I also steer clear of the 2hr Rapid Tans… why? These products use Chemical Absorbers to accelerate the tanning process. There is no other way that you can get sufficient absorption of the DHA and Eurythulose in under 6 hrs other than by accelerating it's absorption rate. Whatever achieves this outcome, will also be absorbing all the other ingredients and the problem increases as the skin's own waste products are also picked up, to a level that may break the blood barrier and be metabolised in ways that a topically applied ingredient was never meant to.

Let’s look at the basics of sunless tanning with DHA:

The DHA can only effect (colour) the amino acid that is produced by the dead skin cells, so the reason you let it absorb for 6-8 hrs is that this amino acid is only produced in patchy concentrations at various levels on the skin. After the 6-8 development time the fake tan has been exposed to an even layer of these amino acids & neutralizes - which results in an all over even tan.

So for a safe tan, opt for an 8hr tan as we are yet to know the damage these rapid tans are really doing to our systems.

1. BE Tanned

My all time favourite Tan would have to be BE Tanned... I love it and stand by it so much that we have become the first & only online distributor for it!

BE Tanned offers a lovely natural "sunkissed" tan that fades evenly.

BE Tanned comes in 3 shades to cater for all skin types, so everyone can BE Tanned no matter how fair.

This tan is also formulated using organic ingredients & is free from Nasty skin irritants commonly found in Fake Tans so it is great for your skin too.

This is also free from chemical absorbers found in the wash and wear 2hr tans.

Some clients of mine above... all tanned with BE Tanned.

St Tropez products in general are brilliant and I am yet to be disappointed. This spray tan will go on fairly dark. It will take about 8 hours to develop, so you need to hold off coming in contact with water during this time.

The colour is lovely and natural, and the smell isn’t too bad either. You can expect this tan to last at least 7 days and it will also wash off nice and evenly. It really is everything you look for in a spray tan.

Prices may vary and they can be on the expensive side. However I had a client tell me she had found a place in Sydney CBD, that was doing them for $35AU. Not a surprise that they are extremely busy and getting an appointment can be tricky.

3. Fake Bake

This tan is also fantastic. Like BE Tanned & St Tropez - Fake Bake will offer all the great things I look for in a tan.

It will go onto the skin very dark and will take 8 hours to develop. Once you have a shower you will be left a lovely natural colour that isn’t too dark. I find that this is the perfect tan for a bride to be or for people who are fair to begin as it doesn’t look over the top.

It will offer you a sun kissed look rather than the “I’ve been to Bali” look, this is the tan for you. It is also a great tan for first timers, as it will be a nice introduction to the world of spray tanning.

This tan will last about 4-7 days, and it comes off without a problem too. It fades just like a real tan, so no patchy elbows.

A London based company using an organic tanning liquid that offers a brilliant dark tan. This tan also comes with a bit of a twist which I loved. They begin by spraying a prepping solution onto the skin to remove any dead skin build up, great if you forget to exfoliate. They then finish off your tan with a moisture lock treatment, leaving your skin hydrated and soft.

Beaubronz also offer a few different colour choices, so whatever your skin type they will have a tan to suit you. If you are wanting a dark tan, they have dark tanning drops, that can be added to the tanning liquid to give your tan that added kick.

The tan applies light in colour and develops within 8 hours. It will last for up to 2 weeks, offering great value for money. They also have a Quick Fix tan that develops after only 4 hours, a personal favourite of mine.

The company is also responsible for bronzing up the Gladiators on the UK's Sky network, so check them out.

I would recommend this tan for all skin types, as they have a wide range of options available catering to everyone's needs.

Photo shows Beaubronz Tan being applied to the skin.

I came across this tan about 18 months ago and it is pretty good. The company offers a number of different colours so you can get the perfect tan for your skin type. They also do very dark tans, that still have a natural look to them.

This tan also goes on very dark and it too takes 8 hours to develop. It should last at least a week. The only down side of this tan, is that it doesn’t come off as nicely as my other too picks. It doesn’t catch in your elbows or knees, but it can look a bit like you have freckles. My tip is to keep well moisturized and exfoliate once the tan is washing off.