My Tan Commandments: Thou Shalt Totally Cheat.

One of my cousins got hitched last weekend (congrats again, Liz!) and since I was wearing this sleeveless knee-length number and didn't want to be mistaken for a milk bottle in a frock, fake tan was a must.

I'm not sure whether tan is supposed to be IN or O-U-T at the moment - honestly, who can keep up anymore? - but frankly I couldn't give a toss. The pale and interesting look that works so well for the likes of Anne Hathaway and Cate Blanchett just doesn't suit me at all and if I'm exposing limbs, they're going to see the business end of a self-tanning mitt beforehand.

Now, I need two applications of most light tans before I achieve a shade that I'm really happy with; I find that this gives a lighter and more natural result than slapping on one coat of a darker colour. There's just one little problem with that approach: I'm not organised enough to build up a tan gradually over the course of a couple of days.

So I cheat.

I apply one layer of tan, and after waiting an hour for it to dry, I apply another.

My other big tan cheat is to shower off the guide colour after 4 hours rather than leaving it for the 8 hours that most recommend. This, in my experience, is sufficient time for the DHA that causes self-tan to develop to bind to skin. When I do this, it doesn't interfere with the colour I ultimately achieve as the DHA is still on my skin and the tan can continue to develop post-shower, and it means that I get the benefit of being able to see exactly where my tan is going as I apply it but don't have to put up with the guide colour transferring onto my bed sheets or clothes.

Have you any sneaky tan shortcuts of your own to recommend?