Q: I love the tanned look but I don't want to go out in the sun. What's the difference between a bronzer and a faux tanner? Which is better and which will give me a more natural look?

A: Good for you - the only safe tan is a fake one. Still, you don't want to give the game away.

Bronzers and faux tanners both add colour to skin but do so in different ways.

Bronzers give you instant colour and is nothing more than a make-up product. That's a plus because if you make a mistake, it comes off easily with make-up remover. But it also means you have to apply it daily, which can be a hassle.

Faux tanners, on the other hand, contain a chemical called dihydroxyacetone (or DHA) which reacts with the skin to give a fake tan. This takes a few hours to a day to develop but will usually last three to five days, even up to a week.

But if you get it wrong, you could look like a walking carrot for days.

Thankfully, today's faux tanners are less tricky to use and look more natural.

Clinique Radiant Bronze Face & Body Tinted Self-Tanner SPF15 ($43, from Tangs Orchard) comes tinted so even before the colour develops, you know how much and where you've applied it.

When working on bigger areas like the body, I advise using a faux tanner but note the following:

Exfoliate first

Do this 24 hours before you apply a fake tanner as it works best on primed skin. Use a gentle body scrub to get rid of dead skin cells, especially on scalier areas such as the knees, elbows and feet.

Otherwise, these areas could come out looking darker than the rest of your body. Moisturise after so that the skin is well-prepped. This also prevents your skin from soaking up too much faux tanner at one go.

Apply gradually

Think gradual build-up instead of piling it on. Start with the lower half of your leg, working from the ankle up but leave the knees and feet to the last as they are more porous and will absorb the tanner faster.

Work on your torso and bust next. Use upward massage strokes and work in one direction so you don't end up with streaks.

Next, apply tanner to arms, avoiding the elbows and do them only when you've finished with the rest of your arms.

It's best to get someone to do your back, although if you really must, you can always work with a sponge.

Moisturise

Once you're done with applying the faux tanner, quickly apply a light coat of moisturiser on scalier areas like the knees, elbows and feet first. This will tone down the intensity of the tanner so you don't get the tell-tale orange patches which will give your fake bake away.

Also, wash your hands immediately after so your palms don't turn a carrot shade. If you do happen to stain your hands, rub some lemon juice on them.

For the face, I prefer using a bronzer to achieve a natural sun-kissed look. Here are some pointers:

Go for glow

Look for bronzers with a pearlised finish. This will give you a pretty glow instead of just darkening the skin. I like Givenchy's limited edition Prismissime Mat & Glow (right, $70, from Level 2, Metro Paragon) which has nine matt and pearly shades that you can mix and match to even out the complexion.

Focus

Think about the focal points of the face: the temple, cheekbones, the tip of your nose and your chin. These are where you want to apply the bronzer. Use a big powder brush and dust product on lightly but liberally.