London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Mar 12, 2026

The self-tans serving up the sunshine now that we're staying put for summer

The self-tans serving up the sunshine now that we're staying put for summer

No sunshine, no problem.

We're not going on a summer holiday. Or, if we are, it's a staycation situation where the weather's a bit of a gamble. Yes, Blighty blessed us with a recent heatwave, but it's been howling storms or "mehh" weather ever since.

Of course, we've not let that stop us from getting our glow on at home, whether it's from dangling out the window when the sun makes a surprise appearance like one committed Glaswegian did recently (not recommended), or layering up on some self-tan action.

Sales have taken off with brand's like Bali Body reporting a 450% surge in demand for its Ultra Dark Self Tanning Mousse during lockdown. Meanwhile, Coco & Eve's Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam is quickly building up a cult following. After selling out three times and accumulating a 30,000 person waiting list, it's back in stock and selling a bottle every 20 seconds.

It seems even self tan refuseniks are dipping their toe (or entire bodies) into fake tanning for the first time. It might have a reputation for being tricky, going streaky and smelling a bit whiffy the next day, but it also has the power to overhaul pasty limbs, boost confidence and bring the sunshine – even when there is none and cheer ourselves up in the process.

Tanning is an area that continues to innovate, with brands tackling Fanta undertones, dubious scents and patchy stripes to make formulas far more user-friendly. The selection is *huge* – there are silky lotions, fluffy mousses, and handy 360 sprays to suit all preferences and skin types. You can even pick up speedy solutions that develop in just one hour, or long-lasting heroes that stick around for up to three weeks.

Whether you like a deep golden tan or a subtle whisper of warmth, there are options for all. Scroll down to see the best fake tans, that have been tried, tested and given the seal of approval by the GLAMOUR team with our in-house reviews on what exactly they’re best for.

Love a golden glow but looking for something different? We also have reviews on the best gradual tans, best tan for pale skin, bronzers, fake tans for your face and in-salon spray tans. Plus (we’re spoiling you), our top tanning tips to make sure your fake tan looks the best it can be.

Here are the best self tans of 2020 to shop now...


-Best fake tan for avoiding orange undertones-


Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Water, £18.95, Beauty Bay

Results? A thoroughly natural looking finish.

Bonus features: Isle Of Paradise three shades of Self Tanning Water contain colour correcting pigments so not only do they avoid oompa limbs, they tailor options to suit your skin tone. Light has brightening peach tones in, Medium has green to counteract redness and Dark has a purple tinge to curb yellow or sallow tones in skin.

-Best dark fake tan-


Bali Body Ultra Dark Self Tanning Mousse, £26.95, Beauty Bay

Results? This Self Tanning Mousse is an updated take on the original mousse tan from Bali Body, but it's especially formulated to create a darker tan.

Bonus Features: There are various soothing ingredients including chamomile extract, antioxidant coffee seed extract and pomegranate extract, leaving your skin nourished, yet glowing.

-Best fake tan to truly recreate the sunshine-


St Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Mist, £31, Beauty Bay

Results: An instant light gleam that develops into a golden tan with a noticeable glow.

Bonus features: This contains a groundbreaking Sunshine Complex technology. Vitamin D boosters mimic the positive effects of sunshine, brightening and protective skin but without exposing it to harmful UV rays. Plus the fragrance was specifically created to improve our mood.

-Best fake tan for a cult in the making-


Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, £29.90, Beauty Bay

Results: Available in three shades – medium, dark and ultra dark – you can tailor the colour to you. The green-grey base colour may sound scary, but in practice it counteracts orange tones to keep things positively golden.

Bonus features: It's vegan and packed with natural ingredients like banana, cocoa, papaya, mango, orange and lotus flower. Plus, it has over 2,000 5 star ratings on Trustpilot.

-Best fake tan for those who hate that self-tan smell-


James Read Coconut Dry Oil Tan, £25, Look Fantastic

Results? A heavenly-scented, natural-looking and skin-loving self-tan that lasts for five days.

Bonus Features: James Read Coconut Dry Oil Tan is bursting with anti-oxidants to fight off free-radical damage caused by pollution and UV rays.

-Best fake tan wipes for glow on the go-


Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad Gradual Glow, £34, Look Fantastic

Results? Fancy a natural-looking, buildable tan without the fuss? Thanks to their easy-to-use design, Alpha Beta Glow Pad Gradual Glow single-use wipes cut out the need for extras. Great for getting that glow on the go.

Bonus Features: Gentle exfoliating acids in the formula work to smooth the surface of skin, and help ensure an even, streak-free finish.

Prefer to build up your tan? Check out our list of the best gradual tanners of 2019

-Best tan remover for clumsy tanners-


Isle of Paradise Over It Magic Self-Tan Eraser, £17.95, Look Fantastic

Results? Not technically a fake tan, Over It Magic Self Tan Eraser is a very important side kick. This nifty product is essential for any mishaps or removals because, let's be honest, all good tans must come to an end.

Bonus Features: This magic remover gently exfoliates with glycolic acid but is also infused with coconut, chia seed and avocado oils to nourish.

-Best fake tan drops for a subtle day-to-day glow-


Tan-Luxe The Body Illuminating Tan Drops, £42, Cult Beauty

Results? That fresh, dewy, I-just-returned-from-the-beach-but-kept-my-SPF30-topped-up kind of tan.

Bonus Features: These handy Body Illuminating Tan Drops can be added to any body lotion, oil or moisturiser to transform it into a bespoke self-tan. Add one drop for a weekend by the beach, or four for full-on bronze brilliance.

-Best for a fast fake tan-


St Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mist, £26, Cult Beauty

Results: This bestows a light even tan in one hour, a sun kissed medium glow if you leave it on for two hours and a deep golden bronze if you leave it on for three hours.

Bonus features: This gives you three shade options in one formula and because of the speedy developing time, it's perfect if you're in a pinch and need to turn your tan around quickly.

-Best fake tan for acne-prone skin-


Vichy Idéal Soleil Hydra-Bronzing Self-Tanning Milk, £10.50, Feel Unique

Results? A buildable, natural-looking tan that benefits from the glowy boost of hydrating thermal water. Not many products can work as well on the face as the body, but the gentle Idéal Soleil Hydra-Bronzing Self-Tanning Milk ticks both boxes.

Bonus features: Paraben-free and suitable for sensitive skin. It doesn’t cause breakouts either.

-Best fake tan for a deep glow-


Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan Dark Mousse, £7.99, Feel Unique

Results? With 1 Hour Tan Dark Mousse you can achieve an even and subtle hint of colour after one hour, a chocolatey tan after two and an intense Barbados-bronze if you stick it out for three.

Bonus features: Super-quick drying and an olive undertone to ensure zero traces of tangerine.

-Best fake tan for flawless results-


Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam Dark, £14.99, Feel Unique

Results: A really dark tan with golden undertones, for the ultimate Australian beach babe look.

Bonus Features: Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam Dark dries in seconds and you can even shower after one hour (or try the one hour express for an even quicker, deeper colour). Ideal for those with olive skin as the results are really rich in colour - although it has gorgeous golden undertones that work brilliantly on fair skin types as well.

-Best fake tan for a glow that can be washed off-


Vita Liberta Body Blur, £28.95, Amazon

Results: Not just a tanner, Body Blur airbrushes a multitude of imperfections and is especially effective on the legs.

Bonus Features: What's more, it washes off, so don't panic if something goes wrong!

-Best fake tan for beginners-


Garnier Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer Dry Body Mist, £10.99, Boots

Results: A no-nonsense multi-angle spray tan, No Streaks Bronzer Dry Body Mist leaves a light tan, ideal for a subtle glow. A perfect product if you’re new to the world of self-tan sprays.

Bonus Features: Multi-angle dry mist spray, apricot extracts to moisturise skin, quick-dry, no need to rub.

-Best budget fake tan-


St Moriz Advanced Pro Formula 5-in-1 Tanning Mousse, £7.99, Superdrug

Results? Colour so rich and realistic, others will ask where you holidayed. St Moriz Advanced Pro Formula 5-in-1 Tanning Mousse lasts for ages, and responds well to top-ups.

Bonus features: Easy-to-spread foam formula, with a pump that only needs one hand.

-Best fake tan for a pro glow-


Venetian Self Tanning Mist, £35.99, Norvell

Results: A dark glow but with no orangeyness.

Bonus Features: This is the brand used by the tanners on Strictly Come Dancing to give the dancers and the contestants a healthy dose of bronze. It contains violet tones to keep things looking natural.

Comments

Oh ya 5 year ago
Ask yourself this... would you take any of those products listed above and drink them? If you said no of course not then think about this. Everything you put on your body is absorbed into your body. Think Vickes A5 35, stop smoking patches etc. So look on the label and read the poison you are taking.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Release of Mandelson Files Raises Tensions as UK Seeks Stable Relations With Donald Trump
UK Documents Reveal Starmer Was Warned About Mandelson’s Epstein Links Before Ambassador Appointment
Nearly Five Hundred UK Mortgage Deals Withdrawn in Two Days as Market Volatility Forces Lenders to Reprice
Three Cargo Ships Hit Near Iran as Attacks Spread to Strategic Strait of Hormuz
Why British Police Repeatedly Declined to Investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s UK Links
UK Parliament Ends Hereditary Seats in House of Lords, Closing Chapter on Centuries of Aristocratic Lawmaking
EU and UK Urge Israel to Act Against Rising West Bank Settler Violence Amid Regional Tensions
US Senator John Kennedy Says Keir Starmer Should Not Be Trusted for Military Advice Amid Iran War Debate
UK High Court Rejects Attempt to Revive Terrorism Charge Against Kneecap Rapper
Revolut Secures Full UK Banking Licence After Multi-Year Regulatory Wait
Kentucky’s Bench Boost Powers Wildcats Past LSU in SEC Tournament Opener
British Couple Die After Being Pulled From Water at Australian Beach During Family Visit
Global Energy Agency Announces Record Release of 400 Million Barrels to Stabilize Oil Markets Amid Hormuz Disruption
British Airways Suspends UK Repatriation Flights as Middle East Travel Disruption Deepens
US Forces Prepare Ordnance at RAF Fairford as Strategic Bombers Deploy for Middle East Operations
Nigel Farage Faces Criticism After Saying Britain Should Stay Out of Iran War
Landmark UK Trial Begins Over Sony’s PlayStation Store Pricing
UK High Court Rejects Bid to Challenge Britain’s Chagos Islands Agreement With Mauritius
Finnish Duo Triumphs in England’s Annual Wife-Carrying Race, Winning a Barrel of Ale
How U.S. and UK National Security Strategies Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape
Green Party Gains Momentum as Labour Shifts Toward the Political Centre
Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon Sets Sail for Eastern Mediterranean as Regional Tensions Rise
UK Homebuilder Persimmon Warns Iran Conflict Could Dent Property Buyer Confidence
Roman Abramovich Signals Legal Fight if UK Seeks to Seize Chelsea Sale Funds
UK Ready to Back Emergency Oil Reserve Release as Middle East Conflict Pushes Prices Higher
Study of 40,000 Articles Sparks Debate Over Alleged Anti-Muslim Bias in UK Media
US and UK Army Chiefs Strengthen Cooperation on the Future of Armored Warfare
Britain’s Search for the Next ARM Intensifies as Startups and Investors Target the Semiconductor Frontier
Three US Strategic Bombers Arrive at RAF Fairford as Iran Conflict Intensifies
Cancer Death Rates in the UK Fall to the Lowest Level on Record
UK Government Bond Yields Retreat Slightly After Sharp Spike Triggered by Middle East Conflict
UK Chancellor Warns Middle East War Could Push Inflation Higher
UK Prime Minister Warns Iran Conflict Could Drive Up Prices and Threaten Economic Stability
Trump Declines UK Offer to Deploy Aircraft Carriers to Middle East Amid Iran Conflict
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Return to Australia After Seven Years for Philanthropic and Business Engagements
UK Government Signals Independence From Washington as Cooper Says Britain Does Not Agree With Trump on Every Issue
UK Experts Warn AI Chatbots Are Fueling Surge in Claims of Organised ‘Satanic’ Ritual Abuse
UK Political Parties Divided Over Strategy as Iran Conflict Reshapes Foreign Policy Debate
Britain Discloses Secret Military Repair Hubs Operating Inside Ukraine
Trump Says US No Longer Needs UK Carrier Support After Delayed Offer Amid Iran Conflict
Why Britain Has Become Involved in the US-Israel Military Campaign Against Iran
UK Gas Storage Falls to Under Two Days as Iran Conflict Jolts Global Energy Markets
UK Warned to Brace for Economic Shock as Iran War Drives Global Energy Price Surge
Starmer and Trump Hold First Call After Public Dispute Over Iran Conflict
UK Dentists Returned £1.3 Billion to Government as Shift Toward Private Care Accelerates
Expert Warns UK Must Build Emergency Food Stockpiles to Prepare for Climate Shocks or War
UK Plans Charter Flight to Evacuate British Nationals from Gulf as Regional Conflict Disrupts Air Travel
Families of Zimbabwe’s Liberation Fighters Call on Britain to Help Locate Skulls Taken During Colonial War
Iran’s Ambassador Warns Britain to ‘Be Very Careful’ Over Deeper Role in Expanding Middle East War
UK Military Leadership Defends Britain’s Defensive Role in Expanding Middle East Conflict
×