Over the decade since I started fake tanning, I have tried countless formulas. My love affair began with Garnier's budget gradual tan, before drugstore favourites Bondi Sands and St Moritz kept me bronzed during university. From mousses to spray tans, the choice has vastly increased in the years since – but there is one fake tan that I return to week after week: Bare by Vogue's clear tanning water.
Irish presenter and podcaster Vogue Williams launched her namesake brand in 2019, but its products only landed on the UK high street last year. Its hydration-packed formulas have won the brand a loyal following – myself included. Be it a foam, mist or instant tan, all its bottles prioritise skin-loving ingredients such as oatmeal, chamomile, pomegranate, grapefruit and goji berry. The proof is in the pudding: skin is not only left looking bronzed, but also smoothed, plumped and firmed.
Why Bare by Vogue Clear Water Stands Out
While the brand has a range of different formulas to choose from, it is the clear water that took the number one spot in my tried and tested round-up of the best fake tans. Nourishing, hydrating and effortless to apply, I have applied it before long haul flights, on the morning of a night out and on holiday over a real tan – it always leaves skin feeling soft rather than dry and irritated.
Unlike many popular fake tans, Bare By Vogue's comes out clear – but do not fret, as application is a breeze. Trust me, even complete beginners at fake tanning can get beautifully bronzed results. Having pressed it into the hands of various friends who now also swear by the foolproof formula, here is why you should pick up a bottle of the Bare By Vogue clear water for yourself – and where to buy it with a discount.
Key Features
- Size: 150ml
- Shades: Medium, Dark
- Does not stain sheets
- Natural colour
- Fast-drying
- Fades nicely
Bare by Vogue's clear water is infused with skin-loving ingredients like glycerin, pro-vitamin B5 for softening, aloe barbadensis leaf juice for hydrating and a blend of fruit and flower extracts for nourishment (think pomegranate to chamomile and grapefruit peel oil). This makes the lightweight formula instantly revitalising and moisturising on application, and you are not left with that clogged, tacky feeling on your skin. While the mousse comes out clear, application is a breeze, thanks to the glistening residue it leaves behind, which acts like a guiding colour.
It is also super fast-drying – so much so, you can dress within minutes and get about your day without feeling sticky or greasy. I often apply on a Friday morning, so I am bronzed by lunchtime and ready for the weekend. The best part about the clear formula is that it does not stain your clothes or sheets, unlike most mousses. Of course, this does not mean some residue will not get on your sheets throughout the week, but it is far less obvious and easily removed in the washing machine than other formulas I have tried. Better yet, it does not need to be showered off owing to not having a guide colour. This means you could even apply before the office and an evening out, without looking orange-toned and feeling sticky eight hours in.
Pleasingly, the clear mousse also does not have that telltale fake tan scent. Fully developing in around six hours, the final finish is natural-looking and leaves me perfectly bronzed and streak-free (I use the dark shade option). The impressive colour payoff also has the benefit of evening out your skin tone, with any redness on my arms smoothed and masked. Lasting up to six days with daily moisturising, it fades nicely without any patchiness, dryness or tiger-bread-like skin. It is perfect for taking away with you on holiday, too, as you can reapply it without needing to scrub off the existing fake tan beneath, if you need to. My only gripe is that it does not come in a bigger bottle (it is available in a 150ml size, compared to most 200ml bottles on the market), but Boots is currently offering a great price on the premium formula with more than £5 off.
How I Tested Bare by Vogue's Clear Water Fake Tan
While I might look naturally tanned all-year-round (thank you, Bare by Vogue), for context, I am naturally pale with uneven texture owing to a bit of rosacea on my arms. Plus, my skin is prone to dryness (particularly on my elbows, arms and legs), so I look for skin-nourishing ingredients in fake tan formulas that will not dry out my skin further. Having taken into consideration everything from the application to the finished results, I have been using Bare by Vogue's formula for years.
Ingredients
I always look for fake tan formulas made with nourishing and hydrating ingredients (think glycerin and aloe vera) to balance out the tanning actives that can dry skin out.
Application
Ahead of application, I always exfoliate my skin and scrub off any pre-existing fake tan to ensure a smooth base. I applied Bare by Vogue's clear water with a mitt, using around two pumps for each area of my body. For the neck, hands and feet, I use a brush to buff the product in.
Results
Ultimately, I want the best fake tan to yield natural-looking results. From the colour pay-off to how long the tan lasts, here is why Bare by Vogue's clear water deserves a spot in your fake-tan arsenal for summer and beyond.
The Verdict: Bare by Vogue Clear Water Fake Tan
Hydrating, easy to apply and long-lasting, Bare By Vogue's clear mousse tan leaves you with a natural-looking golden finish that can be built up as desired. Better yet, it fades evenly, with no tiger-bread patches – no wonder it took the top spot in my guide to the best fake tans. With summer on the way, it is time to stock up for that South of France glow at home.
Prices may vary.
