17 best fake tan for faces 2024 UK; including facial tanning drops and mists
SEARCHING for the best fake tan for your face? With these tried and tested contenders, you'll never have to worry about looking orange or streaky again.
Whether you're a fan of gradual build-up or prefer instant results, the best facial tanning products allow you to achieve a sun-kissed glow on your face that looks effortlessly natural – and will get you in the summer mood, whatever the weather.
But let's be real: from tanning drops for faces to fake tan mist and wipes, there are a lot of options to sift through and it can be slightly overwhelming finding the right product for a flawless tan.
Quite simply, facial tanning drops can be added to your day or night cream, so they offer customizable intensity for a natural-looking tan. Meanwhile, fan tan mists provide a refreshing misting experience, promising even coverage without the fuss.
To make your life easier, we've put an assortment of fake tans to the test to unveil the heroes of facial bronzing. Get your glow on here.
How we tested
When testing this selection of facial tans, we were looking for certain basics such as ease of application, whether or not the product spread evenly, if the bottle or dropper leaked, and how long the product took to apply.
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Our reviewers varied in age but their skin tone fell into either fair or medium. They all had different skin types including mature, oily, sensitive and dry.
Each of our five reviewers used each product several times so they could gauge buildability and longevity. Doing this meant they could get a real feel for the face tan, how it worked and how compatible it was with their skin.
Best fake tans for your face at a glance:
- Best overall:
- Best budget face tan:
- Best tanning drops:
- Best face gradual tan:
- Best face tan mist:
- Best face tan for older skin:
Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self-Tan Face Drops
Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self-Tan Face Drops, £16
Most read in Product Reviews
Pros: Dries quickly, affordable, buildable, skin-loving ingredients
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
Here at The Sun, we love Garnier's iconic Summer Body Moisturising Lotion, so I was excited to try a face tan from the brand.
Containing coconut water and hyaluronic acid and coming with a pipette, it has all the markings of an excellent serum — tanning agents or not. When I first put the clear serum on, I was pretty chuffed with the instant hydration radiance it gave my skin.
I used around six drops before bed and then followed up with my regular moisturiser, and in the morning I woke up with exactly what the product promises: a bronzed complexion. Just remember to wash your hands after use, or you'll be plagued with tell-tell streaky hands.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Serum Development time: 6 to 8 hours Size: 30ml
Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Coconut water and hyaluronic acid
Rose & Caramel Nudity Aqua Facial Mist
Rose & Caramel Nudity Aqua Facial Mist, £14.99
Pros: Dries quickly, super fine mist, refreshing, buildable, skin-loving ingredients, compact, even tan
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
If you're the sort of person who wants to be misting on the go, you'll be a huge fan of Rose & Caramel's Nudity Aqua Facial Mist.
It comes in a pocket-sized 80ml bottle, so you can easily stick it in your crossbody bag for quick top-ups throughout the day or travel with it.
Since receiving this mist, it has lived on my desk and I find myself reaching for it multiple times a day. It contains medium to dark tanning ingredients, but how dark your skin goes depends on how often you're spritzing. If you spray your face once in the morning, you'll notice a subtle glow by the end of the day.
But, if you're consistently misting multiple times a day, all week, you'll have a much deeper tan. The mist is ultra-fine, which means you don't need to blend the product in with your hands or worry about patchy areas.
This gave me a flawless natural-looking tan all over my face and décolletage. And, because the product contains niacinamide, it's great at hydrating your skin, improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of pores, dark spots and hyperpigmentation. I absolutely love this tan.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Gel Development time: 6 to 8 hours Size: 30ml
Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Niacinamide
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Revolution Supertan Tanning Water
Revolution Supertan Tanning Water, £9.99 £6.99
Pros: Dries quickly, super fine mist, buildable, skin-loving ingredients, compact, quick development, nice smell
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
Revolution's Supertan Tanning Water has become a handbag staple for me. This compact 100ml bottle slots into a crossbody bag easily for on-the-go misting, and you can even take it on holiday with you.
As well as delivering a golden glow and deepening your skin tone within just four hours, this mist will calm, hydrate and brighten your complexion (thanks to the added goji berry, oat and chamomile).
Lightweight, refreshing and non-sticky, it's also exactly what you want on your skin during a heatwave.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Mist Development time: 4 hours minimum Size: 100ml
Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Goji berry, oat and chamomile
St Moriz Face & Body Tanning Mist With Coconut Fragrance
St Moriz Face & Body Tanning Mist, £5.99
Pros: Dries quickly, not sticky, buildable, skin-loving ingredients, smells nice, no need to blend in, refreshing
Cons: Needs up to 8 hours to develop
Rating: 5/5
For me, tanning mists are as much about the added skincare ingredients and the pleasurable experience of spritzing myself to cool down during a heatwave.
And this one from St Moriz is affordable enough that you can spritz it to your heart's delight.
The tropical coconut scent is pretty addictive and makes you feel as if you're on holiday somewhere exotic. Plus, the particles are so fine that you don't need to blend the product in with a mitt or brush, so you can apply the mist on the go or in a slap-dash manner.
With that being the case, I've found myself misting away at any opportunity and in any location — from my office desks to the post office queue.
I tried it in the medium shade and found that, after around six to eight hours, it gave me a subtle golden glow. And, because it's packed with coconut oil and coconut water, it'll quench the thirst of even the driest skin.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Mist Development time: 6 to 8 hours Size: 150ml Vegan: Yes
Superdrug Solait Overnight Tan Mask
Solait Overnight Tan Mask, £7.99
Pros: Deeply hydrating, can replace moisturiser or sleeping mask, subtle tan, affordable
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
If you're feeling particularly lazy and aren't in the mood to do an entire skincare regime before tanning your face, look no further.
I slapped on Solait's overnight tanning mask straight after cleansing and toning and went to bed, only to wake up with a subtle golden tan and soft, hydrated skin. It's no surprise, considering the mask contains shea butter, avocado oil and pineapple extract to brighten, calm and moisturise the skin without clogging pores.
If you want a more dramatic tan and already have a pretty solid skincare routine that you don't want to mix up, you might prefer to use a mist or serum in place of this mask.
But, I found this mask to be a nice weekly treat to top up a tan and deeply nourish my skin.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Cream Development time: 6 to 8 hours Size: 50ml
Vegan: Unspecified Star ingredients: Shea butter, avocado oil, pineapple extract
Tan Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self Tan Serum
Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self Tan Serum, £36
Pros: Benefits skin, doesn’t cause breakouts, creates a natural glow
Cons: Doesn’t develop a deep tan
Rating: 5/5
The Super Glow Hyaluronic Self Tan Serum is perfect to use every day - I applied it in the morning and then followed with my usual skincare routine. Packed with amazing skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid plus antioxidants to smooth and protect the face, it feels more like skincare than a fake tan.
If you like a bronzed look, this serum isn’t the best pick as it creates a subtle glow that’s ideal for every day. There’s no fake tan smell and it makes the skin look really hydrated. I have sensitive acne-prone skin and find many fake tan products can break us out in spots but this didn’t.
I will be repurchasing and this will become a regular in my skincare routine.
Review by Louise Crosby.
Formula: Serum Development time: 8 hours Shade availability: gradual and gradual deep Size: 30ml Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, cocoa seed and DHA
Green People Cha Vøhtz Age Defy+ Liquid Gold Tanning Drops
Green People Cha Vøhtz Age Defy+ Liquid Gold Tanning Drops, £38
Pros: Mix into your moisturiser, anti-ageing ingredients, hydrating
Cons: Takes 12 to 24 hours to develop
Rating: 5/5
Green People's tanning drops are from the signature Age Defy+ by Cha Vøhtz (the brand's founder) range, which is targeted at those aged 35 and up. However, anyone can use this product.
Mix one to five drops into your regular face moisturiser or six to 10 drops in with your body lotion, and apply your moisturiser as normal. A natural golden tan, or even deeper if you're heavy on the drops, will develop in around 12 to 24 hours.
I tried this on my body and face and found that it gave me an even, golden colour all over. If it's not quite dark enough after the first application, just add a few extra drops next time.
This serum isn't just for tanning, it boasts a number of skincare benefits too. Containing seaweed and green tea to hydrate, soften, promote younger-looking skin and protect against free radical damage, it makes sense that it's part of the Age Defy+ range.
And on top of that, it also has a pleasant sweet smell.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Serum Development time: 12 to 24 hours Size: 30ml Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Seaweed and green tea
St Moriz Professional Prime & Glow Face Tanning Serum
St Moriz Professional Prime & Glow Face Tanning Serum, £8.99
Pros: Subtle tan, instant glow, works as a primer, tint specks of shimmer
Cons: Takes a while to develop
Rating: 5/5
Sometimes all you need is a quick fix, and makeup often won't give you that natural lit-from-within look in the same way that fake tan will.
Well, this serum from St Moriz will give you a glow and shimmer as soon as you put it on, and then in about six hours you'll notice a subtle golden tinge to your skin.
It smells pretty good, too. I've been using this product for a week and found it to give a very natural-looking tan, to begin with, but the colour started to deepen with daily use over a few days.
And, because it contains hyaluronic acid, it plumps, hydrates and softens skin at the same time. I've even been using it to replace my regular serum and primer.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Serum Development time: 8 hours Size: 25ml Vegan: Yes
Coola Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum
Coola Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum, £49
Pros: Dries quickly, buildable, skin-loving ingredients, add to your moisturiser or straight to the skin, quick development
Cons: Pricey for size
Rating: 5/5
There are a few different options when it comes to the application of this face tan. If you want a deep tan, you can apply it straight onto the face.
If you want something a bit subtler, pump a few drops into your moisturiser to dilute it and then apply all over your face. I've tried it both ways and found that both techniques deliver an even tan. The best thing about this tan is its incredible mixture of skin-loving ingredients.
For example, it's packed with argan oil, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and plant cell cultures to make skin smooth, hydrated, and glowy, as well as to prolong the life of the tan.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Serum Development time: 8 hours Size: 30ml Vegan: Yes
Star ingredients: Argan oil, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid
Balance Me Gradual Tanning Drops
Balance Me Gradual Tanning Drops, £33
Pros: Mix into the body or face moisturiser, buildable, skin-loving ingredients, customisable dosage,
Cons: Trickier to get even coverage so have to be extra thorough
Rating: 5/5
These tanning drops are unique in that they're not intended to be used solo. You're meant to add one to three drops to your favourite face moisturiser or body cream, mix it up with your hands and then apply it to your skin.
There are pros and cons to this, I've found. On the one hand, this allows you to customise the dosage so you can have a darker tan one week and a lighter one the next. It also won't disrupt your skincare regime in the way that other products might. For example, you won't need to go without a serum or moisturiser to accommodate for this product.
On the other hand, it can be tricky to get even coverage with this method. You'll need to make sure you've mixed the product in with your moisturiser thoroughly before applying, which is easy to do with a small amount of product (i.e. face moisturiser) but not so much with a large amount of product (i.e. a body moisturiser). But, as long as you're careful and you mix the two products together for a good few seconds before touching your skin, you'll be streak-free.
Make sure you wash your hands well after application, too. If you're after a very subtle tan, follow the instructions and stick to one to three drops. But, if you want something a little more noticeable, I think you'll need around five drops.
These drops will give your moisturiser a little more 'oomph', as well. Containing vitamin E and aloe vera, these little drops have inflammatory and antioxidant-rich properties to shield your skin against free radicals, and they'll also help to hydrate and soothe your skin.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Gel Development time: 8 hours Size: 30ml Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Vitamin E and aloe vera
Rose & Caramel Unity Bronzed Face Tanning Drops
Rose & Caramel Unity Bronzed Face Tanning Drops, £24.99
Pros: Buildable, can customise the depth of tan, add to moisturiser, skin-loving ingredients
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
These tanning drops are intended to be mixed with your regular moisturiser and then massaged into the skin rather than being applied directly to the skin.
I mixed three drops into my moisturiser before bed — starting with absolutely no traces of tan on my face — and woke up with a subtle sunkissed glow.
If you want something a bit deeper to match the darker fake tan on the rest of your body, just add a few more drops.
My skin was breaking out upon application, and I found that the calming aloe vera infused in the product actually helped to calm down my spots and prevent new ones from forming.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Serum Development time: 4 to 6 hours Size: 30ml
Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Aloe vera and glycerine
Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops
Coco & Eve Face Tanning Drops, £22
Pros: Didn’t sink into pores, streak-free, buildable tan
Cons: Pricey, pump can be tricky
Rating: 4.5/5
The Coco & Eve Face Tanning Drops were super easy to use – just apply the drops to moisturiser at night to wake up with a gorgeous, even sunkissed glow.
While I prefer using a pipette over its pump packaging, it’s impossible to mess up applying it because you have complete control over how much tan you use and I had no streaks at all. It also smells like summer – no biscuity smells. The drops feel like a thick, hydrating serum on the skin and are perfect for sensitive skin, as you absorb it with your own products.
The tan washes off gradually as you cleanse your face but I found that I actually applied less makeup when using this tan because it gave my face such a natural glow.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Serum Development time: Overnight/ 8 hours Shade availability: medium and dark Size: 38ml Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face
Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face, £23
Pros: Easy to customise, good for sensitive skin, easy to dispense, natural
Cons: Small packaging, orange hands, if used too much can look orange around eyebrows etc.
Rating: 4/5
I’d been hoping to try Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face and was pretty happy with the results. You can customise the intensity of your tan by adding two to three drops with your own moisturiser – great if you have sensitive skin.
The bottle – albeit small – is cleverly designed, as the pipette is used upside down and one push means one drop, so there’s little to no wastage. However, I found that when mixing the moisturiser and the tan, you could easily get left with orange stains on your hands. You need to instantly wash your hands, or rub between your palms.
With no smell and light formula, you really can’t tell it’s in your moisturiser upon application, but the tan after is natural, sun-kissed and even.
The colour develops within a couple of hours, leaving you with a natural glow. I recommend using it on alternative days to avoid telltale signs and an orange tint. There were no marks on my white pillows, and it simply faded as with everyday cleansing, making it the perfect way to keep your natural (or fake) tan topped up.
Review by Harriet Flook.
Formula: Liquid Development time: 4 hours + Shade Availability: 1 Size: 15ml Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Aloe vera
Sienna X Q10 Tinted Self-Tan Mist
Sienna X Q10 Tinted Self Tan Mist, £19.97 £17.99
Pros: Good value for money, can control amount, short development time, great value for money
Cons: Only one shade is available
Rating: 4/5
A cult self-tan brand that has been around for years, Sienna X is no stranger to a great product for giving you a golden glow. The tinted mist is perfect for the face, although it can be used all over the body, as you can control how much of the product is applied to your skin - before buffing it out with a clean mitt.
This tan develops over four to eight hours, so it can be used during the day - or left to settle in overnight while you sleep, without pesky stains on the sheets. It's great value for money – seeing as you can also apply this tan to the rest of your body – as well as being cruelty-free.
Review by Isabel Deibe.
Formula: Mist Development time: 4-8 hours Shade availability: One shade Size: 200ml Vegan: Yes
Tan Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tanning Drops
Tan Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tanning Drops, £36
Pros: Can customise tan, natural finish, easy to use, travel size
Cons: The amount of drops depends on skin tone, may split with thick moisturiser
Rating: 4/5
Tan Luxe’s The Face Illuminating Self-Tanning Drops works best overnight as it takes eight hours to fully develop – I applied the tan before bed.
I found this fake tan to be really fast-drying; you just add a few drops to your moisturiser and it tends to dry as quickly as your moisturiser does.
I was very impressed as it blended really well and left absolutely no streaks. Some reviews claimed that this tan had a biscuity smell, but I didn’t pick that up and only smelled the moisturiser it was used with. Although, it seemed to blend better with a lighter moisturiser as opposed to my thicker night cream.
Luckily, as this tan is fast-drying, you can apply makeup easily over it as soon as it’s dry. But do keep in mind that the tan will develop underneath, so you may change shade throughout the day!
Review by Sophie Swietochowski.
Formula: Oil Development time: 8 hours Shade availability: light/ medium and medium/ dark Size: 30ml Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Raspberry seed oil, vitamin E and aloe vera
Tan Luxe The Face Anti-Age Rejuvenating Self-Tan Drops
Tan-Luxe The Face Anti-Age Rejuvenating Self-Tan Drops, £40
Pros: Customisable tan, anti-ageing benefits
Cons: Pricy
Rating: 4/5
Similar to the Tan-Luxe Face Drops, the Anti-Age Self-Tan Drops have been made with skincare in mind and deliver anti-ageing benefits. I tested the light/ medium shade and mixed six drops into moisturiser before applying it to the face, neck, back and chest. The result - it gave a lovely golden glow.
As this product works by being mixed into moisturiser, it’s great for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin as you can use the moisturiser that suits you best.
While it’s pricier than other self-tan drops, it includes skin-loving ingredients like raspberry seed oil, vitamin E and aloe vera so it won’t dry your skin.
Review by Louise Crosby.
Formula: Serum Development time: 8 hours Shade availability: Light/ medium and medium/ dark Size: 30ml Vegan: Yes Star ingredients:
Glycopeptides, raspberry seed oil, aloe vera and vitamin E
Coco&Eve Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist
Coco & Eve Antioxidants Face Tanning Mist, £26
Pros: Easy application, generous size, deep colour development while also being natural
Cons: Caused breakouts, quite concentrated spray
Rating: 3/5
I applied the Coco&Eve Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist before bed and let the spray develop overnight. The spray nozzle was quite concentrated and was definitely more of a squirt than a mist and dried relatively quickly, taking only a few minutes even with a generous amount.
The tan had developed really well overnight: the colour was deep and sunkissed, while also being natural. It left no streaks, but there was a subtle transfer on my linens. After using a foam cleanser in the morning, I loved that it developed into a natural glow and worked with makeup.
While I loved the delivery of this tan in terms of ease of use, colour and development, I don’t think the blend agreed with my dry skin as I noticed breakouts.
Review by Zoe Bennetts.
Formula: Spray Development time: Overnight / 8 hours Shade availability: 1 Shade Size: 75ml Vegan: Yes Star ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
Where can I buy fake tan for face?
If you're looking for a face self-tan, you can find some of the best ones online at beauty shops. It'll most often be in the tanning or suncare section and you can shop from more niche sites to find specific products. Here are some of our places to buy self-tan.
How much do fake tans cost in the UK?
Face fake tans can range in price, so it's definitely worth shopping around. In our testing, we gave 5/5 ratings to products that varied by quite a lot in cost, proving that you can find a great fake tan whatever your budget.
Overall, the cheapest product we tested was the , which is priced at only £5.99 but gave a subtle golden glow as well as feeling super-hydrating on dry skin.
Meanwhile, the most expensive was the , which is a whopping £49 – but well worth the investment, thanks to its skin-loving ingredients.
Can you use self-tan on your face?
I would suggest using a special self-tan mist, milk, cream or spray dedicated to building a gradual facial tan. That's because your face is more delicate than your body and it can result in blocked pores, breakouts and uneven coverage if used incorrectly. The best fake tans will give your face that natural-looking glow without the need to apply foundation during warmer months.
How should I apply a fake tan?
Applying fake tan to your face can be a daunting task. If the faux glow on your legs turns out streaky, it can easily be covered up but it’s harder to disguise self-tanner mistakes on your face.
First things first, make sure you thoroughly cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise your face and neck before your treatment. This will remove any dead skin cells and create the perfect base for the application of your product.
On the morning of your application, moisturise your face - especially around your eyes, hairline and neck. Apply the fake tan in quick circular movements around your face using your fingertips.
If you really want to nail that natural look, you can also use a blending brush and buff the product into your skin. Don’t forget the area around your hairline and jaw where harsh lines could appear.
Can you sleep with a fake tan on?
We're always looking for that product that would do wonders while we sleep, right? With the latest advancements in beauty, it's possible to gain a gorgeous face tan while sleeping: choose a night sleeping mask such as which also serves as a nourishing moisturiser. Look out for colourless gradual tanners and golden glow boosters to keep your sheets stain-free.
How to remove fake tan
The best way to remove fake tan from your body is with a good exfoliator, followed by body wash to ensure it's all completely gone. If you want something quick or that will get rid of small mistakes, you can buy the and it's also great to carry around.
Anybody body scrub with oil in will do the trick. Don't want to go to the shop to grab some scrub? Apparently, lemon and sugar mixed together work a treat too...
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Can you tan through fake tan?
Wearing a fake tan might block the sun very slightly, but it'll hardly stop you from getting a tan. Most fake tans have zero actual UV protection, so make sure you're lathering up with SPF and sunscreen because you can definitely still catch the sun.
How long does fake tan last?
In general, how long your fake tan lasts depends on a variety of factors. If you play it fast and loose with your tan maintenance it may only last a couple of days before it starts to look patchy. If you take care to moisturise and don't over-exfoliate or over-wash you can help keep your fake tan in place for up to a week.