Like the bronzed look, but do not want to spend grueling hours in the sun? Here's a solution. A range of creams and lotions which give you that perfect sun-kissed tone without the burns and freckles. Summer is at its peak, and a woman's fancy turns to thoughts of floating about light, airy clothes. But before she can do that, she must take a long, hard looks at her legs. Are they ready to be shown off? Are they well buffed, smooth and sufficiently sun-kissed? You don't have to spend hours in the sun toasting your legs brown. A little self-tanner seems like the solution.

The market is saturated with sunless tanners of various price points and formulas. Which to pick? And how do you ensure you'll look bronzed, not bruised? Here arc 10 tips from a (now) self-tan fan: First, get rid of the dead skin. Use a product that gently scrubs, and be sure to dry thoroughly after showering. Wear disposable gloves when applying the tanner to keep your palms and nails from staining. Have an old robe or towel on hand. You'll need to wear something you don't care about in the hour(s) the tanner is drying. Have a good friend on hand. You'll need help with your back and other hard-to-reach areas. Pay attention throughout the process. Touch your face by accident, and you've got two weeks of explanations ahead of you. Lotions are easier to work with than sprays because you have a better idea of exactly where you're applying the product. Choose a product that goes on with a hint of colour so you can see what you're doing. Read the product label carefully and be sure the formula is tinted. Use a quarter-sized dollop or less to cover lower leg, and the same amount for the thigh. Use excess lotion to cover the knee and foot. These areas darken more easily, so use tanner sparingly. When in doubt, use less. Use sparingly on insides of arms and underarms. An all-over, perfectly even tan will give a Barbie plastic look. Pre-test your product on a portion of your skin well before you take it public. One application will last about 1-2 weeks.