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Whether you’re new to faux glow or a seasoned fake tanner, look to these lotions, mists and creams to know
The sun is finally starting to shine and the warmer weather is on its way after what feels like months of frost, rain and grey skies. As we lose the layers and let our skin see the sun again, sunscreen, SPF moisturisers and garden furniture are all being added to our baskets. But there’s one more product in particular demand around this time of year, and many mark it as a must-have... Enter fake tan.
Heralded as a safer way to look sun-kissed, fake tan can be trusted to give you a post-holiday gleam without worrying about UV rays. A golden glow in a bottle, some people also claim that it makes them feel more confident and reduces the want to wear make-up. But getting it to look good isn’t always so easy.
We sat down with tanning expert Emily Rose Lansley – who has worked with Gal Gadot and Megan Fox, to name but a few – to find out what it takes to create a fabulous fake tan at home. “Prepping is the most important step before applying any tan,” she shared. “If shaving or waxing, make sure you do so 24 hours before your tanning treatment to avoid the ‘dark pore’ look and exfoliate top to toe.”
She adds that “on the day of tanning, leave your skin clean of deodorant and perfumes, and always make sure you apply moisturiser to your hands, feet, knees, and elbows. If you’re a first-time tanner, start with the lower part of your body and work your way up and get a friend to help with your back!”
When it comes to picking your tan, it’s all about skin tones, Emily shares. “If you have pink/red undertones, choose more of a green-based tan, as this counteracts the redness and leaves you with a golden glow. Those with darker or olive skin tones should avoid any orange tans and go for more of a violet-based tan to cancel out yellow undertones.” And the best way to apply is always with a mitt – she also advises blending the hands, knees, ankles and elbows with a kabuki brush.
Our tester certainly qualifies as a fake tan expert, having used fake tan for over ten years. Trying a huge range of options from almost every brand you can think of the below list as their tried and reviewed favourite finds.
Slathering on every lotion, mousse or tanning water as per each product’s instructions (and following Emily’s tips) over the course of eight weeks, ease of application, scent and final look were all key considerations when deciding which were the best. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed with any of these options.
When it comes to tanning, gel-based formulas are the easiest to apply. They aren’t as streaky as a liquid but look more natural than a mousse, so are a great starting point for beginners. With that being said, lotions and mousses are still easy to apply as long as you exfoliate beforehand and use a tanning mitt.
When choosing a tan, look for a non-biscuity scent, minimal transfer, hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or antioxidant oils such as rosehip oil, colour correcting actives to counteract any unwanted orange tones, fast-drying formulas and long-lasting colour pay-off.
First up, invest in Face Halo’s exfoliator mitt (£18, Lookfantastic.com) as a must-have. We’ve tried every exfoliator brush, glove and mitt under the sun and nothing scrubs off your tan (without irritating the skin) like this does. In the shower or bath, apply an exfoliating scrub and use the mitt in circular motions to slough away dead skin cells (and patchy tan). Follow up with a moisturiser to keep skin hydrated.
This all depends on the formula you’re using, and how you treat your skin after tanning. To increase the longevity of your tan, be sure to moisturise daily. And before applying a fresh layer of tan, always exfoliate (see above) in order to give the formula a fresh canvas.
Mousse formulas tend to go patchy after four to five days (particularly on drier skin types) while lotions and gels tend to last longer and fade more naturally. However, there are exceptions to the rule here – read our detailed tan reviews above to find long-lasting formulas.
You absolutely should not apply moisturiser before fake tanning, unless it’s on an area where you want less tan to stick, i.e. hands, knees, elbows and feet. The grease in the moisturiser will add a barrier between your skin and the tan, meaning it won’t stick as well to your body. Also, as tan works by darkening dead skin cells, you also want your skin to be completely dry to achieve the desired faux glow.
Having tested countless fake tans, the competition was incredibly tight, but these 11 stuck out as our favourite finds. Leading the pack, the St. Moriz Luxe hydra-glow clear tanning mousse impressed us the most with its ease of application, natural sunkissed shade and ingredients list.
However, we’d also recommend the Garnier summer body hydrating gradual tan moisturiser dark and St. Tropez gradual tan watermelon firming lotion for soft, buildable shades with a healthy hit of hydration. Meanwhile, experienced tanners will be best served by Isle of Paradise and Bondi Sands to get a golden glow that almost instantly absorbs.
We’ve found the best face tanners for achieving an effortless summer glow all year round