When it comes to self-tanning, products have come a long way since the days of streaky lines, discoloured bed sheets and skin that’s left smelling like a biscuit factory.
From facial mists that build a gradual glow to all-over tanners that smell good enough to eat (please don’t!), there’s a smorgasbord of tanning products on the market to help you get the sun-kissed look.
That said, the tanning products you pop in your basket may differ as your skin ages, explains Aesthetician and Makeup Artist Saffron Hughes.
"Our skin generally thins with age and tends to be drier, resulting in either a patchy tan or one that doesn’t last. If not applied correctly, self tan may highlight fine lines and wrinkles. However, if you do the correct prep and use the right tan, it can actually reduce the appearance of common signs of ageing such as varicose veins and stretch marks. Applying fake tan evens out the complexion, helping to camouflage any spots, liver spots or freckles, too," Saffron explains.
What ingredients should you look for for self-tanning products for older skin?
In the same way we adapt our beauty products such as moisturisers and serums as we age, our self-tanning lotions and potions must undergo the same consideration.
"For mature skin, I recommend opting for a product that offers a light coverage and can be built over several layers until you get your desired shade of bronze,” advises Saffron. “Tans enriched with moisturising ingredients such as aloe vera or vitamin E will nourish the skin while helping you achieve a lasting glow. Hyaluronic acid is also a valuable ingredient when used in tanning products as it is able to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. The molecule in hyaluronic acid will bind moisture in the skin, giving your skin a youthful and plump shine," adds Saffron.
Prepping your skin for a self-tanning win
It’s all about prepping before using any tanning products, particularly on slightly older skin, explains Saffron: "To prime the skin for tanning, use a fine scrub or lightly dry brush the skin. Mature skin requires gentle care, so avoid anything particularly abrasive. After exfoliating, follow with a rich moisturiser all over the body, focusing on those drier areas such as ankles, feet, knees and elbows. If you have any areas with more fine lines, ensure these are well moisturised too. It’s important that this layer of moisturiser is dry to the touch before applying your tan in order to get the best colour pay-off,” says Saffron.
Top tips for applying self-tanning products on mature skin
Don’t be tempted to just slap on your self-tanner; follow some simple steps for an even coverage and a sun-kissed flow. “When applying a tanning mousse or lotion, apply the product to a clean mitt then work the product in circular motions on the body, leaving those drier areas blank where possible. If your tan has a guide colour, you can use this to your advantage to highlight any spots you may have missed. For drier areas, take any product left on the mitt after your last application and apply sparingly to your elbows, knees and feet. This ensures a lighter, more thorough coverage as opposed to a mitt that may not cover hard to reach crevices,” explains Saffron. It can be tempting to get dressed or hop into bed but ensure your tanner has dried fully to avoid a patchy look.
“Wait for as long as is recommended on your favourite tan, then rinse over, ensuring you pat dry with a towel rather than rubbing as this may exfoliate the product off. As mature skin is drying, apply a rich moisturiser daily to retain the best colour for longer," Saffron adds.
Here we have rounded up some of the best self-tanners on the shelves to get you summer holiday ready…
Note: always do a patch test when using any new tanning products and stop using immediately if your skin becomes irritated.
Best fake tanning products for mature skin at a glance:
- Best for budget: Palmer’s Natural Bronze Body Lotion - £5.99, Boots
- Best for gradual coverage: Rose & Caramel Unity unisex tanning drops - £24.99, Rose & Caramel
- Best for hydration: St. Tropez Luxe Body Serum - £26.25, Lookfantastic
- Best for scent: Sunescape Illuminating Body Tint - £22.05, Sunescape
- Best for facial tanning: Utan Coconut Tanning Water Facial Mist - £18, Utan
- Best for mousse-lovers: Sienna X Clear Self Tan Water Mousse - £19.99, Amazon
- Best for firming skin: St. Moriz Advanced Gradual Tan & Tone Skin Firming Self Tanning Cream - £11.06, Amazon
- Best for vegans: Evolve Organic Beauty Sunless Glow Gradual Tan - £20, FeelUnique
- Best for celebrity kudos: Bare by Vogue Self Tan Lotion - £17.10, Amazon
- Best for treating yourself: Omorovicza Glam Glow - £40, Space NK
Best fake tan for legs to give your pins a perfect glow
Best gradual tanners to apply at home for a subtle way to make you glow
Best tanning waters of 2023 for your face and body
Best bronzers for all skin types 2023
Best tan accelerators for sunbeds or outdoor tanning to help give you a sun-kissed glow
Best sunscreen for your face with SPF for moisturising protection
Palmer’s Natural Bronze Body Lotion
Best for: budget
Palmer’s is one of the pros when it comes to skin-loving lotions and the comforting and ever-familiar smell of cocoa butter has become synonymous with the brand. The Palmer’s Natural Bronze Lotion is a total steal at just over a fiver for a sizable 400ml bottle.
If you’re after a subtle tan and a lotion that can replace your everyday body moisturiser (the combo of cocoa butter and vitamin E is the ultimate nourishment duo), this is a great option. You’ll be left with sweet-smelling skin that’s got a gorgeous glow as well as a healthier purse, too.
Buy now £5.99, Boots
Rose & Caramel Unity unisex tanning drops
Best for: gradual coverage
New to self-tanning and want to achieve a subtle sun-kissed look but fearful you’ll look more oompa loompa, then tanning drops can be a brilliant way to control your tannage. Rose & Caramel’s Unity unisex tanning drops are designed to be added 2-4 drops at a time to your favourite moisturiser and you can play around with the amount that works for you.
And if you are a newbie, know that self-tanners develop gradually so don’t be tempted to get heavy-handed with the drops; Rose & Caramel’s take 6-8 hours to work their magic. Formulated with aloe vera extra for a zap of moisture for your body or face.
Buy now £24.99, Rose & Caramel
St. Tropez Luxe Body Serum
Best for: hydration
You can’t have a best tanning products round-up without a nod to the iconic brand themselves, St. Tropez. The latest product in its tanning range, St.Tropez Tan Luxe Body Serum, is a silky smooth formula that offers instant hydration to thirsty skin.
Unlike a mousse, mist or lotion, the serum glides on and you can almost feel it getting to work as you apply. Made with St. Tropez’s new collagen-boosting complex, your skin is getting a double dose of goodness and is left with a golden glow that smells vibrant – no biscuity tanning smell here, folks.
Buy now £26.25, lookfantastic
Sunescape Illuminating Body Tint
Best for: scent
Sunescape’s Illuminating Body Tint is worth slathering on (liberally!) just for the scent alone. The Australian brand has formulated the easy-to-apply lotion with an absolutely winning combination of skin-loving ingredients.
Coconut oil, macadamia seed oil, aloe vera, argan, vitamin E, guava extract and pomegranate work their wonders to create a lotion that nourishes the skin and supports the ageing process while delivering a streak-free tan and an immediate shimmer once applied.
Not one for waiting around, fanning yourself? This dries super quick so you’re left perfectly bronzed and smelling like a holiday cocktail.
Buy now £22.05, Sunescape
Utan Coconut Tanning Water Facial Mist
Best for: facial tanning
If you’re just after a natural glow to your face that’s easy to apply and not going to leave your pillows stained, then Utan’s multi award-winning Coconut Tanning Water Facial Mist has your name on it.
Just spritz your face, avoiding your hairline, and you’ll see the colour developing between 4-6 hours. Made with nourishing (and deliciously smelling) coconut extract and vitamins, the mist is super lightweight and can be applied as a primer or over make-up. The dinky bottle makes it great for travel, too.
Buy now £18.00, Utan
Sienna X Clear Self Tan Water Mousse
Best for: mousse-lovers
Gone are the days of tanning mousses that are tricky to apply, leave you streaky and strip your skin of any moisture. Sienna X Clear Self Tan Water Mousse can be used on your face or body and dries in record timing. What we also love about this is that to apply, you only need a little mousse, plus it doesn’t come out too fast from the bottle when you’re applying (another win).
The mousse is enriched with hyaluronic acid – something that with age gradually declines in our skin, leaving it feeling much drier. Paired with aloe vera, and a subtle summery scent, your skin is left feeling silky soft and hydrated with a natural tan that can be built up over applications.
Buy now £19.99, Amazon
St. Moriz Advanced Gradual Tan & Tone Skin Firming Self Tanning Cream
Best for: firming skin
If firming your skin while you get your glow on sounds appealing, then our friends at St Moriz have just the ticket. St. Moriz Advanced Gradual Tan & Tone Skin Firming Self Tanning Cream is formulated with a cocktail of soy isoflavones, caffeine, carnitine and spirulina, all shown to have firming properties that help cell metabolism and speed up the breakdown of fat. Trials have shown that after using the nourishing tanning cream for just six weeks, both cellulite and stretch marks were less visible. Excellent price point, too.
Buy now £11.06, Amazon
Evolve Organic Beauty Sunless Glow Gradual Tan
Best for: vegans
Often as we age, our skin can be screaming out for a dose of moisture: enter Evolve Organic Beauty Sunless Glow Gradual Tan. The mega rich formula contains organic papaya to smooth the skin, organic aloe vera to soothe it and shea butter to nourish it.
Unlike many other self-tanners on the market, Evolve’s vegan offering is pretty much scent-free, so it’s a great option if you’re not a fan of smelling like a walking pina colada. We also love that the award-winning tanner comes with a pump meaning you can carefully control how much product you’re using at a time.
Buy now £20.00, Evolve Organic Beauty
Bare by Vogue Self Tan Lotion
Best for: celebrity kudos
Irish model and TV personality Vogue Williams has developed a winning formula when it comes to self tanning aimed at mature skin. Bare by Vogue Self Tan Lotion (and the rest of the range) contains a blend of peptides to help plump up and smooth the skin as well as antioxidants such as goji berry, skin-calming oatmeal and soothing chamomile to leave you feeling nourished.
Another winner on the scent front, too – your skin will be left smelling of pineapple and coconut notes (or as we like to call it ‘holiday scent’). While the packaging is super pretty, it does come out quite fast flowing so go sparingly while you build up your colour. We also love how quickly this dries, so you can apply and go about your day.
Buy now £17.10, Amazon
Omorovicza Glam Glow
Best for: treating yourself
One of the less budget-friendly tanners on our list, everything about Omorovicza’s Glam Glow feels premium. Plum almond oil provides a youthful zap of elasticity – something mature skin can often lack, while apple pectin’s hydrating properties work wonders for skin that is in need of moisture.
The citrussy-scented tanner has a zesty fragrance that can be applied to all skin types and will leave you with a golden glow overnight. What’s more, Omorovicza’s Patented Healing Concentrate is clinically proven to improve skin elasticity, leaving your skin feeling firmer. Talk about worth every penny.
Buy now £40.00, Omorovicza
