The dangers of burning ourselves in the sun's rays with minimal protection has been drummed into us year after year.

As we all get more sun savvy, self-tanners and suncreams become more advanced.

These days, you can get a natural-looking fake tan - still the safest way to bring colour to your skin - in your own bathroom.

"Looking like an old leather handbag is not attractive. These days, we learn not to fry ourselves by lying in the sun to the point where we peel.

"I don't lie in the sun any more - I may take the top off the car but I wear long-sleeved tops and an SPF15 sunscreen," says Judy Naake, the woman who introduced the St Tropez tan to the UK.

"Fake tan is like fast food - it's a quick fix, but it doesn't make it any less worthy. You can get fake tan that looks natural, absolutely.

"With a good fake tan, you would never know that it's not real."

PROTECT AND PREVENT

"I can't stress how important sun lotions are," Judy insists.

Modern suncreams don't just protect your skin with the highest SPFs possible: today's formulations can perform a variety of functions, from giving you a glistening sheen to fighting off signs of ageing.

Urban goddesses should keep skin moisturised with Tesco Finest Sun Protection creams, from £4, giving up to 12 hours of hydration, Solait F25 spray, £6.49 at Superdrug, or Clinique City Block Sheer SPF25, £12.50 or 20.50 Euros, a tinted oil-free base.

Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream SPF25, £21.50 or 28 Euros, is specially designed to care for the sensitive eye area.

Slow down time with Murad Age-Proof Waterproof Sunblock SPF30, £20.50 (0800 035 2682), Roc Minesol Anti-Brown Spot Care SPF50, £14.95, and Simple Suncare F30 Face Protector Hydrolotion with sunflower extract, £7.25.

Lancome Soleil DNA Guard SPF30, £20.50, takes care of skin cells preventing wrinkles, or tone up with Pout Firming Shimmer Sunscreen SPF20, £18 or 26 Euros (www.pout.co.uk), and Biotherm Sensitive Skin Sun Milk SPF30, £15.50 (0800 037 1020/www.biotherm.co.uk).

Keep cool on the beach with Piz Buin Active Fresh Cooling Spray SPF30, £14.99 from Boots. This water-resistant spray is refreshing and protective.

Apply suncream the easy way with Estee Lauder Sun Performance Anti-Ageing Sun Towelettes SPF15, £18.50 or 25 Euros, and Dermalogica Full Spectrum Wipes SPF15, £19.30 or 29.30 Euros.

TAKE YOUR TIME

Gradual tanners are the best way to get a decent tan, if you don't need a rich colour immediately.

"You don't have to use them daily, and you don't need to slap it on all the time. I use St Tropez Everyday three times a week, and that is plenty," Judy says.

"These tans are good for people who are a bit lazy, as it's very difficult to make a mistake with them. But make sure you don't get a build-up so respect your dry areas - hands, elbows and feet."

Olay have just launched the new Everynight Sunshine, £8.49, which builds up a sunkissed glow while you sleep within a week, while Shiseido has the new Daily Bronze Moisturising Emulsion, £24.50 or 30 Euros.

Palmer Cutler Saving Face, £19.99 (01795 581 151/www.palmercutler.com) isn't new, but is a hero product in the range, as it's great on even the fairest English roses. It contains pomegranate extract and Vitamin E to moisturise and protect against premature ageing.

The new offering from St Tropez is Everyday, £12.95 or 18.95 Euros (0115 983 6363), a hydrating body moisturiser that also firms skin and minimises the cellulite effect.

Other amazing gradual tanners for the body include Biotherm Summer Source Body, £15, Estee Lauder Body Performance Golden Naturally Radiant Moisturiser, £21 or 37 Euros, and Elemis Total Glow Self-Tanning Cream, £12 or 34 Euros (01278 727 830/www.elemis.com).

BRONZED BEAUTY

Applying a fake tan isn't foolproof and mistakes can be made, but Judy has a few top tips.

"Anyone can apply fake tan successfully, so long as they've not been drinking beforehand, and always look in the mirror to make sure they haven't missed anywhere," she laughs.

"As long as you check that you're evenly covered, and you put plenty of moisturiser on the dry areas, you should be fine."

Spray tans are easier to use and give an even coverage - Dior Bronze Sun Powder Spray, £29, works well on all faces.

For bronzed bods, look to Dior Bronze Self-Tanning Natural Glow for the body, £24, Bliss A Tan For All Seasons, £26 or 40 Euros (www.blisslondon.co.uk), and California Tan Airbrush Spray with Flawless Tint, £19.99 at Superdrug, The Tanning Shop and Lookfantastic.com Others that are worth a look include Xen-Tan Lotion, £25.95 (0870 850 5626/ www.xen-tan.co.uk), and Fakeover Cool Crackle Self Tanner Instant Bronze, £8.99 at Tesco. And California Tan Leg Perfector, £19.99, gives legs a warm hue while fighting off cellulite and slowing down hair growth.