While the wise among us never skip sun protection, many feel happier and healthier with a tan. The allure of sunkissed skin remains a summer staple, and with tanning waters, wipes, instant tans, and gradual moisturisers, achieving a faux glow has never been easier. There is also growing demand for multitasking beauty products, so the newest fake tan formulas often combine skincare benefits with bronze colour. Self-tans infused with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C hydrate, nourish, and protect much like your usual body cream or facial serum.
As with all skincare, there is no one-size-fits-all; what works depends on your skin tone and type, as well as the time you have to perfect your glow. Clear tanning waters and fast-drying mousses are great for developing a golden tan overnight, while express serums or drops allow you to achieve a post-holiday-worthy glow in just a few hours. Gradual tanners, such as hydrating moisturising lotions, are ideal for beginners, letting you build colour slowly over several days.
At a Glance: Best Fake Tan Products
- Best fake tan overall: Bare by Vogue Williams Clear Tan Water
- Best budget fake tan: Boots Glow Tanning Milk
- Best fake tan drops: Caudalíe Self-Tan Sun Drops
- Best fake tan for mature skin: St Tropez Luxe Body Serum
- Best gradual tan: This Works Perfect Legs Gradual Tan
- Best fake tan with a mitt: Bali Body Deep Violet Self-Tanning Mousse
Why You Should Trust Me
I am an experienced beauty and lifestyle journalist who has reviewed everything from LED masks to moisturisers. I love the sunkissed look but fear applying fake tan, so gradual tanning moisturisers and drops have become my go-to. I have tried many products in my quest to replicate that holiday glow at home. As a busy mother of two young boys, my skincare routine must work without fuss. If I found these products foolproof, most others will too.
How I Tested
I spritzed, sprayed, and slathered myself in more than 20 self-tan products over five weeks, considering ease of application, colour payoff, staying power, texture, fragrance, and cost. I used some products for years (and retested for this piece), while others are new formulas that hit the mark. With so many options, it was difficult to narrow down to the ten best. These are my top recommendations.
The Best Fake Tan for Sunkissed Skin
Best Fake Tan Overall: Bare by Vogue Williams Clear Tan Water
Price: £22.50 for 150ml at Next, £23 at Boots
What we love: Hydrating, non-sticky formula and even tan.
What we don’t love: Colourless, quick-drying foam means applying swiftly.
Bare by Vogue Williams’ tanning products have garnered hundreds of five-star reviews since launching in 2019. The clear tan water can take you from winter-worn to suitably summer in as little as four hours. I loved its light, subtle scent and hydrating properties. Thanks to fruit extracts and aloe vera, skin feels smooth rather than sticky, and the lightweight formula dries quickly with no need to wash off. The tan developed evenly over four hours, and three days later, I still had a gorgeous, even golden glow without any dryness. Even my bed sheets were spotless. It does not come in a bigger bottle.
Suitable for: All skin types; those looking for a no-rinse tan.
Development time: Four to eight hours.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
Best Budget Fake Tan: Boots Glow Tanning Milk
Price: £6 for 300ml at Boots
What we love: Easy to apply; light tropical scent is not overpowering.
What we don’t love: Possibly too subtle for medium-to-dark skin tones.
Big-name brands like Dove and Garnier dominate the gradual tanning category, but this budget-friendly tanning milk from Boots gives them a run for their money. Designed to be applied like a normal body lotion, this light, milky formula melts into skin, leaving it soft and nourished with a subtle honey hue. The uplifting coconut scent is pleasant and dries almost fragrance-free. One application shows subtle results, making it great for beginners or pale skin. For a deeper bronze, continue applying daily. At just £6 for 300ml, this is a budget buy hard to beat.
Suitable for: Pale skin tones; those looking for a buildable tan.
Development time: Up to eight hours.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
Best Fake Tan Drops: Caudalíe Self-Tan Sun Drops
Price: £19 for 15ml at John Lewis, Lookfantastic
What we love: Hydrating formula gives even tan; sits well under makeup.
What we don’t love: Some may need to use more product to reach desired tone.
With absolutely zero odour, these brilliant fake tan drops from Caudalíe give a sunning-it-up-on-a-yacht glow with no stickiness, patchiness, or marks on your pillow. Lightweight and easy to incorporate into your routine – add two to six drops to your usual moisturiser – you will have an even, radiant glow by lunchtime. Infused with grape water for extra hydration, this formula is the perfect base for makeup. I found two drops super subtle; four seemed perfect. Colour faded naturally over a couple of days despite using acids in my evening routine.
Suitable for: All skin tones; those who prefer a natural-looking finish.
Development time: Three to four hours.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
Best Fake Tan for Mature Skin: St Tropez Luxe Body Serum
Price: £17.50 for 200ml at John Lewis, £26.99 at Amazon
What we love: Lightweight and nourishing but not greasy; dries quickly.
What we don’t love: Takes longer to develop compared with others.
St Tropez’s feather-light serum blends niacinamide with a collagen-enhancing complex for a beautiful, natural-looking finish. From the lightweight, non-greasy texture to the subtle floral scent, the Luxe body serum is a dream to apply. Infused with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B5, it hydrates, firms, soothes, and tones, making it great for mature skin wanting to improve elasticity and reduce crepiness. The serum pumps out with a lightly golden colour to guide application. It blends seamlessly and dries quickly without tackiness. The result is a natural-looking bronze that feels well nourished.
Suitable for: An overnight tan; those who want a no-rinse formula.
Development time: Eight hours.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
Best Gradual Tan: This Works Perfect Legs Gradual Tan
Price: £42 for 150ml at M&S, This Works
What we love: Gorgeous scent; leaves skin looking and feeling luminous.
What we don’t love: Expensive.
This moisturising formula from This Works contains shea butter, natural caramel, and vitamin C to hydrate and nourish as it works on colour. Don’t let the deep caramel colour deter you – it blends beautifully, giving an instant but subtle tint that darkens over time. The sumptuous, premium-feeling formula absorbs quickly, leaving skin soft and velvety. The combination of geranium and sweet orange oils gives a pleasant scent, and the slight shimmery finish blurs blemishes.
Suitable for: All skin types; those who want a blemish-blurring instant glow.
Development time: Four to eight hours.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
Best Fake Tan with a Mitt: Bali Body Deep Violet Self-Tanning Mousse
Price: £23.24 for 200ml at Boots, £31 at ASOS
What we love: Great colour pay-off; easy to apply; non-drying formula.
What we don’t love: Pricier than some mousse tans; might not work for beginners.
The Bali Body Deep Violet self-tanning mousse is a velvety, whipped formula that is super easy to apply and gives a rich, olive-toned colour in six to eight hours. Formulated with a violet base to counteract yellow and orange undertones, it is enriched with nourishing oils and tanning boosters for longer-lasting results. The mousse glides on effortlessly with a mitt and absorbs in minutes. It is free of unpleasant chemical scent and promises up to seven days of bold, even colour. Four days later, it was still going strong – no orange, no streaks, just a perfect golden glow.
Suitable for: Medium complexions with yellow or orange undertones.
Development time: Six to eight hours.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
The Best of the Rest
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads
Price: £46 for eight at Cult Beauty, £49 at Space NK
Best for: An express tan for special occasions. These pads exfoliate and tan in one step, infused with glycolic and salicylic acids, vitamin E, and phospholipids. The formula dries quickly and produces a gorgeous, even colour. However, tan wipes are not the easiest to apply, and some areas may be missed. At up to £49 for eight wipes, it is also expensive.
Suitable for: Dull skin lacking radiance.
Development time: One hour.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
Filter by Molly-Mae Tanning Mousse
Price: £22 for 200ml at Selfridges, Boots
Best for: A hydrating mousse tan. The guide colour helps with application, and the lightweight mousse leaves skin soft. However, it may show patchiness after a few days and is not the easiest to remove.
Suitable for: Those who prefer a classic tanning mousse.
Development time: Four to six hours.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
Ultrasun After Sun Tan Booster
Price: £16 for 150ml at Lookfantastic, Amazon
Best for: Prolonging your holiday tan. This soothing after-sun is enriched with gradual self-tan to maintain or build bronzed glow. Its light texture absorbs quickly, locking in moisture. The final colour looks natural. However, the colour may be too subtle for some.
Suitable for: All skin types; soothing sun-parched bodies.
Development time: Eight hours.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
Tropic Instant Glow Perfecting Leg Serum
Price: £16 for 95ml at Tropic
Best for: An instant tan. This wash-off serum adapts to your skin tone, blurs imperfections, and makes you look more radiant. It contains vitamin C, arnica extract, and coffee butter. However, a lot of product transfers to hands, so a fake tan brush is recommended.
Suitable for: A quick fix; those who want instant results.
Development time: Instant.
Vegan-friendly: Yes.
What You Need to Know
How to Use Fake Tan
Exfoliate 24 hours beforehand to create a smooth canvas. Use exfoliating gloves with shower gel, as body scrubs may contain oils that block the tan. Lightly moisturise dry areas like ankles, hands, knees, and elbows before application. Apply tan from the bottom up to avoid ruining your top half. Use leftover product on the mitt for hands and feet. A kabuki brush can help blend for an even finish. Respect the marinating time – wear dark, loose clothing and avoid going out while the tan develops.
How to Choose the Best Fake Tan for Your Skin
Choose a product suitable for your skin type to prevent irritation and ensure longer-lasting tan. For dry skin, lotions are ideal to lock in moisture. Oily or acne-prone skin should look for non-comedogenic mousses or sprays. Gradual tans or tanning drops are great for dry skin as they have less DHA. Look for hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and vitamin E. For sensitive skin, choose fragrance-free options. Those prone to breakouts should consider express self-tans.
How Long Does Fake Tan Last?
Typically, a fake tan lasts about five to seven days. Moisturise daily with an oil-free moisturiser to keep skin hydrated and prolong the tan. Avoid chlorine and long baths.
Should You Moisturise Before Fake Tan?
Yes, moisturising after exfoliating prevents dehydration and scaly skin. Pay close attention to knees, elbows, and ankles 24 hours before tanning.
How to Remove Fake Tan
Exfoliate gently and use a dedicated fake tan remover containing exfoliating acids like salicylic acid. Always wear a mitt when self-tanning and wash hands thoroughly after use.
How to Get Fake Tan Off Your Hands
Use a dedicated self-tan remover. Alternatively, soak hands in baby oil, olive oil, or coconut oil for 10 to 15 minutes, then gently exfoliate with a glove.
Can You Use Fake Tan When Pregnant?
Fake tan is safe to use during pregnancy, but hormonal changes may cause sensitivity. Always do a patch test 24 hours before use. If breastfeeding, avoid tanning your breasts. If in doubt, consult your GP.
