5 Best Self Tan Must Haves for Golden Skin Status

Remember the Oompa Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Remember Twisties? You don't want to look like you just rolled around in their chemical cheesy powder.

You want to look bronzed, beach ready, naturally like you've stepped off the sand in Ibiza. There's so many products out there. Here's my tried, tested and best.

Fake Bake Flawless: I was first introduced to this by a friend from the UK who said she would never trust ANYTHING else! She was right. The professional-level mitt included in the kit is fantastic. Applies evenly and you can see the colour it will be straight away.

St Tropez Dark Spray/Mousse: streak free. No nasty chemical smell. Works overnight. Kate Moss fronts the campaign. This is a long time fashion editor favourite. Totally reliable.

J Bronze Medium Tanning Mousse: Jennifer Hawkins knows her stilettos. She also knows her self tanning products, fortunately! She does a killer range of gold-packaged self tanning cream, mousse and specific face formula. Totally dependable for next morning bronzed body.

PureTan Spray/Mousse: Need to be bronzed NOW? PureTAN is the salon-level range that is all the rage for gym bunnies. If you are new to self tan, try the Gradual Tanning lotion with SPF to build up over a few days with daily application.

Mecca Cosmetica Sunless Goddess Tanning Lotion: If you haven't used self tan before and you want a really natural, long lasting glow, this is it. So easy to apply and so natural looking. If you're a bronzed goddess of many years, this is also a great top up that is nourishing and gentle on skin.

Yoga, Blood Oranges and Fuschia Pink Lipstick in Barcelona

Yoga isn't yoga for Barcelona natives. It's "Joe - Ga" so if you get confused looks when enquiring about a studio...that little difference makes everything clearer!
I was literally walking, mapless, through the alleys of Barcelona when I saw a curly-haired, tanned, super stylish hipster Spanish girl about to enter her (enviably city central) apartment and I tapped her tattooed shoulder and asked if she knew of a nearby yoga studio. She was hugely generous in recommending Yoga Studio and going through directions 3 times for me. Located through a hidden side door inside a children's shoe store, I would never have found it without her help!
The classes were extraordinarily cheap, especially for Europe! Just 12 Euros for 3 classes a week. Perfect for the short term traveller. The classes are entirely in Spanish, but I kept up in the three 1.5 hour classes I did without an iota of  Spanish literacy. I loved it. We started each class with the Om, then a rejuvenating vinyasa flow and strength moves, followed by meditation. I met some wonderful women and I hope to remain in touch with all of them. I highly recommend doing yoga there and if you can, attending Maria, Beatriz and Reitxu's classes. They are incredible instructors who provide excellent instruction and assistance with alignment and technique. They're also beautiful people with a quick laugh and generous spirit.
Yoga Studio
Pza. Universitat, 4 - 1º - 2ª
T. 934512928
Website: http://www.yogastudio.es/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yoga-Studio-Barcelona/

Bonus! If you love raw food or you have a curiosity for it, Reitxu has a mouth-watering blog at http://rawtxukitchen.com/

Also, before the LONG LONG flight, I shopped Kiehl's at Mecca Maxima for the skin perfecting toners and super hydrating serum. Don't skimp on quality skin products when you're spending 20 hours in a tiny, compressed air space. My pick? Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner and Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate

Get the Barcelona Look

Lipstick: Flat Out Fabulous by MAC
Skin: St Tropez Self Tan Dark Mousse and MAC Strobe Cream for highlighting brow, cheekbones and cupid's bow (instant GLOW!)
Fragrance: Orange & Bergamot Aroma Reed Diffuser by Molton Brown and the enormously tropical and summery Frangipani by Demeter (available at MU in Australia)
Drink: Organic Birch Juice (it's the new coconut water!) by Weleda
Eat: From the fresh food market! Fruit salad with tiny plastic fork will make you right at home.

Yoga pants: Ellebie purple tights (available at Be Activewear)
Yoga top: Mandy neon orange tank (available at Be Activewear)