Fake tan for pale skin: The ultimate guide to upgrading your glow

When it comes to tanning as a pale person, a little bit too much can send you from sun-kissed straight into Fanta territory. Investing in tanning drops that you can pop in your moisturiser makes it easy to adjust your tans to your colouring needs. Even better, it doesn't smell as intense as mousses or mists.

Tried & Tested by Senior Fashion & Beauty Product Writer, Caitlin Casey: "Ok, so don't get me wrong, I am not a consistent self-tanner but I am totally sold by this genius product. I just pop some drops into my moisturising routine after a bath or shower and voila - a healthy summer glow without the stress. Adding it to my summer self-care. I will warn you though, you'll want to make sure you rub it in very very well to avoid any streaks."

Tanning mists have taken off, and we are in LOVE with this coconut water choice from Skinny Tan. Not only is it super easy to apply, but also smells amaze.

Tried & Tested by Senior Fashion & Beauty Product Writer, Caitlin Casey: "I am a complete fake tanning newbie and could not have picked a better tan to start off - I am officially obsessed. The PERFECT natural golden glow is ideal for paler skin tones and can be used all over the body, as well as the face. Gradually developing as you wear it and no need to rinse off, the tan gives the best radiant finish and leaves your skin feeling hydrated, I couldn't recommend it enough."

If you're a tan fanatic like us, you're likely to have heard of major player Bondi Sands. The Liquid Gold foam is long-lasting and makes you look glowing, developing into a golden tan.

Tried & Tested by Fashion & Beauty Product Writer, Georgia Scott: "This fake tan is one of my all-time faves. If, like me, you often forget to fake tan before a night out, this product lets you tan on the day without any fuss. It feels very lightweight and develops into the most natural, glowing shade. Another bonus is that it doesn't have that classic 'fake tan smell' us girls know all about. As it's a tan that doesn't require a wash-off, it smells of delicious coconut that lingers throughout the day."

With super sweet packaging and a variety of products to choose from, Bellamianta is a top choice on fake tan for pale skin. This tanning water mist is made for face application, and all you need to do is spray, dry and go. The brand also has face drops with hyaluronic acid in for an extra skincare benefit.

Review: "This tanning water exceeded my expectations! It doesn't clog my pores or stick to dry patches. It's so even and gives a natural glow! Will definitely be repurchasing!"

Molly Mae's Filter fake tan brand is no joke, with rave reviews and choices from Medium to Extra Dark. This is a mousse so you'll want to prep and prime extra carefully, but the end benefits make for a natural and lightweight tan.

Review: "I have been using fake tan for a good 25 years and this is the best one I have tried and I have tried 90% of them, I love it! I use the dark and it's a natural strong colour, just a faint pleasant smell to it (no biscuits), comes out even and the most important thing, wears off evenly too. It dries quickly and no greasy, sticky feeling."

Tan-Luxe The Gradual is our fave for a weekly tan that you can top up. Lightweight with a lotion formula, you can just let this tan soak into the skin, and the tan will develop within one hour.

Review: "I've repurchased this multiple times, it's fab! Develops in 1-2 hours and doesn't transfer. One application gives a golden glow. A little goes a long way. Make sure to blend in well and you won't be disappointed."

If you don't want to commit too much to tanning, you can also get moisturisers with tan built-in. We love this Dove DermaSpa body lotion which gives a light glow that's perfect for us paler skin gals.

Review: "Love this tanning moisturiser and wouldn't purchase any other! Purchased to add some colour to the backs of my legs which have a hard time with catching the sun - ended up using it all over the body, including my face, since I love it so much! Natural and doesn't look fake at all."

Fake tan mousse can sometimes be a little intense for those of us with fairer skin - luckily, Isle of Paradise has one specially made with its 'Glow Clear' range. Choose the 'Light' option for an easy, hydrated tan with its unique water base.

Review: "The clear self-tanning mousse is different to what I'm used to as you must concentrate on application to make sure you cover all areas. It makes it a lot nicer to have on the body than the usual orangey products before wash! The result is a natural looking fake tan. It has colour correcting actives and a water base that gives your most hydrated glow EVER with no streaks, no smells or orange tones."

Enriched with shea butter, the Crazy Angel gradual tan is a perfect fake tan for sensitive skin. Those who want a subtle glow can pop this on and watch it develop into a lighter brown - just apply it like your usual moisturiser.

Tried & Tested by Commercial Content Writer, Ruby Barry: "I'm as pale as you can get (thanks, Irish ancestors) so the idea of going from that to extremely tanned in one go was a bit daunting. Crazy Angel's Gradual Tan was perfect for a natural subtle glow that you can easily build up to get the level of bronze you'd like. You just apply it like a normal moisturiser every day until you've hit your preferred shade. Plus, it's made up of natural ingredients such as shea butter, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, so your skin will thank you."