I used to have a lot of issues with “fake tan” products. Many people of colour love a tan, but would also like options that don’t destroy their skin health in pursuit of it. But formulations were never created to include darker skin tones. Regardless, fake tans were plagued with downsides. My white friends had numerous (read: horror) professional spray-tan stories that all ended with them looking like Lucozade and smelling like cheap biscuits. Self-tanning also had “potential to go wrong” written all over it – and it usually did. As summer neared, streaky, patchy faces and bodies became ubiquitous. It shouldn’t surprise us. Has the word “fake” ever had positive connotations? Thankfully, the category has had an overhaul. Newer formulations are teeming with skin-friendly ingredients, are easier to apply and no longer smell like something you would dip in your tea. Products are also more inclusive – Isle of Paradise is particularly brilliant across skin tones, adding a rich, healthy glow more akin to your natural shade than that of a cantaloupe. Amanda Harrington (body painter to the stars) once told me that the purpose of these products is not to make you three shades darker, but to give your skin a “boost”. The terminology has also changed. It’s now called a “sunless tan”.
1. Amanda Harrington Tonal Tan Drops £26, amandaharrington.com
2. Institut Esthederm Self-Tanning Face Cream £24.80, lookfantastic.com
3.Trish McEvoy Instant Solutions Tanning Drops £37, libertylondon.com
4. Dr Sebagh Self-Tanning Drops £35, drsebagh.com
5. Sisley Self-Tanning Hydrating Facial Skin Care £104, spacenk.com
6. Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Body £28, clarins.co.uk
7. Dior Bronze Liquid Sun Self-Tanning Water £45, selfridges.com
8. Tan- Luxe the Water, Hydrating Tanning Water £34, tan-luxe.com
9. Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Oil Mist £21.95, boots.com
10. Three Warriors Gradual Tan £34.99, feelunique.com
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