The Best Fake-Tan Products, As Approved By The NET-A-PORTER Beauty Team

Bridging the gap between faux tan and skincare, self-tanning drops are an excellent option for those who are less masterful with their tanning regimen, as they give a more subtle and natural finish with far less mess. Often infused with a host of additional nourishing skincare benefits, alongside the tanning ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA), these innovative products allow you to create a bespoke tan and achieve the finish you want. Add one to two drops to your favorite face cream or serum for a soft glow. Or, for a deeper tan, use between five to 12 drops, then keep skin well moisturized to prolong the color.

One of the reasons that most self-tan formulations have gone from turning skin orange to golden is the addition of tiny amounts of alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), which gently sloughs off dead skin cells. Using a skin peel beforehand not only ensures a super-smooth base (self-tan grabs on to any dry patches, making skin look muddy), but it also helps give you the best true-tan color.

DIY self-tanning can get tricky, as over-tanned elbows, heels or hands are always big giveaways. The solution is to use gradual tanners for the body, as these give you more control to build up color. And always use a light body lotion over hands and feet (top and bottom), elbows and knees first to stop the tan from clinging on to dry skin. Tan-Luxe The Gradual is our go-to – just remember to give it a good shake before use, as the color can settle in the bottle, giving you a much darker result than intended.

Working out the right texture for your skin type, tone and schedule can be perplexing. However, opting for a mousse formulation as your first port of call is not only perfect for quickly covering a larger surface area, like the body, but also works well for the face, as it is lightweight. And because mousse doesn’t liquify on contact with the skin, it gives you time to buff it in slowly and, more importantly, evenly. St. Tropez Tan Luxe Crème Mousse ensures an all-around effortless application while Coco & Eve’s Bali Bronzing Foam is our go-to for a believable glow on even the palest of complexions.

While a dedicated tanning glove or mitt is great for some, when it comes to blending your self-tan formula in, A-list body makeup and tanning expert Amanda Harrington swears by a stiff-bristled blending brush, or Kabuki brush, as a foolproof way to smooth, buff and stipple color into the skin. Not only does this method enhance your bone structure and coax out contours for a more sculpted finish, it’s also easier to control the results. Try Tan-Luxe The Crème – a gradual self-tanning facial cream that offers an instant bronzed radiance for a soft, filtered effect; or Sisley Paris Self Tanning Hydrating Facial Skin Care, which is ideal for dry, dehydrated skin, as it provides essential hydration while imparting a subtle faux-glow. You can use the brush technique on the contours of your body, too, sweeping color around your collarbones, knees and ankles, for a buffed-out, natural-looking finish.

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