Do it gradually

FORGET the old assumption that you must first go red to get a suntan.

Abi Cleeve, a beauty expert and managing director of a sun­protection firm, explained that the skin turns darker in the sun as it releases melanin to protect itself.

That did not mean it was necessary to turn lobster­red first, she insisted.

“As soon as the skin goes red, it’s in trauma.”

The skin appears to have tanned quickly but has burned, ensuring that you will eventually peel, she added.

To avoid this, Cleeve recommended gradually building up time spent in the sun, using a higher SPF sunblock to protect the skin while still getting a tan.