Six steps to a perfect summer tan

Pre-tan preparation: Dr Barbara Sturm body brush

Whether skin is exposed to UV rays or the incoming tan is fake, well-exfoliated skin is a crucial foundation. For an at-home or salon spray tan, it’s also important to avoid oil-based scrubs, which rules out many body scrubs on the market. A body brush is the answer, and Dr. Barbara Sturm is a longtime advocate, pointing out the benefits beyond simply removing dead cells from the skin’s surface. Dry brushing can stimulate circulation, she says, and discourage fluid retention. It’s best done on bare skin before you shower, and twice a week should suffice for most purposes. £30, drsturm.com

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Best for enhancing a natural tan: Tan-Luxe The Glow Illuminating Body Oil

This cult-favorite tanning brand’s body oil (their self-tanning “eraser” is also worth a try) is all about rehydrating skin that’s been out in the sun. Five key ingredients – jojoba, pomegranate, safflower seed, prickly pear and japonica seed oils – aim to hydrate skin and repair the skin barrier. Light-reflecting particles add shine, and it’s scented with a gender-neutral blend of bergamot, labdanum, and cedarwood. It’s probably best as a supplement to safe sun exposure while on vacation, as the oils it contains can break down a spray tan. £29 for 80ml, tan-luxe.com

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Most Innovative Self Tanner: Dolce Glow Acqua Hydrating Face Mist

Gradual tans are the aesthetically safe option, as well as a way to tan without sun exposure. These drip color onto the skin, and the best ones, like this Miley Cyrus-approved tanning brand, work to counteract the drying tendency of the active ingredient in bronzers, dihydroxyacetone (commonly known as “DHA”). This facial mist produces a dewy glow despite the DHA, with cranberry extract to soothe irritation, green tea leaf extract as an anti-inflammatory, and sodium hyaluronate, a form of hyaluronic acid, as the ultimate moisturizer. It can be applied under makeup as a primer or over it as a setting spray and develops in about six to eight hours. £29 per 100ml, dolceglow.com

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Best for Light Skin: Vita Liberata

Fair-skinned people fear DHA like curly-haired people fear the hairdresser: there will inevitably have been fake-tanning tragedies lurking in their history. For those who don’t want to stray too far from their alabaster roots, there’s Northern Irish tanning brand Vita Liberata. The lightest of their salon spray tans will give a golden glow to flatter even the freckles, and for the really faint of heart, the brand’s wash-at-home product, Body Blur Instant HD Skin Finish in Café Crème, it is uniform. Less risky, smoothing the appearance of skin with a creamy wash of soft milky tan. £29.95 per 100ml, vitaliberata.com

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Best Natural Tanning Drops: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops

There is a lot of anticipation surrounding these bronzing drops, currently on a waiting list only at the UK’s leading source, Cult Beauty. As a summer complement to existing skincare, they can be mixed with serums, oils and creams for an instant pop of color that disappears at the end of the day. All-natural ingredients include cocoa extract for its polyphenols, marula and blackcurrant seed oils, and vitamin F to replenish the skin’s barrier. Best for adding a hint of bronze to smaller areas like the face, décolletage, and shoulders. £31 for 30ml, cultbeauty.es

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Best After Sun: Susanne Kaufmann Hyaluron Body Gel

Launched last year, Kaufmann’s lightweight formula is arguably unbeatable as an after-sun, with aloe vera and globe vine to hydrate and strengthen the skin’s barrier, and menthol for a refreshing and uplifting effect. It’s also useful after shaving and ideal after a spray tan, as it’s oil-free and gives skin a wonderful glow during extended vacations. And like all Kaufmann products, it smells like heaven, if heaven were the top of an Austrian mountain. £50 per 100ml, susannekaufmann.com