As the British summer lives up to its dismal reputation, Women's Editor Christen Pears finds an alternative way to achieve a sun-kissed glow.

IT was the day before my holiday and my skin was so white it could have starred in a soap powder advert. I needed help fast and it came in the form of Safe Tan.

Actresses Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts, as well as the entire cast of Baywatch, are all said to be fans of this brush-on self tanner that has taken America by storm. And if it's good enough for them, I figured it would probably do for me too.

Although it is available in a kit form for home use, I had my first treatment at Naturally Yours in Billingham. Salon owner Rachel Shaw began offering Safe Tan to her customers in March.

"I had been looking for a self tan for a long time and as soon as I heard about Safe Tan, I knew it was the one for me. It's the next generation of tanner. It's easy to apply, it doesn't come off on your clothes and any mistakes can be washed off within the first hour so it's completely foolproof.

"Everybody knows the dangers of sunbathing but they still want a tan. This is the perfect solution. You get a really natural colour and it's relatively easy to apply."

The first thing that impressed me about Safe Tan was the fact I didn't need to exfoliate and moisturise beforehand as with the other self tanners I've tried. Rachel applied the product, which comes in liquid form, directly onto my skin.

The unique thing about Safe Tan is the method of application - it's painted on using a contoured sponge applicator on the end of a stick. This means there's no risk of ending up with orange hands and nails, which can be a problem with other fake tans.

Rachel applied the tan using broad strokes and then carefully blended away the lines. She left the notoriously tricky bits - elbows, knees and ankles - until last, but the guide colour showed her exactly where she needed to work and ensured even coverage.

Having such pale skin, I had been concerned about ending up looking like Donatella Versace, but I had a lovely instant colour. The tan developed overnight and, after showering in the morning, I was left with a golden glow and no streaks.

I could have achieved a darker colour with another application but I was more than happy with my tan, which lasted about five days before it started to fade.

As well as a fabulous colour, Safe Tan offers a number of other skin benefits. The special blend of aloe vera-based moisturisers takes the colour to three levels down into the skin, rather than just the single layer offered by most tanning products.

It keeps skin soft, supple and, with continued use, can lead to a noticeable reduction in fine lines around the eyes and upper lips. It is also beneficial to people with a wide range of skin conditions, including lupus and vitiligo, and can help camouflage white marks, patchy skin and scars.

* Safe Tan is available as a salon treatment or by mail order to use at home. For more information, contact 0800 085 6960 or visit www.safetan.com.

* Naturally Yours offers a full body tan for £30 while legs and upper body cost £15 each. For more information, call Rachel Shaw on (01642) 360303.