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Best fake tan 2024
The best fake tan gives your skin an even, golden glow without you having to expose it to the sun.
To find the best fake tan, our testing team of different skin tones each tried out all 10 of the most popular fake tans and gradual tanners, including Bondi Sands, Dove, Molly Mae, St. Moriz and more. Our team rated them on their finish, scent, how easy they were to apply and more.
Our testing revealed two Best Buy recommendations – one instant tan and one gradual tanner – that our testers gave the thumbs up to above the others. We also discovered a Great Value recommendation that impressed for less than £15.
The best fake tans
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| Fake tan | Type | Finish at the start of the week | Finish at the end of the week | Ease of application | Scent | Ease of removal | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gradual lotion | Good | Average | Easy | Good | Very easy | ||
| Mousse | Good | Average | Easy | Good | Easy | ||
| Mousse | Good | Average | Very easy | Average | Easy | ||
| Mousse | Good | Poor | Easy | Good | Easy | ||
| Gradual lotion | Good | Average | Easy | Average | Easy | ||
| Mousse | Good | Poor | Very easy | Good | Very easy | ||
| Mousse | Good | Poor | Very easy | Good | Easy |
Date tested: March 2024. Page last checked: September 2024. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
The fake tans we tested
All the fake tans we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best fake tans from our tests.
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Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam 200ml
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Type Mousse
Shades Light/medium, dark, ultra dark
Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived Self Tanning Body Lotion 200ml
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Type Gradual lotion
Shades Fair to medium, medium to dark
Filter by Molly Mae Tanning Mousse 200ml
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Type Mousse
Shades Medium, dark, extra dark
No7 Naturally Sun Kissed Gradual Body Tan 200ml
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Type Gradual lotion
Shades One shade
Skinny Tan Self-Tanning Whip 150ml
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Type Mousse
Shades Medium, dark
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St Moriz Professional Tanning Mousse 200ml
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Type Mousse
Shades Medium, dark
St.Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse 240ml
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Type Mousse
Shades One shade
Tan-Luxe The Gradual Illuminating Tanning Lotion 250ml
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Type Gradual lotion
Shades One shade
Tanologist Clear Self Tan Mousse
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Type Gradual lotion
Shades Light, medium, dark
Vita Liberata Fabulous Gradual Tanning Lotion 200ml
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Type Gradual lotion
Shades One shade
How we test fake tans
We choose the top selling fake tans at UK retailers and enlist testers with a variety of skin tones to try them over a few months. We buy all of the fake tans that we test and put both tanning mousses and gradual tanning lotions to the test.
Our testers try each fake tan for a week and rate them on the factors below. Instant tans are applied once at the start of the week, while gradual tans are reapplied at the start and mid-way through the week given their buildable formulation. After testing all the fake tans, our testers choose their favourites.
We regularly revisit the fake tans on sale to see if there are any more popular products that need testing and when we find them we do.
- Finish Our testers rate how the fake tan looks on their skin at the start, mid way and at the end of the week. The best fake tans give a golden glow whereas the worst are patchy and orange.
- Ease of application Each tester rates how clear the application instructions are, how easy the fake tan is to apply and how quickly it absorbs into the skin.
- Scent After application, testers rate the scent of each fake tan. They look for pleasant, subtle scents and mark those down that have a lingering, biscuity smell.
- Transfer Testers also check if any fake tan transfers to their clothing or bed sheets after application.
- Ease of removal At the end of the week, our testers remove the fake tan with an exfoliating mitt. They assess how easy this is to do and if there are any stubborn patches that are hard to shift.
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How to remove fake tan
If you're wondering how to get fake tan off, we've put two different methods to the test. Fake tan will naturally fade from your skin over one to two weeks, but if it's looking patchy or you want to apply a fresh layer you can try the methods below.
1. Use an exfoliating mitt
A textured exfoliating mitt works by physically exfoliating the dead skin cells, which will also remove any fake tan on the skin. During our testing we buffed the skin with the Bondi Sands Exfoliating Mitt (SQUIRREL_TEXT_50013795), which worked well to shift any leftover fake tan and provide a smooth base for reapplication.
This method of removal requires more effort and doesn't always shift very stubborn patches of fake tan.
2. Fake tan remover
If you find physical exfoliation too abrasive on your skin or want a quicker way of removing fake tan, you can also try a fake tan remover.
We tried the Boots Glow Tan Eraser (Available only from Boots (£5)), which has a spray formula that is a doddle to apply. If you're stuck on how to get fake tan off your hands, you can spritz this a few times over them for easy removal.
We also tested the Bondi Sands Fake Tan Remover and the St.Tropez Fake Tan Remover - these are foam formulas that you can apply with a fake tan mitt.
All the fake tan removers we tested work in the same way - you apply them, leave them for five minutes, rinse them off and follow with an exfoliating mitt to lightly scrub your fake tan off.
They all did a good job of shifting most of the fake tan on our skin and when you rinse them off in the shower you can see the colour wash off. You still need to follow up with an exfoliating mitt (especially over stubborn areas like knees and ankles) but this is a lot easier than if you didn’t apply the remover.
How long does fake tan last?
Our tests show that fake tan lasts anywhere from four days to a full week. By the sixth or seventh day after application, most will fade from the skin, although you may have some odd patches left.
Gradual tanners are designed to build colour through the week, so will need topping up every day if you like an intense tan or every few days if you like a subtle tan.
Instant tanners, such as tanning mousses, are designed to be applied once. Once applied to the skin, you leave them to develop for six to eight hours before rinsing off.
How to fake tan successfully
If you want to avoid a streaky or patchy fake tan, here are some top tips from our testers:
- Choose the right shade for you If you're after the best fake tan for pale skin, our testers with fair skin found that light or light/medium formulas were the best for them. If you have fair skin with an olive undertone, as one of our testers did, these shades may be too light to notice a difference, so go for medium or dark. Those with a medium or dark skin tone should go for the dark or extra dark shades if available.
- Exfoliate the day before you apply fake tan Tan can cling to unexfoliated patches of skin, resulting in an uneven and streaky finish. If you shave or wax, this is also the time to do this.
- Apply your fake tan in the morning This gives time for the colour to develop before you wash it off in the evening. More importantly, there’s less chance of staining your bed sheets.
- Moisturise your knees and ankles These are typically drier areas of the skin. Moisturising these areas just before you apply the tan will prevent it from clinging and give a more even finish.
- Use a tanning mitt This will ensure that you get even coverage, that you can apply the tan over a large surface area, and that you don't end up with orange hands.
- Wash your hands after application If you don’t have a tanning mitt handy, do this straight away after applying the tan. On the odd occasion, one of our testers was left with orange streaky hands that took a while to fade.
- Build up the tan in layers If you’re trying gradual tan for the first time, apply a light layer and add to it gradually over the week once you can see the colour developing. This will let you gauge how often you need to reapply it.
- Do your feet and the backs of your hands last Don’t dispense another pump of fake tan for these areas. Just use any leftover residue on the tanning mitt for a more natural, even tan.
Can you tan through fake tan?
Yes. Because most fake tans don't have sun protection factor (SPF), they won't protect your skin from sun damage. If they do contain SPF, it won't be enough to protect your skin from UVB (radiation from the sun that causes sun burn) or UVA (radiation from the sun linked with premature ageing) damage.
To protect yourself, use one of our tried and tested best sun creams and avoid these Don't Buy sun creams.
Is fake tan bad for your skin?
The active ingredient in fake tan is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA reacts with the amino acids in the top layer of the skin, which causes the skin to darken and give the appearance of a tan.
After a safety evaluation, the EU Cosmetic Products Regulation has said that from April 2022, self-tanning products can only contain DHA at a maximum concentration of 10%.
Fake tan also tends to include fragrance, so if you're sensitive to fragrance it's worth doing a test patch on your skin before you apply it all over.
Even if you've applied fake tan, you still need to protect your skin from the sun. Our sun cream reviews show products that have all been tried and tested under laboratory conditions.