ABOUT FACE:TIME FOR A healthy glow methinks. Sandals, sun hats and straw bags demand a "just back from holidays" look and there's plenty of help at hand, writes Phyl Clarke
Make sure your face is exfoliated daily with a gentle exfoliating cleanser and be careful that there are no flaky or dry patches to "catch" colour. Ensure that you work a liquid tanner right out to your hairline to avoid tell-tale gaps. Be careful applying around the eyebrow area as colour can build up here, and give brows a wipe with cotton wool when you are finished. Apply to the neck area carefully, keeping in mind that less is more. You can always intensify colour with a brush-on bronzer later. Carry tan down the décolleté and across to your shoulders.
If you want the instant holiday look, a tan built into your moisturiser will do the trick.
One of the best fakers around is St Tropez, and its Everyday Face (€19.95) is a light, easily absorbed moisturiser with a touch of self-tan for a natural, healthy looking radiance.
New from Prescriptives is Good in Bed (€62), a revitalising night cream that replenishes and recharges skin, while subtle tanners work to enhance skin's natural colour.
Super skincare Olay Total Effects (€19.95) range is now even better with the addition of sunless tanner in its Touch of Sunshine day and night creams. Great pump dispenser, too.
For some, it can be a little daunting to apply a colourless self-tanner to the face, so thank the Lord there are tinted versions, too.
Lancôme's Flash Bronzer is one of the best-selling tanning ranges and now includes Custom-Colour Self-tanning Face Lotion (€27), which allows you to judge the intensity of application. The colour you see is exactly the result after the tanning agents have done their bit.
If you prefer the control of removable colour, a tinted moisturiser gives a glow, but remember to conceal first - otherwise, you may be trying to compensate for flaws with too much coverage of tint. Clarins Hydra-Care Tinted Moisturiser (€31) is an all-time favourite. YSL Sun Fusion Tinted Veil Tan Booster (€37) is amazingly easy to apply and gives the complexion an ultra-natural looking colour, two shades deeper than your own.
For the easy-peasy approach, a brush on bronzer is ideal. Dr Hauschka (€23.50) is a subtly natural bronzer that is almost impossible to over-apply.
Bobbi Brown has a good colour range - the Natural shade (€32) is perfect for the classic Irish skin tone.
The Autograph range at Marks & Spencer has some great products, and Sunglow Bronzing Powder (€19) is a versatile palette of individual colours, which can be also be used on the eyes.
Estée Lauder's Bronzing Pearls (€34) are a mix of browns and pinks that suit all skin tones and types, and give a soft glow to the skin. pclarke@irish-times.ie