For something a little more luxurious, this velvety tanner from Tan-Luxe is an A-list choice. It’s a mix of oil and lotion that’s gentle enough to use on the face as well as the body. We noticed colour after about two hours (gradual tanners usually take at least four to start developing), which is great if you’re after speedy payoff before a party. We say: Ella Baché Great Sunkiss is formulated with cocoa butter to give you instant radiance while protecting against moisture loss. This one is ideal as a top-up to an existing fake tan, to keep the colour rich and unpatchy for as long as possible. A gradual tan is the secret to a low-commitment, streak-free golden glow— perfect for those not quite confident in their fake tan abilities. The best thing about gradual tans is that the colour builds up gradually (hence the name…) so it’s far easier to get an even tan than with a dark foam or spray.

You say:“I love Ella Bache products and have been a long time user of their body moisturisers, so I was thrilled to test this and also to end up loving it. The smell is so much better than a lot of the tanning products out there in the marketplace and the result is a lovely healthy glow.” – justjo. I used the Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk for about two days before I noticed a colour change and by day 4 I looked like I had a light tan. It didn’t get any darker than light tan level before it starts to fade. It wears well. I sometimes find with full on fake tan products that it comes off unevenly- so I’m still tanned on my knees but my calves are white. As long as you keep using the gradual tanning milk, you’ll keep the colour going. I thoroughly recommend Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk as a pre holiday/summmertime product for warming up body skin colour. It’s easy to use, non fussy, not smelly, doesn’t leave stains everywhere and you get a really good amount of product for your money. Get the Bondi Sands mitt as well, it’s good quality, really soft and will help you get your tan really even. Bondi Sands Gradual Tanner Before and After

How to remove fake tan from hands

You say:“I have been using this tan moisturiser for over 2 years now and it is by far the most natural looking tan, easiest to apply and most hydrating I have tried”. – fernegully.

That's where a tan in a bottle can come in very handy, to give you a faux sun-kissed look for only a few pounds, because it looks like it might be some time before we can get the real deal on a holiday abroad. I made sure to wash my hands after applying the lotion, which I would recommend. Fake tans can often leave behind an orange stain if you’re not careful - and the last thing you want is streaky, orange fingers. It went on smoothly, absorbing well and didn't leave my skin feeling greasy. I couldn't see the colour immediately but it developed nicely over the next few hours and a second application the next day gave me a really good colour that lasted a few days. Because it didn't show straight away I did have a few orangey bits round my ankles where I hadn't rubbed it in properly, so care needs to be takes to really make sure it's gone on evenly.The formula goes on effortlessly and absorbs pretty fast while still leaving the skin looking dewy and fresh. The fair-skinned among us know that suncream is a must to avoid the dreaded tomato look, which is why we love this two-in-one product from Skinny Tan. It comes in two factors – 30 or 50 – and gradual tans while protecting your skin from harmful rays. The ingredient list- Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocoglycerides, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Laureth-7, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isobutylparaben, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Fragrance, Polyacrylamide, Ethylparaben, Cetyl Phosphate, Triethanolamine, Erythrulose, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben.

It has a subtle citrusy scent and is full of fatty acids and prebiotics to keep your skin healthy. The colour forms within the outer skin layer, so doesn’t slide off the first time you wash your face. We love face tan, as it means we can leave off wearing foundation in hot weather – another pro for those with skin complaints. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser (Image: Jess Flaherty/Liverpool ECHO) According to the product description, the lotion “glides on effortlessly for a long lasting golden tan every time”. It also promises to “hydrate the skin with every application”. Since I’m still wary of fake tan, I opted for a more gradual approach that would allow me to see initial results without worrying about turning orange. I did some research on which gradual tans are best for skin that’s on the drier side, in the hopes that tan wouldn’t end up looking cakey or streaky.You can build it up every day for a stronger colour but we found maintaining it every other day the best approach for a natural, non-patchy finish. It didn’t stain our fresh white sheets either and scrubbed off easily with exfoliator when it was time for a refresh, making this a good choice for tanning beginners. There’s another bottle targeted at medium to dark skin. I’m usually quite good at taking care of my skin and I do often worry about introducing new products in case I have a bad reaction or it results in a breakout. To be used with any Isle Of Paradise self-tanning water, your tan will develop within 4 to 6 hours and can be washed off earlier for a less intense look. Plus, the easy application makes tanning hard-to-reach areas a breeze.

Where to buy: Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk is available from Superdrug, Boots, LookFantastic, FeelUnique, ASOS and more. Over 60 testers helped us assess five brands of gradual tanner. They evaluated how easy each is to apply, how well the colour develops, whether it leaves patches or streaks, and the scent. In the lab, we use a DigiEye machine to take photos of self-tanned parts of the body to analyse the tan's coverage over a week. The higher the score, the more even the tan.Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser is a budget friendly tanning option that's easy to add into your daily routine.