Some of us may be blessed by just opening the curtains and achieving a tan within seconds, but if you need to work a little harder at getting that golden glow, fear not as that’s where we can always rely on our trusty fake tan.
After some extensive research, these are the best fake tans on the market right now. From drops to sprays, creams to mousses, gels and beyond - you can put your faith into these products turning you into a brown goddess overnight! Or in just a few hours at least…
Don’t think they’re all sticky, stinky creams and mousses - there are so many variations on the market right now, that can help you achieve a gorgeous, natural glow without stepping foot in the sun. Which is so much safer after all!
So forget about your dodgy fake tan past - looking like an extra from Willy Wonka or smelling like a biscuit tin!
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Best fake tan products 2022:
1. St Tropez Gradual Tan Watermelon Firming Lotion
Development Time: 4-8 hours
Shades available: N/A
This Gradual Tan Watermelon by St. Tropez is a lightweight moisturising lotion that helps to create a flawless, sun-kissed effect.
Boasting advanced tan technology, the cream gradually develops into a natural golden glow - with a buildable formula allowing you to work up to your desired level of tan.
The quick-absorbing lotion offers a comfortable, non-sticky formula, blending effortlessly on the skin for a streak-free finish.
Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and raspberry seed oil infuse the cream, seeking to provide long-lasting hydration while promoting soft, smoother skin.
Best of all? The lotion is enriched with a fruity watermelon scent for a refreshing finish.
2. Crazy Angel Express Liquid Tan
Development Time: 2 hours
Shades available: One
Looking for an instant bronzed glow? This express liquid tan from Crazy Angel glides easily onto the skin and provides a flawless finish in as little as 2 hours.
This simple spray formula, infused with Prolong & Protect Tanning Agent, hydrates and enhances the skin's radiance for a flawless finish!
So if you have a last minute, and impromptu night out? Fear not!
Buy now from Crazy Angel ( £22.00 )
3. Isle of Paradise Medium Self-Tanning Oil Mist
Development Time: Around 3+ hours
Shades available: Light, Medium and Dark
Get ready to awaken your skin to a radiant and sunkissed glow - with the Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Oil Mist. It's formulated with colour-correcting technology to compliment and brighten your skin-tone.
Green pigments in the medium shade help to deliver a beautifully golden tan that lasts up to seven days - and only takes a few minutes to apply, thanks to the easy-to-use mister.
Combined when shaken, the formula is infused with hydrating heroes such as hyaluronic acid and squalene, to help lock-in moisture for up to 24 hours.
What's more, the tanning mist is supported by seven skin-loving oils, including argan, avocado and grape seed to help nourish the skin and leave you feeling satin-soft.
4. Filter by Molly Mae Tanning Mousse
Development Time: 4-10 hours
Shades available: Medium, Dark and Extra Dark
Created by the IT girl of Instagram, Filter by Molly-Mae’s Tanning Mousse is a lightweight self-tan that is designed to provide the skin with a flawless, sun-kissed finish - think two weeks in the Maldives without the price tag.
The fast-drying tan is enriched with a nourishing blend of aloe and glycerin to help moisturise the skin, and boasts a streak-free, easy-to-use formula, suitable for both the face and body.
Whether you’re looking to create a subtle glow, or achieve a deeper, bronzed tan, Filter caters to all of your tanning needs.
5. Bali Body Dark Self-Tanning Mousse
Development Time: 3+ hours
Shades available: Dark and Ultra Dark
The Bali Body Dark Self Tanning Mousse provides the darkest, natural looking self tan possible.
Formulated with colour guide technology - to tailor the perfect tan to your skin tone.
Enriched with nourishing oils and 100% natural DHA for smooth, hydrated and perfectly bronzed skin. Plus the formula is vegan, soothing and suitable for skin types.
6. St Moritz Advanced Colour Correcting Tanning Mousse
Development Time: In a few hours
Shades available: Medium and Dark
This Advanced Colour Correcting Tanning Mouse works like a colour correcting primer - using purple undertones to neutralise yellow tones in darker skin, creating an even and a more natural looking flawless glow.
Perfect for any babes on the go, the transfer resistant instant colour lasts all day, and then washes off to reveal a long lasting natural-looking sun-kissed tan.
Meanwhile the Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin B5 get to work providing long lasting hydration - helping your skin stay silky smooth and help keep your tan looking flawless for days.
7. Bondi Sands One Hour Express Self Tanning Foam
Development Time: 1 hour
Shades available: One
Ready when you are; meet Bondi Sands’ brand new One Hour Express Self Tanning Foam – the cult tanning foam formulation, now with an Express developing time! And ideal for those wanting to nail a faux glow in record time!
Developed to leave skin with a sun kissed Australian glow in just one hour - the hydrating, lightweight tanning formula leaves the skin with a long lasting, natural looking tan!
Bring on glowing skin all summer long!
8. utan Facial CBD 50% Darker Tanning Water
Development Time: 4-6 hours
Shades available: One
Created in collaboration with digital creator Jamie Genevieve, utan present their CBD Tanning Water - now 50% darker.
Developing in 4-6 hours, the tanning water offers a gradual, natural-looking tan, buildable to your desired intensity.
The formula is infused with organic lavender oil, sourced from Jamie's native Scotland, working to nourish and soothe on application - whilst helping to cleanse the skin of breakout-causing bacteria.
Colourless and stain-free, the invisible tanning water offers an effortless golden bronze glow for your face.
9. Rimmel Sunshimmer Water Resistant Wash Off Instant Tan
Development Time: Instant
Shades available: Light Matte and Medium Matte
Get your tan ready for bikini season without exposing your skin to damaging tanning beds or UV rays!
When applied evenly, this matte instant tan boasts a super blendable formula and leaves an even finish without blotches or dark patches.
Sudden rain, splashes and spilled drinks won’t be a problem due to this product’s water-resistant wear!
While Sunshimmer is rub and smudge-proof, it washes off easily with a little soap and water.
10. Sienna X Q10 Tinted Self Tan Sleep Lotion
Development Time: Up to 8 hours
Shades available: One
Achieve your deepest darkest holiday glow yet!
This ultra hydrating lotion glides onto skin for an easy, streak free application.
Formulated with Q10 and Shea Butter to leave skin feeling moisturised and rich in colour, while Lemon Peel Extract works to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Want a more subtle result? Simply reduce the eight hour development time to tailor your results.
11. Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam
Development Time:
Shades available: Medium, Dark and Ultra Dark
Described a 'summer in a bottle' - the Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam in shade Medium seeks to deliver an enviable golden bronze, while hydrating the skin for long-lasting results. Lightweight and fast-drying, the fake tan strives to develop in a minimum of two hours.
Formulated with the brand’s Cellushape technology and a green-grey colour base, the tanning mousse promotes a soft-focus effect and an olive-toned finish. Packed with potent botanicals and amino acids, the self-tan seeks to promote smoother, even-looking skin.
12. Vita Liberata Body Blur
Development Time: Instantly
Shades available: Lighter Light, Light, Medium, Dark, Deeper Dark
Want to achieve a bronzed, instant glow? Well now you can with Vita Liberata's Body Blur. It magically works to help cover the appearance of imperfections, and create the look of photo-finish skin.
Uniquely formulated with a cocktail of skincare ingredients, the body makeup instantly conceals and blurs the skin, whilst hydrating and promoting a healthy skin barrier - leaving your looking and feeling refreshed. And it's all thanks to light-reflecting technology, that creates a long-lasting natural radiance that can be washed off at any time!
13. Tan-Luxe Super Glow Body Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum
Development Time: Gradual sun-kissed glow over a few hours
Shades available: One
Preserve your summer glow with the Super Glow Body from Tan-Luxe - a powerfully-hydrating serum that infuses the skin with intense moisture from Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate. Preventing water loss through the skin, it provides a gradual sun-kissed glow and restores softness and smoothness. How cool!
The super nourishing formula contains the ideal percentage of tanning actives for daily use (4% DHA) derived from exclusive organic Rapeseed oil grown in France - plus seven antioxidant rich superfoods and energising Caffeine.
14. Oskia Adaptive Tanning Mist
Development Time: Over a few hours
Shades available: One
This tri-phase natural self-tanning mist uniquely formulated with encapsulated DHA, amino acids and natural melanin boosters to provide a natural glow within hours that gently deepens over time.
MSM, Pea Peptides, Monk’s Pepper, White Tea and Vitamins B5, C & E provide skin conditioning, health-boosting and antioxidant benefits - keeping your tan in a beautiful condition for longer.
It's perfect for highlighting shoulders, legs, face and where the sun naturally hits for a beautiful natural glow.
15. Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived Gradual Self-Tan Body Mousse
Development Time: Over a few hours
Shades available: Fair to Medium and Medium to Dark
For the first time, Dove brings its iconic gradual self-tan, now into a lightweight mousse! Most fake tans can be messy, take time to dry and stain clothes, right? Well with Dove's Summer Revived Gradual self-tan body mousse - say hello to year-round summer skin, with the perfect sun-kissed glow!
With a non-greasy formula and up to 48-hour active moisturisation, Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived Gradual self-tan body mousse is the perfect natural-looking self-tanner.
This streak-free formula creates an even tan, without staining your clothes, allowing you to wear whatever you want and feel confident and carefree all day long.
16. Skinny Tan Wonder Serum Express
Development Time: 1 - 4 hours
Shades available: One
Achieve a flawless tan in record speed thanks to Skinny Tan Wonder Serum Express. It's been designed specifically for the person who’s always on-the-go! This tanning serum utilises a time-activated formula that develops gradually over the day, allowing you to achieve a seamless, streak-free tan in as little as one hour.
The gradual formula enables you to choose your preferred level of tan too. One hour gives a light wash, two hours for medium and over four for a dark bronze hue.
Infused with a cocktail of skin-loving ingredients like Aloe Vera, Rose Water, Vitamin E, Guarana and anti-ageing Q10 - all uniting to release nourishing properties to the skin, promoting a supple and silky-smooth finish.
The vegan self-tan serum wraps the body in glowing, even coverage as it treats the skin to a hydrating remedy.
17. Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Quick Drying Self Tan Body Mist
Development Time: Within an hour
Shades available: Medium and Dark
Garnier's Ambre Solaire Self-Tan Body Mist offers a beautiful natural looking tan with a flawless finish that lasts up to one week.
The plant-based formula, enriched with nourishing apricot oil, gives a sun kissed golden glow without streaks or orangey tones. The lightweight and refreshing formula is quick drying and non-sticky.
Thanks to the spray format, it's easy to use and allows you to reach those tricky-to-tan areas like the feet, hands and back.
18. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Spray Tan Glow
Development Time: Instantly
Shades available: One
Want to perfect your pins? Well look no further than cult beauty classic, Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs Spray. It's a weightless, tinted mist that delivers natural-looking colour with a water and transfer resistant finish!
Infused with nourishing Palmaria Extract, the leg makeup helps to refine, smooth and hide imperfections for bare-legged confidence all year round.
Ideal for blurring the appearance of freckles and veins too. You can expect an instant, streak-free tan that applies and washes off easily!
19. He-Shi Express Liquid Tan
Development Time: Instant - buildable glow
Shades available: One
Achieve an instant, golden tan with the He-Shi Express Liquid Tan - an effective formula that works to provide streak-free colour for up to 10 days!
Suitable for both the body and face, the self-tan offers an enviable glow from head to toe - almost like you've been away (without the budget airline).
The lightweight liquid is easily absorbed and fast drying, leaving skin smooth and hydrated.
Utilising moisture-lock technology, the false tan creates long lasting results. The liquid tan can be reapplied in several layers, allowing you to build your desired colour, ranging from a golden glow to a deep and dark tan.
20. Tanologist Face and Body Drops
Development Time: Around 2+ hours
Shades available: Light, Medium and Dark
Create the illusion of a sun-kissed skin with Tanologist’s face and body drops.
The lightweight and airy formula dries effortlessly on your skin, absorbing fast to avoid any sticky, heavy residue.
The odourless liquid minimises the risk of transfer or smudging, offering you the option to simply add a few drops to your moisturiser and weave the tanning liquid into your daily skincare routine.
The luxurious texture reduces the chance of breakouts or blemishes, avoiding clogging the pores to promote a radiant, luminous face.
21. Revolution Tanning Aqua Tanning Mousse
Development Time: 4-6 hours
Shades available: Light/Medium and Medium/Dark
This light and fluffy formula from Makeup Revolution’s combines tanning agents with the skincare benefits of niacinamide.
Quick to dry with no trace, the self-tan mousse can be used on the face and body.
Want a holiday glow in just a few hours? Well now you can! Your skin will look noticeably warmer and glowier - like you’ve just been away!
22. Bare by Vogue Face Tanning Mist
Development Time: 4-8 hours
Shades available: Light, Medium and Dark
Now you too can achieve a natural looking facial tan that lasts for days, in just one application with this Face Tanning Mist by Vogue Williams!
The clear, lightweight facial spray is made from sustainable moisturising, and firming ingredients for quick-drying, natural looking results!
It also contains skin-loving extracts of oatmeal and chamomile; rich in a diverse range of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that combat harmful free-radicals (such as pollution and UV), while soothing redness, blemishes and irritability.
23. Amanda Harrington Face Mist
Development Time: Over a few hours
Shades available: Natural Rose, Natural Olive and Natural Honey
This lightweight mist combines a super-blendable liquid formula and an ultrafine atomiser, allowing for foolproof blending - just what you want!
Infused with anti-ageing Collagen to promote skin elasticity and CQ10 to firm, lift and give antioxidant protection. Now that's what we call an all-rounder!
24. Skinstant Instant Bronzed Tanning Stick
Development Time: Instantly
Shades available: One
Blur your skin to perfection with this mess free instant tanning stick that gives flawless ultra bronze results to any skin tone!
This bespoke formula can be used directly onto small areas for a deep contoured tanning look or apply directly to the tanning mitt provided and buff over any areas of the body you desire to be tanned.
Your new tanning BFF, skinstant blurs imperfections, dries instantly and adapts to all skin tones within a matter of minutes. Boasting a 24 hour tan that can be easily washed away with soap and water.
Unlike others this splash proof, waterproof and sweat proof tan can be used for all occasions! Whether it’s a last minute night out, a pick me up glow before a gym session or confident boost for a summer pool party this handy makeup bag must have offers complete versatility to all your instant tanning needs.
Buy now from Rose and Caramel ( £24.99 )
25. Hawaiian Tropic Self Tan Water Dark
Development Time: Over a few hours
Shades available: Two
Get that Hawaiian glow all year round with Hawaiian Tropic's new transparent Self Tan Water in Dark.
This self tan water is ultra-lightweight and has been created to care for your skin, with your inner and outer beauty in mind.
Pampering your skin, the ultra-light formula contains Aloe and Vitamin E, that hydrate your skin while you tan. It’s also quick drying and transfer resistant too!
Infused with a Tropical scent that will delight your senses and transport you to the Islands, whether you’re living in Maui, Madrid or Manchester!
Now we've spoken to St Tropez Tanning and Skincare Expert, Michaella Bolder - getting her top tips on how to achieve the best glow this year.
Are there any steps you can take to make sure your tan lasts?
Preparation is key to a longer lasting tan; exfoliation must always take place at least a few hours before you apply a new layer of self-tan, and ensure you avoid any oil-based shower gels or moisturise ahead of tanning as the oil will act as a barrier.
Apply an aloe vera moisturiser to all dry areas on your body, especially hands, feet and ankles moments before applying your tan.
To keep your tan looking healthy and radiant ensure you keep your skin hydrated. Opt for a rich butter or moisturiser to help nourish your skin and prolong your tan.
What do you need to consider before choosing a tan if you are very pale?
It’s important to be conscious of your chosen tanning solution to best suit your skin tone and desired result. I always recommend those with paler skin opt for a lighter coloured tan that gradually darkens over time allowing control over your tan.
For older skins, are there textures best suited to counteract potential dryness?
The integrity of skin needs to be healthy and strong to accept DHA so I always recommend St.Tropez Gradual Tan Daily Firming Lotion for mature skin to offer an elegant and chic natural glow, whilst being high in hydration to keep skin’s moisture levels topped up for a healthy finish.
More mature skin will find that tan picks up more of a red pigment as the skin has been exposed to sun over the years and using a gradual tan can achieve a really beautiful and subtle everyday glow.
Are tanning drops easier to use than other types of formulas? If so, why do you think this is?
Tanning formulas really come down to a personal preference, each formulation carries different ingredients, therefore they can work better for specific skin types or concerns.
For example a mousse is great for all skins, however drier skin would benefit from a gel or lotion based tan.
Oily skins would benefit from a mousse .. and so on.
For the face, again I would suggest Tanning Drops are great all round, but if you are in a hurry and prefer a mist this would be your preference. If you have dry skin then perhaps Drops or Vitamins Serum would be better for your routine for an added boost of hydration.
Why is it better to use tanners that are specifically designed for your face, rather than your regular body fake tan?
Face tanners are designed specifically for the face as they contain skincare level ingredients targeted to help treat our daily concerns and strengthen the skin's barrier, as well as add a natural golden finish rather than a deeper tan result found in body products.
Can tanning drops still benefit those with darker skin tones?
Yes, tanning drops can still benefit those with a darker skin tone to help even out pigment and any uneven tone. Self Tan can also pull out a beautiful golden hue on darker skins.
Are gradual tans a safe bet?
I love using gradual tan for building a really subtle glow on paler skin. If you apply tan every 3-4 days, by the time you get to the richest tone, you’ve already begun to wash the tan off during showering. I like to then reapply around day 3 or 4 to help maintain a hydrated and consistent, gorgeous-looking tan.
Can you give us a foolproof step by step to tanning?
24 Hours Before Tanning: Exfoliate and shave, buff the skin and try to reduce the dead skin cells on the surface to give a lovely smooth and even finish. Have a shower and when you come out, lather a really rich moisturiser all over the skin to boost the skin hydration and moisture levels.
The day of tanning: Take a shower before tanning and gently pat dry the skin. Once dry, apply an Aloe Vera based moisturiser all over the body to rehydrate the skin before tanning – always opt for Aloe Vera based as this will not have any filters that prevent the tan from taking to the skin. Add extra doses of moisturiser to any dry areas, such as the hands, elbows, knees, ankles, wrist and under side of the arms.
Shake the bottle of tan and using a fresh tanning mitt, apply the tan in long, firm sweeping motions for an even and flawless sun-kissed effect. If you are using a tan that needs showering off, wait for 3-8 hours before washing and again, ensure you pat dry the skin before lathering a rich Aloe Vera or Shea Butter based moisturiser to offer deep hydration. Avoid using direct oils for 3-4 days after your tan as this can break the tan down.
Day 4 of tan: Buff the skin with an exfoliating glove or mechanical exfoliant all over the body to make sure the tan removal process is even, before re-applying more tan or moisturiser to keep the glow hydrated and healthy.
What do you think? Have you tried any of these tanning products before? Or have you spotted one that you’re tempted to try for yourself? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
