Next-gen self-tanning products that’ll make your faux glow look even better

Did you know there was such thing as a fake tan primer? Neither, but here we are. Isle of Paradise Prep It Self-Tan Priming Spray is your one-way ticket to achieve a streak-free, longer-lasting faux glow. Infused with skin-loving ingredients such as avocado, chia seed and coconut oils, Prep It self-tan priming spray works to intensely hydrate, nourish and brighten your skin so you have a flawless base to apply your fake tan over.

Hi Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta Glow Pad, where have you been all our lives? These single step pre-soaked towelettes make applying fake tan SO much easier. Each towelette (there are eight in a pack) can both exfoliate AND tan your skin at the same time. They deliver a beautifully sun-kissed colour, while also working to exfoliate dead skin cells, tighten pores, eliminate blackheads and help fade existing sunspots (thanks to the addition of alpha and beta hydroxy acids) for smooth, even skin. Um, wow. We’ll take 10.

Perfect for beginners who prefer a lighter glow, this unique skin care-based formulation supercharges your skin while you snooze. Loaded with pink grapefruit, goji berry and juniper, plus a blend of hardworking oils, you’ll wake up to hydrated, rejuvenated and bronzed skin. Tanologist Overnight Gradual Tan Treatment Oil is also non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores and leave you with a trillion spots. Did someone say game-changer?

Bored with your current fake tan? Ditch the mousse and spray formulas for a tan jelly. Don’t pretend you don’t want to try it. Model Co Tan Jelly is an ultra-hydrating formula that’s made with coconut oil and vitamin E (your skin will love it) and glides on like a clear gel.

True story: Tanning your face is utterly terrifying. And if you’re anything like us, nine times out of 10 you’ll stuff it up, or the texture of the product just lets you down. Step forward, Lancôme Flash Bronzer Self-Tanning Face Gel. This formula somehow manages to make the whole thing less scary. The gel texture is hydrating, easy to apply and won’t feel heavy/sticky/gross on your skin. We’re very on board.

If only face masks could give you a tan, too. Jokes, they do! James Read Tan Express Glow Face Mask is a life-changing product that not only delivers the same effects as your Sunday night masking session, but it also gives you a healthy, bronze glow.

Do you know what’s not fun about fake tanning? When you have to physically dislocate your shoulder socket in order to reach that middle area on your back. To save you a trip to the emergency room, Bondi Sands Self Tan Back Applicator is the guy for the job. While most applicators come in the form of a long band (which you basically hold at each end and move across your back from side-to-side), the Bondi Sands Self Tan Back Applicator features a long, easy-to-manoeuvre handle and large paddle-type head for a more controlled application. It also comes with three replacement pads and is perfect for travelling (it folds right up). We seriously don’t know how we ever lived without it.

You know when you’ve just finished fake tanning and you have to put your clothes on ASAP (because life), but you feel like a sticky mess? Worst. Feeling. Ever. Well, it’s nothing a lil bit of Fairy Dust can’t fix! Tanzee Fairy Dust Self Tan Drying Powder is the answer to all your tanning woes. You basically puff it onto your freshly tanned skin and it dries your self-tan in seconds, helping to prevent streaks and stickiness.

As revolutionary as a tan drying powder is, how do we make it better? We put it into a spray. Duh. And that’s exactly what Ohh My Glo has done with their Fake Tan Setting Spray. Say goodbye to the sensory-overloading sticky feeling that comes with tanning with this easy-to-apply, mess-free spray. So spritz away and marinate in comfort with this vitamin-infused option.

If your tan has seen better days, or you just discovered you’ve been walking around the whole day with a massive streak on your leg, you need a good tan eraser. And there are some real gems on the market at the moment, like St. Tropez Tan Remover Mousse. It’s infused with detoxifying cotton extract (perfect for sensitive skin), which purifies the skin and gently removes any traces of tan. It also contains probiotics which go to work on rebalancing the skin, leaving you with the perfect clean canvas for your next round of fake tan.

Need to brush up on your fake tanning technique? Here’s the correct way to apply fake tan to your hands and feet.