I can’t be without a facial self-tan in spring/summer. Keen to offload heavier coverage foundations that can slip, slide and suffocate in the sunshine, I reach for a subtle tanner as a warmer, lighter and, truly, easier base layer for makeup.
People wrongly imagine self-tan to be too effortful, fiddly and risky, and understandably wonder where to slot it into their skincare routine, but a new crop of facial self-tanners simplifies both these issues.
I’d never tried TV personality Vogue Williams’ tanning brand until her new Overnight Tan Mask (£26) caught my eye. It’s a rich but not oily hydrating cream that just slathers on to face and neck like regular night cream to impart a golden tint while you sleep. The resulting colour is so subtle and buildable that it would probably take three consecutive nights before anyone smelled a rat.
If you’re a tad oilier and prefer serum or gel-like textures, I think you’ll love GradualGlow (£18) from Pixi. It feels as though this brand – huge in the 2010s – is back on its game, with a few great new launches across makeup and skincare. This is offered for both face and body but is less cost-effective on large areas, so I’d stick to the neck up, where it’s marvellous. Apply as your daily moisturiser and see a natural tan develop subtly throughout the week. When you’ve reached the boundaries of plausibility, just stop and revert to a regular day cream. It spreads evenly and thinly, and develops in about three hours.
For the multi-step skincare user, renowned tanning expert James Read offers several ways to incorporate self‑tan. His Break of Dawn Rejuvenating Glow Mask (£39) can be stroked on and washed off just 20 minutes later, leaving you to use whatever else you’d like. I have, of course, tried it and it works brilliantly, but I’m an even bigger fan of Read’s new Golden Days Milky Tan Toner (£39), which launched at the end of May. This is a soothing, moisturising milky toner to be applied straight after cleansing, before your serum and SPF, allowing you to skip day cream altogether if you wish. It looks incredibly natural and takes the chill off all skin tones, pale to deep.
My high street recommendation should not be mistaken for a poor relative of any of these. Superdrug’s Solait Self-Tan Sleep Mask, at just £5, is a terrific, high performance bargain. Apply once a week before bed and rise aglow with summer cheer.
