skin tones.

St Tropez Tan Intensifier, £14.95 for 150ml

Goes on with a colour but there's no need to wash this off, other than from your hands. Blends well and leaves a brown rather than yellow-based colour that's ideal for medium to dark skin tones or for enriching an existing tan.

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Mist for Face, £12.99 for 75ml

How easy is this? Spray a fine veil of mist over your face, including your neck and chest for an even colour. It dries instantly, but give eyebrows a quick wipe to prevent clogging. Follow with moisturiser and wait for a light tan to appear. Repeat if you want a deeper result.