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But many of us still crave that healthy glow. It masks blemishes, makes our eyes look brighter and maybe even makes us look slimmer.

That’s why we’ve combed the streets and internet in search of the very best natural self tanning products. Here they are, tried and tested. And guess what? They’re every bit as effective as the less-than-ethical brands, if not more so (none of them have that ghastly gravy smell I associated with fake tans).

They prove you really can look naturally healthy and avoid the damaging, ageing effects of the sun.

Green People Self Tan Lotion with rosehip, sandalwood and geranium
£15.65 for 200ml from greenpeople.co.uk
This, we are told, is the UK’s only certified organic self tan, with no parabens, lanolin, phthalates, artificial perfumes, petrochemicals or colourants. The pump action bottle was clean to use but tricky to get the exact amount needed. But it glided over the skin easily and had a pleasant but not overwhelming smell. When the tan was fully developed the result was streak free, paler than some of the others but natural looking.  3/5

Lavera Self Tanning Lotion
£11.70 for 150ml from lucyrose.biz and lavera.co.uk
We were expecting great things from this one. The feedback on the website was glowing and it’s groaning with awards. We weren’t disappointed. It is made with 100 per cent pure and natural plant derived active ingredients including organic aloe vera gel, vitamin E and green tea. It developed really quickly, smelt lovely and gave very natural-looking strong colour. 5/5 DAISY PICK

Arbonne Made in the Shade Self Tanner
£28.40 for 177ml from arbonneinternational.co.uk
This botanically-based tanner came in a spray action bottle which was an absolute doddle to use.  It created good, even coverage in seconds. On the downside, it needed a few applications to get a golden colour and, there’s a very long list of ingredients on the bottle, not all plant-based. Best one for a girl in a hurry. 2/5

Chocolate Sun Cocoa Glow Sunless Tanning Cream
£24.50 for 240ml from puresha.com
Absolutely delicious. A must for chocoholics everywhere. It really does smell of cocoa and the aroma lasts all day long. Chocolate sun is rich and moisturising and, even better, you can choose your shade – light or medium. It’s quite thick though so needs be be applied carefully, with a very light touch on the rougher bits. With shea butter and anti-oxidising green tea. 4/5

Body Shop Vitamin E Everyday Summer Face Lotion
£8 for 50ml from thebodyshop.co.uk and Body Shop stores
Wonderfully light and scented with The Body Shop’s age old but gorgeous Vitamin E fragrance, this lotion is great for gradually building a tan. Although not ideal if you want instant, deep colour, the everyday formula can cope with slap dash application and is unlikely to result in patchiness. It wears off slowly and evenly so you will never look unnatural. Three of the ingredients are Community Traded (cocoa butter, soya oil and organic honey) meaning that the overseas suppliers get a fair deal. 4/5

Quick tips: None of these products contain sun protection so always apply your own. Exfoliate before using self tans to get the most even colour.