It's strapless wedding-gown/bridesmaid-dress season. What are you going to about those tan lines on your shoulders and chest? According to St. Tropez celebrity skin-finishing expert Nichola Joss, it's a little tricky to correct yourself, but you can fix tan lines with self-tanner, absolutely.

how to fix tan lines with self-tanner

1) If you can, give yourself at least two weeks to fix tan lines. You'll need a minimum of a week; an extra week allows you a cushion in case something goes wobbly and you need to get help from an expert. You might even want to practice first with a wash-off body bronzer to build your confidence.

2) Prep skin as you normally would before a self-tanning session. Exfoliate using a body mitt or oil-free exfoliant. (Makeup pro Carmindy's favourite exfoliant is white sugar -- it's inexpensive, it melts in the shower before you can over-scrub, and won't make your tub oily.)

3) Use a small paint or foundation brush and gradual self-tanner such as St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan for Body ($38 at sephora.ca and $30 at sephora.com) to colour inside the lines -- don't overlap the edges, says Joss, who has bronzed a host of Hollywood types, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Hugh Jackman (get the details and tips here). You'll need help to fix tan lines on your back; enlist the aid of a steady-handed friend who can come over every day for a week (see next point).

4) Over the course of a week, build up the colour daily, bit by bit. You need as close as colour match as possible to fix tan lines. Joss says that taking your time with a gradual formula is essential so you don't go too dark too fast, and thus create another problem.

5) Once you've got a colour match, use a full-strength self-tanner everywhere to ensure an all-over even colour.

Would a video tutorial on fixing tan lines help? Click here for a how fix tan lines demo with skin-finishing expert Sophie Evans!

For suggestions on which self-tanners to try, click here for our body-bronzing picks this season.

Is there a strapless dress in your summer future? Have you ever fixed tan lines with self-tanner? Or would you prefer Nicholas Hoult as camouflage, too?

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Images: Tom Ford eyewear campaign, 2010. St. Tropez face and body self-tanners and accessories are available at sephora.ca.