APPLYING FAKE tan is not easy, and finding the perfect shade is even less so. If it goes wrong and you end up looking more baked than bronzed it could take days to wear off, though thankfully St Tropez’s Self-Tan Remover (£14.50) can reverse most of the damage. The Times Fashion Team tested a wide range of do-it-yourself tanners. Here are our 12 favourites:
1 BEST OVERALL BUY
BEYOND BRONZE SELF-TANNING LOTION BY FAKE BAKE, £20 (0870 0544455)
Was it easy to apply? Yes, very.
Did it absorb quickly? Yes. The skin goes very dark at first but you wash off the excess in the morning to reveal the true colour.
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How did it smell? Sweet, very fruity.
What was the colour like? Great deep bronze, no streaks at all.
How long did it last? For five days.
Overall verdict: 10/10
Any other comments? Couldn’t fault it.
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2 BEST BUDGET BUY
NIVEA SUN SELF TAN LOTION, £8.49
(0800 616977)
Was it easy to apply? Yes.
Did it absorb quickly? Very quickly.
How did it smell? Very pleasant.
What was the colour like? Great sunkissed colour, but a bit streaky.
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How long did it last? For almost a week.
Overall verdict: 9/10
3 BEST INVESTMENT BUY
lA PRAIRIE CELLULAR SELF TAN FOR FACE AND BODY, £60 (0870 8377377)
Was it easy to apply? Yes, it glided on very smoothly. Felt like an expensive moisturiser.
Did it absorb quickly? Fairly.
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How did it smell? Fine.
What was the colour like? Deep gold, not very subtle but no streaks.
How long did it last? For a couple of days.
Overall verdict: 9/10.
Any other comments? Very luxurious.
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4 BEST COLOUR
SISLEY SELF TANNING GEL, £45 (020-7491 2722)
Was it easy to apply? Yes, it felt like a moisturiser.
Did it absorb quickly? Fairly.
How did it smell? There was a slight smell that went once it had been fully absorbed.
What was the colour like? Excellent golden colour, very convincing.
How long did it last? For five days.
Overall verdict: 9/10
Any other comments? Great for fair skin as the colour is quite light after the first application but the process can be repeated.
5 FASTEST ABSORPTION
LANCASTER SILK BRONZE MOISTURISING MILK SPF6, £17.50 (0800 3760688)
Was it easy to apply? Yes.
Did it absorb quickly? Yes, it’s a light lotion that sank into the skin almost immediately.
How did it smell? There was a faint chemical smell all day but it wasn’t too offensive.
What was the colour like? Great, very natural-looking. No streaks.
How long did it last? For three or four days.
Overall verdict: 9/10.
Any other comments? Very easy to use.
6 MOST PROFESSIONAL EFFECT
ST TROPEZ WHIPPED BRONZE MOUSSE, £20 (0115 9836363)
Was it easy to apply? Yes. It even comes with a pair of rubber gloves to ensure that your palms stay clean.
Did it absorb quickly? Yes.
How did it smell? Fine.
What was the colour like? Good, quite dark. No streaks.
How long did it last? For five days.
Overall verdict: 9/10
7 BEST FOR FAIRER SKINS
ROC MINESOL SELF TANNING LOTION, £11.95 (0845 6004477)
Was it easy to apply? Yes, very easy. It was a nice non-greasy cream.
Did it absorb quickly? Yes, in under ten minutes.
How did it smell? There was no detectable smell.
What was the colour like? A lovely light colour, perfect for fairer skins.
How long did it last? For a good five days.
Overall verdict: 9/10.
8 MOST LONG-LASTING
GARNIER AMBRE SOLAIRE EXPRESS BRONZER, £8.49 (0845 070 8090)
Was it easy to apply? Yes.
Did it absorb quickly? Fairly.
How did it smell? Pleasant, quite fruity.
What was the colour like? Gave an even, lightly bronzed look.
How long did it last? For almost a week.
Overall verdict: 8/10
9 BEST FOR DARKER SKINS
THE HEALTHY TAN BY PHILOSOPHY, £13
(0870 9908452)
Was it easy to apply? Fairly. The only downside is that the lotion isn’t tinted.
Did it absorb quickly? No, it stayed wet for about 45 minutes.
How did it smell? Unfortunately, quite strong.
What was the colour like? Dark colour, no streaks but slightly blotchy on the feet.
How long did it last? For a couple of days.
Overall verdict: 7/10
10 MOST EVEN COLOUR
BOOTS No7 QUICK DRY MOUSSE, £10
(08450 708090)
Was it easy to apply? Yes.
Did it absorb quickly? Yes.
How did it smell? Undetectable.
What was the colour like? A lovely golden brown. No streaks.
How long did it last? For four days.
Overall verdict: 8/10.
11 MOST FOOLPROOF
CLARINS SELF TANNING MILK SPF6, £14.50 (0800 0363558)
Was it easy to apply? Yes.
Did it absorb quickly? Yes.
How did it smell? There was a faint smell of chemicals that lingered all day.
What was the colour like? Nice light colour, no streaks.
How long did it last? For almost a week.
Overall verdict: 8/10
Any other comments? The light shade is pretty foolproof and subtle, even on the face.
Any other comments? Best suited for darker skins. Was it easy to apply? Yes, very. It glided on extremely smoothly.
Did it absorb quickly? Yes.
How did it smell? There was a faint chemical smell that lingered the next day.
What was the colour like? A slight orange tint prevented it from being totally convincing, but it gave an even coverage with no streaks at all.
How long did it last? For five days.
Overall verdict: 7/10.
Any other comments? Best for darker skins.