Applying fake tan is risky business. If you apply too much, you run the risk of turning orange. Apply too little, and it feels like a wasted effort when there's barely a hint of a difference in your skin tone.

Between reaching that spot on your back to making sure your hands aren't completely destroyed, there's so much you have to cross-check and examine.

With that in mind, it's worthwhile having a few tricks under your belt to make the tanning process go much easier.

First of all, the perfect false golden glow starts with a well-prepped base. This means exfoliating and moisturising.

Moisturising is super important - especially on your elbows, knees and feet. These areas have tougher, drier skin than the rest of your body. This means they can hold self-tan easier, which can cause those areas to be much darker and uneven in comparison to the rest of your body.

Your feet, elbows and knees contain more dead cells than the rest of your body. False tan generally contains dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When DHA hits dead skin cells, a chemical reaction occurs that causes the skin to become darker. This is why it is important to exfoliate and moisturise before putting on your tan of choice.

Moisturiser will also help create a smooth and even surface to apply tan on, as well as helping to prolong the tan. It's equally as important to moisturise after applying tan, but it's best to use a non oil-based moisturiser, as the oil will break up the cells holding the colour. This will lead to your tan fading faster.

Another top tip: Brushing a small amount of baby powder over your fake tan ten minutes after application will stop your tan from transferring on your clothes or bed sheets.

The baby powder will not change the shade of your tan, or cause it to streak - but it does absorb the odor and oil in the tan, causing it to feel less sticky and smell less... gross.