Michelle Keegan and a healthy glow go together like peaches and cream, so you can imagine our excitement at hearing that our favourite Coronation Street star was the brand new face of Garnier's Ambre Solaire Self Tanning Range. We were lucky enough to sit down with the newly-appointed ambassador (and owner of a pretty impressive pair of pins) this week to chat about fake tan disasters, avoiding your boyfriend in the gym and the delights of baked camembert...
Grazia Daily: What's your favourite Garnier product?
Michelle Keegan: "Obviously, the Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer Self-Tanning Dry Body Mist (£7.79)! I’ve always used it, like for years. It's not a new thing for me at all – I’ve loved it for yonks. And then for my face, the Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer Self-Tanning Dry Face Mist (£5.66)"
**GD: ** Have you had any fake tan disasters in the past?
MK: "When I first started on Coronation Street, we all went to Liverpool Fashion Week. I went for a spray tan and then had to just walk straight out of the salon into fashion week. I was SO dark. All you could see was my teeth! And this was about six years ago and people still use those photos."
GD: Cripes. What are your secrets for achieving a truly flawless tan?
MK: "Always exfoliate in the shower beforehand. I actually moisturise all over my body because it smoothes everything out – I don’t buy the whole thing about only moisturising your elbows and knees. Oh, and you’ll want to put a towel down or you’ll ruin your floors – or slip! And if you’re really in a rush, you can use a hair dryer to dry the tan quicker."
GD: How do you have to change your makeup when you’ve got a tan?
MK: "It depends. I mean on holiday, I don’t really bring much makeup and just let my natural tan be my base, but if I’ve had a spray tan, you don’t want to wear loads of makeup because every time you wash your face you’ll wash it off. So just a minimum amount of makeup either way when I’m tanned."
GD: You love documenting your workouts on Instagram – what do you get up to in the gym?
MK: "I go to a David Lloyd round the corner from my house – I go with Mark [Wright, Michelle’s fiancée of TOWIE fame] but we do our own thing! It’s definitely not a his and hers workout. Though he does come over and try and give me tips which really annoys me, it makes me train harder. I don’t ever really do cardio, it’s all about weight training and resistance training for me."
GD: You’re constantly being snapped in a bikini - what are your favourite moves to get you feeling confident to hit the beach?
MK: "I like doing squats, they work for sure. I like doing ab circuits too, at the end of a workout. So if I do a leg day, I’ll do all my leg stuff then do the ab circuit, or if it’s arm day, arms come first."
GD: Are you a total health nut all the time, or do you let yourself have treats?
MK: "Not all the time, you can’t live like that, it’s not sustainable. I wouldn’t stop myself having what I want, but it’s a case of everything in moderation. If I want something unhealthy, I’ll make up for it the next day by eating really clean."
GD: What snacks would you keep in your handbag throughout the day?
MK: "If I’m being good, I have nuts, or a protein bar, or even just a ready-made smoothie. If I was feeling naughty, maybe some popcorn."
GD: Whats your ultimate comfort food?
MK: "My ultimate, all-time cheat meal is a camembert, baked in the oven, with garlic cloves, and then garlic baguette on the side. And then you dip the baguette in the cheese. It’s so good!"
GD: When do you feel most happy in your own body?
MK: "When I have a tan! You just feel better, bright colours look great on you, and you just have a glow."
GD: Which other celebrity bodies inspire you to hit the gym?
MK: "I follow Jessica Alba on Instagram and I watch her workout videos, and she goes for it! She’s hardcore. She’s got like a six pack too. Also, Ellie Goulding, her Instagram workouts are insane. She's great."
Michelle Keegan is the face of Garnier Ambre Solaire Self Tan range. Visit www.garnier.co.uk for more information