I was an early adopter of fake tan: I had to be. Fair, mole-covered and not a massive sun-worshipper, I’ve been shopping around since the Nineties to find the right level of natural glow during the warmer months – and something that also works before a night out in the winter.

Every year, I find the quality of fake tans for pale-faces like me gets better, and this year I’ve been pretty much streak-free. Here are the five I’ve been using since May – and plan to carry on with when I dig out my party frocks come December.

First up is from Elemis – their new, rather wonderful Total Glow Bronzing Body Lotion (£34.50). It uses something called ‘Vegetan’, which is derived from wheat, so you don’t really get the digestive biscuit whiff, and the colour takes a day or so to really build. When it does, it’s super-natural and for me, just the right level of tan.

Lavera seems to hit the mark every time and I marvel at how reasonably priced their products are too. Organic Self Tanning Body Lotion (£13.50) contains organic jojoba oil and macadamia nut oil – and smells (and looks) lovely and custardy. Slap on pasty calves with a mitt at night and you’ll be skirt-ready by the morning.

I was quite excited to find a body product by Dr Lewinn’s as their skin and nail products are just the business. Sunless Self Tanning Lotion (£15) has Aloe Vera so not only are you getting a light, golden colour, your skin is super smooth into the bargain. Lovely.

My go-to if I’ve actually picked up a bit of a glow on holiday is For All My Eternity Gradual 10 Self Tanning Lotion & Tan Extender (£17.99). This has had rave reviews and I can see why. You can use it for face and body and the ‘10’ in the name refers to the 10 ways it works – to nourish, soften, smooth, even out… you name it – and of course the ‘way’ I like the best is the golden, non smelly, super-subtle tan.

Finally, a back-of-the-rack classic: Clarins Golden Glow Moisturising Body Lotion (£30). Not new, but if it ain’t broke… I come back to this year after year while I’m trying new fake tans. It’s like the colour is made for my English complexion – by French people. Isn’t life strange?