Whether you’ve minutes to spare or weeks to prepare, tanning solutions have never been better. Katie Wright covers all bases.

THIS September at London Fashion Week, there was some serious rule-breaking backstage. Unconventional beauty looks became the talking point; think purposefully-placed perspiration on faces and perfect hair with added unruly kinks.

A wash-off colour is just the answer for our unpredictable weather where sunshine has been in short supply.

Fake Bake Faux Glow Instant Tan, €19. Fake Bake is the only fake tan company to rival St Tropez.

ANYONE who watches reality TV will know that none of the participants would be seen on camera without glowing bronzed limbs. The cast of TOWIE always look a couple of shades darker than the rest of us with even Arg and the other Essex boys proud to admit to their sun-bed sessions.

IT’S OFFICIAL: we’re out of love with self-tanners with developing time, endless prep, maintenance and that tell-tale stinky, stale biscuit odour.

Markets on both sides of the Atlantic were slightly lower today as fresh concerns about the European banking system cooled the September rally.

British women appear to be ditching the natural look in favour of fake tans and false eyelashes, according to one retailer.

St Tropez, the fake tanning company that bronzes the stars from Victoria Beckham to supermodel Elle MacPherson, is set to be sold to Lloyds TSB for about £70m (€102m), it was reported today.