Tell me your fake tan secrets!

[FairyLightFiend]

I’m pale (with some freckles on my arms) and tend to go from white to pink and back to white again. I really want this to be the summer that I can get my legs out without worrying that the reflected glare from my pale skin will blind passing dogs and children, but I’m nervous about messing the fake tan process up...

How are all you glamourous got-your-shit-together woman managing it? I especially can’t get my head around how you do your own back?!

Help!

I have one of those long back scrubber band loofah type things...it's got a handle on each end. Not sure if I'm explaining it well! I cover the smoothest side with the tan and then apply on my back like that. Or I roll up an old towel into a long sausages shape and put the fake tan on that and hold it with both hand behind my back to apply. Sorry it's hard to describe but hopefully you get the jist!

I dont do my back - unless for a special occasion/holiday, then I go for a spray tan. I generally concentrate on arms, chest, shoulders (& upper back I guess), and legs. Nothing else is ever really on show tho day to day. Use latex gloves, that's my best tip, then rub a little btn the backs of your hands. Moisturise (hours) before. Let it dry completely before dressing. Use a dry towel to rub excess off knees, ankles and elbows

I exfoliate with these gloves first then use the garnier no streaks bronzer spray which gives great coverage. I always start with a light colour and build from there. If I need to do my whole back I get a family member to spray me but usually just do the top part of my back myself.

Light spray and gradually build for me works best.

I've started using the Clarins drops that you add to your own body lotion. It's really good. I did it about 3 days ago and possibly used a bit too much as it felt like it was taking ages to dry. Repeated on arms the following day with just one drop on each arm, and left legs alone. They are now golden, smooth and soft, and no smell apart from the first time. You don't need to shower it off, but once I had a shower after the first application had developed, there was no smell at all. I love it.

Scrub everywhere. Get the body lotion with gradual tan that way you can build it up to what you like.

I'm fair with freckles and can't bear the crab stick arms / ooompa lumpa thing.

That way works nicely for me

I've only started using fake tan in the last 3-4 years. I'm a natural blonde with very pale skin, and although I used to be able to tan naturally in the past I really don't get the opportunity (nor have the inclination) to lie in the sun for hours now. I started using the Dove self tanner - it was quite good, easy to apply on my legs etc but I never went the right kind of colour. I then progressed on to the St Tropez range but that was a) expensive and b) prone to me messing it up and getting it a bit streaky. Maybe if I'd been doing it for years I would have got better at it. I tried a few others, but they were too dark too quickly (and obviously fake tan) and you had to be careful not to get streaks (I clearly wasn't careful enough!).

Now I use a Swiss brand, Louis Widmer self tanner, and it's subtle and gradual. I put it on each morning after the shower on my legs and arms, and lightly on the décolleté area and face, and after about 3 days I have the 'right kind of tan' for me. It doesn't smell and absorbs really easily. It's around £15 a tube and seems to last quite well. I'm now happy to have bare legs and (I think) it looks natural and the right kind of colour for me - bearing in mind how naturally pale I am. It's worth trying if you're super pale and a novice, it might be just the right kind of self tanner for you too.

Chin - do you ever exfoliate and does that take you back to the day 1 level of tan.

I don't exfoliate every day - maybe once a week in 'high season'. It doesn't make a really big difference as I recall. I've only just started again this year, and I didn't before I started (last week) and it didn't make any difference to how the fake tan appeared on my legs etc. I'm really happy with this Louis Widmer stuff. I think it's easily as good as the big name brands - it just doesn't have the expensive advertising budget built into its price.

I cant stand the smell of fake tan and sometimes end up with some residue on the dry bits of my legs. What I do is tan myself the day before then have a shower and wash the dried bit with residue extra and voila, my tan is even and natural looking :)

• have a shower the next day.