13 Best Face Tanners in 2022 for a Radiant Glow
Ah, a faux glow. There's nothing quite like it after a winter of pale and pallor. But what about getting that perfect fake tan for your face? With an overwhelming choice of tanning formulas available, you can't just slap any old body self-tan onto your cheeks and hope for the best. Your face is a delicate thing, and whether you're prone to breakouts, dryness or sensitivity, it pays to take time researching the best fake tan for your face - and for your skin type.
Enter: our expert guide on the best face tanners for 2022. From gradual tanners to instant bronzers, we have lotions, mists, serums and tanning drops suited to every skin type - including dry, sensitive and mature. Looking for a vegan self-tan? We've got that too. Oh, and if you're searching for the best body tanner to complement your face, head over to our best fake tans round-up to find your new favourite.
How we choose the best face tanners
We've scoured our sources far and wide for the very best formulas and rounded up our favourites, from the quickest drying, longest-lasting and most moisturising face tanners, to the best fragrance-free formulas, the ones you can customise for a variety of shades, and the ones that smell oh-so-sweet (no more fake tan biscuit smell, thanks).
Lots of our picks are infused with hydrating ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, meaning they double as skincare and there's something suitable for all skin types. Plus, with our serums, lotions, or simple dropper options, you'll find the perfect product for whatever your desired level of tan - from a natural-looking colour to a deep bronze. As always, we tap up our in-house beauty gurus for their expert opinions, as well as covering a range of price points to ensure you bronze in style, whatever your budget. Oh, and we never forget your customer reviews - those five star ratings are worth their weight in gold.
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St. Tropez
Self Tan Purity Vitamins Face Serum, £21.33
Best for: Vegan
This vitamin-enriched bronzing water is specifically designed for the face, delivering a medium golden tan with an impressive glow-boosting finish. The serum is crafted with St. Tropez’s exclusive ‘Sunshine Complex’ - a supercharged blend of 93% natural skincare ingredients, hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamin C and D boosters to defend your skin from external aggressors. Oh, and did we mention the formula is vegan, too? Yep. There’s honestly nothing this serum can’t do.
If you’re after versatility, this best face tanner will definitely be your jam - you can easily apply the serum directly to skin, or mix with your daily moisturiser or SPF to create your own unique shade. Just blend evenly over face, neck and décolletage and watch your glow develop over four to six hours - no need to rinse. With its mood-boosting tropical scent, this face tanner is a genuine treat to apply. Just remember to wash your hands afterwards to stay Tango-free.
The hype: “The best face tan I’ve used. Light and easy application. Doesn’t feel cloggy on your face. Overall, the finished colour is very natural and lasts for a few days, even after face washing. I highly recommend this product.” - Jeanette, customer review
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TAN-LUXE
The Face Anti-Age Self-Tan Drops Medium/Dark, £39
Best for: Skincare benefits
While on the spennier side, these brilliant bronzing drops definitely know how to deliver. Ensuring you get plenty of bang for your buck, they feature a Tri-Collagen Booster complex to help restore dull and lacklustre skin while imparting an even, luminous glow. With firming Glycopeptides, soothing Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, incorporating these hardworking drops into your regime will take your existing skin routine to the next level.
To use, mix one to four drops with your usual moisturiser, serum or face oil in the palm of your hand. The more drops, the greater depth of colour you’ll get. TIP: Don’t apply on broken, irritated or hypersensitive skin.
The hype: “The only fake tan I’ll use on my face; it doesn’t cause breakouts or block my pores. I always opt for the darkest colour so I use less to get a darker tan. An absolute favourite of mine.” - Carys, customer review
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COOLA
Anti-Aging Face Serum, £49
Best for: Youth-boosting effects
Infused with a potent blend of Hyaluronic Acid, Argan Oil and Vitamin C, this fast-drying face tanner is a treat for your cheeks. It delivers an effortless sun-kissed glow with all the benefits of a skincare serum: Hyaluronic Acid to plump and hydrate, Argan Oil to soothe and nourish, and Vitamin C for its renowned antioxidant, age-defying magic.
Lasting up to three days, this streak-free formula is certainly worth its price point. You feel like you’re bronzing and hydrating at the same time (a winning combo for a dewy glow). For maximum tanning power, pop a small amount into the palm of your hand and spread evenly across your face. If you’re after a more gradual bronze, pump two or three drops into your daily moisturiser and apply to skin. For best results, ensure you exfoliate first. Dry patches are *literally* the enemy of a natural-looking glow.
The hype: “This is the best face self-tanner. It looks so natural and clean. I have tried a ton of self tanners and I always end up looking dirty or orange. I love the way this one makes me feel natural and beautiful!” - Rebecca, customer review
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TAN-LUXE
The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops Light/Medium, £35
Best for: Bespoke bronzing
This world-renowned brand is award-winning for a reason: they know how to make you glow. And this modest little face tanner is the serum that started it all. Working in synergy with your existing skincare routine, it helps transform your favourite moisturiser, serum or oil into a custom self-tanner in just a few drops.
Need to know how much to mix? Tan-Luxe’s very own glow guide states the basics. Two drops = radiant, four = sun-kissed. Eight drops? Golden. And 12 drops for ‘bronzed’. Simply adapt for the shade of tan you want and you can’t go wrong. This effortless simplicity is part of what makes this brand so well-loved. The rest is down to its formula: with skin-boosting Raspberry Seed Oil, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera, each application is even, easy and streak-free.
The fact these drops work seamlessly with your skincare allows you a highly customisable tanning routine depending on the season, your skin tone, and your desired end result. With the tagline ‘No streaks, no smells, no drama’, it’s hard not to agree with Tan-Luxe on this one. Their signature formula really doesn’t disappoint.
The hype: “I’m on my third bottle of this now and I just love it! My face looks sun-kissed and glowing after using just one to two drops in my moisturiser. I apply this two or three times a week, it doesn’t dry my skin out and it doesn’t have that fake tan smell at all. Love it!” - Ellie, customer review
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Isle of Paradise
Hygo Hyaluronic Face Serum, £21.85
Best for: Hydration
Like a tall glass of water for your skin, this silky serum is powered by vegan Hyaluronic Acid. Holding up to 1,000x its weight in water, this gentle acid is a hardworking hydrator that delivers an intense dose of moisture while leaving skin brighter, plumper and dewier with each use. Essentially, you get a generous dose of skincare benefits with a gradual face tan - what more could you need?
Infused with Isle of Paradise’s signature complex of Avocado, Coconut and Chia Seed Oils, this serum leaves skin nourished and healthy, too. Formulated specifically for the face, this serum imparts a gradual glow that’s perfect for everyday use (or every other day, depending on your routine). Vegan and cruelty free, it smells divine and is designed with just the right amount of DHA - the active tanning ingredient - to leave you with an illuminated, glowy finish. *Buys 10*.
The hype: “I was amazed to see this - the perfect facial tan that’s skincare, too. Not just add to skincare, it *is* skincare. It smells lovely, it’s hydrating on application, and the colour is perfect. I’m very fair and use just two drops on my whole face. This will be my every-other-day serum, with my Vitamin C serum on alternative days. It’s what my routine was missing.” - Kay, customer review
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Oskia
Adaptive Tan Mist, £55
Best for: Application
If you’re after an effortless (and lazy-girl-proof) tanning routine, this super fine mist is your answer. Its innovative method involves nothing more than a simple spritz - no need to rub in. Just hold the bottle 30cm away and spray directly onto your face, neck and chest, avoiding your hairline.
Imparting a natural looking tan that lasts from seven to ten days, this impressive glow-bestowing face tanner is packed with health-boosting and antioxidant ingredients which certainly get our seal of approval. It’s enriched with skin-loving Amino Acids, Pea Peptides, Vitamins C, E and Pro-Vitamin B5, all guaranteed to keep your skin - and your tan - in a silky smooth condition for longer.
With a delicious Jasmine and Mint scent and over a week of *serious* glow giving potential, this streak-free face tanner’s sun-kissed colour and ease of application puts it up there with the best.
The hype: "I’m amazed at how easy this product is to apply. Simply spray it on your face and wait about a minute for it to absorb into your skin. Wipe over your eyebrows and that’s it. This is a dream product for lazy girls like me. The tan develops in a couple of hours and it’s just the perfect sun-kissed glow. Overnight it deepens slightly and I’m sure you could apply another layer if you wanted a darker tan. It left my skin feeling amazingly soft as well.” - Leighlee, customer review
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Isle of Paradise
Self Tanning Drops Light, £19.95
Best for: Fair skin
Infused with a patented brightening complex, this silky-smooth elixir imparts a flawlessly faux glow for fairer skin. Crafted with IoP’s signature colour-correcting properties, this formula boasts a whole host of skincare benefits: reducing redness, brightening skin, and evening out any discolouration (think: hyperpigmentation).
Making it easier than ever to control your glow, you can add anywhere from one to 12 drops to your favourite moisturiser, mix together and apply to your face. The more drops you use, the deeper the tan, so if you’re a bottle bronzing newbie: start low and go slow.
Enriched with organic tanning actives Avocado, Chia Seeds and Coconut Oils, these drops make for a groundbreaking glow with zero streaks, zero tango and zero biscuity scent. Fair-skinned tan-seekers, you won’t be disappointed. That ‘just got back from Bali’ glow is just a few drops away.
The hype: “Best self tan I’ve ever used. I love the subtle, buildable colour. I love that I can use it with my existing moisturiser. And I love that it’s cruelty free and vegan. I was worried about using a self tan on my face, as my skin is acne-prone, but this hasn’t caused any breakout reactions and has left me feeling happy to use less foundation.” - Olivia, customer review
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