Get the Perfect Spring Break Tan

Hollywood tanning guru Jimmy Jimmy Coco-featured in the March issue of InStyle-knows how to get his glow on. A master at creating a natural sunkissed look, he offers tips here on how to warm up winter skin (without inviting UVA damage) and picks products for every skin tone just in time for spring.

With Coco's help, Katy Perry goes from alabaster to California Gurls.

PREP "Blotchiness is obvious on light skin, so exfoliation is key," Coco says. "Work your whole body with exfoliating gloves and avoid moisturizing." (DHA, the chemical that changes your skin's pigment, adheres best to dry, clean skin.)

AND PREP SOME MORE... To avoid looking like an Oompa Loompa, always start with a skin test. Try tanning liquids by dabbing them on a concealed zone, like your inner bicep. "Then pick the formula that looks the most natural," says Coco.

SELECT YOUR FORMULA "Pale skin goes orange the quickest, so avoid products with orange or yellow number four," advises Coco. "And opt for a DHA concentration of five to seven percent. Anything higher is too intense."

• Jimmy Jimmy Coco Blast Tanning Spray, $25; rockthetan.com.

• Bare Escentuals Faux Tan Sunless Tanner, $22;

bareescentuals.com.

Coco has worked with many of the Victoria's Secret Angels, including the tawny Heidi Klum.

SELECT YOUR FORMULA According to Coco, a seven to eight percent DHA concentration is suitable for most mid-range skin tones.

WORK UPWARDS When smoothing on tanner, start with your feet and move upwards. "That way, your application rhythm is even before you get to noticeable areas like your arms and face."

FIX MISTAKES "If you need to get the solution off quickly, soak in a hot tub or Jacuzzi with chlorine," advises Coco. As skin cells absorb water, the effect will be diluted.

amp#149; Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Flawless Airbrush Instant Bronze Spray, $12; victoriassecret.com.

amp#149; Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer, $9;

drugstore.com.

Coco client Kim Kardashian always looks evenly bronzed.

DON'T GO TOO DARK Use your arms, upper chest or shoulders as a color guide for the deepest bronze you should achieve. "I say the left forearm, because it gets the most sun from driving," says Coco.

PROTECT YOUR JOINTS Excess tanner looks muddiest on dark skin tones. To avoid that shadowy build-up, Coco advises prepping with moisturizer on the elbows and knees and using a light touch with tanning solutions.

CONCEAL TAN LINES "I've seen the most drastic tan lines on darker skinned women," says Coco. If you notice unevenness, rub a thin layer of tanner on the lighter areas of your skin every day.

• St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Spray, $30; sttropeztan.com.

• Sally Hansen Salon Airbrush Legs, $14;

walgreens.com.