10 Best: quick and instant self-tans

Garnier No Streaks Bronzer Instant Shimmer, £4.66. We always go to celebrity tanner James Harknett for summer tanning tips, so when he recommended because "it dries in an instant to give a gorgeous subtle shimmer, making it perfect for spontaneous summer nights out," it also instantly made our top 10.

Diego Dalla Palma Spray On Tights, £20. Yes, we were sceptical too. But having tried these 'spray on tights' were impressed by the way this, essentially, body foundation spritzed on to smooth things out and over on our wintry skin without any tell-tale signs of product. It also lasted hours. We're eating our words.

James Read Express Tan Face, £20.50 ; "Half an hour, and you'll get an amazing colour," says James Read, celebrity tanner and founder of his eponymous range. If you know his best-selling Sleep Mask, imagine this is the sped-up version; goes on like a facial serum (no wonder - it's full of hydrating hyaluronic acid, anti-ageing Q10 and soothing red algae), dries instantly, but starts to develop in an hour. Wash it off after 60 minutes and you'll already have a bit of colour, while a further four hours later will give you a great tan. Our testers loved the fact you didn't need to go to bed wearing sticky product, but still woke to a super bronzed face.

Garnier No Streaks Bronzer Instant Shimmer, Diego Dalla Palma Spray On Tights, James Read Express Tan Face

St Tropez Self Tan Express, £33 . Those who use St Tropez swear by it (the tanning company is after all one of the pioneers of the self-tan industry) and now its skin-bronzing formula (its most advanced yet) is available in sixty minutes flat.

Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion, £30. When I first tried this magic 'peaushun' I wondered where it had been all my life. Over in sunny L.A. apparently, where make-up artist Bethany Karlyn, the product's creator, was using the natural emoliant with shimmer to get that super glossy air-brushed finish on her celebrity clients - who by the way include Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow. Yes it gets a little messy, but with its smoothing, plumping sheen available in five shades (from Plain to Deep Dark) this silver sachet is well worth investing in for the winter to summer skin switchover.

Sienna X Instant Glowing Gel, £12.95 . "A dark velvety glow that gives a really flawless finish," says Harknett. Sold. Just remember to follow Harknett's tip of moisturising first to make application far easier.

He Shi Express Liquid Tan, £31.45. He Shi Liquid Tan, the original, is one of the best (I regularly use it blended in with my body moisturiser, or after-sun if I want a head start whilst on holiday). Dark but deep, and always crisp and even, it's tough to get this wrong, and with a guide colour you shouldn't miss much. Available in a speedy version of its former self, now He Shi's good tan thing comes to those who wait, and those who don't.

St Tropez Self Tan Express, £33, Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion, £30, Sienna X Instant Glowing Gel, £12.95, He Shi Express Liquid Tan, £31.45.

Dolce & Gabbana Bronzer Duo, £44 ; Pat McGrath was already using this bronzer at the Dolce & Gabbana spring/summer shows for that Italian Capri sun glow, but now, with her product know-how help, the make-up brand has decided to put two shades in one palette so you can warm up the skin with one, and contour the face with the darker colour underneath. One of their best sellers, this is available in seven tones, and is so finely milled that it looks like a real skin tan on any complexion.

Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Beautifying Foundation Sun-Kissed, £34.50 ; describing itself as 'sunshine in a tube' it had us at hello. But somewhere between a base, bronzer and instant tan, this is a new category in foundation. It's three-pronged uses intelligent pigments, soft-focus powder and Terractotta techniques to blur, tan and warm skin in a super light, silky finsh making it ideal for sticky, summer days.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour SPF15/PA++, £39 ; Admittedly it took us a while to get our heads around what 'Les Beiges' actually was. But having gone away and used it for a few months now we have; essentially it takes your skin tone a few shades warmer and brighter, while blurring out the lines without any tell-tale signs of powder. Less of a bronzer more of a 'warmer' if you like. Play with colours at the counter so you can personalise what it does for you - it also builds up beautifuly on the cheek bones.

Dolce & Gabbana Bronzer Duo, £44, Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Beautifying Foundation Sun-Kissed, £34.50, Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour SPF15/PA++, £39.

Via: 10 Best: quick and instant self-tans