Fake tans are marvellous, but with so many on the shelves, knowing which one to pick is tricky. If you're a self tan beginner, where to begin? And if you're a fake tan addict, then which one next? I'm in a committed fake-tanning relationship and have tried more than my fair share of tans over the years. As a former Irish dancer I quickly surpassed the natural to light shades of tan, instead opting for an ultradark finish. With many dance-related fake tan fails, I've also discovered a fewtan hacks [1] along the way. I've got a lot to say about the tans I've tried and tested. I've learned a lot [2] on my quest to find the perfect dark fake tan, so keep reading to avoid fake tan blunders and head straight for the "have you been on holiday" compliments. These are my top finds for the ultimate golden glow.
St. Moriz Tanning Mousse Dark
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 [3] (£5)
St. Tropez Untinted Bronzing Mousse
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 [4] (£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 [5] (£26)
Sunkissed Bronze Professional Once a Week Mousse Dark
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 [6] (£8)
ModelCo One Hour Tan Mousse
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 [7] (£14)
Sienna X Deep Self Tan Tinted Lotion
This tan is a great no fuss, mid-week option. It has a pleasant smell to it and is very easy to apply. However, you have to prep properly for this tan so exfoliate well! If you're a bit nervous of darker tans or prefer a lotion to a mousse, this tan is for you. I prefer mousses over lotions as I find they don't come out as dark as I would like. I felt the need to reapply this lotion.
The Sienna X fake tan mitt [8] (£4) is my new tanning must have; it applies any tan flawlessly.
Highlights: Smells nice, easy to apply, and has a glowing tinted finish. It can be topped up without any streaks.
Downsides: Exfoliating before use is a must. It is a bit more of a medium tone, so perhaps use this tan if you want a shade up from medium tan but aren't yet ready to commit to the dark mousses yet!
Overall rating:
Sienna X Deep Self Tan Tinted Lotion [9] (£24)Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter 1 Hour Tan Mousse Dark
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 [10] (£8)
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam Dark
If you want a reliable dark tan at an affordable price, Bondi Sands is the one for you. The mousse is a true dark bronze shade and most of the colour guide doesn't wash off leaving a streak-free tan. A few reviewers have commented on the mousse drying their skin out a little, but Bondi Sands also has the same tan in a lotion formula [11] which may be better for those with dry skin types. I like to use tan on my face but find this mousse is a little dark so I like to use the Bondi Sands Liquid Gold. [12]
Highlights: The colour is dark and true to the colour guide. The colour guide doesn't completely come off after showering. All Bondi Sands products have a coconut scent which is always a bonus.
Downsides: Possibly stains sheets and may dry skin out a little.
Overall rating:
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam Dark [13] (£15). Keep an eye out for Superdrug's frequent three-for-two offers on Bondi Sands products.