We say this with love. Winter was long, the jeans have finally come off, and your legs are giving fresh-out-of-hibernation. It happens to all of us. The good news is you don't need a week in Rarotonga to fix it, just 15 minutes in our spray tan room.

why we'd rather you fake it

The New Zealand sun is no joke, and a real tan comes with a price your skin pays later. A spray tan gives you the same summer glow without the burn, the peeling or the pigmentation that shows up years down the track. Keep your SPF on every day and let the tan do the bronzing.

the three things everyone worries about

"I'll look orange." Not if your shade is chosen properly. Your therapist matches the depth to your natural skin tone, so you look like you've had a great holiday, not like you've been dipped in something.

"It'll go streaky." Streaks usually come from dry patches and rushed prep, not the tan itself. A professional application gets the tricky bits right, like ankles, knees, elbows and the backs of your hands.

"It smells like biscuits." Our Hello Sunshine tan is coconut water-based and full of antioxidants. It develops into a glow that feels hydrated, without that heavy fake tan smell hanging around.

how to get the best result

Exfoliate the day before, and do any shaving or waxing at least 24 hours ahead. On the day, come in with clean skin, no moisturiser or deodorant, and wear something loose and dark. Your therapist will tell you exactly when to rinse, and that's the one instruction worth following to the letter.

when to book

Aim for a day or two before your event so the colour has settled and your first rinse is done. If you've got a run of Christmas parties, a regular tan every week or so keeps you even rather than patchy.

At our Mount studio, Shelley does spray tans that look genuinely real, the kind people ask about because they can't tell. Book your spray tan online, or call Mount Maunganui on 07 542 1771 or Papamoa on 07 542 1770.