9 best fake tans for pale skin 2024 for a natural golden glow
Finding the best fake tan for pale skin can easily turn into a far more tedious task than you might think. Believe me, as someone who has a fair complexion, I know just how intimidating fake tan may seem, especially if you've gone through a couple of tanning fails in your lifetime.
The trouble is, there's so much that can go wrong for those of us with fair skin. For starters, streaks are way more obvious and most fake tan formulas tend to develop way too dark (or too orange) to be believable. In an ideal scenario, you'd want a balanced formula that still gives you that “straight-out-of-Maldives” golden glow with a natural-looking tint and without any grey, green or orange-y undertones.
Luckily, there are plenty of formulas – be it in form of a mousse, lotion, drops, tanning oil or a tanning mist – that are expertly designed for lighter skin tones that promise to be gentle on colour while still being easy to apply. Plus, there are a few failsafe tips and tricks that make the whole process far less daunting. Here's everything you need to know.
Best fake tan for pale skin at a glance:
- Best overall: Bondi Sands Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, £19.99, LookFantastic
- Best in mousse form: Coco & Eve Bali Bronzing Foam, £26, Coco & Eve
- Best for beginners: Bondi Sands Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, £19.99, LookFantastic
- Best for face: Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum, WAS £36 NOW £28.80, LookFantastic
How we test
We're well aware that skincare products – particularly gradual tanners and similar – come with big claims. When testing a fake tan for pale skin, we'll consider the texture, value for money, whether the packaging is recyclable and whether they deliver on their claims. Read: do they smell? Do they actually leave us feeling glowy? Does it wash off evenly?
Meet the experts:
- Amanda Harrington, tanning expert.
- Claire Lambert, Skinny Tan's tanning expert.
Rule #1: Never apply with bare hands
While this rule applies to anyone applying fake tan, it should be taken even more seriously for those with fair skin as any residual colour on the palms of hands will be more obvious. The jury is still out on whether disposable gloves, mitts or brushes give a better result, but mitts are certainly the most widely available option and disposable gloves aren't exactly great in terms of sustainability.
Tanning expert Amanda Harrington swears by brushes for a long-lasting, perfectly even finish and even designed a range of her own brushes to help. “Don't be afraid to use a brush,” she says. “You'll be pleasantly surprised how easy you find it. Whereas a mitt sits flat on the skin, a brush drives product into the nooks and crannies – no more telltale signs around your chin and nose.”
Rule #2: Wash your mitt or brush regularly
Whatever method you use to apply your tan, make sure to wash it regularly as a congested tool can result in an undesired outcome. “Patchy legs are often the result of a dirty mitt,” says Skinny Tan's tanning expert Claire Lambert. “Make sure you're washing your mitt after every application to ensure an even tan."
To make matters easier, Claire recommends looking for a machine washable mitt. “Skinny Tan's Dual Fake Tanning Mitt is machine washable making it super convenient to use and then pop in the wash."
Rule #3: Invest in a formula designed for fair skin
Don't just grab the nearest bottle of tan. Most ranges include different shades that are suitable for different skin tones and choosing the one that's designed with fair skin in mind will help boost results. If you find the result isn't dark enough, you can repeat the process or go a shade up next time, but it's always better to err on the side of caution at first.
For more content from Glamour UK Beauty Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Spoiler: we've been using our tanning mitts all wrong.
With that in mind, here are the best fake tans for pale skin...
Best fake tan for pale skin overall
Bondi Sands Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam
- Developing time: 1 hour.
- Consistency: Mousse.
- Fragrance-free? Yes.
Why we love it: If you're looking for the crème de la crème of all fake tan formulas, Bondi Sands is definitely the way to go – particularly its Technocolor range, which is probably one of the brand's most innovative launches to date. The Sapphire shade has been expertly formulated to suit fair skin for a natural yet visibly tan look. The blue-grey colour guide will counteract any orange tones, resuling in a cool-toned finish. The best part? It only takes an hour to develop and it's fragrance-free too. A win.
Save ££ when shopping using these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best fake tan mousse for pale skin
- Developing time: 2 hours.
- Consistency: Foam.
- Fragrance-free? No, but it doesn't have that unpleasant “biscuit-y” smell.
Why we love it: Non-sticky? Yes. Fast-drying and lightweight? Yes aaand yes. This tanning foam is easily one of the most popular in the biz, thanks to its unique 100% vegan formula that not only nourishes and smooths the skin but has also been created with a green-grey base for the most natural results with no orange undertones in sight. Plus, the Cellushape technology also helps visibly blur the skin in the process too. (P.S. we also highly recommend checking out their Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Set, which also comes with an applicator mitt and a kabuki brush).
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Best hydrating tanning serum
Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum
- Developing time: Gradual.
- Consistency: Serum.
- Fragrance-free? Yes.
Why we love it: After a nourishing face serum that will also gradually give you a tan? Say no more, because Tan-Luxe is known and loved for its face-tanning formulas that work wonders on fair skin tones. Featuring the benefits of a hyaluronic acid serum and superfood ingredients such as cocoa seed extract, this formula is a must for barrier repair, brightening and hydration. Otherwise, this serum also helps colour-correct and even out the skin tone while creating a buildable tanned look.
Make sure to bookmark these LookFantastic discount codes to save.
Best fake tan for pale skin for beginners
Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk
- Developing time: Gradual.
- Consistency: Milky lotion.
- Fragrance-free? No.
Why we love it: Does the idea of getting tan instantly intimidate you? Does the thought of having to remove your tan, exfoliate and re-apply every few weeks overwhelm you? If so, we highly suggest checking out the Bondi Sands Gradual Tanning Milk, which also doubles as a body moisturiser. This gradual tan formula feels incredibly lightweight yet moisturising on the skin, all the while helping you achieve that natural sun-kissed look, making it perfect for dry skin. Hands down, one of the best tanning products out there.
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Best affordable fake tan for pale skin
St Moriz Professional Medium Tanning Mousse
- Developing time: 4-6 hours.
- Consistency: Mousse.
- Fragrance-free? No.
Why we love it: This formula from St Moriz is proof that quality fake tan doesn't have to come with a premium price tag. “Applying a layer of St Moriz fake tan gives me an instant pick me up from the moment it starts to develop, resulting in an even coat,” says GLAMOUR's Commerce Photo Editor Neamh Randall. Featuring skin-loving ingredients such as aloe vera and vitamin E, this tanning mousse is bound to keep your skin nice and hydrated as well as tanned. That said, we definitely recommend this one for more experiences fake tan users, especially since it takes roughly 4-6 hours to develop.
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Best tanning drops for pale skin
Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops
- Developing time: 4-6 weeks.
- Consistency: Drops.
- Fragrance-free? No.
Why we love it: Isle of Paradise is beloved for its streak-free, natural-looking formulas, and these self-tanning drops fair skin don't disappoint. Simply add a drop or two to your favourite moisturiser for light/medium tan results (add more for a deeper tan) and massage into the skin. Then, allow it gradually develop over the next 4-6 weeks and enjoy an even, luminous glow – the colour is subtle enough to be believable and look natural on fair skin. That said, if you're someone who has oily or acne-prone skin, you might benefit from knowing that this formula isn't oil-free.
Make sure to bookmark these LookFantastic discount codes to save.
Best fake tan for pale skin for lasting results
Beauty Pie Awesome Bronze Super Formula No-streak Self Tanning Mousse
- Developing time: 4-8 hours.
- Consistency: Mousse.
- Fragrance-free? Yes.
Why we love it: Suitable for all skin types, this tanning mousse from Beauty Pie is ideal for anyone looking for a streak-free formula that delivers lasting results. The best part? It only takes 3-4 minutes to dry down, meaning you can safely put your clothes on without worrying about patchiness or transfer. It's also supercharged with dual-action DHA and skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin and jojoba wax. None of that pesky spray tan-like smell either. We'll take 10, please.
Best fast-absorbing tanning mousse for pale skin
St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse
- Developing time: 4-8 hours.
- Consistency: Water mousse.
- Fragrance-free? Yes.
Why we love it: Whether you're someone who can't stand that sticky post-application feel or if you're fed up with formulas that take way too long to absorb, you are bound to love the St. Tropez Self Tan Water Mousse as much as we do. Featuring a unique water-to-foam texture, this vegan formula is one of the best buildable fake tans we've seen, giving you all the flexibility to adjust the intensity of the pigment. Non-streaky and super easy to apply – what more can you ask for?
Make sure to bookmark these LookFantastic discount codes to save.
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Best tanning lotion for pale skin
Vita Liberata Fabulous Gradual Tanning Lotion
- Developing time: 8 hours.
- Consistency: Body lotion.
- Fragrance-free? Yes.
Why we love it: This gradual tanner is perfect for anyone after subtle results and a buildable yet natural-looking golden tan. Apply it as your go-to body moisturiser and let it do its magic for roughly 8 hours. The result? Non-transfer sun-kissed glow that will have you looking as if you had just stepped out of an airplane from Bali. Better yet, it's also perfectly safe to use on your face too, making it even easier to use all over in one go. A must-have.
Make sure to bookmark these Boots discount codes to save.
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