GRADUAL TANNER - FACE
The first of these products was introduced by Clarins – as legend has it, on the suggestion of our beauty editor colleague Newby Hands, who had long mixed fake tanner with her moisturiser (as we did too for years). There are now countless options to choose from and these five made the grade with our independent panels. The advantage is that the golden tone they deliver is adaptable, depending on the number of drops you add to your moisturiser and how often – you can build it up over a few days, or simply use every now and then to perk up a winter-pale face or maintain a post summer glow. Be aware that these don’t include any SPF, so you’ll need to apply that on top. Best practice is to do a patch test, particularly if you have sensitive/touchy skin. Also do prep skin, preferably moisturise and exfoliate. And please follow the instructions; read on for why!
GOLD AWARD and BEST NATURAL Tropic Sun Drops Gradual Tanning Facial Serum
The brand likes to call this certified organic serum a ‘slow glow’ – could be a ‘slow faux glow’, really… On a base of aloe vera juice, the tanning agent comes from sugar beet, with skin softening and nourishing ingredients like coconut water and glycerin. Ingredients are 100% natural origin and 77% organic, and it’s fantastically virtuous in all the ways we love: cruelty free, vegan, packaging (reusable and partly recyclable) oh and manufacturing is carbon offset. You mix 1-6 drops with your moisturiser and apply to face, neck and décolletage. Guidance is 2-3 drops for a warm subtle glow, for a more sunkissed look. Always remember to wash your hands after use, they warn! This was very popular indeed with testers.
£26 for 30ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. A real gem of a find. I do a lot of swimming so struggle to find a product that isn't going to wash off in the pool and go streaky. The idea of quickly mixing this in with your regular moisturiser is genius and it's such a quick and fuss-free step to incorporate as and when you need a bit of extra colour. The colour it gives is so natural (no orange here!) on my light/medium colour skin with a warm undertone. W hen I applied my make up over this I had a radiant complexion. The silky consistency feels soft on skin and I also love that it hydrates my dry skin, a real bonus. I loved applying this at night and waking up to a natural tan. It also didn't stain my pillow. Lasts ages too’ • ‘The sun drops come in a glass bottle with a dropper applicator which makes it extremely easy to dispense exactly the right amount. The serum also doesn’t drip from the dropper as you lift it from the bottle. The serum is very smooth and the perfect consistency so it isn't too thick nor is it too runny. It mixed well with all the moisturisers I tried it with and then absorbed quickly. Absolutely no dragging or stickiness. My moisturiser still felt the same and it didn't alter the consistency. I used my fingers and lightly pressed into skin and then used sweeping motions to blend’ • ‘The colour looks very natural and gives a healthy light golden tan, which looks very authentic. The colour looked very natural and realistic on day 3. The tan gradually faded as the days went on but didn't go patchy. Colleagues commented that I had a healthy glow and looked well’ • ‘The colour is the most realistic colour you can get and gives your face a lovely natural glow. When it fades it does so naturally like losing your holiday glow not patchy at all. My partner noticed my fresh complexion and asked if I was wearing foundation’ • ‘The serum has a very subtle fruity and earthy scent which I enjoyed using. It didn't have the usual unpleasant scent many tanning products have. Once applied to skin it disappeared and didn't linger’ • ‘I am really impressed. I have used these drops every few days over the last three months and I still have plenty left. I like the way it mixes so well with all moisturisers. I love it! I applied the drops to my moisturiser as suggested and it mixed in very easily. It did not drag at all. There was no stickiness. As I used moisturiser, I used my hands to blend it over my face. I did try adding the drops with no moisturiser and again used my hands. It wouldn't be my suggested way but the drops spread well with fingers. The colour is apparent straight away and then builds up over the next few hours. Once I had worked out the amount that was right for me, I found it to be a natural colour - brown rather than orange. Having applied two days in a row, I have quite a strong tan that looks as though I have been away. It is a realistic tan for me. 3 days and I have a tan that is quite dark for me. It is a good tan and certainly is my aspirational colour if I had been to some very sunny country. I have had lots of comments about my subtle glowing tan and then my deeper, holiday looking tan. I have put two friends on to this product!’ • ‘This product is made from all natural products. It is so easy to use and has an instant natural impact. I was amazed at how a small droplet could make such an instant impact. If your skin is in need of an instant boost this is the product to use. On the days when I use it not only does my skin look healthier but that then has an impact on my mood too. I will be recommending this product to my friends and family without doubt.’
£26 for 30ml - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Skinny Tan Coconut Water Bronzing Face Mist
This multi vitamin addition to this dedicated go for glow range is formulated for you to top up daily, though our testers tended to leave a couple of days. Exfoliate and moisturise dry skin, says the brand, then close eyes and with spray 6-8 inches away, lightly spray left to right in a downward motion over face and neck. Now, blend! Use your hands or the brand’s Miracle Brush. Don't wash for four to eight hours as the tan develops but do wash your hands immediately after blending. As well as coconut water to hydrate and even skin tone, Ingredients include brightening vitamin C, skin plumping hyaluronic acid, antioxidant vitamin E, and Co-Q10 (ubiquinone) for suppleness and bounce. Testers loved the colour but the spray came in for some criticism.
£22.99 for 100ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. It is really easy to apply and absorbs into the skin very easily with no stickiness or residue on the skin, giving it a fantastic natural glow. When you first apply this it smells like being on a tropical holiday but it does smell like tanner when it wears off. Even on older skin it evens out the colour so you do not have to wear make-up in the day. I use sunbeds but always cover my face and this colour matches the colour of my body a treat - helping me keep my youthful glow’ • ‘it says rub with finger or the brush but it did not come with a brush so i used my fingers, but it was very easy to rub into the skin and soaked in really easily. The colour will start to develop within 1 hour. At first it is a natural golden tan, which is so nice, and if you only apply one application, this is how it stays for a day or 2. On day 2 the colour would still be light and natural if you did not reapply, however, if you reapplied the product it went a little yellowish in colour. I loved the realistic colour of this product however after 3 days it was starting to fade (evenly) but this was probably due to my skin care routine if I wasn't so harsh with this then it lasted longer. This eliminates having to wear light foundation in the day giving your skin a break from wearing make up all the time even on older skin’ • ‘I loved this product. I loved the coconut fragrance and the skin plumping hyaluronic acid. It has a perfect colour development. It never once looked fake, patchy or orange and it didn’t clog my pores. However, I do suggest a light exfoliation and a thin layer of non-active moisturiser to get optimal even results. The only big downside to this product was the spray nozzle dispenser, which needs work, as it’s really tricky to use. I had to spray it into my hands and quickly get it on my face without it dripping everywhere. However, I can forgive this because it's a smart tanning product that has amazing skin-care ingredients and is a user-friendly shade that can be used every day without looking overdone and false. The hyaluronic acid content in this product is awesome and it truly makes the face nice and plump and healthy looking. And the coconut in it is a natural hydrator, which made my skin feel lovely’ • ‘I found it easier to spray and then spread around with a tanning mitt for a more even tone, no it did absorb quickly. It was fairly natural, and a really nice healthy tone, although I had to be careful on teams calls as hands were a lot whiter. Two people said I looked healthy after one application. I wouldn't normally apply this 3 days in a row, one application gave me a really healthy glow and looked much better than it did after 2nd and 3rd application, as I prefer a healthy glow. I do think you need to spread it around with a tanning mitt though, as the spray wasn’t fine so it would give uneven coverage’ • ‘A wonderful fake tan that will deliver a great colour without any orange in sight. I was told I looked well and glowing. I even used this on my husband just to see how it would work on a very pale skin tone that never tans. And it looked natural and really good. I do think he was impressed (though he won’t use it…). One of my favorite products I've been sent to test!!’
£22.99 for 100ml - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Vita Liberata Anti-Age Face Tanning Serum
As the name suggests, this serum promises to do double duty via reducing signs of ageing and giving you a healthy tan. The brand recommends adding it to your morning routine mixing two or three drops into moisturiser but our testers mostly preferred to use it with their night cream. You can, by the way, apply six or seven drops directly to your face before a moisturiser ‘to dial up the anti age benefits’, according to Vita Liberata founder Alyson Hogg; that wasn't very popular with testers though. The tanning agent (DHA) is certified 100% natural, and it also contains organic glycerin and cucumber, plus marula oil, and Matrixyl 3000 anti-ageing complex. Some very high marks with just one tester unimpressed by the ‘tango’ed’ look. This is a second Award for this product, which won last year for the same product in slightly different packaging.
£30 for 15ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. A beautifully easy product to use; offers a hydrating glow and seems to adapt to your skin tone. It took a couple of hours to develop the colour. It looks very natural and sun kissed rather than a fortnight in the sun but this could be achieved too. You can achieve a subtle hint of a glowy tan in a day or use over several days to build a deeper yet also natural effect. My husband asked if I’d been in the sun! It doesn't come away in patches and seems to nourish too. A really lovely product to use’ • ‘Loved it. The texture is so light I even forgot I added it to my cream; it develops evenly and fades the same. Great natural results, no streaks and easy to administer’ • ‘This serum is wonderful. It gives a beautiful effect of a delicate, even, golden, natural looking tan. It does not clog. I mix with my night cream and it is perfectly absorbed with this application’ • ‘I first put the product neat on my arm to test it and did get a very dark brown ‘dirty’ looking patch. The product said that you could dilute it with moisturiser so that’s what I did. I found that a bit tricky because one drop of the serum would cover my whole face so it was hard to mix with moisturiser and judge how much product I was using. I did however get a very believable healthy glow to my face. I would definitely buy this product but would prefer if it came already mixed in with a moisturiser base so I could get consistent results. This is the only self-tan I have ever used that did not have that revolting self-tan smell. I couldn’t detect any smell even after it had been on all night. Big plus from me! LOVE the fact that it didn’t smell.’
£30 for 15ml - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL St Moriz Advanced Tan Boosting Face Drops
This British brand, created by beauty industry insider Mel Brownlow and sunless tanning expert Jordan Cook, says they like to think of themselves as ‘your go-to tanning guru, answering all your tan related queries’ via a dedicated How to page on their website. They even have a TanTribe community, should you be the clubby sort… This serum is suitable for normal, oily or combination skin types, they say, although our testers included a range of skin types. St Moriz advises never applying the product directly to the skin, you should always mix it with moisturiser and also, don’t use on broken or damaged skin. Add 3-6 drops to your moisturiser or night cream depending on how bronzed you want to be. The colour will develop gradually to a golden glow through the day/night.
£9.99 for 15ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. I really like this product. I did get asked quite a lot if I'd been on holiday! As these drops mix with your every day moisturiser there is no issue with application; it mixes quite well and there is no drag. It absorbs well and I didn’t notice any stickiness. I mixed these drops in my hand, which seemed to work quite well but it did leave a slight colour to the palm of my hands. I was fully expecting the usual "wet dog" fake tan smell as it developed and it did smell slightly but considering it was on my face and right next to my nose it didn't smell as much as I expected. So that's a bonus! I felt this took a good couple of hours to start developing so I tend to use it overnight rather than during the day. The initial colour gave a good natural glow. Applied again on Day 2, the tan was obviously slightly darker but still very natural looking pretty impressive. By day 3, it started to look a little orangey, and more like I had a fake tan. I think the best way to use this produce is every other day rather than day after day. This faded evenly across my face however my neck area was quite patchy even thought I did use a scrub to try to even it out • ‘If you fancy a light tan then this is the product for you. I wouldn't use it for a deep tan as it does go a little orange but for a quick, light glow this works a treat and is very affordable. I have used it a couple of times a week to maintain a nice light golden glow’ • ‘Day 1, really lovely natural golden tan. Day 2, again looks really natural. Day 3, I do one to two drops each day, which keeps the colour consistent and always looks natural. I am quite tanned so it keeps my natural tan from fading. I never noticed any patchiness. Easy to use and effective’ • ‘I found this product easy to use and build up to the colour I wanted. I used 2 drops in my moisturiser to start with a subtle look. I could see a slight change so on day 2; I applied 3 drops mixed with my cream. This intensified the colour but it still looked very natural. The third application was probably not necessary for me but if you want to look like you have been in the sun then this would be recommended. I did find it clung to my sunspots and made them look darker but this is typical of these types of products. Recommended for those without sun spots who want a safe, natural looking suntan on their faces.’
£9.99 for 15ml - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD OSKIA Adaptive Tanning Drops
Another year and yet another Beauty Bible Award for these 100% natural self-tanning drops, which are chockfull of good ingredients things to keep your tanned skin in beautiful condition - no surprise given this British skincare brand’s reputation. Simply mix 1-3 drops with your usual moisturiser, foundation, serum or oil (testers particularly liked the adaptability) and massage over face and neck, avoiding hairline and eyes. The tri-phase tan will start to develop to a healthy glow within 3-4 hours, deepen over 2 days and last for 7-10 days. Along the way, it helps promote firmer, smoother skin due to collagen boosting vitamins A, B5, C and E, and pea peptides plus white tea and MSM (the brand’s signature compound), and is scented with jasmine and mint. Ideal to use at night, they say, which our testers by and large preferred to do. The tan should last up to 7-10 days. Some testers saw little or no visible change on first application (although they didn't say how many drops they used) but on second application, there was a golden tint. However, one bewildered tester couldn't achieve a noticeable tan over six applications – again we don’t know how many drops she used
£74 for 15ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. Perfect to add to my night cream and was very easy to apply, blended right in with it no problems as it is a liquid. I added it to my moisturiser in my hand, mixed and then rubbed in with my hands. In the morning I had a very natural golden glow. On Day 2 when I reapplied, it was again very natural, nothing too overpowering at all. And on Day 3, a lovely golden glow that I had a compliment from my friend. It faded very evenly, not patchy at all. A little bit of a fragrance but only very subtle, you could smell that familiar self tan smell once it was on the skin and had been developed but not as strong as ones I have used in the past so it was fine. Super easy to use and I would say this is my preferred way to use a gradual tanner especially to the face’ • ‘This is definitely the best fake tan for face I have ever used, most importantly it doesn't have the horrible fake tan smell. It goes on and stays on even, dispenses the exact amount required. It also removes nicely at first fading but then can be removed with exfoliation. I prefer to use on alternate days. Compliments on healthy glow to my skin. I love this!’ • ‘Fantastic product. It felt 100% natural and intelligent and subtle, and I loved that I couldn’t smell it or notice it at all. It felt really easy to use, and I loved that it was just a few tiny drops in my normal cream. At all times my skin has just looked like me in the summer! Even, sun-kissed, and 100% natural. It was so slow and natural; it’s been impossible to tell whether it’s been from sunshine or the product. But that means the colour is certainly entirely natural and my own usual tan colour. I didn't notice it’ • ‘lots of compliments on tan and looking ‘healthy’ particularly on day 3. I didn't notice it fading at all, so just evenly like a normal tan would fade. No patchiness at all. A clever, really easy and natural way to maintain subtle sun-kissed skin all year’ • ‘On Day 1 there was no visible change of colour, but on Day 2 it gave me a nice natural tan. Day 3 it had built to a very realistic, nice tan, which matched well with body tan. It faded evenly and very subtly.’
£74 for 15ml - click to buy