Don’t Let Your Summer Tan Fade—These Are the 9 Best Face Tans Chosen by Editors

Choosing the best fake tan for your face isn't easy. Think of it this way: you wouldn't use the same moisturiser on your face that you use on your body, so why use the same tanning product?

The very best face tan should contain skin-loving ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, that feed your complexion whilst boosting your glow.

From gradual tanners that slowly warm the skin over the course of the day, to instant tans that transform your skin in seconds, there is a formula for everyone.

We've rounded up our favourite fake tans for your face, and included lots of information on how to apply them for the most natural-looking glow.

How We Test

The Marie Claire UK team takes product testing seriously, with a commitment to delivering accurate, honest and genuinely helpful reviews for our readers. For this piece, our expert team considered ease of application, value for money, skincare benefits, and whether or not it delivered a natural-looking tan. Each product was used on multiple occasions to get a true feel for the results.

Best Face Tans

• Best for long-lasting glow: St. Tropez Sunlit Skin Self Tan Express | £21.75 at Lookfantastic
• Best for darker skin tones: Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self Tan Serum | £36 at Lookfantastic
• Best for a customisable glow: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops | £19.95 at Lookfantastic
• Best for easy application: Bare By Vogue Face Tanning Serum | £19.50 at Boots
• Best for buildable glow: Self Glow by James Read First Light Tinted Tan Serum | £32 at Space NK
• Best for oil skin: Bondi Sands Self Tan Drops | £15.99 at Lookfantastic
• Best for pale skin: Sienna X Self Tan Serum Drops | £19.99 at Amazon
• Best for a natural glow: St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist | £14.40 at Lookfantastic
• Best for everyday use: Three Warriors Face Tan Aqua Mist | £25.59 at Face The Future

Best for long-lasting glow

St. Tropez's newest launch combines bronzing drops and fake tan in one genius product, so it provides instant colour and continues to develop on the skin for hours to provide a long-lasting glow.

"I am very fussy with face tan, but I love bronzing drops, so I had to give this innovative product a go. I love that it can be worn alone or with makeup, and it really mimics a natural face tan with instant but subtle colour. It develops over 1-3 hours and can be built up over time, so you can get just the right colour for you, and it doesn't need to be washed off.

It's extremely lightweight and doesn't have a scent, which is a huge plus for me. I use the Tantour brush to apply it, but you could also use your hands to blend - just be sure to wash them afterwards. This is more designed to be used on the high points of your face to mimic a natural tan rather than all over the face, so it's ideal for those who prefer a natural, just back from the beach look." - Amelia Yeomans, Junior Shopping Editor

Best for darker skin tones

For a tan that goes the extra mile, say hello to Tan-Luxe Illuminating tan drops. This product contains raspberry seed oil, vitamin E and aloe vera to help moisturise the skin.

"Yes, I’m brown. And, yes, I use fake tan. Save for actually being on holiday, nothing else delivers that much-needed glow-from-within as these super clever drops from Tan Luxe. Simply add a few drops either directly to your face or to your usual moisturiser. I love that it contains hyaluronic acid to help keep skin at optimal hydration levels.

Word to the wise: to save any embarrassing moments that will have you googling ‘how to remove fake tan’, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after application." - Sunil Makan, Contributor

Best for a customisable glow

These clever Isle of Paradise drops give you full control over your tan. All you have to do is add as many drops as you want into your face moisturiser to achieve the desired results. The formula, which comes in three different shades, even contains colour correcting actives to keep unwanted tones at bay. That's right, this tan is really smart.

"I could wax lyrical about my love for these drops. (In fact, I have before.) I think the thing about self-tan is that so much can go wrong—even if you've read everything on how to apply fake tan—so when you find one that works, you're hooked. This is the product for me. I have tried, and really like others (some on this list), but this will always be my favourite tanning product. I never have any issues with application, I always look beautifully sun-kissed, never orange, they're so affordable, last for ages, and there's even a body version to add to your body lotion." - Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor

Best for easy application

The Bare By Vogue Williams Face Tanning Serum is an easy way to get an even tan. Apply one to two pumps to the face, massaging in with circular motions. It's worth noting that the brand doesn't recommend using the product on sensitive skin.

"While I'm dubious about clear tans after interesting (read: patchy) experiences with other brands in the past, there were no problems here, with the tan providing an even glow to my face and neck. The formula is super lightweight, quick to dry, and smells great, too - so much so my fiancé commented on how nice my face smelt one night before bed. I was really pleasantly surprised by the overall colour it gave me, giving my skin a dewy, just-back-from-holiday boost. I also got several comments from colleagues and friends about my "healthy glow", which is always a good sign.

Two things to note: I preferred to use three pumps, rather than the recommended one to two, to really notice a difference. And then, despite pretty rigorous hand washing post-application, I was left with slightly orange palms. I would use gloves if you can." - Ally Head, Senior Health & Wellness Editor

Best for buildable glow

Tanning can be daunting; the fear of it going wrong is always present. Guide colours make the process a lot easier and less frightening. This tinted tanning serum is lightweight, matte and buildable. It's formulated with phyto-collagen and apricot oil, which support the skin whilst you brighten and enhance.

"I’ve gotten into the habit of blending my skincare in little bottles that make me feel like an amateur scientist, which is how First Light Tinted Tan Serum came into my possession—I figured it’d mix well with my moisturisers and give me a bit of a glow. To my surprise, unlike so many other tanners I’ve tried, it’s naturally very gentle, offering buildable coverage without the need for diluting with other skincare, unless, like me, you like to turn your bathroom into a miniature lab." - Mischa Smith, Features Editor

Best for oily skin

Add these Bondi Sands drops into any moisturiser to see results, although the brand recommends waiting six hours before washing it off. It also recommends leaving the skin free of any other products until your colour has developed, so it works best overnight.

"I'm a low-maintenance sort of person, and I do find the chore of having to apply facial tan a bit laborious. Plus, my skin is prone to cystic acne breakouts, and I have found that the oils often found in facial tan products can cause flare-ups—so I tend to proceed with caution. However, with these drops, I love that they can just be applied to your existing moisturiser. I have been adding four drops into my moisturiser every night and look notably glowier and more bronzed for it. They're simple, no fuss and get the job done without any streaks, patching or upset." - Shannon Lawlor, Contributor

Best for pale skin

A highly commended winning product in previous Marie Claire UK Skin Awards, these drops scored highly with our judges. The editorial team put them to the test again...

"These self-tan serum drops are by far the best I've ever tried. As someone with really pale skin all year round, it's safe to say I love a good self-tanner. When it comes to my desired results, I tend to opt for a self-tan that gives me a subtle bronze glow rather than a more noticeable tan. I found the Sienna X Serum Drops to be super concentrated, so to do just that, I added two drops onto my moisturiser in the morning and allowed two hours for the product to develop. Once I was done, I found my perfect hue and can confidently say I am obsessed with the results. I did not notice any streaks, and the product blended seamlessly onto my skin.

The only negative I noticed was the classic fake tan smell once it developed, but I just washed my face and voila—gone." - Sofia Piza, Contributor

Best for natural looking colour

This is one of St. Tropez's bestselling products. The tropical-scented face mist has been a favourite for years and continues to be the go-to face tan for so many people.

"If I had a pound for every time one of my fellow beauty editors told me that this was the face tan they used to achieve a natural-looking boost of colour, I'd have quite a few pounds to my name. It's been around for years, and I have used it on and off for a while, thanks in part to the recommendation of my peers. As I stated above, my favourite has always been the Isle of Paradise drops, but this comes in a close second. I love that it's quick, I love that it smells nice (urgh, why can't the tanning industry sort out that biscuit smell?!), and I love that it gives me a really natural-looking tan. It's nothing dramatic, mind you, this isn't a two-week holiday in Barbados tan. This is a weekend in Lisbon in mid-Spring tan. A really great alternative to bronzer." - Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor

Best for everyday use

This ultra-fine mist from Australian tanning brand Three Warriors is a favourite of team Marie Claire. It's infused with Tasmanian Spring Water, Aloe Vera, Tasmanian Olive Oil, Rose Oil and Chamomile, which makes it ultra soothing on the skin.

"I am terrible at applying fake tan, just truly awful, and patchy, to boot. This explains my years-long commitment to gradual fake tanners, or at least it did until I discovered Three Warriors, and for the first time in my life, people assumed I’d actually tanned as opposed to just being visibly fake tanned. I use the Face Tan Aqua Mist after showering in the evening—the blend of Tasmanian Spring Water, Aloe Vera, and Rose Oil means it doesn’t dry out my skin like other tanners and within 20 minutes I’m able to apply the rest of my skincare, safe in the knowledge that come the morning I’ll have a soft and subtle glow that evens out my complexion." - Mischa Smith, Features Editor

How to apply fake tan to your face

Each individual product will come with its own set of instructions, however, after trying out our fair share of formulas, there are a few steps that we never skip.

First of all, make sure to remove all your makeup and cleanse your skin before applying any tanning products. Most tans will react best to a clean, dry base, so hold off on applying any moisturisers or serums beforehand.

That being said, if you go for something like tanning drops, they can sometimes be mixed in with your moisturiser, so make sure to check the instructions.

We recommend blending the tan down to your neck for a more natural finish, and if you haven't used a mitt, make sure to wash your hands afterwards!