9 Face Tans To Maintain Your Summer Glow
Image: TAN LUXE
/

9 Face Tans To Maintain Your Summer Glow

With the right face tan, maintaining that warm summer glow year-round is surprisingly easy. The key is to choose something hydrating and buildable, so the colour looks natural and really goes the distance. From lightweight drops to subtle illuminators, here are nine that tick both boxes.
By Rebecca Hull /
Image: TAN LUXE

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster For Face, £23 | Clarins

Best For: Easy Application

Why We Love It: These drops lend a caramel, golden tone to skin. Recommended by experts and beauty therapists alike, they’re designed to be mixed with your serum or moisturiser for optimum results. Meanwhile, aloe vera keeps skin hydrated and nourished so it looks more supple and smooth. If you choose to apply them directly to your face without any skincare, make sure you use a brush for a faster, seamless blend. Use one with soft, fluffy bristles to work the formula into your skin and hairline so you don’t get any streaks.

Available at Clarins.co.uk


Sleep Mask Overnight Gradual Tan Gel For The Face, £27.50 | James Read

Best For: Sensitive Skin Types

Why We Love It: Fragrance free, this nourishing formula doubles up as a hydrating mask and is ideal for those prone to sensitivities. It’s full of hyaluronic acid and red algae, both of which help to plump skin and drench it in moisture. Massage a generous amount all over clean skin, leaving it on for a few hours, or overnight for best results. Put simply, the longer you leave it, the richer your tan will be – but don’t worry, it never looks overpowering or, worse, orange.

Available at Sephora.co.uk

Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist, £24 | St.Tropez

Best For: Subtle Results

Why We Love It: This mist makes it easy to amp up your tan without overdoing it. Simply spritz a few pumps all over your face for a light, gradual glow. It’s great for fairer skin tones, and anyone with dry skin will love it too, as vitamins C and D and hyaluronic acid work together to nourish and brighten.

Available at Boots.com

Liquid Super Loaded Tinted Highlight, £53 | Westman Atelier

Best For: Tan Phobes

Why We Love It: These new illuminating drops have a serum consistency we can’t get enough of. Full of skin-loving squalane and fruit oils, they provide plenty of hydration, too. Moisture-boosting benefits aside, it’s their bronze tone we’re loving. Ideal for this time of year, they can be applied straight to the skin; then simply buff the formula onto your face or body for an instant vacation-like glow. The best bit? It washes off immediately, which is great if you don’t want the commitment of fake tan. They are also buildable, so you can amp it up and go darker, or use just a little for a healthy-looking sheen.

Available at LibertyLondon.com


Face Tan Serum, £25.95 | Bali Body

Best For: Layering With Other Products

Why We Love It: This has been trending on social media, and it’s easy to see why. Compared to a ‘filter’ for your skin, it gives you a natural, bronzy glow while simultaneously smoothing out your skin tone and any uneven texture. Unlike some facial tans, your skin will feel soft post-use, while the light tint it lends your complexion will leave you looking healthy. We recommend applying a few drops neat to your skin, then layering a moisturiser on top. You’ll soon see the tan build and breathe through – you can’t go wrong. Extra points for the light texture that works well with everything else in your routine.

Available at Sephora.co.uk

Solar The Self-Tanning Gel, £37 | Dior

Best For: A Streak-Free Finish

Why We Love It: This self-tanning gel glides over skin so nicely and absorbs fast, meaning you never get streaks or patchiness. It’s also subtle, offering a believable warmth that builds gradually over time. A little goes a long way – just one layer will give you an immediate glow, while a second provides more of a sun-kissed effect. You can take it day by day to see if you’re happy with the intensity and, if not, it’s easy to adjust. It preps skin nicely too, leaving behind a smooth surface for any make-up to adhere to.

Available at Boots.com

Glow Illuminating Hyaluronic Face Tan Drops, £8.40 (were £12) | Revolution Beauty

Best For: Those On A Budget

Why We Love Them: If you’re on a budget, you can’t beat these bronzing drops. Full of quenching hyaluronic acid, they nourish, hydrate and strengthen your skin’s barrier while providing a gentle glow that’s never OTT. Like others on this list, they also mix well with skincare, never pilling or causing skin to flake. Our only tip is to use it sparingly – one or two drops is enough to build colour. You can always add more a day later if needed.

Available at RevolutionBeauty.com


Day Dew Self Tan Face Mist, £16.95 | Isle Of Paradise

Best For: Building Colour Gradually

Why We Love It: Offering dewy, healthy-looking colour, this hybrid mist contains some top skin nourishers, including glycerine, hyaluronic acid and sage oils, all of which penetrate the skin for a plumped up, hydrated effect. You only need a few spritzes of this to see a warm glow develop within hours. Never tight or drying, it instantly calms and soothes, leaving behind a far softer complexion. 

Available at SpaceNK.com

The Crème Advanced Hydration Self-Tan Facial Crème, £39 | Tan-Luxe

Best For: A Dose Of Hydration

Why We Love It: Tan-Luxe is known for its silky glow-givers, and this has to be its most hydrating one yet. More of a rich, velvety moisturiser, it uses amino acids, antioxidants and skin-plumping lipids to seal in hydration for a supple, smooth finish. As it nourishes, it gradually works to build a believable warm glow that’s never overpowering – just subtle enough to earn you compliments. Added squalane boosts skin’s elasticity for a firmer appearance over time. 

Available at SpaceNK.com

Fashion. Beauty. Culture. Life. Home
Delivered to your inbox, daily