Face fake tans to keep you glowing year-round
If you want to achieve a faux glow, don’t use your regular body fake tan – try one of these brilliant face self-tanning options.
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Fake tan is a brilliant way to achieve a natural looking glow minus any of the sun damage that comes with dangerous sunbaking.
And when it comes to your face, specially-formulated face fake tans, waters and serums are the gold standard.
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Often infused with complexion-loving and hydrating ingredients, they deliver a faux bronzed glow while nourishing your skin.
Here we’ve rounded up the best of the best face fake tans you can buy, with one of the most popular out there the Eco Tan Face Tan Water Self Tan.
With celebrity fans like Martha Kalifatidis and Jessica Rowe, devotees of the tan water saw in reviews say they “never need to wear foundation again” thanks to the “amazing” glow the product gives.
Loving Tan Deluxe Face Tan - Medium 50ml
Available in medium and dark, this streak-free face self-tanner delivers a glowing complexion. The cruelty-free formula is infused with acai berry and pomegranate to prolong your faux tan and protect skin and the addition of coffee seed extract helps to invigorate and brighten skin.
Tanologist Face and Body Drops Medium, $22.99
Packaged in an appealing holographic dropper bottle that offers easy application, this flexible formula is perfect for newbies or experienced tanners. You can use three to 12 drops to choose your level of glow, and the non-comedogenic formula won’t block pores or interfere with your skincare routine. Packed with nourishing pink grapefruit, goji berry, and juniper, the vegan formulation is dermatologically tested and approved.
Le Tan Uber Glow Face Tanning Serum, $13.99
A few drops of this product will deliver a natural-looking glow and its serum texture makes it luxurious to apply. The vegan formula is enriched with quenching aloe vera juice, is lightweight and dries quickly. Plus, you have the option of building your glow. For a light golden glow 3 – 4 drops of this serum will do the trick, for a darker glow, start with a minimum of 4 drops. It’ll take around 4 – 6 hours for your tan to develop and thanks to the hydrating ingredients, your skin will feel moisturised in the meantime.
Eco Tan Organic Face Tan Water, $39.95
This gradual face fake tan is non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores and is ideal for all skin types. It delivers a bronzed glow that you can build up and its organic formula is infused with brightening vitamin C and hydrating aloe vera.
Clarins Radiance-Plus Glow Booster for Face, $40
This face self-tanner is designed to give you a lovely summer glow that’s designed to be used in conjunction with your moisturiser. Ingredients include natural DHA and aloe vera extract that work to nourish your skin when using. Five star reviews say it is a “genius product” that gived you a subtle glow and “natural highlights”.
Bondi Sands Pure Self Tanning Sleep Mask, $22.95
Not only will this sleep mask give you a subtle tan while you sleep, but it will also nourish skin in the process. Key ingredients include repairing vitamin E, vitamin C to brighten skin and hydrating hyaluronic acid. It’s also non comedogenic and suitable for sensitive skin types.
Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops Self Tan, $39.90
These self-tan drops work to hydrate and plump skin, all while giving you a glow. This vegan and non-comedogenic formula has hyaluronic acid for hydration. To use, simply mix two to three drops into your morning moisturiser. Five star reviews say the drops are “sun-kissed summer skin in a bottle” and give a “natural” looking tan.
Tan-Luxe The Face Self-Tanner, $61
Created for use morning or night, The Face Self-Tanner’s dropper system allows you to customise how light or dark you want your tan to be. The award-winning formula is brimming with aloe vera, vitamin E and raspberry seed oil to moisturise and nourish your skin.
Ella Bache Great Face Tan Without Sun, $38
Get a luminous complexion without drying your skin out with this moisture-rich formula containing cocoa butter, lanolin, vitamin E, green tea extract and more. This face self-tanner delivers a sun-kissed look in under two hours and its next to no odour technology means that off-putting fake tan smell is a thing of the past.
Tan Luxe Super Glow Serum Self Tanner, $61
Formulated with hyaluronic acid, this face fake tan serum gives you an unbeatable glow while plumping and hydrating skin. Packed with antioxidants, it’s no wonder this face fake tan has won over legions of fans.
La Beach Tanning Water Mist Bronze, $30.99 (down from $39)
From the creators of Queensland swimwear brand UNE PIECE comes La Beach and its misting face fake tan doesn’t disappoint. Formulated to create a natural bronzed look on the face and neck, this formula is packed with hydrating ingredients like cucumber fruit extract and aloe vera.
DO I NEED TO PREPARE BEFORE APPLYING FACE FAKE TAN?
If you want a more even, long-lasting tan then preparing your skin in advance will definitely help. Exfoliating your skin the day before you apply your tan is key to avoid a streaky, patchy result. Apply a gentle chemical exfoliant, like an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), to your skin (be sure to patch test first if you’re new to AHAs) or very gently massage a physical scrub into your face.
HOW DO I APPLY FACE FAKE TAN?
First, cleanse your skin and ensure it’s dry. Apply the product to your face with your hands or a cotton pad (bonus points if it’s reusable) and massage it into your skin in circular motions. Ensure you cover your face evenly and blend the product into the hairline to avoid a stark contrast. Allow it to dry and wash your hands thoroughly.
HOW CAN I PROLONG MY FACE FAKE TAN?
Prolonging how long your face fake tan lasts starts before you even apply it. As we mentioned, ensure you exfoliate before applying to slough away dead skin cells and ensure your fake tan is being applied to a smooth base. Once you’ve applied your fake tan, ensuring it sticks around comes down to slathering on moisturiser daily.
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