There’s something so satisfying about waking up and having a glow to your skin - at any time of year - or being able to show off bronzed legs in summer dresses, even if you took the shortcut and got it from self-tan, rather than catching rays on a sun-drenched holiday.
Plus, there’s no risk of sun damage when you fake it, and with the all the high-tech tanners to choose from, you can ensure a natural-looking golden-brown hue every time.
In fact, this year, there’s a glut of innovative new glow-giving products on the shelves. These are the latest launches every tan fan needs to try…
1. Vita Liberata Heavenly Elixir, €29.99 (was €39.99), Boots
If you’ve ever found yourself madly smothering on fake tan the night before a holiday, while simultaneously stuffing clothes in a suitcase and trying to book a cab to the airport, you will love Heavenly Elixir.
The world’s first slow-release tan develops overnight, but once you’ve washed it off, it continues to build to a medium glow over three days, meaning you don’t have to leave your pre-holiday or party tanning until the last minute.
2. Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face, €24, Meagher's Pharmacy
Transform your usual face cream with two to three drops of this self-tanning oil, which also contains extracts of fig and aloe vera, for added hydration.
3. Skinny Tan Notox Beauty Elixir, €19.49 (was €25.99), Boots
Skincare meets self-tan in this multi-tasking serum, which targets fine lines and wrinkles with potent anti-ageing ingredients, as well as gradually building a gorgeous glow.
4. Bondi Sands Pure Self Tanning Sleep Mask, €20.99, Cult Beauty
A bestseller from Bondi Sands’ first eco-friendly range – which comes in metal-free, recyclable packaging sourced from sustainable materials – this mask works overnight to impart a healthy glow, and is enriched with moisturising hyaluronic acid.
5. St Tropez Tan X Ashley Graham Ultimate Glow Kit, €45, McCabe's Pharmacy
St Tropez has teamed up with the amazing Ashley Graham to create this self-tanning mousse and mitt duo. The supermodel-approved mousse is infused with skin-loving rosehip oil, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E, and has a floral fragrance inspired by Graham’s favourite scents.
6. Natura Bissé C+C Vitamin Self-Tan Drops, €63.45, LookFantastic
Customise your colour with these tanning drops from luxury skincare brand Natura Bissé, which contain brightening Vitamin C and can be applied directly to the skin. Use nightly to build up to your desired shade.
7. UGlow Tanning Water, £25
Say goodbye to stained bedsheets with UGlow Tanning Water, a quick-drying clear liquid spray that’s been 10 years in the making. Formulated with tanning technology that ‘tailors’ the shade to each skin tone, it’s best applied with a mitt for an even tan that develops in six to eight hours.
8. James Read Glow20 Facial Tanning Serum, €35.95, ParfumDreams
For a super-speedy sun-kissed look, leave this moisturising serum on for just 20 minutes then wash off – it will keep developing – or go for a deeper shade by leaving it on for 60 or 90 minutes.
9. Velvotan Tanning Back Applicator, €5.99 (was €7.99), Boots
No, it’s not a fly swatter – this handy tool will help you with those hard-to-reach spots, so you don’t have to stretch and strain or enlist a friend to make sure your back isn’t patchy. Simply unfold the applicator, pop your mitt on the end (it fits any standard size) and away you go.
10. Cocoa Brown Kabuki Brush, €12.85, Cunningham's Pharmacy
Some tanning experts swear by the brush application method to give their celebrity clients the perfect finish – now you can try it at home.
Apply self-tan onto your skin or the brush head, then smooth out using circular motions. The soft, densely packed brush is also great for applying just the right amount of product on tricky areas like elbows and knees, and for contouring, if you’re using two different shades.
11. Bare by Vogue Luxury Exfoliating Mitt, €8
Ok, so you've found your perfect tan and applicator, now it's time to prep your skin!
This luxury double-sided exfoliating mitt from Vogue Williams is the perfect accessory to prepare your skin before home tanning. It buffs your skin to remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin clean and smooth.
