Meet your new tanning go-to with our top picks for pale skin
You can’t go wrong with a sun-kissed glow, whether it’s the depths of winter or sunny summer, fake tanning can add a radiant glow to your skin without the sun damage. But, when you have pale skin, finding a fake tan that doesn’t make you look like a carrot can be tricky.
Pale skin is a lighter base, so fake tan is more likely to look orange or patchy compared to on darker skin tones. We want to use fake tan to enhance our complexion, not work against it – which is why the right prep and products are key to achieving a natural-looking, ‘just-got-back-from-holiday’ glow.
Whether you’re a tanning pro or just starting out, check out our top picks and tricks below.
How do I fake tan pale skin?
Streak-free tans start in the prep
Before tanning, make sure to exfoliate, whether that’s using a body brush on dry skin, a body scrub in the shower or both! Exfoliating helps to remove any dead skin, creating a smooth base for your fake tan to stick to evenly.
If you choose to shave, shaving after exfoliating can help make a smooth canvas for any tan. Make sure to use a fresh razor for the closest shave, and take your time to avoid accidentally hurting yourself. We love using conditioner as a shaving cream, because this leaves your skin super smooth afterwards.
Finally, once you’ve hopped out of the shower, moisturise with your fave body lotion. Try to avoid a super oily one, though – oily products are a no-go when you’re tanning, because they work against the ingredients in fake tan that bronze your skin. But, using a non-oily moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated is really important for tanning, since dry, dehydrated skin is one of the main reasons behind a patchy tan.
The main event: applying your tan
Make sure to take your time applying the fake tan and rubbing it into your skin, using circular strokes but avoiding danger zones (the areas that are prone to being super patchy) like your knees, elbows, hands, ankles and feet for now. Don’t scrounge on how much product you use, too – use as much as you need to cover your body evenly, because using too little product could leave a streaky, patchy tan. You might want to use a tanning mitt to rub in your tan, which will help avoid over-tanning your hands and make it a little easier to rub your tan in evenly.
Once you’ve applied your tan to your body, it’s time for the tricky bits: your hands, knees, elbows, ankles and feet. These are often the driest parts of your skin, and your hands and feet have lots of nooks and crannies, making them difficult to tan evenly. Fake tan sticks and develops darker onto dry skin, making it very easy for these areas to look more orange than anticipated. (We’ve all been there – our tan looks great on our legs, but then you look down and realise your toes look more like baby carrots.)
If you’ve used a tanning mitt, there should be enough product left over on it for you to use on these trickier areas. Or, if you’re using a fake tanning lotion, apply a small amount of it with your usual body lotion and rub it in carefully. You might want to use a tanning body brush or an old make-up brush to blend the tan into these harder areas.
After applying, if you notice any missed patches, you can apply a small amount of fake tan to the area, using the same brush as before to properly buff it in.
Making your fake tan last
After all that prep and time spent applying, the last thing you want is for your fake tan to fade quickly. Here are our top tips for fake tan maintenance:
• Use a non-oily moisturiser every day to keep your skin hydrated
• After the shower, bath or even swimming, avoid rubbing your towel on your skin as this’ll exfoliate your fake tan off. Instead, carefully pat your skin dry
• Try to avoid long showers and baths, or very hot water
• Avoid shaving or exfoliating the day after washing off your fake tan
• Regularly use a dry brush – although this exfoliates the skin, this will help your tan fade evenly, leaving the perfect base for your next round
Our tan-tastic top picks for pale skin
Best tanning water for pale skin
Try: Filter by Molly-Mae Spritz Me Tanning Water
• Size: 200ml
• Enriched with aloe vera
This nourishing tanning water can be spritzed over your face and body to create a golden, lightweight glow that dries quickly onto the skin. Make sure to use the matching velvet mitt to smooth over tough areas like hands, elbows and ankles.
Best facial tan for pale skin
Try: St Moriz Advanced Tan Boosting Face Drops
• Size: 15ml
• Contains aloe vera extract
Designed to be mixed in with your existing skincare, these tanning drops give your face a radiant, natural-looking tan without having to compromise on your skincare routine. Simply add three to six drops into your night or day cream, to slowly reveal a just-back-from-holiday glow.
Best gradual tan for pale skin
Try: Isle of Paradise Gradual Self-Tan Lotion Light/Medium
• Size: 375ml
• Lightweight & fast-absorbing
Thanks to its easy-to-use formula, gradual tan is a tanning beginner’s dream. This one, infused with vitamin C, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, helps to improve skin’s tone and texture over time, revealing skin that’s not just sun-kissed, but glowing from within.
Best tanning milk for pale skin
Try: Boots Glow Tanning Milk
• Size: 300ml
• Fab for beginners
This tanning milk combines your daily moisturiser with gradual tan, leaving your skin hydrated, nourished and of course, glowing. If you’re new to fake tan, the buildability of this could make it perfect for you.
Best wash-off tan for pale skin
Try: Fenty Beauty Body Sauce Body Luminizing Tint
• Size: 95ml
• Contains babassu oil & vitamin E
Riri’s done it again – this wash-off blurring body tint enhances your natural skin tone, whilst leaving a sun-kissed radiance. Build up your glow with the transfer-resistant and gel-cream formula, or maximise your application technique with Fenty’s body kabuki brush.
Best bronzing drops for pale skin
Try: e.l.f. Bronzing Drops Rose Gold
• Size: 30ml
• Contains vitamin E & sunflower seed oil
Meet your secret to a back-from-holiday glow, every day. This tinted serum can be mixed with your fave moisturiser, oil or body lotion for an all-over radiance, perfect for slowly building up fake tan on pale skin. Plus, it works on oily, dry and combination skin – what more can you ask for?
The best cult classic for pale skin
Try: Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam Light/Medium
• Size: 200ml
• Enriched with aloe vera & vitamin E
This fake tan is a cult classic for a reason. This lightweight tanning foam with a sweet coconut scent will make you look as if you’ve just gotten back from Bondi Beach. You can leave this foam on the skin for up to six hours, but to make sure it doesn’t look too intense, try applying and then washing off after a couple of hours.
Best budget tan for pale skin
Try: Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived Fair to Medium Gradual Self-Tan Body Mousse 150ml
• Size: 150ml
• Hydrates your skin for up to 48 hours
Achieve a natural, bronzed glow on a budget with Dove. This tanning mousse is nourishing yet lightweight and is buildable so you can add more or less depending on your desired colour. The streak-free formula makes it easy for pale skin to apply without the worry of patchiness.
Best premium tan for pale skin
Try: Tan-Luxe Hydra Mousse Hydrating Self-tan Mousse, Light/Medium 200ml
• Size: 200ml
• Blend of vitamins B, C & E, plus raspberry oil & aloe vera
Luxe up your fake tanning routine with this hydrating and lightweight mousse. With no streaks or smell, Tan-Luxe’s mousse easily glides and smooths onto the skin, plus it’s vitamin-infused formula will help keep your skin moisturised and the perfect tanning base.
Now that you’ve bronzed up on our fave fake tans for pale skin, learn more with Isle of Paradise founder Jules Von Hep’s tanning top tips or find out how to remove fake tan. Looking to level up your application? Discover our fake tan prep picks including mitts, brushes and more. No matter what fake tan takes your fancy, our tanning picks are sure to glow up your tanning routine – literally!
