Secrets of the winter tan

A tan is not just for summer, it's for life. The "one-tan-fits-all" Wag perma-glow has long been a beauty taboo but as the days darken a little extra colour goes a long way to warding off drab winter skin.

James Read, the world's first self-styled "international tanning artist" and St Tropez Ambassador, is the man to help you do just that.

"Tanning is now part of our all-year-round beauty regimen. It's about tailoring your tan so it's individual to you and right for the season," says James, whose new website, www.thetantalist.com, showcases all kinds of different tanning looks.

"A winter tan is about creating a candle-lit glow - it's a great pick-me-up for the party season."

When it comes to celebrities, models and members of the fashion pack (you didn't think those gleaming brown shins teetering above Louboutins were natural, did you?), James is their go-to tanning man. Lindsay Lohan summons him from all over the world and he's just been attending to the pre-ski season glow of the Swiss royal family.

Now he's set up in the Sanderson Hotel's Agua Spa to launch London's first "tanning menu", with a look to satisfy your every whim.

Here he reveals his top tips to eliminate streaking, make your glow last longer and take your tan à la carte

TURN UP YOUR TAN

The look: Like you've just hopped off the plane from a sun-soaked mini-break. Lady Gaga is a regular.

The technique: Like caking on one layer of foundation, a thick coating of tan is a beauty recipe for disaster. Instead, James uses a unique, "volume controlled" spray gun to build up fine layers to suit your skin and hair colour. Fake a long weekend in St Tropez with two layers or opt for six (like Lady Gaga) and everyone will assume you've spent a week in the Caribbean. You'll leave the spa looking fabulous (not grubby) and the layers will gradually fade away without patchiness or streaking.

Top tip: When self-tanning at home James recommends dusting talcum powder beneath the breasts and in the creases of knees and elbows to absorb sweat and stop streaking.

Cost: From £50.

SHAPE UP AND SHIP OUT

The look: A super-sculpted body or razor-sharp cheekbones à la Lindsay Lohan.

The technique: If your summer "staycation" was a washout and you are seeking some winter sun, James will make you feel bikini-ready - even during the party season blow-out. Approaching your body like an artist, he'll shade in certain points of your body (abs, thighs or, in Lindsay Lohan's case, cheekbones) to streamline your silhouette and create instant definition.

Top tip: "Ditch the push-up bra and create a cleavage in seconds at home by using St Tropez Bronzing Mousse, £20 (www.st-tropez.com) to shade in a curving 'V' shape between your breasts."