MIX one of these faux glow formulas into your moisturiser for an effortless healthy way to tan
While it’s tempting to bask in the sun for a little colour, we know how damaging UV rays are and how they speed up the ageing process.
Luckily, advancements in sunless tanning mean if we stay out of the sun we no longer have to forgo a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow.
Never have there been so many options when it comes to fake tan on the virtual beauty shelves. Next-generation formulas are a world away from the one-bottle-suits-all tangerine tones we once slathered on.
Whether you’re after an instant quick-fix golden glow or a more gradual, long-lasting sun-kissed effect, you’ll find the perfect at-home bronzing partner out there.
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You don’t even need to change up your existing skincare routine anymore, with fake tanning drops flooding the beauty space for the easiest way to fake a faux glow yet.
Designed to be dropped into the palm of your hand and mixed with your favourite day or night cream, they couldn’t be simpler to use. Just don’t forget to apply evenly and wash your hands after use.
It’s not just ease-of-use that makes them a standout fake tanning option. Tanning drops give you a customisable glow. The more you add the darker you’ll go, so you can tailor-make your tan.
Of course, it’s not that straightforward to find the best fake tanning drops for you, your needs and your budget when there are so many available. So, we’ve done the hard work for you. Your next golden wonder awaits…
Best fake tanning drops at a glance:
- Best overall: Isle of Paradise Face Self-Tanning Drops
- Best budget: St.Moriz Tan Boosting Face Drops
- Best for face: Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
- Best for body: Clarins Self Tan Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Body Booster
- Best tinted: Self Glow by James Read Sunbright Tinted Tan Drops
Isle of Paradise Face Self-Tanning Drops
Isle of Paradise Face Self-Tanning Drops, £21.95
Pros: Long-lasting, 3 shades, passes for a real tan
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
To be honest, this isn’t my first bottle of Isle of Paradise tanning drops. From giving life to my pasty complexion in the dead of winter to dialling up the faux glow in the heights of summer, I’ve been using these drops on and off for a few years now because they are hard to beat.
My fair skin gets on best with the light drops, but there are also medium and dark options for those with more colour to their skin and body drops that are equally as brilliant.
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What makes these tan drops such a stand-out is they create a believable hue no matter how many drops you add. I like to use just 4 drops to create a gradual touched-by-the-sun effect that is ideal for every day, but for days when I want more of a golden hue, I mix in 10 drops (as seen in the picture).
The faux tan it creates is one of the best I’ve tested for longevity, although the brand promises five days, I found reapplying every three days works best to keep a continuous glow going. Additionally, it always stays even looking and doesn’t fade in patches like some of fake tan formulas.
What’s more, it’s been infused with one of the buzziest skincare ingredients of all time. Vitamin C has been backed by science to visibly brighten skin, and with ongoing use, I really do notice it perking up my dull complexion.
I can’t even complain about its smell, as the brand’s signature scent is so fresh and appealing.
Size: 30ml, Fragrance-free: No, Cruelty-free: Yes, Vegan: Yes
Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, £28.80
Pros: Lovely fragrance, boosted with skincare, 2 shades
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 5/5
Tan-Luxe is the brand that’s mastered creating a tailor-made faux tan, and in the interest of fairness, I already knew that this product ticks all the boxes when it comes to performance as I’ve been using it for years.
If you’ve been put off fake tan due to its biscuity smell, this is the one for you. The first thing you notice is that the typical strange smell has been replaced by a gorgeous fruity-floral fragrance.
Another big plus point, is they’ve been infused with nourishing ingredients like vitamin E and aloe vera, so there’s no chance of drying the skin out. I always find they leave my dry skin, super soft and smooth.
I find you can’t go wrong with these drops. Two drops add a slight radiance to the skin, perfect for no make-up days whereas eight gives a natural golden glow (pictured) and 12 is for a more sun-baked look when you’re looking for more glamour.
The colour itself is even, non-sticky and doesn’t darken or go orange in places when you layer. It’s everything a first-rate self-tan should be, so you can believe its viral hype with this one.
Size: 30ml, Fragrance-free: No, Cruelty-free: Yes, Vegan: Yes
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St. Moriz Tan Boosting Face Drops
St. Moriz Tan Boosting Face Drops, £9.99
Pros: Purse-friendly price, natural-looking glow
Cons: Small bottle
Rating: 4.5/5
If you're looking to spend less, these are the best budget tanning drops on the market, although you do get a smaller bottle than most for the price.
St. Moriz has carved out a reputation for effective and affordable self-tanning products, and as these pictures show these drops are no exception with the price not letting down the product in any way.
The brand recommends mixing three to six drops with moisturiser in the palm of your hand, so I threw caution to the wind and started with a healthy five. And this is the result I got on the very first use: a genuine sun-kissed glow that looks beautifully even.
Rather than wait for it to develop, this is another tanning drop that works well as part of a PM routine. I woke up after eight hours to this flawless, streak-free gentle tan. It lasts well too, as it wasn’t until day three when I felt the need to re-apply to keep the radiance going.
They do also have the classic fake take smell, but it’s gone by the time you wake up, and is just another reason to use them at night.
Size: 15ml, Fragrance-free: Yes, Cruelty-free: Yes, Vegan: Yes
Bondi Sands Self Tan Drops
Bondi Sands Self Tan Drops, £15.99
Pros: Speedy deep tan, suitable for face and body, 2 shades
Cons: Coconut smell (might be a pro for some)
Rating: 4.5/5
Another popular fake tanning brand, Bondi Sands has a huge lineup of easy-to-apply self-tanning products with foams, lotions, oils, mists and so much more – including these self-tan drops safe for use on the face and body.
These are the only tanning drops I’ve tried that have made me look twice in the mirror because I couldn’t believe how naturally tanned they made me look after just one use.
The brand recommends using anywhere between four to 12 drops, so I generously mixed eight on my initial testing of these. I was going to a wedding the next day and wanted to look bronzed, so waking up looking like I’d actually come back from a trip Down Under was a pleasant surprise.
There’s no denying a tan can be a real confidence boost, especially when you’re getting dressed up, so if you’re looking for a speedy deep colour this is a top choice.
The drops also contain no guide colour, so once dry you can get dressed after use without the fear of colouring your clothes.
It also lasts for a good three days and fades naturally without patches or dreaded skin dryouts.
Size: 30ml, Fragrance-free: Yes, Cruelty-free: Yes, Vegan: Yes
Self Glow by James Read Sunbright Tinted Tan Drops
Self Glow by James Read Sunbright Tinted Tan Drops, £39
Pros: Tinted formula, leaves you with an instant glow, believable tan
Cons: Most expensive
Rating: 4.5/5
A self-tanning expert, James Read has been on speed dial for a whole host of A-listers for over 20 years now. So, when I heard his new sunless line was about to go exclusively into Space NK, I made sure to get my hands on the tan drops ahead of their on-sale date.
And they did far from disappoint. It’s hard to do, but they actually stand out in a crowded self-tanning market because they are naturally tinted with cocoa extract.
When I first dropped them into my moisturiser I was daunted by the dark colour, but luckily it didn’t put me off as the tint leaves behind the most beautiful radiant glow. So much so, that I skipped wearing make-up when using it.
It’s also obvious the drops have been enriched with moisture-boosting skincare like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and fermented mushrooms, as they make my skin feel incredibly soft and supple.
You can see from the pictures the colour is very natural and even, this is the result after applying five drops (the brand recommends up to five after just one use, but it goes darker with continued use.
I’m pleased to report, that it fades naturally too and is one of the nicer-smelling tanning drops around. I wouldn’t expect anything else from the expert himself.
Size: 30ml, Fragrance-free: No, Cruelty-free: Yes, Vegan: Yes
Sienna X Self Tan Serum Drops
Sienna X Self Tan Serum Drops, £17.99 £15
Pros: Can be used neat or mixed, luxe serum texture, even colour
Cons: Only come in one shade
Rating: 4/5
You’ll find every type of self-tanning product in Sienna X’s extensive line-up, including these incredible tanning drops. What sets them apart is how customisable they are, as you can use them neat as well as mixed into your moisturiser.
In the name of beauty testing, I tried them both ways. Before bedtime, I applied three undiluted drops (the brand recommends two to four) and woke up with a truly golden ‘I’ve been having fun in the sun’ tan that still left my skin feeling comfortably hydrated thanks to its shea butter and vitamin E infusion.
However, I have to say my favourite result was after mixing five drops (out of six) into my night cream, as I still got a beautiful streak-free, sun-kissed effect with the added boost of my usual skincare my dry skin needs.
This is a top pick for those, like me, with age spots and pigmentation as it didn’t darken or make it look more prominent. Leaving behind, a beautiful even skin-toned tan.
No matter how you choose to use it, you’ll find the colour lasts flawlessly for a couple of days before needing to reapply.
Size: 30ml, Fragrance-free: No, Cruelty-free: Yes, Vegan: Yes
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Island Glow
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Island Glow, £38
Pros: Natural, buildable, available in two shades
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 4/5
A recent launch from the much-loved Charlotte Tilbury, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the queen of glow’s new tanning drops as I’m a big fan of many of her complexion products.
I was right to be excited, as once I took a closer inspection, I could see they were packed with hyaluronic acid. The superstar skincare ingredient is ideal for plumping and hydrating my dry skin, so I already knew they were going to go the extra beauty mile.
And I was right! While some tanning drops can be drying, these have the opposite effect always leaving my skin comfortable and well-moisturised.
They come in two shades. You can pick from a light/medium or a tan/deep so there’s something to suit most complexions, I opted for the lighter shade to match my porcelain skin.
They take around eight hours to fully develop, so I found it easiest to apply as part of my evening routine. You can layer them under your night cream or over, as well as mixed in - I found the latter easiest.
No matter how pale you are, these will still work for you. On my first test, I played it safe with just four drops that promised a sun-kissed glow and I found the colour super subtle.
On my second go, I knew it would be safe to add more, so opted for eight drops (you can apply up to 12) and as the pictures show they gave me more of the golden glow I was after.
The colour looks natural, and importantly for me, it didn’t highlight any pigmentation, just a beautiful even tone that lasted a good few days before I needed to reapply.
Overall, these are not for anyone looking for a one-application speedy deep tan, and only for those who like their colour to look natural.
Size: 30ml, Fragrance-free: Yes, Cruelty-free: Yes, Vegan: Yes
Coco and Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops
Coco and Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops, £22
Pros: Smells amazing, believable colour, easy to use
Cons: Not as dark as the brand promises
Rating: 4/5
Coco and Eve say they have bottled up the magic of Bali with their collection of beauty products, and when it comes to the fragrance of these tanning drops they’ve succeeded - it instantly transports me there with its delicious, tropical notes.
The second thing that makes these tanning drops stand out, is the packaging. Most tanning drops on the market come with pipette droppers, but the all-in-one syringe style makes it even easier to dispense and mix with your moisturiser and tan drops.
There are two shades to pick from. For this test, I opted for the dark shade, as Coco and Eve recommend it for a healthy bronze, but it’s also available in a medium shade for those who want more of a gradual glow.
I was glad I went for the darker option, as with three drops (the brand recommends one to three) mixed into my night cream I woke up with this believable sun-kissed colour.
To boot, my complexion felt noticeably silky smooth thanks to the five types of hyaluronic acid that are infused in the formula. This makes it a top pick for those with dry or mature skin too.
Plus, this one is easy to build up the colour without any orange tones and it even fades well with a few layers.
Size: 30ml, Fragrance-free: No, Cruelty-free: Yes, Vegan: Yes
Clarins Self Tan Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Body Booster
Clarins Self Tan Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Body Booster, £30
Pros: Ultra buildable, long-lasting, hides imperfections
Cons: One shade, slight biscuit smell
Rating: 4/5
These tanning drops are made for those who don’t want to give up using their favourite body moisturiser but are looking for a hint of being kissed by the sun's colour.
The first thing to note is they are ultra buildable, so if you’re looking for a quick fix, instant tan these are not for you. I built up the natural-looking glow you can see on my legs over a week of use.
Clarins advises squeezing four to six drops into your body moisturiser. To get the effect I have on my legs I went all-out with six mixed into a 10-pence-sized dollop of lotion on each leg and did so every three days to get this subtle colour by day nine.
I’m blessed with thread veins, discolouration and scarring on my legs and what I loved most about the light colour pay-off is it covered them up naturally. I think of it as ongoing make-up for the legs without looking fake or orange in any way.
Just like it builds up evenly and streak-free with repeated application, it fades well too without any unsightly patching.
The only downside is it does have a slight traditional smell of fake tan, but it’s subtle enough not to mark it down.
Size: 30ml, Fragrance-free: No, Cruelty-free: No, Vegan: No
Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self-Tan Face Drops
Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self-Tan Face Drops, £16
Pros: Very subtle, even skin tone, ideal for pale skin
Cons: Typical fake tan smell
Rating: 4/5
Highstreet-favourite beauty brand, Garnier, has these transparent tanning drops that are perfect for those with very pale or pale skin. They are very subtle, so if you stick to just using one to four drops you really can’t go wrong on fair skin tones.
I found my skin tone needed more to get a desirable effect. After a few trials and errors, I worked out my optimum drop count is eight to get the pictured natural glow.
It reminds me of how my skin would look if I’d spent a long weekend in the sun, so much so I had friends ask me if I’d been away when using it.
It develops quite quickly, I tried applying it as part of my morning routine and staying make-up-free noticed I had a more even-toned, slight tan by lunchtime. This makes it a great choice for those who like a fuss-free natural look day-to-day.
They didn’t feel greasy on the skin or drying at all (thanks to hyaluronic acid in the formula). The only complaint if I’m pushed to make one is the usual: they have the typical fake tan smell.
Size: 30ml, Fragrance-free: No, Cruelty-free: Yes, Vegan: Yes
How we tested these products
Finding the right fake tanning drops for you and your needs can be a lengthy beauty game of trial and error - not to mention an expensive task.
So, we enlisted the help of an experienced beauty editor who loves to put the latest self-tan formulas on trial as they launch. With a dull, pale and dry skin tone, fake tanning drops always have their work cut out on her skin tone and type.
When putting these tanning drops to the test a number of factors were considered. Mainly, performance, including how natural and even the tan looked, as well as how long it lasted and felt on the skin. We also marked each product on its smell, and ease and looked at addition plus points like added skincare and packaging.
Each product was mixed into the same moisturiser for the fairest result and tested a minimum of three times to see how well it layered.
To show the most natural results, all these before and after pictures are with no make-up and after just one application.
Therefore, you can trust all these products have been tried and tested fairly to bring you the best fake tanning drops on the market.
Where to buy fake tanning drops in the UK
To give you an all-year-round glow, you’ll find fake tanning drops available both on the high street and in major department stores. Major supermarkets stock purse-friendly drops, and both Superdrug and Boots have a wide range from budget to luxe formulas. For Tan-Luxe formulas, John Lewis is the place to go.
If you’re hitting the virtual beauty shelves, Sephora, Lookfantastic and Cult Beauty offer the widest selection of fake tanning drops if you’re looking for a choice.
And for the just dropped launches like Self Glow by James Read you’ll only find the brand exclusive to Space NK, while Charlotte Tilbury’s tanning drops are only on the brand's own site.
Some of our favourite in-store and online retailers include:
- Boots
- Superdrug
- Lookfantastic
- Sephora
- Cult Beauty
- John Lewis
- Charlotte Tilbury
- Space NK
How much do tanning drops cost?
You’ll find fake tanning drops to suit every budget here in the UK. Generally, budget brands start around £10. Luxury beauty brands vary more and are typically around £30-£39. But of course, there are many mid-range products in between those two price points too.
The cheapest fake tanning drops we tested are by St. Moriz, costing just £9.99 we gave them 4.5/5 so are a real steal.
The most expensive we tested are Self Glow by James Read at £39, but they’re tinted so offer an instant glow as well as a long-lasting tan.
