12 best fake tans for a golden glow all year round

This has become one of my favourite fake tan formulas – and I’ve tried more than my fair share over the years. Infused with skin-loving ingredients, the lightweight formula is super nourishing and hydrating. While the mousse comes out clear, application is a breeze, thanks to the glistening residue it leaves behind, which acts like a guiding colour.

A little goes a long way, and it’s quick-drying and transfer-free, so you can apply it in the morning or at night without staining your clothes or sheets. Developing in around six hours, the final finish is natural-looking and left me perfectly bronzed and streak-free (I used the dark shade option). Lasting up to six days with daily moisturising, it fades nicely without any patchiness or dryness. My only gripe is that it doesn’t come in a bigger bottle, but it’s a great price, considering the premium formula.

A great all-rounder for less than £10, Dove’s gradual tanning formula helps build a natural glow with minimal effort. The lotion can be applied with your hands, and it glides across skin easily with the clear formula that is both quick-drying and non-staining, meaning you can apply it before bed with no risk of staining your sheets or clothes.

I love the subtle scent (good for those who don’t like the biscuit-like smell of fake tan), and the lightweight, moisturising formula leaves skin smooth, supple, and streak-free. streaks. Just one application is enough to see instant sun-kissed results (I used the medium to dark shade option). Delivering a radiant glow when applied on clean skin, it also helps sustain a real tan or deepen an existing fake tan (it’s my non-negotiable airport beauty buy when going on holiday). If you’re after an affordable fast-track to an understated glow, Dove’s budget buy is hard to beat.

This is my go-to when I want a deep, streak-free, fake tan in just a couple of hours. It is the kind of formula you can apply in the morning before work, wash off at lunch and be bronzed by evening. While there are other formulas that deliver on this promise, what makes Isle of Paradise stand out is how mess-free the application is, as well as the quick development time.

The mousse formula takes mere minutes to absorb into the skin and isn’t sticky at all (a huge plus). All in all, it’s a five-minute job, and you can throw clothes on almost straight away – though beware of transfer, as it can leave residue on light-coloured clothes. While you can apply this formula before bed or leave it on for six hours for a particularly deep tan, I prefer to leave it on for about four hours for a natural, glowy finish. Unlike other express formulas, Isle of Paradise’s mousse starts to fade nicely and evenly after about four days, without any tiger bread patches. Plus, it doesn’t dry out the skin like some mousses can.

Offering the best of both worlds, this tanning serum gives you an instant tint before developing more deeply over a couple of hours. The result is natural-looking, bronzed and nourished skin. You can apply this formula with a mitt or your hands (I prefer a mitt for more even coverage), with the lightweight serum blending easily. A little goes a long way (a plus, considering the price), with a guiding colour helping with a flawless finish.

Infused with hyaluronic acid for hydration, fermented mushrooms for soothing, aloe vera, and plant-based DHA for a radiance boost, it really does replicate the holiday glow. It doesn’t transfer to sheets or clothes and dries quickly, leaving skin smooth and softened. The longer you leave it on before showering, the deeper your tan is, and the colour is easily buildable. I’d recommend applying the gradual lotion (£44, Spacenk.com) a couple of days after the initial application as this really prolongs the glow.

I doubt I’m alone in having used Garnier’s summer body gradual moisturiser as my first foray into the world of fake tan many moons ago – the product’s enduring popularity is a testament to its formula. Setting you back just £6 for a 400ml bottle (more than double the size of most gradual tanners on the market), the tan is great for those on a budget, and it yields impressive results.

Intensely moisturising, it leaves skin soft with a subtle sheen of bronze a few hours after application. The tan can be easily built up, without any patchiness, and it’s fast-absorbing, meaning you can apply it in the morning or at night. My only criticism is that when it begins to fade after a couple of days, there is an orange tint to the skin and slight patchiness, but it’s easy to scrub off in the shower.

This lightweight formula boasts a soft, whipped-cream-like texture that’s a treat for the skin. Powered by hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, it left my skin feeling soft and smooth after I’d washed it off. The hydration and nourishment lasted up to 48 hours and even longer with moisturising.

There’s a guide colour, and it goes on very dark with a green tinge at first, but don’t fret – it washes off to reveal a golden-bronzed finish – and you can wear clothes within five minutes, although I’d recommend sticking to darker colours on application day. It’s fast-drying and non-sticky, so it’s great to put on quickly in the morning for a golden glow by sundown. It can be left on for as long or as little as you like, depending on the level of tan you want (I leave it on for about 10 hours overnight). Plus, the tan lasts up to six days and doesn’t fade into the dreaded tiger-bread finish.

If you’re looking for a golden glow by lunchtime, apply Tan Luxe’s express mousse first thing in the morning. Developing into a bronzed finish within just two hours, it can be left on for even longer for a deeper shade. The tan is fuss-free to apply, thanks to the foam consistency and clear formula, which glides across skin easily and doesn’t transfer onto clothes. This formula is also fast-drying, so you can get on with your day without that horrible sticky feeling.

The scent is inoffensive, with light floral notes, while the colour is natural-looking, without a hint of orange. I found that my skin continued to feel soft for a couple of days after application, but the tan did begin to fade unevenly after day four, which is a shame, considering the price. If you’re looking for an express tan for your weekend plans, though, you can’t fault how fast this one develops.

Despite trying more luxurious and expensive fake tan mousses on the market, I regularly return to the Bondi Sands self-tanning foam. The formula is available in lighter and darker shades (I used the dark option) and has a lightweight consistency that glides easily across the skin. It’s quick-drying, too, so you can put clothes on within 10 minutes.

I find the formula begins to dry out my skin after a couple of days, so make sure you moisturise daily. I like to apply it in the evening before washing it off in the morning, about eight hours later, for a deep but natural-looking bronzed result. Costing less than £10, the 200ml bottle should last you a good while, too.

This formula takes the form of a clear mist. While this can be off-putting for some, as there’s no guide colour, the product leaves a glistening finish that helps you spot where you’ve applied, achieving an even application. Simply spritz over the skin and buff in with a tanning mitt – be careful with your aim, though, as I’ve found that some of the formula has either gone onto the floor, which stains the bottom of your feet, or the surrounding area. It dries almost immediately and doesn’t feel sticky or greasy, which is surprising considering it’s an oily formula. It can easily be applied in the morning before dressing or at night before bed because the clear formula reduces the risk of staining clothes or sheets.

As for the results, a natural-looking tan develops within seven hours (I used the dark version of the formula), it doesn’t require washing off and develops more deeply throughout the day. My skin felt nourished, soft and smooth after application. The tan lasts a good six or so days before fading nicely.

Noughties queen of fake tan Paris Hilton collaborated with fake tan brand Tan Luxe last year, aiming to deliver a professional-grade spray tan at home. Supercharged with skin-loving ingredients (think hyaluronic acid for hydration and peptides to boost collagen production), the bottle features a mister for precise application. Despite being a clear formula, it’s easy to spot where you’ve already applied it, resulting in a streak-free finish. It’s fast-drying and non-sticky, and there’s limited transfer onto sheets and clothes (though I’d warn against wearing light colours after the initial application).

I found a natural-looking tan developed within six hours and my skin felt soft and nourished after use. As for the colour, it was still visible up to seven days later (with daily moisturising, of course). While it didn’t quite live up to its 10-day claim, the colour payoff is still impressive. In the words of Paris Hilton herself: that’s hot.

I was initially put off this Bali Body fake tan because of the price, which sits at the top end of the spectrum when it comes to mousses, but it seriously delivers. The formula boasts an ultra-lightweight foam consistency that glides across skin with ease, while the guide colour ensures streak-free and even coverage. It absorbs into the skin quickly with no sticky or greasy residue, so it can easily be applied in the morning.

Thanks to the product’s inclusion of glycerin and vitamin E, my skin felt soft and hydrated after application, while the coconut oil and coffee seed extra give it a deliciously summery scent. It develops into a naturally glowy tan within four hours, but I prefer to leave it on for eight hours for a rich, deep tan without a hint of orange (I used the dark version of the formula). My skin continues to feel nourished while looking bronzed for up to four days. The only downside is the tan is prone to go patchy when it begins to fade and it isn’t the easiest to scrub off.

As you’d expect from the premium beauty brand, this innovative formula from By Terry is packed with impressive skin-loving ingredients – tea extracts to nourish and hydrate skin while the active bio-cherry fruit essence visibly smooths and instantly bronzes skin. I was surprised at how light the formula is, drying quickly with no stickiness. When testing, I found there was minimal transfer, so I was able to apply and be out of the door within minutes – and I’ve found it to be a real saviour for those eleventh-hour moments when I’ve wanted a little colour around my neckline or arms before heading out for the evening.

I’d suggest using a fake tan brush to buff the product into the skin, while I tend to reach for a foundation brush when blending across the face and neck. Think of it as a quick fix or a mid-week pick-me-up product, as it can wash off easily with water at the end of the day. Yes, £22 is steep for a 30ml bottle, but if you’re only using it in areas that need a little love, you’ll find a small amount goes a long way.