14 best fake tan formulas for a golden glow all year round (2025)

The best fake tans use skin-nourishing ingredients to achieve a gorgeous golden glow. Even in the 10 years since I’ve been fake tanning, formulas have come a long way, with streaky legs, orange hands and tell-tale elbows a thing of the past.

From fast-drying mousses and clear mists that don’t stain your sheets to hydrating lotions and creams, there’s more choice than ever to help you look bronzed, whatever the weather.

My tests found that long-established brands such as Bondi Sands, St Moritz and St Tropez are still go-to names for easy-to-apply mousses, while Tan Luxe and Isle of Paradise are favourites when it comes to express formulas (the kind you can apply in the morning, so you look like you’re fresh off a plane by the afternoon).

If you’re after hydrating lotions and creams, you can’t beat budget brands; Garnier or Dove are my go-tos for gradual-tanning formulas. Meanwhile, a newer innovation in the world of fake tan, clear water formulas don’t stain your sheets and are surprisingly fast drying.

So, how do you decide which formula is for you? James Read, who has been in the tanning business for more than two decades and founded the Self Glow range of products, says: “For lighter skin tones, a gradual tan is ideal, as it allows you to build your glow. For darker skin tones, a mousse works well, or you can use a gradual tan to build your desired shade.”

“Mousse self-tans are a good all-round formula that suits all. However, if you have dry/dehydrated or sensitive skin, you may prefer a lotion as opposed to a mousse,” says St Tropez’s celebrity tanner, Sophie Evans. “Lotion self-tans are generally more hydrating, and we can pack the formula with serious anti-ageing skincare.”

How I tested

From clear water-based formulas and spray-tans-in-a-bottle to mousses and gradual lotions, some of the formulas included here are ones I’ve used (and loved) for more than a decade, while others are new favourites. During testing, I considered everything from ease of application, staying power, value for money and the finish to bring you my top-rated recommendations.

Why you can trust IndyBest reviews

As a senior shopping writer at The Independent, I’m used to testing all sorts of fake tans, covering everything from graduals to mousses. Besides using a fake tan as part of my weekly routine, I’ve investigated the best ways to apply fake tan and written several individual reviews for tanners, including St Tropez and Bare By Vogue, and consulted experts on the formulas to choose. So, I’m well-placed to bring you an edit of top-rated fake tan formulas.

The best fake tans for 2025 are:

• Best overall – Bare By Vogue clean tan water: £23, Boots.com
• Best budget buy – DoveSpa gradual self-tan body lotion: £4.37, Boots.com
• Best express formula – Isle of Paradise express self-tanning mousse: £15.36, Amazon.co.uk
• Best instant tan – Sculpted by Aimee body base matte instant tan: £16, Sculptedbyaimee.co.uk
• Best clear tan – Tan Luxe express mousse: £36, Amazon.co.uk