One thing is for certain, you cannot rely on the British weather.
Summer sun is an elusive thing in our great Isles and so we wouldn’t blame you for outsourcing your vitamin D fix. Whether that’s through supplements containing the essential nutrient or by filling your bathroom cabinet with fake tan.
When you have sensitive skin, it’s not simply a case of selecting the one on offer at your local Boots. It is important to dive into the ingredient list on the back of the product to ensure that it is not containing any components that will leave your skin red, irritated or inflamed – it’s a bronze glow you are looking for, not lobster hues and soreness.
Delicate complexions require gentle formulations to suit but don’t for one minute think that means you have to sacrifice on efficacy. When you have dry, sensitive or acne-prone skin or conditions like eczema and psoriasis, you don’t need to resign yourself to a pasty complexion. There are some key properties to look out for in the selection process for a really good, confidence-boosting tan. But, patch testing is crucial before coating your skin from head to toe.
We’ve called on James Read, Glow Artist and Founder of Self Glow by James Read to explain further.
What ingredients should you look out for in a fake tan for sensitive skin?
“If you are applying self-tan for sensitive skin, try and look for a formula with minimal fragrance”, he explains. He also advises favouring those that are “rich in skincare and soothing ingredients that hydrate the skin, such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera”.
What should you avoid in a fake tan for sensitive skin?
Read reveals that “Every person’s skin is different, but where possible, look for a formula that is alcohol-free as these types of products can be quite drying to the skin, and if you are conscious of blocked pores, try to avoid silicones and look for non-comedogenic formulas instead”.
Best practice for application
Whether you are new to the tanning scene or a faux glow expert, Read shares his top tips to fake that fresh-from-the-beach glow.
He says, “When it comes to applying self-tan, I recommend always starting from the bottom and working your way up. Leave your hands and feet until last. When applying to the body, use a mitt, and when applying to the face, use your fingertips.
“When tanning the face, put the product on the top of your hand, then scoop half the product off with fingers and rub in between fingertips to warm the product up, before applying in dots lightly onto the skin, starting from the neck and moving up the face.
“Work all of the product into the face, dispersing it evenly around the neck, back of the neck and up the face, almost like you are giving yourself an at-home facial. Rub the leftover product on your hand between fingers and gently pat the face and neck for better absorption, before washing hands”.
Moisturising is an important part of the prep stage, while also offering lasting power. It is particularly essential to avoid sensitivities as it forms a barrier between the skin and the tan. Build up slowly and use a brush on areas prone to build up like the elbows, knees and ankles for a more realistic and even-looking bronzing.
Shop the best fake tan for sensitive skin below
Self Glow By James Read Dusk to Dawn Overnight Tan Facial
James Read has been a fixture on the sunless tanning scene for over 20 years, providing formulas under his eponymous label that are gentle but effective for achieving a healthy glow. Self Glow is his newest offering that focuses on incorporating skincare favourites to enhance the tan experience.
First and foremost, the five-strong product line-up uses an adapting, plant-based DHA so that every skin tone can maximise its smoothing and evening and as for the hero, the Dusk to Dawn Overnight Tan Facial, there is a wealth of nourishing ingredients.
These include hyaluronic acid filling spheres, fermented mushrooms, aloe vera and Vitamin E. There is also Algaktiv Zen, an unfamiliar component but one designed to counteract premature ageing. The result? A sun-kissed, healthy and radiant complexion in just a couple of squeezes.
Buy now £44.00, Space NK
Isle of Paradise Daily Self-Tan Lotion
Any confessed tanning expert worth their salt will tell you that a little and often approach to the faux glow is a far more foolproof technique to avoid sudden Tango-ing.
Isle of Paradise has tapped into this with a gradual formulation that doubles up as a daily body moisturiser. The product comes in two shades; light/medium and medium/dark and has been infused with skin-loving ingredients like glow-giving vitamin C, hydrating hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to even out skin tone to provide a natural-looking fresh from-the-beach appearance.
Buy now £8.99, Boots
Dove Summer Revived Gradual Tanning Mousse
The sweet almond oil scent of Dove’s tanning mousse will be all too familiar for those of us who spent our youth layering up the brand’s gradual tan lotion. The mousse alternative follows in its footsteps, not just for the aroma but for the gradual nature of the glow that develops in two to four hours.
It is a lightweight texture that dries quickly, so it is ideal if you need a quick getaway after application. While imparting the evolving tint, it hydrates the skin to prevent patchiness from occurring.
Buy now £5.50, Amazon
Skinny Tan Tan and Tone Wonder Serum Gradual Tanner
If the weather didn’t play ball or you spent most of your activity-filled trip unable to soak up the rays, you can still recreate that summer, sun-kissed complexion with Skinny Tan.
This is a gradual product that hydrates as it goes with the inclusion of glycerine, aloe vera and antioxidants in the formula - and the brand even suggests it has a firming effect.
What we can confirm is that it has a lovely texture that doesn’t feel tacky or sticky. The tan develops with a great colour over six to eight hours and it’s vegan.
Buy now £24.99, Boots
St Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist
A cult classic in the tanning sphere, St Tropez’s products will make you look like you spent a long weekend in its namesake South of France location. The tropically-scented Purity Bronzing face mist is the finest mist of all on this list, which means it has a more evenly distributed tan. The formula is suitable for your hands and feet too, so you’ll have a streak-free tan all over.
With hydrating hyaluronic acid and rich antioxidant hibiscus extract, skin is left refreshed and radiant. While it only comes in one shade, St Tropez’s tan tailors to your skin tone for natural-looking sunkissed skin.
Vegan-friendly and free from parabens, sulphates and phthalates, you can rest assured this tanning mist will work wonders on your skin without feeling dry.
Buy now £16.00, Boots
Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum
Skincare meets tan with this serum from Tan-Luxe. Unlike some of the other tanning drops on this list, this is designed to be a standalone product that is a real glow-getting formula, while also enriching your complexion with the impressive hydration of hyaluronic acid.
No streaks, no unpleasant smells, this product slips home bronzing seamlessly into your routine to give a subtle and nourishing way to achieve a sun-kissed hue with no UV rays needed. There are also antioxidant-rich ingredients and cocoa seed extract to protect skin and boost collagen production.
Buy now £36.00, Cult Beauty
Sienna X Untinted Gradual Self Tan Lotion
This gradual fake tanner from the experts at Sienna X is designed for beginners. It offers a subtle glow to your sun-deprived skin rather than coating the complexion, so it’s ideal if you’re just mastering the tips and tricks to prevent streaking.
The natural and buildable finish is achieved through a combination of nourishing ingredients, which also make it delicate enough to be used by those with sensitivities. The formula includes lemon peel and Butcher’s Broom that even out the skin’s texture and aloe vera to calm and soothe. It is untinted, so you won’t have tell-tale transfer on your fresh white sheets or your pyjamas.
Buy now £13.99, Amazon
Green People Self Tan Lotion
Those with sensitive skin will be very familiar with the Green People range as the brand has an extended collection of kind-to-skin formulas with minimal ingredients - whether it’s the SPF or after sun. In its sunless tanning collection is this Self Tan Lotion which is made up of organic components with a natural, buildable finish.
The DHA that provides the tan effect is derived from sugar so is kind to those prone to irritation. Plus, it is quick drying. Thanks to the inclusion of aloe vera, it has a fresh scent that is free from synthetics - instead calling on essential oils from Sandalwood - to make for a foolproof tanning experience.
Buy now £27.01, Green People
