IT'S ironic that nothing makes you look healthier or feel better or than a sun tan, yet at the same time, nothing is more likely to cause premature aging and permanent damage to your skin than the sun.

There is a way however that we can all have our cake and eat it. The solution - fake it.

Now I, like many people, have in the past been slightly reluctant to try fake tans, fearing that I might end up resembling something better placed in a fruit bowl.

However, recent advances have resulted in a beauty market that is currently swamped with fantastic products and treatments enabling you to enjoy the appearance of a perfect natural looking tan, without the damaging effects of the sun.

There is one brand however, that in my opinion currently stands head and shoulders above the rest. The St Tropez range of self-tanning products seem to have revolutionised the market.

What sets St Tropez apart is that it won't streak, is guaranteed not to go orange and will compliment your natural skin tone.

Unlike other products, St Tropez has an aloe vera base, which makes not only the results different but also its application.

The aloe vera takes the tan into the skin meaning that there is no need to spend ages massaging it in.

Before I first had the lotion applied at a salon nearly a year ago, I was slightly sceptical about just how much better this tan could be. However, I was so astonished with the results I have been hooked ever since.

And I am not alone - celebrities like Cat Deeley, Catherine Zeta Douglas and Victoria Beckham all sing its praises.

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Bronzed in half an hour....

The one drawback with the lotion treatment is in the application. Once the guide colour is applied you need to leave it on for at least four hours. And because the guide can make you look like you have just rolled in mud, you will probably want to avoid being seen in public whilst it is developing.

So when I heard that a local salon was offering the new St Tropez Air treatment, which supposedly solves this problem, I couldn't wait to try it.

St Tropez has launched the airbrush treatment as the perfect solution for those of us with a busy schedule.

It takes just 20 minutes and will be dry in 5 to 10 minutes. The tan will start to develop within two to three hours and will continue for a further four to five hours. At least eight hours should be left before you shower to remove the guide colour.

I decided to put the convenience theory to the test and have the treatment in my lunch hour.

When I made my appointment, staff at The Beauty Bar advised me to exfoliate and moisturise my skin the day before the treatment, but not to moisturise or wear any deodorant on the day of the treatment.

By following the skin preparation advice, your tanning treatment should be more successful and last longer.

They also advised me to wear loose dark clothing and old underwear that I didn't mind getting covered with the guide colour, which can occasionally stain.

The treatment itself involves you stripping down to your underwear and being sprayed with a hand held airbrush.

Some people may worry that they would feel uncomfortable undergoing such a treatment.

However, the beautician administrating my treatment made me feel relaxed and comfortable throughout and this is how it should be.

You may at times feel like a car on a production line, but you should not feel embarrassed.

Within half an hour I was dressed and leaving the salon. Unlike the lotion and the mouse treatments, the guide colour was so fine that I felt quite happy going back to work without worrying that I resembled someone who hadn't washed for a month!

Over the next eight hours the tan developed. After showering the guide colour off I was left with a golden even tan.

Although I still believe that the lotion treatment gives a slightly better colour, St Tropez Air is perfect for a lunch hour treat.

It is possible to deepen the colour by having more than one application. A flattering body contouring application can also be applied to accentuate areas like the cleavage and the hip bones.

I was charged £25 for the first application and £15 for the second. A course would cost £135.

The tan lasts between five and ten days depending on skin type, mine lasted around five days, in which time I did go swimming which can bleach the tan.

My treatment was provided by The Beauty Bar, Sale.

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But if you're too shy.....

People who would like the benefits of St Tropez Air, but are really reluctant to go to a salon, are in luck.

St Tropez has just launched 'Bronzing Mist' in the UK. This is the first self-tanning spray that can be used upside down, enabling you to apply it to all those hard to reach areas.

It costs £30 for a 9oz spray. The following is St Tropez' advise for achieving the perfect 'do it yourself' tan:

Pre-treatment advice

Please do not apply any other self-tanning product for a minimum period of 4 day.

Waxing or shaving should be completed at least 24 hours prior to your St. Tropez tan.

Loose dark clothing should be worn, together with a dark coloured bra or, preferably, no bra at all. Please be aware that the guide colour can stain nylon and light wool.

Black Paper Tangs will be issued upon arrival. After the treatment, it would be advisable to wear these at home underneath loose fitting clothing.

It is preferable not to wear any type of perfume, deodorant or aromatherapy oils as these will all affect the treatment.

After care

Do not shower or bathe for a minimum of four hours after the treatment. The application requires time to develop.

Do not take part in any activity which may cause excessive perspiration for at least 12 hours after the treatment.

Do not swim for at least 12 hours after the treatment. The chemicals in the pool may bleach the colour, as is the case with a normal tan.

Do not use perfume, deodorant or aromatherapy oils until you have taken advice from your therapist.

Depth of tan

Once St Tropez has developed it will give a Golden Glow. To obtain a darker shade, a second or third application can be applied. Your skin tone will determine the depth of the tan.