Ultimo Beauty L.A. Instant Glamour Shimmer Tan Wash-OffAdmit it, who hasn't been invited for a spontaneous sunny day outing and felt self-conscious about having Casper-coloured pins? For times like these, there's UTan's instant self tan. We prepped our skin as before, scrubbing and moisturising before moving onto the fun part — the tanning.

[Related review: The Lifestylists review: Dove Colour Radiance range]

This instant tan is supposed to leave you with a deep bronze colour with subtle golden highlights, but we warned, when the packet says deep colour, it means deep. I made the mistake of applying this tan in a rush and it  went everywhere. Despite being 'instant',  it's definitely one of those self-tans that you need to take your time to apply. Despite the fact we used a tanning mitt to apply it which should make it even, it's still so dark that if you make a mistake, it's a real struggle to fix it.

Nonetheless, we were really impressed with the longevity of this self-tan, and for an instant tan, it was a stunning colour and really very

Ultimo Beauty Self Tan Lotion Medium - Marbella GoldThis product is designed for women after a 'golden and glamorous' tan, and despite the Towie-endorsed title, who doesn't want to look a little sunkissed?

Exfoliation is important so I gave myself a good scrub in the shower, before applying Johnson's Baby Oil all over, and extra body butter to dry skin on my knees, ankles, elbows, hands and feet. Finally I applied a lightweight moisturiser all over ready to begin.

[Related review: Vaseline’s classy new flavour launches]

Michelle advises using gloves to apply the Marbella Gold tan, but I've always preferred to use a tanning mitt instead. I squirted a little onto the mitt and then applied it in circular motions from my ankles up. It was a breeze to apply and I found that I only needed the tiniest amount because the lotion was so dark and pigmented. It left me with a gorgeous, even bronzed colour all over — no streaks! — but in a couple of hours it developed into a much darker shade.  The product wouldn't suit fairer ladies as it's very

Y! Lifestyle reviews Michelle Mone's new self tanning range

The full Ultimo UTan rangeSince it launched in May this year, Ultimo's UTan range has been flying off the shelves.

Loved by celebs including Corrie's Michelle Keegan and The Saturday's Una Healy, it's designed to not just be a self-tan, but a body sculpting cream too — toning your body while giving you a healthy glow.
Created by Ultimo Lingerie founder Michelle Mone OBE, it took three years of research and £1 million to develop. The range includes nine products in total, priced from £15 for a pre-tan exfoliator to £28.50 for a self-tanning mousse. Ever keen to discover the perfect fake tan, Y! Lifestyle writer Sophie put it through its paces…

• Self-Tan Lotion Medium - Marbella Gold 200ml — RRP £28.50 (full review)
• L.A. Instant Glamour Shimmer Tan Wash-Off 150ml — RRP £18.00 (full review)
• Deluxe Gradual Tan — Miami Beach 200ml — RRP £18.00 (full review)

Our verdict: Some of the fake tans were too dark for my personal preference and skin tone, but if

Finding you ex on Facebook is one thing...restarting the affair is quite anotherRecently an old friend of mine started flirting on Facebook. Both of us are married with kids (although I am separated from my husband) but it quickly escalated to flirty texts and the odd phone call... and finally we spent the night together. Not long after, he made it clear he wasn't going to let it go any further.  I agreed but then last week he suggested we meet up again. The thing is, I really do like him. How do I handle the situation without risking us falling out again?

Christine says...

Ah Facebook, it's got a lot to answer for. It's not just used for looking up old acquaintances and going 'ooh they've got fat'. It's also for looking up old acquaintances and going 'ooh I've always quite fancied them, I wonder if they're up for a secret fumble behind my wife's back?'.

I think it's pretty obvious what he wants and it's not just a chat about the old days. He wants a bit of titillation away from his marriage, bored of conversations about packed lunches and whose turn it is to

Online first dates are weird. An evening spent with a total stranger, during which you are trying to work out if you could ever love them. This is an impossible task by definition, yet you can't help but try. So you're constantly re-evaluating their suitability, often on a minute-by-minute basis.

I became helplessly aware of this phenomenon on a recent date with Connie, of whom my opinion fluctuated more wildly than the weather on a 2012 British summer's day...

[Related feature: Why women shouldn't lie about their age on dating sites]

I watch her approach, my eyes and brain hurriedly processing every atom of her being. Is she fit? She looks OK I think. Is she like her photo? Kind of. She is here now and I give her a polite greeting kiss. She speaks. Yes, I think she is fit.

She has a habit of unnecessarily elongating her laughs. So she'll say something, then laugh for about seven seconds while looking at me. This is too long. I stopped laughing after about three seconds, which is a

In 2009 WRAP published a report on the foods we were most commonly throwing away. In 2011, they published another report, which found that although we're wasting less, we're still binning around one fifth of the food we buy. Do your bit for the environment and save money with these ideas for common leftovers.

Rice

Cashew nut egg fried rice chinese
In their 2009 report, WRAP found that we were unnecessarily throwing away £150m worth of rice (64,000 tonnes) every year. And although it's predictable, one of the best uses for cold, leftover rice is in a stir-fry; the grains are less starchy and don't overcook. Fry it with egg, cashew nuts, garlic and vegetables, finishing with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil.

For leftover risotto, roll into balls, dip in egg and breadcrumbs and deep-fry for delicious arancini.

Always remember to store rice correctly: refrigerate within one hour of cooking and eat within 24 hours. Always make sure rice is thoroughly reheated, and only reheat once.

Potatoes

Garlic roasted potato wedges
In the same report, WRAP also

So, the nights are drawing in and the mercury's plunging. While we're not suggesting donning the winter coat just yet, preparation is everything, and there's no better time to consider how our skin's needs will change once the sun goes into hibernation.

Keep your skin glowing for autumn © Rex

During the colder months, our skin is exposed to a multitude of external aggressors which might not affect it in warmer weather. "The colder seasons and environment can bring a lot of skin-drying wind, free radical damage and other conditions which could be harmful and irritating to your skin," points out skincare guru Dr Murad.

"During this season, I recommend using a rich moisturiser which contains super-hydrating and anti-inflammatory agents such as avocado, sunflower and olive fruit oils for optimal hydration and licorice extract to reduce redness and skin irritation. Also, consider your internal skincare routine by eating extra-hydrating foods such as cucumbers, cantaloupe and honeydew melon, to help moisturise your dry winter

Vaseline's new Pink Bubbly tin means we can enjoy a splash of champers any time of the dayPerfect for the party season - bubbles for the lips

For this autumn and winter Vaseline promises to put a little glamour into keeping winter lips shiny, healthy and soft with its newest flavour — with its new Pink Bubbly lip tin.

Pale pink and subtly flavoured with real grape extract for a rosé hint, it smells and tastes subtly luxurious and moisturises as you'd expect from tour staple lip therapy. Plus it adds a touch of class for top ups on nights out.

Available from Selfridges now and later this month at Boots and Superdrug, £3.49