I've decided that this will be the summer when I approach the whole business of achieving a self-tan, properly. No half-hearted, lacklustre, trial and error botch ups, but the real thing. If we're about to have the best summer since I don't know when, I want my legs (at least) to be ready for it. I want to throw on a skirt or dress — sans tights — at the first sign of some decent sunshine. And I don't want nasty streaky orange pins thank you.
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It might be wishful thinking combined with personal perception, but the idea of using an organic self-tan makes me feel that the results might look as well as feel natural. No chemicals, therefore no chemical colour I'm thinking. So I'm trying Green People's Self-Tan Lotion (315.65 - 200ml), but, as I said, this year it's going to be a thorough job, so I'm starting off by making sure my legs are exfoliated to within an inch of their life, using Green People's Organic Sugar Scrub (£17.12 - 245g). 

The sugar crystals are combined with plant oils like calendula (to soothe), olive leaf extract and jojoba as well as anti-oxidant pomegranate and vitamin-rich rosehip and cranberry — although the smell as more medicated than fruity. The loose (rather than buttery) texture of the scrub means it goes everywhere, and as you need to apply it onto damp skin, this job is best done in the shower. Careful as you go though — the oils will make the floor slippery. It might be a messy business but the results are good — very soft skin.

The next step is Green people's Triple Action Cellulite Lotion (£19.09 - 150ml), which is apparently award-winning. The combination of bayberry, juniper and green tea works to tackle cellulite by helping to combat the creation of new fat deposits, reducing the body's ability to lay down fresh fat deposits in cells and speeding up the breakdown of remaining fat cells. I can't truthfully say that I can feel all this activity going on and I would not expect to see results after a week's use — but the lotion is easy to apply, smells lovely (in a fruity way) and works as well as any body cream. It's staying in my routine, so ask me again in September!

Finally the Self-Tan Lotion goes on. The active ingredient is dihydroacetone (DHA) which is produced during the breakdown of simple sugars and when applied to the body reacts with the amino acids in the outer layers of skin to form brown pigments. It's a pleasantly sweet smelling lotion, which goes on smoothly and I'm obeying the instructions and applying in circular movements — which really does help to avoid streaks. The first application result is very pale, but it definitely took the glare off my lily-white legs. By the third application I'm ready for that frock.

www.greenpeople.co.uk - 01403 740350)