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When it comes to achieving a sun-kissed glow year-round, few beauty products can rival a face tanner. And thankfully, there’s now more choice than ever.
Being such a crowded market, I spoke to Nicola Matthews, founder of tanning brand Sienna X, to understand what to look for. “The skin on your face is more delicate,” she says, so you need to use a face tanner that contains hydrating skincare ingredients (such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, glycerin and aloe vera). That way, you’ll be “tanning and treating your skin at the same time”, says Matthews.
Once you’ve found the formula, prepping the skin is paramount. Matthews notes that exfoliation can help avoid mishaps, and she recommends applying a “light layer of your usual moisturiser to any very dry areas, like brows and around the nose”. This prevents the tan from gathering in dry patches, but Matthews says to “avoid heavy oils or rich moisturisers that could block the tan”.
After you’ve applied your fake tan, “use gentle, non-stripping products to cleanse and keep your skin moisturised with your usual day and evening moisturisers,” says Matthews. “Avoid exfoliating too often and stay away from oil-based products that can break the tan down.”
With all this advice in mind, I went on the search for the best face tanners.
How I tested
I’ve used some of these face tanners for years, while others are new in my rotation. During testing, I considered ease of application, development time, the final colour, how long-lasting each facial tanner is and value for money. I’ve only included those that performed well, so you can trust all of the options here – they’ll fit effortlessly into your existing skincare regime, whether used in the morning for a tan by lunchtime or at night to help you wake up with a bronzed glow.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
As a senior shopping writer at IndyBest, with expertise spanning beauty and skincare, Daisy Lester knows what makes for a great product. She’s been using fake tan, often year-round, for more than a decade, so she’s tried plenty of glow-getting formulas over the years. From rounding up her favourite fake tans to in-depth reviews of St Tropez and Bare by Vogue, and speaking to experts on how to ace fake tan application, she’s well-placed to bring you insights about and recommendations for the best facial tanners.
The best face tanners for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Caudalie vinobronze self tan sun drops: £19, Cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Dove summer revived fair to medium gradual self tan face cream: £2.09, Boots.com
- Best bronzing drops – Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi anti-pollution bronzing drops: £35, Spacenk.com
- Best serum – Bare By Vogue face tanning serum: £26, Boots.com
- Best for deep colour – Tan Luxe the face self-tan drops: £27.88, Amazon.co.uk
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