7 Dark Fake Tans For People Who Want the Deepest Golden Glow

This tan is a favourite of many, and in my opinion it's the best value for money and is consistently reliable. The result is a nice bronzed shade that's true to the colour guide. However, It has been known to stain my sheets a little (but if you're a committed tan user you'll have special tan pjs for that). For the price, it's hard not to go wrong with St. Moriz.

Highlights: Very cheap and is true to colour guide and shades stated on bottle (this goes for all shades in the range).

Downsides: Must prep before using (shave 24 hours before and exfoliate) otherwise you may be prone to a streak or two. You also may or may not smell a bit like a biscuit whilst using.

Overall rating

St. Moriz Tanning Mousse Dark (£5)

Although this St. Tropez tan doesn't state being a specific shade, having used it I consider it to be within the dark category. This tan is great for on-the-go gals who worry about a patchy colour guide developing throughout the day, and it's also kinder on white sheets. The colour leaves a bronzed colour with no hints of orange. However, this tan is not for those who tend to slap it on (guilty). The lack of colour guide requires careful application. If you're thinking of giving St. Tropez a go but are worried about the lack of colour guide, try St. Tropez Self Tan Dark Bronzing Mousse (£31).

Highlights: It lives up to the bottles claims with no colour guide and a natural-looking bronzed result.

Downsides: I found the untinted nature of the tan difficult to apply. Getting an even coverage on ankles and wrists was challenging.

Overall rating:

St. Tropez Untinted Bronzing Mousse (£26)

The Sunkissed Once a Week mousse claims to be for those only wanting to tan once a week, but can also be used as an instant tan. While it did give a lovely bronzed colour, many reviewers (and myself) didn't think it completely lived up the the "once a week" claim as it does fade fairly quickly. This tan is a good option if you like to tan your face or if you're a dark tan "beginner" looking to move up a level from medium without being overwhelmed.

Highlights: The tan has a pleasant scent, is easy to apply, and is a great colour if applying to the face.

Downsides: It wasn't as dark as many of the other dark tans on the market. After leaving it on overnight and washing off the colour guide, most of the tan had faded. I found myself wanting to reapply to get a darker tan overall.

Overall rating:

Sunkissed Once a Week Mousse in Dark (£8)

I didn't have any expectations of this tan and had no idea what to expect having never used ModelCo tan before. After applying at night (ready to sleep in) I was shocked at how dark it actually was, even for me it seemed a little too dark. After about 45 minutes I panicked and washed the tan off. Unexpectedly it left me with the most perfect shade of bronze! I've now used this tan three times, leaving it on for approximately two hours and I love the colour it leaves. It is a little sticky, but for the colour the inconvenience is well worth it.

Highlights: Quickest tan I've ever used, developed into lovely bronze colour in half an hour. Lasts all week without coming off patchy.

Downsides: Looks very dark on first application and a little patchy when first applying but this comes off in the shower. Slightly sticky formula so I wouldn't advice sleeping in it.

Overall rating:

ModelCo One Hour Tan Mousse (£14)

This tan is an overall good tan for those that don't like to sleep in their tan. I really like the colour of this tan as it's guaranteed not to turn you orange. The best part about this tan is that it's suitable for those with sensitive and even eczema-prone skin as it is vegetable derived DHA and contains no parabens.

For great tanning tips be sure to follow the brand creator Marissa Carter on social media; you might even learn how to "tantour".

Highlights: It has a deep bronze colour — no orange here! The one-hour tan allows you to control what shade you like. Leave on for one to three hours for a medium-dark shade and overnight for an even more deeper shade. Cocoa Brown also makes an ultradark tan, if this shade of dark isn't bronze enough for your liking.

Downsides: Dries very quickly when applying, which for me makes application a little more difficult. Bottle cap and tan expires and becomes green quicker than other brands.

Overall rating:

Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter 1 Hour Tan Mousse Dark (£8)