Overview of Fake Tan Options
These are the best fake tans our beauty editors have come across, with picks for every texture – from mousse to mists and body makeup. Whether you’re a fake-tan aficionado who wants to know the best fake tans of 2023 or a shy self-tanner looking for tanning tips, we’ve got everything covered ahead.
“The best fake tan is a solution that offers the skin hydration and support while creating your desired glow,” says Michaella Bolder, tanning and skincare expert at St.Tropez.
Top Picks and Tips for a Perfect Tan
Closer’s best fake tans at a glance:
- Best fake tan for hydration and glow: Michaella Bolder’s mentioned tan
- Best for natural-looking glow: Bronzing lotions that last 24 hours
- Best cream tan: Tan Luxe The Gradual Tan Illuminating Tanning Lotion with a delightful cherry and almond scent
These bronzing lotions act like body makeup, delivering a natural-looking glow that only lasts 24 hours – perfect if you want to try out your fake tan look before committing fully.
Moisturize just before tanning. Fake tan can often cling to very dry areas, so make sure that your skin is well-hydrated.
Aside from the lightweight texture and ease of use, what we also really liked about this best fake tan is that it smells like coconuts, so you get that hint of holiday feeling without having to book a flight. The colour develops over about six hours, and we were left with a convincing glow that didn’t settle into fine lines on our face or amplify neck wrinkles.
Finding Your Perfect Match
Meet the very best fake tan formulas of the season, from coconut-based oils to the face serum trusted by countless beauty editors…. The easiest fake tans for face and body. Plus, how to find the right one for your skin tone. As a general rule, if you have fairer skin, Bolder suggests a gradual or serum tanning solution, which you can slowly build up as needed.
Skinny Tan’s products not only look great on display but smell amazing too. Add a hint of colour to your complexion with the sheer Face Bronzing Gel Tint from Clinique. Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops. Fake tan can often cling to very dry areas, so make sure that your skin is well-hydrated.
With mature skin, it’s also good to use a lighter tanning formula, such as a gradual tan for example, as this can be much easier to move and blend around the skin, which helps to prevent it setting with unwanted patchiness in certain areas. Just mix a few drops into your regular moisturiser and apply to your face, allowing the colour to develop over a few hours. This is a great option for the face in particular, as it’s often tricky to blend a product such as a mousse into the delicate skin here, so using your regular moisturiser is perfect. Plus, it’ll keep your skin hydrated.