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The 9 Clever Fake Tans To Try

Whether you loathe the smell of fake tan, are fed up with streaky bedsheets or haven’t got the time for slow-drying formulas, it’s no wonder many of us feel overwhelmed when it comes to finding a good fake tan.
Yet the latest wave of arrivals on the beauty shelves promise to make getting the glow that little bit easier. Here are the ones to check out...
Self-Tan Purity Body Mousse, £24.80 (Was £31) | St. Tropez
Self-Tan Purity Body Mousse, £24.80 (Was £31) | St. Tropez

St Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse

Best For… If you’re worried about orange sheets

If you like to apply your fake tan before bed but are fed up with streaky sheets come morning, keep this St Tropez hero on your radar. The clear water-to-foam solution is completely transfer-free, which means no patchy tan and not a stained bedsheet in sight. Plus, the formula is infused with naturally derived and vegan friendly tanning agents, which leave the skin feeling refreshed and moisturised without that tell-tale clammy fake tan feeling.

Tan Coconut Water Tan Mist Body, £25 | James Reed
Tan Coconut Water Tan Mist Body, £25 | James Reed

James Read Coconut Water Tan Mist Body

Best For… Fool-proof tanning and quick results 

With an ultralightweight, super-fast drying formula, this clever mist allows you to dress in minutes with a bronzed glow developing in as little as three hours. The colourless formula – packed with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and coconut water – will leave limbs silky soft and moisturised. If you’ve previously been wary of fake tanning, we highly recommend you keep James Read’s latest launch on your radar; it’s a cult product in the making.

Medium Self-Tanning Drops, £18.95 | Isle Of Paradise
Medium Self-Tanning Drops, £18.95 | Isle Of Paradise

Isle of Paradise Medium Self-Tanning Drops

Best For… Skin prone to redness

Harnessing the power of colour-correcting technology, tanning authority Jules Von Hep’s Isle of Paradise range is the talk of tan fans and with good reason. We can’t get enough of the self-tan drops, which can be mixed with your favourite moisturiser or serum for a Bali-worthy glow. The green tint will help to reduce redness, calm the skin and result in your most believable tan to date.

Ten Minute Tan, £30 | Vita Liberata
Ten Minute Tan, £30 | Vita Liberata

Vita Liberata Ten Minute Tan

Best For… Pale skin types wary of going too orange

A tan in ten minutes may sound too good to be true, but Vita Liberata’s Ten Minute Tan delivers exactly that. The organic formula, brimming with vitamin C, omega oils and peptides, will plump and condition the skin while patented Odour Remove technology means there’s no self-tan smell. Simply apply to limbs and wait ten minutes before showering; a subtle, golden glow, perfectly suited to paler skin types, will become visible within a few hours.

Gradual 1 Minute Tan Pre-Shower Mousse, £14.50 | St. Tropez
Gradual 1 Minute Tan Pre-Shower Mousse, £14.50 | St. Tropez

St Tropez Gradual 1 Minute Tan Pre-Shower Mousse

Best For… When you’re in a rush

It’d be easy to underestimate a tan that only sits on your skin for a minute (literally), but don’t make the mistake of going in heavy handed to over-compensate – this St Tropez gem really does work a treat. Just apply while the shower is warming up, wait 60 seconds and you’re ready to wash away. Ideal for a subtle year-round glow, re-apply daily or leave on longer for a deeper glow; this is the tanning product lazy girls have been waiting for.
 

Self Tan Eraser, £14.99 | Bondi Sands
Self Tan Eraser, £14.99 | Bondi Sands

Bondi Sands Self Tan Remover

Best For… Banishing stubborn patchy streaks

Even the best fake tan is all well and good until patches and streaks appear as it starts to fade. Take action with Bondi Sand’s Self-Tan Remover, which will put other scrubs to shame. The clever formula uses pH technology to make your skin slightly more alkaline in order to remove stubborn self-tan patches in just five minutes without the need for harsh scrubbing. And chock-full of aloe vera, it can even be used on the face. 

Illuminating Self-Tan Oil, £45 | Tan Luxe
Illuminating Self-Tan Oil, £45 | Tan Luxe

Tan-Luxe Wonder Oil

Best For… Bronzed, toned legs

The world’s first oil-based self-tanner, this unique rollerball is infused with tanning actives and a blend of six pure, plant and omega oils including jojoba and argan. The addition of caffeine will also stimulate the skin to improve elasticity and texture, making this easy-to-use roller applicator a must-have for bronzed, toned legs come the summer months.

Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster For Body, £27 | Clarins
Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster For Body, £27 | Clarins

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster For Body

Best For… Boosting your existing skincare routine

Designed to be used with your favourite body moisturiser, Clarins’ bestselling tanning drops guarantee a made-to-measure glow. Use around four drops on the first use, and when re-applying either use the same number of drops to intensify your tan or reduce the number of drops to simply maintain your glow. The ideal way to transition into the warmer months and to add to your after-sun for a holiday boost, it’s no wonder these drops are an industry favourite.

Serum Terrybly Sunbooster, £70 | By Terry
Serum Terrybly Sunbooster, £70 | By Terry

By Terry Serum Terrybly Sunbooster

Best For… If you struggle with the fake tan smell

If you have super-sensitive skin that reacts badly to DHA (the key tanning agent in most fake tans), strong fragrances or harsher ingredients, By Terry’s latest offering is a game-changer. By working to naturally activate your melanin production, the daily cream will enhance your skin’s natural sun defences as well as gradually developing a beautifully believable, even tan.

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