8 best fake tan for face 2025: tried & tested

PERFECTING a tanning routine is key to maintaining a sunkissed glow all year round.

And that includes, of course, finding the best fake tan for the face.

Face tanning isn’t as easy as whipping on a body tan, as the skin on the face is sensitive to breakouts and clogged pores.

There’s a sea of different fake tans for face (think mists, drops, serums), and I’ve tried and tested some of the most popular options on the market.

I’ve used my fair share of face tans over the years, so I can confidently say I have it down when it comes to spotting a good tan that won’t leave me orange or patchy.

The best face fake tans often incorporate skincare ingredients, to provide a golden glow without leaving the face feeling dry.

Most options can be mixed with a moisturiser to help get an even tan with minimal effort, just remember to wash your hands after applying to avoid orange streaks!

Investing in a face fake tan that actually works can leave you looking like you’ve just returned from a week in the sunshine all year, but which ones are worth the money?

How I tested

I’ve been fake tanning almost every week for a decade, so I can consider myself a bit of a connoisseur.

Some of the fake tans included have been my favourites for years, while others have been tested across several weeks.

When testing, I considered basics such as ease of application, value for money, scent and application process.

Tanning mists, serums, waters and foam have been put to the test, and I’ve kept an eye on whether they go patchy, how they blend on the skin and how the colour fades.

I’ve also considered the packaging of the facial tans, like whether the bottle leaked and whether the tan has dropper for controlled application.

Best fake tans for your face at a glance:

• Best overall: Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self-Tan Face Drops, £7.99 (was £16)
• Best budget face tan: St Moriz Face & Body Tanning Mist, £4.66
• Best for sensitive skin: Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face, £18
• Best tanning drops: Tan Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, £28.80
• Bet tanning water: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water, £18.95

Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self-Tan Face Drops

Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer
Self-Tan Face Drops, £7.99 (was £16)

Pros: Feels weightless on skin, thin pipette for controlling how much product is used, buildable, moisturising, scentless, affordable

Cons: Need quite a few drops to make a difference

Rating: 9/10

Garnier’s tanning drops have been on my radar for some time, after Mrs Hinch revealed that she’s “obsessed” with the affordable beauty buy on Instagram.

After finally taking the plunge, this first thing I was impressed by was the small pipette, which gives great application control.

The drops are clear on the skin, developing across several hours to give a bronzed glow.

The formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid and coconut water for added hydration, so it’s great for people like me who have dry skin.

I use fake tan every week, and I needed quite a few drops to achieve the same level of tan to match my body, so I can imagine I’ll get through the bottle quite quickly.

That being said, I love how weightless the drops feel on the skin, and I’ll be reaching for them on no make-up days during the summer to get a healthy glow.

The Garnier tanning drops are currently reduced from £16.99 to £7.99 in the Amazon sale, making the product one of the most affordable options.

Review by Sophie Bates

Formula: Serum Development time: 6 to 8 hours Size: 30ml 
Vegan: Yes 

Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, £28.80

Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating
Self-Tan Drops, £28.80 (was £36)

Pros: Hydrating, long-lasting, easy to use, subtle scent, customisable per droplet amount

Cons: Expensive

Rating: 9/10

I bought this on an EasyJet flight home from Croatia, with the fear of losing my summer tan looming over me, and it was one of the best impulse purchases I’ve ever made.

I love the Tan Luxe drops for multiple reasons, from the lack of a strong tanning scent to the even coverage provided by the formula – these drops are easy to use and streak-free.

The recommended number of drops ranges from two to twelve, allowing you to customise your usage while building your tan. 

The tan also stays put, no matter what your skincare routine is. I double cleanse with an exfoliator, and it still doesn’t budge.

Just be sure to thoroughly wash your hands afterwards, as it can leave a lingering stain (which is also a testament to the strong pigment of the product!).

Formula:  Development time: 6 to 8 hours Size: 30ml 
Vegan: Yes 

Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water, £18.95

Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water, £18.95

Pros: Suitable for face and body, bottle lasts a long time, doesn’t go streaky, develops throughout the day

Cons: Need to spritz lots to get a decent glow, difficult to use on body with no guide colour

Rating: 9/10

The Isle of Paradise Face Tanning Drops had been my go-to for years, but the brands tanning water has officially taken the top spot.

Firstly, I love the spray bottle, which can be sprayed directly to the face or applied on the hand and mixed with moisturiser (my preference).

I find I need around four spritzes to get a decent glow, which I apply before bed and wake up with a subtle but sunkissed tan.

The main feature that converted me from Isle of Paradise’s tanning drops to the tanning water is that I find the lighter consistency prevents me from ever going patchy.

It glides on without feeling sticky, and it doesn’t cling to areas like the hairline or eyebrows.

I would be nervous to use the tanning water on my body as there’s no guide colour (you can read my tried-and-tested roundup of the best fake tans for my recommendations), but it’s a trusty favourite for my face.

Review by Sophie Bates

Formula: Water Development time: 4-6 hours hours Size: 200ml Vegan: Yes

St Moriz Face & Body Tanning Mist With Coconut Fragrance, £4.66

St Moriz Face & Body Tanning Mist, £4.66 (was £6.99)

Pros: Dries quickly, not sticky, buildable, skin-loving ingredients, smells nice, no need to blend in, refreshing 

Cons: Needs up to eight hours to develop

Rating: 9/10

For me, tanning mists are as much about the added skincare ingredients and the pleasurable experience of spritzing myself to cool down during a heatwave.

And this one from St Moriz is affordable enough that you can spritz it to your heart’s delight.

The tropical coconut scent is pretty addictive and makes you feel as if you’re on holiday somewhere exotic.

Plus, the particles are so fine that you don’t need to blend the product in with a mitt or brush, so you can apply the mist on the go or in a slap-dash manner.

With that being the case, I’ve found myself misting away at any opportunity and in any location — from my office desks to the post office queue.

I tried it in the medium shade and found that, after around six to eight hours, it gave me a subtle golden glow.

And, because it’s packed with coconut oil and coconut water, it’ll quench the thirst of even the driest skin.

Formula: Mist Development time: 6 to 8 hours Size: 150ml Vegan: Yes

Tanologist Face and Body Drops £15.99

Tanologist Face and Body Drops £15.99

Pros: Suitable for face and body, a little goes a long way, three shade options, doesn’t go patchy, good value for money

Cons: Drops formula isn’t ideal for applying to the body

Rating: 8/10

Lottie Tomlinson’s brand Tanologist launched its face and body drops back in 2020, and the serum has been a hit ever since.

I mix the tanning drops with my moisturiser every time I fake tan to ensure my face matches my body, and the buildable formula makes it easy to colour match.

As it comes in three shades, I didn’t need to use as many drops at once, meaning the bottle lasts a lot longer than other alternatives.

I always wake up with a really nice glow whenever I use the drops, and they’ve never left me looking orange or patchy.

The drops claim to be for the face and body, but with the small bottle and pipette, I think it would be pretty challenging to get a good tan on the body with this (especially if you’re pale).

Review by Sophie Bates

Formula: Serum Development time: 4-6 hours hours Size: 30ml Vegan: Yes

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face, £18

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster
for Face, £18 (was £23)

Pros: Easy to customise, good for sensitive skin, easy to dispense, natural

Cons: Small packaging, orange hands, if used too much can look orange around eyebrows etc

Rating: 7.5/10

I’d been hoping to try Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face and was pretty happy with the results.

You can customise the intensity of your tan by adding two to three drops with your own moisturiser – great if you have sensitive skin. 

However, I found that when mixing the moisturiser and the tan, you could easily get left with orange stains on your hands.

With no smell and light formula, you really can’t tell it’s in your moisturiser upon application, but the tan after is natural, sun-kissed and even. 

The colour develops within a couple of hours, leaving you with a natural glow, and I recommend using it on alternative days to avoid telltale signs and an orange tint.

There were no marks on my white pillows, and it simply faded as with everyday cleansing, making it the perfect way to keep your natural (or fake) tan topped up. 

Formula: Liquid Development time: 4 hours + Shade Availability: 1 Size: 15ml Vegan: Yes

Bondi Sands Self Tan Drops, £10.66

Bondi Sands Self Tan Drops, £10.66 (was £15.99)

Pros: Perfect for those wanting deep tans, good price, easy to use, two shades to choose from

Cons: Have to be mindful of other skincare ingredients

Rating: 7/10

When it comes to tanning, Bondi Sands is my holy grail, and I’ve raved about Liquid Gold to everyone I know, so of course I had to try the tanning drops.

I used the shade Dark as, despite both Light and Dark shade options being buildable, the darker shade has a higher level of tanning actives than the lighter shade.

If you’re looking for that deep tan to match a rich body tan, then this is definitely for you.

However, you may need to avoid any skincare products containing Vitamins A, B, C, or D, as well as retinols, AHAs, and BHAs (commonly found in exfoliating products), as the exfoliation can lead to an uneven tan.

Also, despite claims on the site that the drops can be used on sensitive and blemish-prone skin, I did find that after using the drops for a while, I experienced small breakouts, which disappeared once I stopped using them.

On the whole, the drops are perfect for those wanting a deep, dark, and long-lasting even tan, and I would recommend them to anyone with non-problematic skin.

Formula: Liquid Development time: 4 hours + Shade Availability: 1 Size: 15ml Vegan: Yes

Coco & Eve Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist, £19.50

Coco & Eve Antioxidants Face Tanning Mist, £19.50 (was £26)

Pros: Easy application, generous size, deep colour development while also being natural

Cons: Caused breakouts, quite concentrated spray

Rating: 6/10

I applied the Coco&Eve Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist before bed and let the spray develop overnight.

The spray nozzle was quite concentrated and was definitely more of a squirt than a mist and dried relatively quickly, taking only a few minutes even with a generous amount. 

The tan had developed really well overnight: the colour was deep and sunkissed, while also being natural.

It left no streaks, but there was a subtle transfer on my linens.

After using a foam cleanser in the morning, I loved that it developed into a natural glow and worked with makeup.

While I loved the delivery of this tan in terms of ease of use, colour and development, I don’t think the blend agreed with my dry skin as I noticed breakouts. 

Formula: Spray Development time: Overnight / 8 hours Shade availability: 1 Shade Size: 75ml Vegan: Yes 

Best fake tans for face FAQs

How to fake tan for your face

Like fake tanning for the body, it’s important to prep the face before applying tanning products to ensure the best results.

It’s worth exfoliating the skin 24 hours before application to remove dead skin, as this will help the tan to go on nicely without clinging to dry patches.

The type of face fake tan you’re using will depend on how you moisturise, but in most cases, it’s recommended that you go in with a light moisturiser to hydrate the skin before application.

Most tanning drops can also be mixed with a moisturiser, which helps to evenly distribute the product across the skin.

Fake tan for the face can be applied using a mitt, tanning brush or your hands, but make sure you wash your hands after to remove any residue.

Once the tan is applied, use circular motions outwards to spread across the face, blending carefully around the hairline and eyebrows.

What is the best face fake tan for older skin?

As mature skin can be drier with deeper lines, it’s worth looking for a face fake tan containing hydrating ingredients.

Garnier’s Tanning Drops has hydrating ingredients including coconut water and hyaluronic acid, while Tan Luxe’s Anti-Age Self Tan Drops has been formulated specifically for mature skin.

The serum features a Tri-Collagen Booster that works to restore dull skin, while the glycopeptides, Raspberry Seed Oil, Aloe Vera and Vitamin E hydrates for a glowy finish.

For a moisturiser to pair with the tanning drops, you can read Sun Shopping’s roundup of the best moisturisers for mature skin.

What is the best face fake tan spray?

There are plenty of fake tan sprays for the face, from top brands including Cocoa and Eve, Garnier and Bare by Vogue.

Fake tan sprays for the face often include skincare ingredients which helps to hydrate while bronzing the complexion.

The method is also an easy way to apply tan to the skin, but beauty fans should be careful to not miss any spots in order to ensure an even application.

Unlike tanning drops that can leave residue on the hands if not washed off quickly, face mists are efficient for tanning with minimal effort, and can even be used on the go.

How to get fake tan off your face

As the skin on the face is far more sensitive than the body, it’s important to be super gentle when it comes to removing fake tan.

Gentle exfoliation will help to break down the tan, which can be done through a facial scrub, toner or mask.

Over-using an exfoliator can irritate the skin and damage the skin’s barrier (which can take months to repair), so it may not be the best option for sensitive skin types.

Fake tan on the face tends to fade at a faster rate than on the body due to the use of skincare products like cleansers and oils (which is handy if you overdo it on the tanning drops).

Where can I buy fake tan for face?

If you’re looking for a face self-tan, you can find some of the best ones online at beauty shops. It’ll most often be in the tanning or suncare section and you can shop from more niche sites to find specific products. Here are some of our places to buy self-tan.

• Amazon
• Boots
• Beauty Bay
• Cult Beauty
• John Lewis
• LookFantastic
• Sephora
• Superdrug