Best fake tans for pale skin to give you that summer glow
The start of the summer (and the hope that the sun will at some point rear its head) ushers in the inevitable annual wardrobe switch-up. But while many of us are longing to feel the heat on our skin and get some much-needed vitamin D, the thought of baring our legs and arms can cause dread for those with naturally paler skin.
If you’re a newbie to fake tan and a little hesitant turning up to work or a pub garden with a streaky orange complexion or looking like you’ve just been Tango’d (90s kids will get it), then fear not, there are some great brands who cater for lighter skin tones and can help ease you into the world of glowing skin, no far flung beach trip required.
Fake tans now come in all different forms - from foams to mists, waters to drops, which allow for a more customised application and prevent those tell-tale patches from giving the game away. Most brands have a light option - meaning once it develops, it will give you a subtle tint with a fresh-from-holiday radiance.
If the thought of fake tanning makes you break out in a sweat, but you still want to give yourself some colour, try gradual tans or tinted body moisturisers. These are formulas that you can build over time, allowing you to time to adjust to your new skin colour and make for a more foolproof way to ensure all-over application.
Shop the best fake tans for pale skin.
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam 1 Hour Express
If you’re stuck for time and need tanned pins sharpish, this foam fake tan only needs an hour to leave you with a sunkissed glow.
The coconut-scented formula from the much-loved Australian brand is great for pale skin as it doesn’t leave any noticeable streaks and can be left on the skin a little longer if you want a more obvious tan. The fragrance is also a very welcomed alternative from that biscuit-y aroma of tans in time gone by.
Ultra-light and quick-drying, you can leave it develop while you put your make-up on and do your hair - magic. If you’re scared of starting out with a real fake tan, try the brand’s gradual tan lotion, with hyaluronic acid to help keep your skin hydrated - it will develop gradually the more you apply.
Buy now £12.66, Boots
Sienna X Clear Tan Self Tan Water Mousse Gradual
Sienna X’s newest fake tan comes in light-medium to ultra-dark - but if you have paler skin we’d recommend you start with the lighter version. The clear mousse, which is vegan and has a lovely fruity smell, contains hyaluronic acid and aloe vera to hydrate the skin - and develops well on the whole body, from the face to the arms.
If you hate getting your fake tan on your clothes or towels, this invisible tan has no transfer and develops after eight hours - so you can sleep in and shower it off in the morning, without leaving any streaks on your bedding. Travel-size versions of the tan are also available if you want to keep your tan alive while on holiday.
Buy now £19.99, Superdrug
ESPA Gradual Tan Body Moisturiser
When you’ve got pale skin, a gradual tan is a great way to work up the colour so you don’t wake up with a shock or orange hands. ESPA’s gradual tan comes in a light body moisturiser that takes four hours to develop. The result is a subtle tan, which can be built up daily, or whenever you want some more colour.
We loved the smell of this tan - a Shea butter and sweet almond smell with hints of jasmine, rosewood and ylang-ylang. Pair it with ESPA’s salt scrub before you apply the tan to help you exfoliate the skin and get it ready for that lovely even complexion.
Buy now £37.00, ESPA
Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Oil Mist
A spray or mist is a great way to even out your tan if you’re worried about streaky legs or arms. Just like a sun lotion, spray this new oil mist from Isle of Paradise, which applies easier, quicker and more even than a normal lotion.
It’s so hydrating too with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane plus a vitamin-rich sea kelp that left our skin feeling soft, smooth and tanned. Choose from three different shades - light, medium and dark, the mists come in pretty coloured bottles - adding to the aesthetics of your beauty counter.
Buy now £21.95, Boots
St Moriz Advanced Colour Correcting Tanning Mousse
If you want to even out your skin tone, espically if you suffer from redness or rosacea, this mousse will work with you complexion, helping to even it out and leave you with a glow. For pale skin, start with their light version (they also have medium, dark and very dark) and apply evenly with a mitt or brush for a tan that day.
The mousse is transfer-resistant, meaning you don’t have to worry about it going on your clothes, sheets or towels. We took it off after eight hours developing and loved the golden glow effect. The added bonus of hydrating hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 meant our skin was super soft. With peach undertones, we were hoping to smell a little nicer throughout the day, however, it still had a slight biscuity smell.
Buy now £9.99, Boots
Arbonne’s LiquidSunshine Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion
If you’ve got sensitive skin, Arbonne’s tanning lotion is infused with aloe vera leaf juice and green tea extract - giving it a lovely smell and smooth finish. The light brown lotion goes on the skin well and dries relatively quickly.
The vegan lotion can be reapplied daily to work up to a tan that you’re happy with. We liked the colour after two days of applying, then reapplied every few days. It is one of the more expensive tanning lotions on our list, however, so make sure it’s the right colour for you before you invest.
Buy now £44.00, Arbonne
St.Tropez Gradual Tan Tinted Daily Firming Body Lotion
You can always rely on St Tropez for a great tan and this gradual tinted moisturiser is no different. Following in the footsteps of other brands such as Garnier and Dove, who have perfected their tinted tanning lotions, this is also a great option for leaving you with a hint of a tan.
Use it as your daily moisturiser, but spread it evenly to make sure you cover every part of the body to avoid streaking. You can build it up over the week to give yourself a golden glow by the weekend. Packed with hyaluronic acid and plant-based marine algae, you’ll also feel the hydration benefits and be left with a subtle but lovely floral scent.
Buy now £7.98, Amazon
Hawaiian Tropic Self-Tan Water
If you love Hawaiian Tropics SPF, this self-tan water is great prep for your holiday skin - even if you just want the brand’s signature transportive holiday smell.
Luckily the mist is fool-proof so even if you’re a beginner you can’t go wrong, just spray it on the skin (you don’t even need to rub it in) wait a few minutes for it to dry and wake up the next day with a lovely, even glow.
If you’re worried about going too dark too quickly then start with the light version of the tan and work your way up to the darker versions. Made with aloe vera and vitamin E, we not only had a nice even tan the next day but also soft skin which felt very hydrated.
Buy now £15.00, FeelUnique
INIKA Organic Natural Tanning Mist
Want a luxury tanning mist that smells as good as it looks? Housed in a sustainable glass bottle, the non-comedogenic formula has a sweet aroma and won’t block your pores or look clumpy on the skin. The natural ingredient line-up is also made without any harmful chemicals.
We love how fine the mist is, covering our body and face well, but not feeling heavy or thick in the summer sun. The result was a nice glow. It does take a little longer than other tans to develop - 10 hours, so it’s one to pre-plan if you want to apply before a big occasion.
Buy now £29.00, INIKA
Tropic Summer skin Gradual Tanning Lotion
A Pina Colada is the ultimate holiday drink, so this gradual tanning lotion, which has the classic cocktail’s pineapple scent will get you yearning to set your out of office, while also leaving you with a glow as though you’ve already been away.
Packed with coconut oil and mango butter, it will moisturise the skin while it tans it, plus its patented plant allo-melanin helps to replicate the skin’s melanin production, which makes it perfect for pale skin. Another great gradual tanning lotion to ease you into the tanning process as you can build on it day by day.
Buy now £20.00, Tropic Skincare
Evolve Beauty Sunless Glow Body Lotion
This fancy-looking lotion is richer than some of the other tanning products but gave our skin a real boost. The organic lotion is enriched with papaya and aloe vera, which not only smells gorgeous but tans the skin gradually so you can build your colour over time and decide what type of tan is right for your skin tone.
The ingredients soothe any redness and dry skin, instead of causing irritation. For such a luxury product the lotion is modestly priced - so snap it up before your other pale friends do.
Buy now £18.00, Evolve Beauty
Verdict
There’s a great selection of new tanning products for pale skin, but the Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam is one of the best - developing in just one hour. The tan’s coconut scent and quick drying ability mean you can apply it without any hassle and it will give you a lovely natural glow.
