18 Best Fake Tans Tried and Tested By Our Editors

Best for: Those who hate a guide colour and fake tan smell

Downsides: Because it is clear you can miss patches

Overall Review: "This wasn't the collab I had in my mind, however I have to say Tan Luxe X Paris Hilton The Future (£36) hits the spot. Hilton insisted on adding cassis, sandelwood and amber to the formula to make it feel and smell luxurious as you apply – which strangely works. I did find it took a while for the formula to absorb completely, however there was zero transfer on to my white sheets. It says the colour will start to develop after a few hours but I left it overnight. The results were a natural looking bronze glow which lasted all week. Oh and the glove – next level." Lauren Ezekiel, associate editor.

Overall rating: ★★★★

Best for: Mess-free, easy application

Downsides: You will need two applications for a deep bronze

Overall Review: "This is one of those pure magic products. As a fan of James Read I was excited to try the new range and so far it looks like it is going to be a winner. The new James Read Sunrise to Sundown Tinted Tan Serum (£44) is a lightweight serum that glides on to the skin like butter. It has a slight colour to it so you can see where you're applying, however it dries instantly so there is no staining. It is a gradual tan and it recommends to apply once a week for glow and twice for a deep bronze. I like everything about this product and it will definitely be my go-to throughout the summer and beyond." LE

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Best for: Easy application, can be applied directly to the face without a brush or mitt.

Downsides: Not for those who want a deep fake tan

Overall Review: "If you've got a partner or friend who constantly steals your fake tan then leave this Utan Calendula Tanning Water (£20) next to his toothbrush. Not only is the packaging gender neutral, the application is perfect for those who may forget to wash their hands afterwards or wouldn't know what a fake tan mitt was let alone how to use it. You simply apply to your face with a few spritz and let it sink in. There's no needs to blend as it will naturally absorb into the skin to leave a natural-looking glow." LE

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Best for: Colour adapting bronze

Downsides: You need to pick the right shade for your skin tone so need to understand your undertones

Overall Review: "If you've ever found a self tan to be too orange or look too green it means it has not adapted to your undertones. This is where Bondi Sands Technicolour 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam (£14) comes to play. I often find a lot of tans can look quite orange on my skin, which isn't always a bad thing but it is not the colour my skin would go in the sun – meaning it looks obviously fake. Step in this range, after an hour my skin looked like it had been bathing in the sun for two hours, wearing oil. Absolutely adore." LE

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Best for: Fair skin who prefer a subtle glow

Downsides: Not for those who want a deep bronze look

Overall Review: "This lightweight spray is ideal for anyone with fairer skin or who is a beginner when it comes to fake tan. Sienna X Gradual Rose Mist Tan (£20) can be sprayed directly all over the body and face, it is super simple to apply and I like the subtle rose scent. The colour is really natural and doesn't scream fake tan so its definitely for those who prefer a more natural look." LE

Overall rating: ★★★★

Best for: A golden bronze hue for committed tanners.

Downsides: Takes longer to dry and does transfer a little onto sheets.

Overall Review: "Chic packaging? Check. Sweet scent? Check. Bronzed goddess? Check. Bali Body Dark Self Tanning Mousse (£26) has ticked all my boxes and I'll continue to use and love this tan. Although you won't smell like a biscuit, it definitely does have a smell (though I can't pinpoint what exactly). It is also a little bit sticky immediately after applying so wait a good few minutes before dressing. And while the tan is great, but the branding and marketing could definitely be more inclusive." — Tori Crowther, former associate editor

Overall rating: ★★★★☆

Best for: Deep, natural looking glow

Downsides: The bottle isn't big enough for my whole body

Overall Review: "If you're wondering if this is just another celebrity fake tan then you would be wrong. Bare by Vogue Dark Facial Tanning Serum (£26) is by far one of my favourite pick-me-up products. If I'm ever feeling a bit low or feel my skin is looking grey and dull I add a couple of this before I go to bed and I wake up looking well rested with a healthy bronze glow. My only complaint is that the bottle isn't big enough to do my entire body." LE

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Best for:Those tired of transfers and stains.

Downsides: More likely to get streaks, depending on application, as it's clear. So use a mitt!

Overall Review: "I found the Tan Truth Clear Self-Tan Mousse (£19) to be my saviour when it came to achieving a natural tan and sun-kissed glow, without the headache of colour transfers. Although this tan is best left overnight, I had no stress of transfers in the morning, which was a refreshing change. I also found the formula really moisturising and hydrating, which is always a plus." — Lauren Gordon, editorial coordinator.

Overall rating: ★★★★☆

Best for: Those short for time but still want something that lasts.

Downsides: It's slightly harder to apply than other mousse tans as it dries really quickly, but that's why it works so well as a 1 hour tan.

Overall Review: "Cocoa Brown Medium 1 Hour Tan (£8) is great for people who are short for time. It develops a nice shade of brown with no hint of orange and only takes one to three hours to develop a bronze that doesn't all wash off in the shower. It definitely smells like tan but it isn't unpleasant. Although it's a formula you definitely have to exfoliate off before reapplication, the Cocoa Brown Fresh Start Tan Eraser (£10) makes that process super easy." — TC

Overall rating: ★★★★☆

Best for: Easy to use and develops well.

Downsides: Takes longer to dry than a lot of one-hour tans.

Overall Review: "Sienna X 1 Hour Self-Tan Mousse (£24) is another great option for those pressed for time and want a tan that lasts longer than one day. This one develops gradually so you can go about your day while it gets to work, however this mousse does need a little longer to dry than some. My favourite thing about this product is that it deepens even after washing off." — TC

Overall rating: ★★★★☆

Best for: Easy application, customised colour, long-lasting results, no staining.

Downsides: Might go too dark if applied overnight, reacts to deodorant, and goes cloudy over time (though this doesn't disrupt the formula) so best used up quickly after opening.

Overall Review: "Another water formula with no guide colour, Tanologist Self Tan Water Medium (£15) comes courtesy of beauty influencer Lottie Tomlinson. It might just be my new favourite. The spray is a bit easier to manipulate than the Isle of Paradise one, and the product blends easily with a mitt. You can customise the colour depending on how long you leave it on. I did three hours and got the perfect medium tan. I think most tan fans could safely leave this on overnight for a deep, golden colour. It's easy to apply, has an unusual citrus scent, and only the tiniest hint of fake tan scent while developing. My glow lasted a week, fading very evenly except on the armpits, which needed a top-up after my deodorant removed the tan." — Gemma Cartwright, former senior editor

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Best for: You like a mousse, are prepared for prep, and are worried about turning orange.

Downsides: The accompanying mitt isn't the best on the market.

Overall Review: "I knew that if the Tropic Sun Drench Overnight Tanning Mousse (£32) was anything like the Tropic Sun Drops, I'd be a fan, and thankfully, it is. If you're worried about being orange, fear not. This has a blend of plant allo-melanin (an oxidised pigment in plants like black oat) which mimics the skin's own melanin and chlorophyll (found in algae and plants), a pigment that helps counteract orange tones. And it truly works. As all Tropic products, this is also cruelty-free and vegan." — TC

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Best for: Beginners looking for zero streaks.

Downsides: Little bit of transfer.

Overall Review: "Thanks to its skin-loving, hypoallergenic ingredients, the sun-kissed bronze I achieved from the SolSkin Tan Mousse (£22) was was nourishing, streak-free, long-lasting, and perfect for my sensitive, dry skin. Plus, the hyaluronic acid and organic aloe vera kept my glow going strong for up to three days." — LG

Overall rating: ★★★☆

Best for: Easy to use for beginners and low maintenance tanners.

Downsides: Not ideal for people who want a fast-developing tan.

Overall Review: "Yep, another Isle of Paradise product. What can we say? The brand knows its stuff.
If you don't fancy a foam, serum, or water, then you have to try the newest product in the Isle of Paradise line-up, the Self-Tanning Butter (£17). This creamy butter is your solution to low-maintenance, gradual tanning. I apply this in place of my everyday moisturiser and watch my glow develop throughout the day (making sure to wash my hands after applying though!) It's fast absorbing, non-greasy, and doesn't smell like biscuits." — TC

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Best for: People apprehensive of using more high maintenance or darker tans.

Downsides: Doesn't give immediate results (though that's not necessarily a downside) and must be used continually to maintain results.

Overall Review: "If you prefer a fake tan that gives a healthy glow and is totally fool proof to use, consider St Moriz Radiant Glow Face Mist (£8). Simply spritz onto your face, neck, and anywhere else you fancy and you'll wake up the next day with a sun kissed glow without any transfer to clothes or bedsheets, thanks to zero colour guide. I love how the spritz allows for super even coverage so I didn't have to faff around with rubbing into the skin. Best of all, this face mist smells just like holiday and it has absolutely zero biscuit smell." — TC

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Best for: A temporary fix if you don't trust a true fake tan.

Downsides: Quite expensive, may transfer if you get hot and sweaty.

Overall Review: "If you really don't trust a true fake tan, Vita Liberata Body Blur Instant HD Skin Finish (£30) is hands-down the best instant tanner / body makeup on the market. I've never met anyone who's tried this who hasn't loved it. It doesn't just add colour; it also has a perfecting and smoothing effect, and is amazing for making up your legs and arms for a night out. A little goes a very long way, so apply it very sparingly. Once it's dry it's surprisingly smudgeproof. I've worn it in the rain and found that it stands up pretty well, but wouldn't recommend it with expensive white clothing, just to be sure." — GC

Overall rating: ★★★★★

Best for: Sensitive skin.

Downsides: Needed a brush to help evenly distribute product.

Overall Review: "The EFFN Tanning Water (£15) is Cruelty-Free, vegan, dye-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free and silicone-free (phew!). It's a lightweight mist which makes application super easy, but I found that using a brush to help blend and distrubte the product over my face was helpful in balancing the natural glow, making it less sporadict. All in all, I really like this product, as it felt really gentle on my sensitive skin." — LG

Overall rating: ★★★★☆

Best for: A faux holiday glow.

Downsides: It's a little expensive compared to others on the market.

Overall Review: "The Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam (£26) promises: no biscuit smell, a light-weight formula, fast-drying, and just two hours develop time, and I'd have to agree with its claims. While I don't agree with its claims of being anti-cellulite and anti-ageing, I do think it gives a noticeable, and never orange-tinged tan." — TC

Overall rating: ★★★★☆

Tori Crowther is a freelance beauty journalist and former POPSUGAR UK editor.

Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years' experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.

Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at POPSUGAR UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.

Gemma Cartwright was the former senior editor at POPSUGAR UK. Before joining POPSUGAR in 2013 Gemma was best known for creating one of the UK's first ever fashion blogs. Over the years she has worked for celebrity websites, beauty brands, and tech companies. She is a graduate of the London College of Fashion, a pub quiz fanatic, and a period drama devotee. She has never met a polka dot she doesn't like.