HOW TO GET A FLAWLESS FAKE TAN

Aside from a sausage sizzle chased with a Zooper Dooper, nothing quite screams Aussie summer like a healthy, glowing tan. And since we’ve finally wised up to the whole gaping-hole-in-the-Ozone thing, for us women that means a healthy fake tan.

But, as anyone who’s fallen victim to streaks and patches knows, it’s not about the tan; it’s what you do with it. Here, we tell you exactly that.

PREP YOUR SKIN

A killer tan is all about prep. True story. So, get your body ready with top-to-toe exfoliation a few days prior, using a mitt like Bondi Sands Exfoliation Mitt. Self-tan will “catch” onto any dry areas of your skin, so it’s vital to keep your body moisturised too. St Tropez Finishing Expert, Michael Brown suggests rubbing some lotion onto rougher patches (ankles, hands, knees and elbows) on the day of self-tanning to help prevent a build up of colour.

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GET GLOWING

Most self-tan variants are now tinted, making it easy to spot where you’ve missed, but co-owner of Bondi Sands, Blair James also suggests applying in good light, in front of a mirror and using a tanning mitt for extra precision (and less mess!). Start from the ankles and work your way up, finishing with a light coat on feet and hands.

For face, try a targeted varient like JBronze Face Flawless Tan, or mix a small amount of body tan into your regular moisturiser for a natural glow.

Most tans take 8-12 hours to develop, but there are some genius formulas like Model Co. One Hour Tan that develop without one – a dream for those of us who enjoy keeping our bed sheets white.