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

Getting rid of those pale legs ✨

Fake tan for pale skin

by Caitlin Casey |
Updated on

Summer's incoming, but the sun here isn't too radiant, so there's one thing that never fails us though: fake tan. For us pale peeps, finding the time and effort to get our legs brown can be such a chore.

Yep, even those with fairer skin want to get involved in the sun-kissed vibes. Maybe even more so that we're not looking ghostly next to everyone else. The problem is though, sometimes fake tans just aren't made with us in mind, and nobody wants to look like the world's biggest Wotsit.

tanologist fake tans
©@tanologisttan on Instagram

The top fake tans for pale skin at a glance, ranked by the team

Tanologist Self-Tan Drops Light 30ml, £15.99

Skinny Tan Coconut Water Tanning Mist 150ml, £24.99

Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Tanning Foam 200ml, £10.66

Fret no more, though. There is a huge variety of fake tan products out there which don't have to be super dark. From gradual tanners that will make life ultra easy or face tanners to give you a nice summer glow, there are all sorts out there. Luckily, we've hunted down everything you need to go from light to bronze in no time.

So, with all this in mind, we've found the best tanning products for pale skin - and we have even tried them for you so you know exactly what you're getting into. From St Moriz to Isle of Paradise, check out the round-up below.

SHOP: The best fake tan for pale skin - as tried and tested by the heat team

Tanologist Self-Tan Drops Light 30mlFEELUNIQUE

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."

  • Size: 30ml
  • Directions: Apply 1-12 drops to your favourite moisturiser (the more the darker)
  • Colours: Light, Medium, Dark

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."

  • Size: 150ml
  • Directions: Lightly spray directly onto skin and blend evenly, wait until dry before dressing and then see the skin build in 6-8 hours, no need to rinse
  • Colours: Medium

Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Tanning Foam 200mlCult Beauty

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."

  • Size: 200ml
  • Directions: Apply Liquid Gold directly on to skin and use Application Mitt to smooth foam over body using long sweeping motions.
  • Colours: Liquid Gold

Bellamianta X Maura Higgins Tanning Water Medium 100MlBellamianta

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!"

  • Size: 100ml
  • Directions: Close your eyes, hold 5-6 inches from your face, and spritz the superfine mist all over your face and neck.
  • Colours: Medium, Dark

Filter By Molly Mae Tanning Foam MediumBeauty Bay

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."

  • Size: 200ml
  • Directions: Pump the mousse onto mitt and apply evenly all over your body. Finish on harder with a mini mitt.
  • Colours: Medium, Dark, Extra Dark

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."

  • Size: 250ml
  • Directions: Apply to the skin as you would a normal body moisturiser, lightly covering hands, elbows and feet. Thoroughly wash hands after use. Develops after 2-4 hours.
  • Colours: Light, Medium, Dark

Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived Fair to Medium Self Tanning Body Lotion 200 ml
Price: £8.99

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."

  • Size: 200ml
  • Directions: Exfoliate skin for even coverage. Massage evenly over clean, dry skin, and then wash hands thoroughly.
  • Colours: Light to Medium, Medium to Dark

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."

  • Size: 200ml
  • Directions: Place three pumps directly onto mitt and apply to skin in sweeping motions. It's recommend that you use half a pump for the face.
  • Colours: Light, Medium, Dark

Crazy Angel Gradual TanCrazy Angel

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."

  • Size: 250ml
  • Directions: Apply daily to your face and body for the most natural tan. Use circular motions when applying and wash hands thoroughly after use
  • Colours: Gradual Tan

So, what types of fake tan can I use with pale skin?

If you're pale-skinned, you may not have had too much experience with fake tanners for fear of looking completely orange. You might not even know how to fake tan. DW, fake tan has come a LONG way and it's giving a more summery glow instead of total Wotsit. Here's all the types of fake tan you need to know about...

Tanning drops: Easy to use, just pop them into your everyday moisturiser and let it soak in for an efficient tan. It's also adjustable, depending on how many drops you use, so that you can go as dark as you want.

Tanning mist and water: New on the block. Simply spritz, leave to dry and go. Not as intense as other routines but still leaves a lasting glow. Make sure you're misting equally everywhere for an overall tan.

Tanning mousse: The traditional option. Get exfoliating, prepping and have your tanning mitt ready because this baby is harder to get a hang of. That being said, it is the most reliable and popular option.

Tanning milk and lotions: Usually lighter and work well as top-ups, these tanning milk and lotions are built-in with subtle tanning ingredients. Work best as continuous usage after your main tan or if you just want to keep up a natural tan.

Gradual vs instant: Depending on what look you're going for (and how much time you have on your hands), this is something you'll want to keep an eye out for. Gradual tanners, like mousses and drops, will create a longer-lasting tan for weekly use, whereas instant tanners can really make the best cut when you're going straight out and need a tan immediately.

Now you're done with all the goodies, make sure to invest in a half-decent fake tan remover, to get it off when it goes all patchy (and trust us, it will).

Caitlin Casey is a Senior Beauty & Fashion Products Writer for heat, Closer, and Grazia. She covers shopping, women’s lifestyle, popular culture as well as all things trending.

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