26 best fake tans for sunkissed skin 2024 UK; tried and tested
DREAMING of a golden glow? Don't miss our tried and tested reviews of the best natural fake tans.
Now let's be honest: we've all seen when fake tan goes wrong (hello orange knees and streaky skin) and might have even had a disaster or two ourselves. Call it a tanning rite of passage, if you will.
But trust us when we say that good fake tan exists and you can achieve a glowy, bronzed look from the comfort of your own home if you find the right products.
From tanning drops to mousses, oils and the best tanning creams, we put a plethora of coveted formulas to the test to discover the ultimate picks for looking like you've just got back from an exotic getaway rather than a drizzly weekend in the UK.
Step this way for the most natural fake tan heroes you need in your life...
Best fake tans at a glance:
- Best overall fake tan: utan Cherry & Almond Turbo Self-Tan Mousse
- Best budget fake tan: St Moritz Exotic Bloom 1 Hour Fast Tan Mousse
- Best long-lasting tan: Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam
- Best gradual tan: Evolve Organic Gradual Tan
- Best instant tan: Sculpted By Aimee Body Base Shimmer Instant Tan
St Moriz Exotic Bloom 1 Hour Fast Tan Mousse
St Moriz Exotic Bloom 1 Hour Fast Tan Mousse, £8.50 £7.50
Pros: Develops within an hour, can choose how dark you want your tan by leaving it on for more or less time, affordable, skin-loving ingredients, subtle summery smell
Cons: Needs time to darken
Rating: 5/5
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This tan promises speedy results, with a development time of just one hour – ideal if you need to bronze up in a rush. Like a home kit of hair dye, the bottle features a colour chart indicating how dark you’ll go if you leave it for one, two or three hours, but it’s more of a guideline.
After applying it on one leg for an hour and another overnight, my hour-long leg had a soft, golden glow, whereas the overnight leg was much deeper in colour.
As long as you massage it into the skin thoroughly with a mitt and exfoliate beforehand, this product is practically streak-free. If you’re applying and jumping into bed, then the tan will transfer. So, leave it to dry properly for about an hour if you’re using it overnight and wrap your body up in old clothes that you don't mind staining.
This tan comes in two different summery scents: Exotic Bloom and Coconut Paradise. Exotic Bloom is supposed to give off 'zesty citrus notes' and hints of 'white florals', while Coconut Paradise is meant to have a 'tropical' scent with notes of 'fresh and pure coconut'.
I can confirm that they definitely do smell like this, but there is still that subtle biscuity undertone that any fake tan has. It definitely smells much better than your average tan, though, and it absorbs very well too, provided you keep massaging into the skin.
Post application, I was left feeling a little sticky, but no more than you would with any professional salon tan. So, no complaints about how it felt on my skin. Plus, because it's infused with aloe vera and vitamin E, it hydrated and softened my skin instead of drying it out like other fake tans sometimes do.
Review by Sophie Swietochowski.
Size: 300ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 1 to 3 hours; Formula: Mousse; Star Ingredients: Aloe Vera & Vitamin E
Collistar Body-Legs Magic Drops
Collistar Body-Legs Magic Drops, £34.60
Pros: Easy to apply, moisturising, natural, no strong scent, rapid drying, fast development, fades evenly
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
Whenever I use these body tanning drops, I really feel like I've got my life together.
When I first received this product, I assumed that you'd mix the drops with a moisturiser. But surprisingly, that's not the case. You actually apply it straight to the skin, making this product really unique.
Even though the product squirts out fine and is really lightweight, it's super runny and behaves more like an oil. Translation? It's easy to apply all over the skin, absorbs within seconds and with little effort – and you're guaranteed to get even coverage. I also found that it fades really evenly, unlike a lot of tans that leave you with embarrassing patches, blotches and streaks after a week.
The product is a little pricey at £34.60 for 125ml, but I found that you could use a pump or two per limb and that this would stay on the skin for the most part of a week. So, this bottle will see you through the summer and beyond.
Ease aside, the product delivers the most natural-looking looking tan possible. Want something a bit darker? Just layer up and reapply daily to build up the colour intensity. It's that simple. I can definitely understand why Collistar is Italy's No 1. Prestige beauty brand.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 125ml, Vegan: No, Development time: From one hour; Formula: Drops; Star Ingredients: Glycerin
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utan Cherry & Almond Turbo Self-Tan Mousse
utan Cherry & Almond Turbo Self-Tan Mousse, £24 £21.95
Pros: Dries quickly, not sticky, guide colour makes for easy application, pleasant scent, various depth options, develops within an hour or two, natural-looking
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
This fake tan ticks every single box imaginable. As soon as I pumped the product onto the mitt, I was greeted with a delightful cherry and almond scent. Most fragranced tans use a sickly sweet smell to try and mask that unpleasant biscuity fake tan smell, but this one has a really interesting scent that I'd be happy to wear as a perfume. It's complex and multi-layered.
After applying, I waited 15 minutes before slipping into some cotton shorts. Working from home during a heatwave, I was incredibly impressed at how fast-drying and non-sticky it is.
The two main reasons I'm so obsessed with this tan are one; how quickly it develops and two; how customisable it is. It's called the Turbo Mousse for a reason. You only need to leave it on for one to two hours for a golden glow, but you can also leave it on for two to three hours for a golden bronze, or eight hours or more for a deep bronze.
I left mine on for just two hours and was amazed at how tanned I was. The thing to remember is that the tan continues to develop for 24 hours even after rinsing, so do stick to these guidelines to avoid being darker than you'd like.
In terms of the actual colour, this tan aims to mimic the colour you'd actually go in the sun. I'm more pink than yellow and I found that this tan managed to capture the perfect natural-looking shade rather than making me look too orange.
Although it's on the more expensive side, this is the perfect bottle of fake tan and I think that it's definitely worth the money.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 150ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 1 to 8 hours; Formula: Mousse; Star Ingredients: Aloe Vera
Tan Luxe The Gradual Tan Illuminating Tanning Lotion
Tan Luxe The Gradual Tan Illuminating Lotion, £25
Pros: Easy to apply, streak-free, no transfer
Cons: Need to apply often for deeper colour
Rating: 5/5
This tan says that it ‘develops over two-four hours’ and I noticed a glow from about two hours that intensified throughout the day. It’s so easy for first-time fake tanners or for people who just want a tan without effort.
After exfoliating the day before, showering and moisturising, I applied it with a mitt and it glided on smoothly without any streaking. You can apply it in the morning and go about your day, as there’s no transfer on clothes and no faffing around with having to wait to wash it off.
If you’re fair-skinned, you only need to apply this twice a week for a glow and if you want a deeper colour, apply it for a couple of consecutive days. It has a very mild fake tan smell with ‘Odourlite Fragrance Technology’, and I didn’t notice any strong fake tan smells from the product.
There’s also a slightly subtle sheen to it which is great for applying during the day and makes your skin glow! The tan felt nicely moisturising – just ensure you prep your skin first before you whack it on.
Review by Louise Crosby.
Size: 250ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 2 hours; Formula: Gradual Lotion
Rose & Caramel Unity Unisex Tanning Foam
Rose & Caramel Unity Unisex Tanning Foam, £22.99
Pros: Easy to apply, mousse texture absorbs quickly, ultra-deep tan, colour correcting, works on every skin tone, hydrating
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
Rose & Caramel is a brand that is dedicated to resolving common tanning problems, including having a shade to suit every single skin type.
This Unity Unisex Tanning Foam will work on people of all genders, skin types and skin tones — as long as it's the 'I've just got back from three weeks in the Caribbean' look that you want.
When you pump it out, you'll notice that the mousse has a grey/green tinge to it rather than a warm orange or beige tone. This means it corrects pink, red, orange and yellow undertones on your natural skin, giving you the perfect bronzed tan for your skin tone. I have pink skin, so a green/grey-based tan was perfect for me because it allowed me to achieve a super dark self-tan without looking like I was wearing fake tan.
I applied mine all over my body and face with a mitt, waited around six hours, and was amazed at the results. On top of a flawless tan, the added elfamoist kept me hydrated and I felt as if I didn't need to moisturise my body for the next day or so — which is rare after applying tan.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 200ml, Vegan: Yes, Development time: One to eight hours, Formula: Mousse; Star Ingredients: Elfamoist
Revolution Beauty X Millie Court Body Tanning Mousse
Revolution Beauty X Millie Court Body Tanning Mousse, £17.95 £14.35
Revolution Tanning Deluxe Tanning Mousse, £14.99 £7.50
Pros: Easy to apply, mousse texture absorbs quickly, ultra-deep tan, not orange, skin-loving ingredients, affordable, quick development
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
We all know and love Mille Court from season seven of Love Island – and I love her even more for this fake tan collaboration with Revolution Beauty.
Immediately upon squirting it out, you'll already be able to tell that this tan gives you a super deep tan. The guide colour is darker than most tans I've come across and it's definitely more brown than beige or orange. And this shows up on the skin within an hour (but I left mine on for eight hours for maximum impact).
Another thing I love about this tan is its smell. There is absolutely zero hint of a biscuity or vinegary smell; instead, it has a tropical scent that lingers on the skin.
All in all, this is a great tan for faking a holiday tan when you're not lucky enough to be jetting off abroad (and you don't want to expose your skin to the sun's harmful rays). It'll start developing within an hour, so it's ideal if you're in a rush too.
If you're after a similar result but can't get your hands on this limited edition bottle or want a slightly lighter tan, go for Revolution's Deluxe Tanning Mousse in the shade medium. It has the same texture, dreamy scent and excellent long-lasting results.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 200ml, Vegan: Yes, Development time: One to eight hours, Formula: Mousse; Star Ingredients: Vitamin E
Size: 150ml, Vegan: Yes, Development time: One to eight hours, Formula: Mousse; Star Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E
St. Moriz Advanced Luxury Crème Whipped Mousse
St. Moriz Advanced Luxury Crème Whipped Mousse, £9.99 £7.99
Pros: Easy to apply, whipped texture melts into skin, deep tan, skin-loving ingredients, affordable, quick development
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
If you're looking for luxury results with a small price tag, St. Moriz is the brand to run to.
This luxury mousse has a different dispenser from the regular St. Moriz mousses, helping to give the mousse a whipped texture that melts into the skin and carries with it nourishing ingredients like rosehip oil, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E.
When I first squirted out the product, I noticed that it actually has a very pleasant smell. To me, it smells like a summer holiday with a hint of sun cream (not in a bad way), which is interesting because the bottle doesn't list any specific added fragrances.
The tan delivers an even coverage that will stay flawless for at least three days, I found. This is a great option if you've got an event you want to bronze up for but you don't want to break the bank. It's also ideal if you're in a rush because a tan will start to develop within one hour of application and it will continue to develop for eight hours.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 150ml, Vegan: Yes, Development time: One to eight hours; Formula: Mousse; Star Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E
St. Tropez Tan Luxe Whipped Crème Mousse
St. Tropez Tan Luxe Whipped Crème, £35
Pros: Easy to apply, quick to dry, long-lasting, not sticky, customisable tan level
Cons: Pricier, takes at least six hours to develop
Rating: 5/5
St. Tropez is considered the 'G.O.A.T' in the tanning world and is known as a brand that produces luxury, natural-looking self-tanners.
I haven't tried many of its products, purely because they're on the pricier end of the spectrum (like this one, which is £35) but I was really excited to finally get my hands on a bottle.
This one is a 'luxe whipped créme', meaning that although it's still super lightweight and fluffy, the texture is a bit more full-bodied than a regular mousse. It has a silky smooth feel too, and that's partly because this tan is packed with nourishing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
The application process is really pleasant since the product glides on smoothly and evenly to the skin with little blending necessary. Plus, it dries really quickly and has a powder-soft finish, so you can easily leave it to develop for eight hours while you go about your day with no stickiness.
Thanks to the skin-loving ingredients, I found that this tan kept my skin hydrated and lasted on my skin with no patchiness or obvious fading for a week.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 200ml, Vegan: Yes, Development time: Six to eight hours, Formula: Whipped crème; Star Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E.
Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam
Coco & Eve, Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, £26
Pros: Easy to apply, beautiful scent, long-lasting, not sticky, variety of shades, looks natural
Cons: Pricier
Rating: 5/5
You might know Coco & Eve for its viral hair masks, but in recent years the brand has expanded to fake tan and SPF too.
I was really excited to try the Bali Bronzing Foam in both medium and ultra-dark. Said to even out skin pigmentation with its grey-green base, I was slightly sceptical – but chock full of Vitamin C and natural ingredients, Coco & Eve has really hit the nail on the head with this beauty.
Firstly, the scent is divine: it’s layered with tropical mango and guava notes which made me smile since it smelled just like a summer cocktail.
It was very easy to apply, didn’t need too much on the mitt and when I washed the base colour away the next day with warm, soapy water, I was positively glowing.
In terms of development time, I was impressed. I tanned my entire body with the medium version and, after sleeping in it overnight, realised I'd accidentally forgotten to tan one of my legs (I know, very silly), but was able to even out the look with the ultra-dark shade in just an hour. This stuff develops fast and is great in a fake tan emergency – trust me.
It’s long-lasting, too. I've had it on for five days so far, and it still looks perfect.
The tan is meant to minimise the appearance of cellulite, with orange and lotus flowers (the brand's CellushapeTM formula), and I did see a little bit of blurring on the backs of my thighs.
Overall, this product is great for achieving that even-looking, bronzed summer skin I've been dreaming of.
Review by Natalie Chui.
Size: 200ml, Vegan: Yes, Development time: From two hours, Formula: Mousse; Star Ingredients: Vitamin C
Sculpted By Aimee Body Base Shimmer Instant Tan
Sculpted By Aimee Body Base Shimmer Instant Tan, £16
Pros: Easy to apply, skin-loving ingredients, SPF30, instant, can be removed easily with soap and water, matte and shimmer options, airbrushing effect
Cons: Needs a brush for application, only two shades
Rating: 5/5
If you've forgotten to fake tan and want some last-minute colour, go for Sculpted by Aimee's Instant Tan. You simply blend it into your skin with a brush (I highly recommend the brand's Deluxe Tanning Brush), let it dry before getting dressed, and then you're good to go.
Unlike regular tan, this will wash off with warm soapy water. But don't worry, I tested mine in a pub garden during a heatwave and can confirm that it doesn't come off with excess sweating (or if you spill a drink on your skin!)
I tried both the light and medium shades in matte and shimmer, and love having them all in my arsenal for different occasions and body parts. For example, the shimmer looks super pretty on the collar bones, shoulders, chest, and the high point of your calves, but I preferred the matte version for the rest of my body as it gave a more natural-looking finish.
Both had a blurring airbrush effect on my skin, meaning the appearance of imperfections, pores, stretch marks and veins was minimised.
The product itself is packed with hyaluronic acid and shea butter, so even though it feels matte and like it won't budge from your skin (which is exactly what you want), it's hydrating rather than drying.
Even more excitingly, it has broad spectrum SPF30 and will therefore shield you against UV damage.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 100ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: Instant; Formula: Cream; Star Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid and Shea Butter
St Moriz Professional Medium Tanning Mousse
St Moriz Professional Medium Tanning Mousse, £4.99
Pros: Affordable, available at a number of accessible stores, easy to apply, cheap, skin-loving ingredients
Cons: Needs up to 6 hours to be as dark as possible
Rating: 5/5
I've loved the OG St Moriz Tanning Mousse since my school and university days.
At just under £5 for a bottle and promising to deliver a deep tan within four to six hours, you really can't go wrong with this product. I like to apply mine before bedtime, wrap up in my scruffiest old PJs, and wash away the guide colour in the morning.
Unlike a lot of cheap tans, this one isn't drying because it contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to keep your skin smooth and hydrated. However, I'd advise you to moisturise daily with a regular body moisturiser to prevent your tan from fading or going patchy.
Unlike the brand's Exotic Bloom, Luxe and Coconut Pacific tans, this one isn't scented. So, it does have a slight hint of that biscuity smell that fake tan is known for. But, as soon as you've washed it off and applied your favourite body moisturiser, you won't notice it.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 200ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 4 to 6 hours; Formula: Mousse; Star Ingredients: Aloe Vera & Vitamin E
SKINNY TAN Self-Tanning Whip
SKINNY TAN Self-Tanning Whip, £21.99 £11.99
Pros: Fun whip texture, moisturising ingredients, different depth options, additional limited edition birthday cake version, guide colour, skin-boosting ingredients
Cons: Takes 6 to 8 hours to develop
Rating: 5/5
If you've never tried a fake tan with a whipped texture, you need to try Skinny Tan's whip tan. It squirts out like whipped cream and feels a little smoother and more moisturising than a regular mousse tan.
Part of its hydrating nature is down to the texture and the fact that it's free from drying alcohol, but there's also a team of nourishing ingredients to thank for this.
The tan is formulated with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and antioxidants like chia seed oil, kale, and blueberry to leave you with moisturised, glowing skin. And I definitely saw these benefits after leaving the tan to develop all night long before washing off the guide colour.
I'd also strongly recommend investing in the brand's back tanning mitt, which helps you to reach every area of your back with ease. Plus, it's only £11.99 and can be used time and time again, and even washed in the washing machine.
Both the medium and dark versions I tried have guide colours, so it's easy to ensure you're covering all areas for an even tan with no patches. The brand's limited edition Birthday Cupcake version though (which – surprise, surprise – smells like a delicious vanilla sponge cake with frosting), has no guide colour.
All formulas develop within six to eight hours, so you can either apply in the morning before washing off ahead of an evening out or sleep in your tan — depending on which colour you've bought and how dark you want your tan.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 150ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 6 to 8 hours; Formula: Whip; Star Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, Chia Seed Oil, Kale and Blueberry
Sienna X Express Tinted Mousse
Sienna X Express Tinted Mousse, £23.89
Pros: Easy to apply, streak-free, quick-drying, develops within an hour
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
If speed is what you're after, you'll be a fan of Sienna X's Express Tinted Mousse tan.
I slathered mine on with a mitt the morning of an unexpected day out, and was shocked to see the tan develop into a medium dark tan within just two hours. In fact, it was actually dark enough to wash off within one hour.
Containing pomegranate and Vitamin E, it also helped my skin feel moisturised and saved me the hassle of moisturising after my shower when I was rushing.
The results were even and streak-free, so you can be a little haphazard about the application — especially if you use the Sienna X Perfect Self Tan Primer on your elbows, knees, ankles and hands beforehand.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 200ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 1 to 4 hours; Formula: Mousse
Evolve Beauty Sunless Glow Body Lotion
Evolve Beauty Sunless Glow Body Lotion, £20
Pros: Intensely moisturising, not sticky, natural-looking, soothing, skin-loving ingredients, refreshing smell, subtle tan, natural ingredients
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
If you're looking for a natural-looking fake tan, this is the one. I applied mine before bed and woke up with a subtle sun-kissed complexion.
In my experience, gradual tans that apply like a moisturiser are very hit-and-miss. Often, they'll give you a streaky tan or the results will be so subtle that you can barely notice any difference.
However, this tan was just intense enough to have an impact but still look natural and there were no streaks or white patches in sight. I used a mitt to be extra safe, and a tanning brush around the knees, feet and elbows. I'd advise reapplying daily to prevent fading and deepen the tan.
Out of all the tans on the list, this one contains the most skin-loving ingredients. For example, the added Vitamin A and Papain act as natural exfoliants and will remove dead skin cells to leave skin soft, and smooth, and will make your tan as even as possible. It also contains organic shea butter to deeply nourish skin, and aloe vera to soothe redness and irritation.
Evolve Beauty is also a brand that is committed to making natural and sustainable products that are still affordable. So, this tan is organic, vegan and cruelty-free and comes in a semi-recyclable bottle.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 250ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 8 hours; Formula: Cream
Sienna X Self Tan Clear Mousse
Sienna X Self Tan Clear Mousse, £19.99
Pros: Dries quickly, not sticky, buildable, no guide colour means you can go out instantly, skin-loving ingredients, various depth options
Cons: Needs up to 8 hours to develop, no guide colour makes it hard to be precise
Rating: 4/5
Sienna X is the fake tan brand that professionals love, and I love it too.
This fake tan feels incredibly luxurious. It doesn't have a guide colour and is almost clear, so you can head out straight after tanning without looking too brown or orange. Plus, it dries within minutes without any sticky residue developing and staining clothes, towels or bed sheets.
I applied the medium-to-deep version in the morning before work and found that it gave me a dark tan that still looked natural by the end of the working day. So, on average, it'll take around eight hours to develop fully.
When I headed out in the evening, I got so many compliments on my colour and people said it looked as if I'd been on holiday.
I've also tried the light to medium version and found that it had the same effect, but the tan was more subtle.
It's also the nicest-smelling fake tan I've ever had the pleasure of using. Infused with notes of Peach, Honey Blossom, Jasmine and Amber, it smells like a perfume or body spray that you'd wear on holiday. There's no hint of that biscuit smell most fake tans have.
This tan also makes your skin feel soft and hydrated, thanks to added hyaluronic acid and aloe vera.
The only bone I have to pick with this tan is that, because it doesn't have a brown guide colour, there is a possibility that you'll miss a spot. On my first attempt, I missed a couple of patches on my legs, but didn't notice until the tan had developed.
However, it wasn't too noticeable and on my second try, I managed to eradicate this issue by being a little more thorough.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 190ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 8 hours; Formula: Mousse; Star Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Vera
Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Self Tanning Oil
Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Self Tanning Oil, £15.99 £12.79
Pros: Two-hour developing time, cooling feel, summery scent, no need to wash off, no stickiness
Cons: Goes on colourless so need to apply carefully
Rating: 4/5
I'm going to put it out there: this tanning oil from Bondi Sands is a summer staple. Besides boasting the ability to give you a sunkissed glow in just two hours (that will last a week, by the way), it's a total delight to use.
Whether you're on the beach or surviving the muggy heatwave in the UK, spritzing yourself with this tan is a great idea. It's cooling on the skin, has a summery coconut scent that sticks to the skin, and you can blend it in with your hands (if you wash them straight after) or a mitt in seconds.
Reapply several times throughout the day for a deeper tan that's more like what you'd expect from a mousse product than a spray.
You don't even have to wash the product off your skin and it's a 'dry oil' so doesn't feel wet or sticky on the skin. To summarise, this is a super fuss-free, natural-looking tan that you'll thoroughly enjoy using this summer.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 150ml, Vegan: Yes, Development time: From three hours; Formula: Dry oil spray; Star Ingredients: Glycerin and jojoba
Vita Liberata Untinted Fabulous Gradual Tanning Lotion
Vita Liberata Untinted Fabulous Gradual Tanning Lotion, £16 £10.67
Pros: Easy to apply, moisturising, natural finish, no smell, not sticky, dries very quickly
Cons: White lotion absorbs and is colourless, making it hard to see if you've missed a spot
Rating: 4/5
Vita Liberata is the choice tanning brand for many celeb MUAs, and I love it for its award-winning Body Blur instant body makeup.
Even though Body Blur stays on all day and really doesn't budge until you wash it off (which is fabulous if you want to be tanned one day and not the next) sometimes you want a tan that'll stay on your skin all week.
I've been using this tan every other day for a week, and have seen incredible results. First and foremost, the tan has built up from a subtle bit of colour to a deep holiday tan that still looks natural. And, my skin is softer than ever due to the added moisturising ingredients (aloe vera, witch hazel and hyaluronic acid).
This tan is ideal if you don't want to stain your sheets or you want to pop out during the day with tan on your skin because it sinks in and leaves your skin totally dry within minutes. It's so low maintenance and you can adjust the depth of your tan by building it up day by day in the lead-up to an event.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 200ml, Vegan: Yes, Development time: Four to eight hours; Formula: Lotion; Star Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid, Witch Hazel
Green People Self Tan Lotion
Green People Self Tan Lotion, £27
Pros: Easy to apply, moisturising, natural finish, lightly scented
Cons: White lotion absorbs and is colourless, making it hard to see if you've missed a spot
Rating: 4/5
If you're more into lotions than mousses, you'll be a fan of Green People's Self Tan Lotion for Sunless Radiance.
This brand is all about the organic lifestyle and this specific product is made using 89% certified organic ingredients including Organic Aloe Vera, DHA (the ingredient that darkens the skin), Rosehip, Sandalwood, Vetivert & Geranium – so you don't have to worry about what you're putting on your body and the damage it's doing to the environment.
It applies like a regular moisturiser, sinks in quickly, and develops within three hours, so it's ideal for anyone who would describe themselves as low maintenance.
I tried applying this over existing fake tan that was fading and found that it instantly brought back colour and evened out patchy areas. Next, I'll try it on bare skin and report back.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 150ml, Vegan: Yes, Development time: Three hours; Formula: Lotion; Star Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Rosehip, Sandalwood
Revolution Tanning Water
Revolution Tanning Water, £9.99 £5
Pros: Easy to apply, skin-loving ingredients, cooling, instant, ultra-fine mist, can be used on face and body, subtle tan, buildable tan
Cons: Needs up to 4 hours to develop
Rating: 4/5
If you're looking for a quick, deep tan, this tanning water won't give you that. However, I reckon it's a product that everyone needs in their kit this summer for a few reasons.
Firstly, it feels incredible on the skin. What could be better in a heatwave than a cooling spritz all over the face and body? Secondly, it contains ingredients like oatmeal, chamomile and pomegranate extracts that will hydrate and soothe your skin, leaving it looking brighter and with a healthy glow.
And, thirdly, it delivered the most natural-looking tan you could imagine. Simply spritz this fruity-smelling spray over your dry face or body, and in four hours you'll have golden skin. You don't need to blend it in with your hands, a mitt or a brush, so this is super-easy to apply on the go.
Although you can use this on your entire body, you'll probably get the best results using it on your face and décolletage. The mist itself is really fine, so it's perfect for smaller surface areas but you may struggle to get even coverage all over your legs and arms.
I prefer to use it to top up my regular tan (which I've already achieved with a mousse or cream) on my arms, legs and elsewhere, in between tanning days.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 200ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 4 hours; Formula: Mist Star Ingredients: Chamomile, Oat, Grapefruit and Pomegranate
St Moriz Face & Body Bronzing Mist
St Moriz Face & Body Bronzing Mist, £18.99 £16.99
Pros: Cooling spritz, can be applied over makeup, natural glow, easy to apply on the go, uplifting scent, skin-boosting ingredients
Cons: Needs to be blended in to ensure even coverage, not as easy to use on limbs, takes 8 hours to develop
Rating: 4/5
Mist lovers, you'll be obsessed with this one from St Moriz.
I use mine on a regular basis; spritzing it under, over or instead of makeup to give me a healthy bronzed glow, and it's one of those products that I actually enjoy applying.
Just hold the bottle 20cm away from your face, close your eyes, and spray it over your face, neck and décolletage. Then, wait eight hours and avoid sweating or coming into direct contact with water: you'll be amazed at how natural your tan is.
It doesn't just give you colour, either. The mist contains organic rose water, goji berry and collagen-boosting ingredients to make your skin look soft, smooth and clear, so this product really is the key for faux post-holiday skin.
It's enjoyable to use, too. The luxe packaging makes it look expensive, but at less than £20 for a 140ml bottle, it's pretty cheap. And it's infused with a floral Sakura Blossom fragrance called MoodScentz that I'd describe as mood-boosting and invigorating.
While you can use this product on the rest of your body too, I'd recommend sticking to the St Moriz mousses and moisturisers for larger surface areas.
When I tried to apply this mist on the body, I realised that it was not quite fine enough to mist and leave without blending in with a mitt or brush. Plus, it's so lightweight that you'd need to apply a lot of product to achieve a deep tan on larger surface areas like your legs, torso and arms.
The product is useful for touching up fading tan on these areas, though.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 140ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 8 hours; Formula: Mist; Star Ingredients: Rose Water and Goji Berry
Tan Luxe The Body Illumination Self-Tan Drops
Tan Luxe The Body Illumination Self-Tan Drops, £44
Pros: Can customise tan, easy to apply, travel-friendly
Cons: Fiddly to mix
Rating: 4/5
The body illumination from Tan Luxe is a great pick for daytime application, as all you need to do is mix it with your body moisturiser and then apply it over your body.
I was a bit fiddly to mix it, but I found it applied smoothly, with no streaking or strong fake tan smell.
The drops have raspberry seed oil, vitamin E, aloe vera and caffeine to tone the skin. It takes about four to six hours for a tan to develop and you can customise your tan depending on the amount you use; two drops create a very subtle glow, while 12 drops leave you deeply bronzed.
I used five drops on each body part to get a glow, and think it would be a great product to take on holiday with you to add to your aftersun!
Review by Louise Crosby.
Size: 50ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 4 hours +; Formula: Tanning drops
Tan Luxe The Gradual Tan Illuminating Tanning Butter
Tan Luxe The Butter Illumination Gradual Tanning Butter, £25 £20
Pros: Very moisturising for dry skin, glitter sheen, easy to apply
Cons: Takes longer to absorb
Rating: 4/5
While Tan Luxe’s Gradual Butter is similar to its Gradual Tan Tanning Lotion, the main difference between the two products is the consistency.
This one is much thicker and feels like a rich body butter, making it the best choice for dryer skins as it contains vitamin E, raspberry seed oil, oat oil and coconut oil combined with cocoa butter and shea butter.
It also has a glittery sheen to it and looks sparkly on the skin. The butter took slightly longer to absorb and you’ll need to wait at least 10 minutes before dressing to stop transferring to your clothes.
This is a great option for those who want to apply a gradual tan in the morning and then go about their day.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 200ml; Vegan: Yes; Development time: 2 hours +; Formula: Gradual butter
Bondi Sands Technocolour 1 Hour Express Tanning Foam
Bondi Sands Technocolor Magenta 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, £19.99
Pros: Natural colour, quick development, streak-free, easy-to-apply
Cons: Not buildable, colour doesn’t deepen
Rating: 4/5
This tan only takes an hour to develop, making it the perfect go-to for any last-minute tanning needs.
I applied it the night before but noticed a difference almost immediately. It doesn’t deepen further after the one to three hour development period, but it provides a great natural shade and finish.
It absorbs really easily and dried straight away. It’s also coloured, so you can see where you may have missed a spot. While there’s an initial tackiness, the texture feels light and doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
Bondi Sands also provides a mitt with the Technocolour collection, although I wasn’t too keen on the separate thumb part.
There’s a little transfer onto sheets and when I woke up the next morning, my pyjamas had a classic fake tan smell. I used normal body wash and it came off really easily, leaving a natural sunkissed finish.
If you’re looking for something more extreme, I'd recommend to maybe go a shade darker than you normally would, or layer with another tan.
Review by Zoe Bennetts.
Size: 200ml Vegan: No Development time: 1 hour Formula: Foam
Palmer’s Natural Bronze Body Lotion Gradual Tanning Moisturiser
Palmer’s Natural Bronze Body Lotion Gradual Tanning Lotion, £7.49
Pros: Affordable, hydrating formula, gradual glow
Cons: Need to use a mitt for even results
Rating: 4/5
This Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser from Palmer’s is definitely the best-smelling on this list and is very affordable.
Coupled with its iconic scent, thanks to natural cocoa butter, this tanning moisturiser is creamy and keeps skin feeling soft.
Tan-wise, I was unsure how much to use due to the small pump – which made it similar-looking to a hand cream – which made application tricky, with slightly patchy results the first time around.
But after using a mitt, the tan gradually evened out after three days of daily use – making my legs appear very convincingly naturally tanned and sunkissed. I also like to use this tan as a 'top-up' product on top of other brands between removal and reapplication days.
The ingredients — including cocoa butter and vitamin E — actually help to deeply hydrate dry and rough skin and reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks and imperfections.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Size: 250ml, Vegan: No, Development time: Three days
Clarins Self Tan Instant Gel
Clarins Self Tan Instant Gel, £24
Pros: Easy application, instant results, multipurpose for body and face
Cons: Not very noticeable colour
Rating: 3.5/5
When you’ve not seen much sun, it’s essential to add a little colour – and Clarins’ Self Tanning Tinted Gel is a really natural and hydrating solution.
This is an instant tan so there's no development time, which is really great for summer. While it doesn’t deliver the most noticeable colour, it does add a subtle glow which is perfect for anyone that has paler skin and just wants to add a little warmth.
The tan dried really quickly and easily with no streaks which is perfect for any instant tan. If you’re planning on dressing after, wait a moment as there’s a little transfer onto clothes.
Fragrance-free, it washes off easily and left me with added warmth.
Review by Zoe Bennets.
Size: 125ml Vegan: No Development time: Instant Formula: Gel
Isle of Paradise Express Tan
Isle of Paradise Express Tan, £21.95 £16.95
Pros: Natural, even colour, and mid-range price, easy to apply
Cons: Not exactly instant
Rating: 3/5
Designed to be used within 30 minutes (then the longer you leave it, the deeper your colour), The Isle of Paradise Express Tan glides on with a medium-dark guide colour, with an easily-to-apply mousse.
Applying two coats was easy, however, it was slow to dry and tacky to the touch. It contains roughly three or four applications – depending on how much you use – making it an affordable pick.
There was no giveaway biscuit smell, with nothing too offensive lingering. The Express Tan is to be left for 30 minutes, then washed off, but I left it for about 90 minutes.
You need to be quite careful while it’s developing, as the slightest bit of water can leave streaks. It will probably transfer onto sheets quite easily, but this product is not designed to be slept in.
Disappointingly, after washing it off, there was little change in my skin colour, but the following day there was a noticeable shade change. I was left with a healthy, realistic tan and soft skin which has been fading evenly.
Review by Harriet Flook.
Size: 200ml Vegan: Yes Development time: 30 mins + Formula: Mousse
Is fake tanning bad for you?
Self-tanning products can help you look tanned without exposing your skin to harmful UV rays from the sun – so no, it's not bad for you.
Fake tan gives you a healthy-looking glow from ingredients such as non-toxic chemicals like DHA (Dihydroxyacetone).
While fake tanning is better for you than lying in the sun or a tanning booth, if you have sensitive skin you may wish to use DHA-free products.
Fake tan is not a substitute for sun scream, so SPF must be applied to protect the body from burning, or skin cancer.
How to apply fake tan
For best results, fake tan should be applied to clean, exfoliated skin with a tanning mitt.
In one hand, pump your product onto your mitt-wearing hand. Then, using circular motions with the mitt on your skin, apply the self-tan product downwards.
Leave to dry, and wash with warm soapy water if the product recommends.
How to remove fake tan stains
Fake tan can stain sheets if not left to dry – as soon as you see a fake tan mark, apply cold water to the stain to separate the tanner from the fabric.
Mix a solution of warm water and washing-up liquid and blot out the stain. Add sheets to the washing machine and wash at 40 degrees.
How to remove fake tan from skin
Sometimes, self-tanning doesn't go the way we plan - but it's so simple to remove pesky stains from skin.
Mix up a solution of lemon juice and sugar, then gently exfoliate the skin.
Wash up with warm, soapy water and the stains should be gone!
Where can I buy fake tan in the UK?
There are plenty of places to pick up fake tan in the UK – and it's certainly a staple in many of our beauty routines, what with the unpredictable weather.
From high-street stores to online retailers, a plethora of cult and emerging brands offer various formulas catering to different skin types and preferences.
And depending on your preference, you can choose from lotions and mousses to sprays, oils and wipes – each promising a sun-kissed glow without the harmful effects of UV exposure. These days, there are plenty of advancements in technology that ensure streak-free application and natural-looking results.
Here are some of our favourite spots to check out:
- Boots
- Amazon
- Allbeauty
- Rose & Camel
- Beauty Bay
- Lookfantastic
- Cult Beauty
- Sculpted by Aimee
- Sephora
- ASOS
- Debenhams
- Tan Luxe
How much does fake tan cost in the UK?
As with many beauty products, the price of fake tan varies from brand to brand. So the good news is, whatever your budget, you're likely to find a great product to give you a natural glow.
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Where the price can go up is dependent on a number of factors: from packaging and brand name to what ingredients it contains. Many luxe products are packed with hydrating elements like Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E, turning fake tan into an all-round beauty hero.
In our reviews, the cheapest product was the St Moriz Professional Medium Tanning Mousse at just £4.99, while the priciest was the Tan Luxe The Body Illumination Self-Tan Drops at £44.