These clever facial tanning drops are the best thing I've tried for acne-prone skin
PRODUCT
James Read H20 Tan Drops Face, £30
THE HYPE
Fake tan has the ability to make you look your absolute best self without the threat of UV damage, solar acne or pigmentation.
So when we heard about an innovative new tan invention that's selling like hot cakes, we had to investigate.
James Read Gradual Tan H2O Tan Drops Face are so in-demand that when they launched on QVC, they sold $580,000 (£427,000) worth in just 12 minutes.
It's little surprise that James's latest product is in such high demand; he counts Naomi Campbell, Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Ellie Goulding and Mariah Carey as clients.
His new H2O Tan Drops, which cost £30, have a water base and skin-boosting ingredients such as Aloe Vera Water and Hyaluronic Acid so apparently work in partnership with your daily skincare to boost your favourite moisturiser, foundation or serum into a made-to-measure self tan.
James promises that his drops leave you with a streak-free, glowing complexion (without those pesky clogged pores) and give you the gradual tan of your dreams.
Speaking to GLAMOUR about the launch, he said: “With more and more people looking for clean beauty, we’ve seen a huge interest in both our new H2O Tan Drops and Coconut Water Tan Mist. Consumers love that it’s a product that fits in with your lifestyle and doesn’t require any change to your existing skincare routine.”
REVIEWER
Bianca London, Website Editor
BEAUTY BIO
I am a complete tanorexic but with skin that's prone to acne flare-ups, using fake tan on my face can often break me out. I am searching for a skin-boosting fake tan that will work harder than just giving me a glow.
THE REVIEW
Firstly, these nifty little tanning drops are so damn easy to use. With a water base and skin-boosting ingredients such as Aloe Vera Water and Hyaluronic Acid, they're designed to work in partnership with your daily skincare and transform your favourite moisturiser, foundation or serum into a made-to-measure self tan. Because I don't often use a serum or moisturiser at night, I skipped this step and just whacked the drops straight onto my freshly-cleansed face.
I ensured I washed my hands after to avoid any awkward Oompa Lumpa residue and while the tan did leave an ever-so-slightly 'biscuity' fake tan scent, it didn't stick around for long.
I was really impressed with how plump and dewy the drops left my skin (that'll be the Hyaluronic Acid), and there wasn't a patchy area in sight. My skin was left radiant and glowing with a subtle tan that quickly amassed "have you been on holiday?" quandaries.
The best part about these drops is that you can build them up day-by-day without worrying about clogged pores or breakouts. I never want to be without them.
Scroll down for the best fake tans of 2018...
Best fake tan for sensitive skin
Vichy Idéal Soleil Hydra-Bronzing Self-Tanning Milk,
£14£10.50, Feel UniqueResults? A buildable, natural-looking tan that benefits from the glowy boost of hydrating thermal water. Not many products can work as well on the face as the body, but the gentle Idéal Soleil Hydra-Bronzing Self-Tanning Milk ticks both boxes.
Bonus features: Paraben-free and suitable for sensitive skin. It doesn’t cause breakouts either.
Save when you shop for the best fake tan with these Feel Unique discount codes.
Best dark fake tan
Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam Dark,
£14.99£11.95, Feel UniqueResults: A really dark tan with golden undertones, for the ultimate Australian beach babe look.
Bonus Features: Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam Dark dries in seconds and you can even shower after one hour (or try the one hour express for an even quicker, deeper colour). Ideal for those with olive skin as the results are really rich in colour - although it has gorgeous golden undertones that work brilliantly on fair skin types as well.
Save when you shop for the best fake tan with these Feel Unique discount codes.
Best fake tan to truly recreate the sunshine
St Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Mist, £27.95, Beauty Bay
Results: An instant light gleam that develops into a golden tan with a noticeable glow.
Bonus features: This contains a groundbreaking Sunshine Complex technology. Vitamin D boosters mimic the positive effects of sunshine, brightening and protective skin but without exposing it to harmful UV rays. Plus the fragrance was specifically created to improve our mood.
We've got tonnes of Beauty Bay discount codes to help you save the pennies.
Best light fake tan
Garnier Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer Dry Body Mist, £10.99, Boots
Results: A no-nonsense multi-angle spray tan, No Streaks Bronzer Dry Body Mist leaves a light tan, ideal for a subtle glow. A perfect product if you’re new to the world of self-tan sprays.
Bonus Features: Multi-angle dry mist spray, apricot extracts to moisturise skin, quick-dry, no need to rub.
Best fake tan for a cult in the making
Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, £25.75, Beauty Bay
Results: Available in three shades – medium, dark and ultra dark – you can tailor the colour to you. The green-grey base colour may sound scary, but in practice it counteracts orange tones to keep things positively golden.
Bonus features: It's vegan and packed with natural ingredients like banana, cocoa, papaya, mango, orange and lotus flower. Plus, it has over 2,000 5 star ratings on Trustpilot.
We've got tonnes of Beauty Bay discount codes to help you save the pennies.
Best fake tan spray
Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Water, £18.95, Beauty Bay
Results? A thoroughly natural looking finish.
Bonus features: Isle Of Paradise three shades of Self Tanning Water contain colour correcting pigments so not only do they avoid oompa limbs, they tailor options to suit your skin tone. Light has brightening peach tones in, Medium has green to counteract redness and Dark has a purple tinge to curb yellow or sallow tones in skin.
We've got tonnes of Beauty Bay discount codes to help you save the pennies.
Best fake tan for a deep glow
Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan Dark Mousse, £7.99, Superdrug
Results? With 1 Hour Tan Dark Mousse you can achieve an even and subtle hint of colour after one hour, a chocolatey tan after two and an intense Barbados-bronze if you stick it out for three.
Bonus features: Super-quick drying and an olive undertone to ensure zero traces of tangerine.
Save money when you shop with our exclusive Superdrug discount codes.
Best budget fake tan
St Moriz Advanced Pro Formula 5-in-1 Tanning Mousse, £7.99, Superdrug
Results? Colour so rich and realistic, others will ask where you holidayed. St Moriz Advanced Pro Formula 5-in-1 Tanning Mousse lasts for ages, and responds well to top-ups.
Bonus features: Easy-to-spread foam formula, with a pump that only needs one hand.
Save money when you shop with our exclusive Superdrug discount codes.
Best fake tan mousse
Bali Body Ultra Dark Self Tanning Mousse, £26.95, Boots
Results? This Self Tanning Mousse is an updated take on the original mousse tan from Bali Body, but it's especially formulated to create a darker tan.
Bonus Features: There are various soothing ingredients including chamomile extract, antioxidant coffee seed extract and pomegranate extract, leaving your skin nourished, yet glowing.
We've got tonnes of Beauty Bay discount codes to help you save the pennies.
Best fake tan for face
St.Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water Face Serum, £14.67, Boots
Results: This is a superfood cocktail for skin that's charged up with hyaluronic acid, peach flower extract, green mandarin water and Vitamin C and D boosters. Really, it's a nourishing serum for your face that just so happens to leave your complexion beautifully bronzed, too. Plus, it's pretty forgiving and can be built up over a few days.
Bonus Features: The clear formula won't stain your bedsheets.
Best fake tan moisturiser
Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived Medium to Dark Self Tanning Body Lotion, £3.50, Boots
Results: This not only leaves your bod bronzier, it also leaves skin feeling silkier, plus the colour is natural and buildable.
Bonus Features: This gradual tan can be built up over several days. Since it's subtle, if you miss a spot one day, you can catch it the next without any streaks showing up.
Best fake tan oil
James Read Coconut Dry Oil Tan, £25, Amazon
Results? A heavenly-scented, natural-looking and skin-loving self-tan that lasts for five days.
Bonus Features: James Read Coconut Dry Oil Tan is bursting with anti-oxidants to fight off free-radical damage caused by pollution and UV rays.
Best fake tan remover
Isle of Paradise Over It Magic Self-Tan Eraser, £17.95, Beauty Bay
Results? Not technically a fake tan, Over It Magic Self Tan Eraser is a very important side kick. This nifty product is essential for any mishaps or removals because, let's be honest, all good tans must come to an end.
Bonus Features: This magic remover gently exfoliates with glycolic acid but is also infused with coconut, chia seed and avocado oils to nourish.
We've got tonnes of Beauty Bay discount codes to help you save the pennies.
Best fake tan drops
Tan-Luxe The Body Illuminating Tan Drops, £42, Cult Beauty
Results? That fresh, dewy, I-just-returned-from-the-beach-but-kept-my-SPF30-topped-up kind of tan.
Bonus Features: These handy Body Illuminating Tan Drops can be added to any body lotion, oil or moisturiser to transform it into a bespoke self-tan. Add one drop for a weekend by the beach, or four for full-on bronze brilliance.
Best for a fast fake tan
St Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mist, £26, Cult Beauty
Results: This bestows a light even tan in one hour, a sun kissed medium glow if you leave it on for two hours and a deep golden bronze if you leave it on for three hours.
Bonus features: This gives you three shade options in one formula and because of the speedy developing time, it's perfect if you're in a pinch and need to turn your tan around quickly.
Best instant fake tan
Vita Liberta Body Blur, £28.92, Amazon
Results: This skin-warming body bronzer gives an instant glow, plus Body Blur airbrushes a multitude of imperfections and is especially effective on the legs.
Bonus Features: It's not permanent and washes off at the end of the day in the shower, so don't panic if something goes wrong.
Best fake tan wipes for glow on the go
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad Gradual Glow, £34, Look Fantastic
Results? Fancy a natural-looking, buildable tan without the fuss? Thanks to their easy-to-use design, Alpha Beta Glow Pad Gradual Glow single-use wipes cut out the need for extras. Great for getting that glow on the go.
Bonus Features: Gentle exfoliating acids in the formula work to smooth the surface of skin, and help ensure an even, streak-free finish.
Prefer to build up your tan? Check out our list of the best gradual tanners of 2019
Save money on your fake tan purchase with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best fake tan for a pro glow
Venetian Self Tanning Mist, £35.99, Norvell
Results: A dark glow but with no orangeyness.
Bonus Features: This is the brand used by the tanners on Strictly Come Dancing to give the dancers and the contestants a healthy dose of bronze. It contains violet tones to keep things looking natural.
