10 Best Gradual Tanning Lotions 2022 | UK Dermatologist Reviewed

Felipe Partarrieu is a final year dermatology resident, who is GMC registered with a full licence to practise in the UK. Specialising in cosmeceuticals, facial skin care, and hair disorders, we worked with Felipe to bring you top quality information to help you make informed buying decisions and understand more about what goes onto your skin.

For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:

1. Vita Liberata - Fabulous Self Tanning Gradual Lotion for £14.95
2. ESPA - Gradual Tan Body Moisturiser for £63.24
3. Garnier - Summer Body Dark Gradual Tan for £4.75
4. Elemis - Total Glow Bronzing Body Lotion for £37.50
5. Decleor - Biodegradable Gradual Glow Lotion for £31.45

For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of gradual tanning lotions available and understand how our ranking was determined.

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

A gradual tanning lotion is essentially a moisturiser containing a small amount of self-tanning ingredient. As you massage it in, it will not only hydrate your skin but it will subtly build to give the appearance of a natural sun-tan. The ingredient responsible, DHA, a colour additive that reacts with the top layer of your skin cells to temporarily alter (or, in other words, darken) the appearance of your skin.

DHA (or dihydroxyacetone) was added to most self-tanners in the 1970s to combat the streaking and blotching often associated with sunless tans, and is commonly derived from plant sugars. Some people choose to avoid this ingredient, but according to expert skin research, the levels in gradual tan lotions are low enough to be completely safe.

The key benefits of gradual tanning lotions are, of course, that they keep your skin super-soft, but also that they allow you to control the depth of your tan by building it up over several days or weeks, depending on your preference. Another advantage is its versatility - these products can be used on a wide variety of skin tones.

1. Choose a Tanning Lotion for Quick Absorption, or a Cream for a Deeper Colour
2. Pick a Slow-Building Tanner With a Development Time of 1 - 2 Weeks to Avoid Streaks
3. Look For Moisturising Ingredients to Help Reduce Patchiness
4. Opt For a Fragrance-Free Lotion to Avoid the ‘Fake Tan’ Smell

If you want a product that is exceptionally light and quick-absorbing, then lotions, milks and gels are your best bet. Lotions and milks, in particular, are a little runnier in their consistencies, so only a small drop is needed for good coverage – which also means they last longer. 

Gels are superbly fast-absorbing and extremely light on the skin, adding a good amount of moisture to the skin while allowing you to evenly distribute colour, streak-free.

As for thicker formulations like creams, they have the potential to build deep, rich colour but require an experienced hand to avoid streaks. You could also try dry oils, which, it's important to note, are intended to be added to your favourite moisturiser and don't work alone. They leave skin luxurious and nourished, although they do tend to cost more. 

We recommend picking up a self-tanner formulated specifically for the face, for a natural-looking, all over glow

Ask yourself: What is my aim with a gradual tanning lotion? For those seeking bronzed skin so subtle that people barely notice it developing, pick a slow-building tanner with a development time of between 1 and 2 weeks. This figure refers to the time it takes to achieve the deepest colour that each product can provide. 

For a speedier tan, choose lotions with a development time of around 3-4 days. These start to work within a few hours and can be topped up each evening until your desired shade of sun-kissed is reached. Quicker-developing tan lotions tend to show streaks a little more easily if not thoroughly rubbed in, so be sure to exfoliate before the application and be fastidious during it!

To avoid streaks and orange hands, use a tanning mitt to apply your tanning lotion!

Apart from the pigment, all gradual tanning lotions contain nourishing ingredients to keep skin soft. However, some specific ingredients have other appealing qualities alongside moisturising, such as vitamins C and E, fruit and seed oils, or shea butter.

Vitamin C is a well-known super-ingredient for keeping skin bright, smooth and youthful, while vitamin E helps support your cells in the reproduction process. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant, meaning it helps fight free radicals that can prematurely age skin. 

The addition of anti-oxidants in tanning lotions is important as some studies have shown that skin is especially susceptible to free-radical damage from sunlight 24 hours after the application of DHA. Therefore, excessive sun exposure should be avoided for 1-2 days after application.

Natural oils such as elderberry seed, castor oil, magnolia, and apricot oil are also highly beneficial. They act as emollients, penetrating skin cells and plumping their natural volume for perky-looking skin. These options also help reduce patchiness and streaks and are advantageous to dehydrated skin, so make a beeline for gradual tan lotions containing them if that sounds like you!

Top Tip: exfoliate your skin using a body scrub before applying your tanning lotion for the best results!

Another quality to consider as you shop for a gradual tan lotion, is the fragrance. Some tanning products are affordable and look great but come with a slightly 'biscuity' smell that really gives the fake-tan game away. 

The colour-building DHA that we mentioned previously is often the ingredient behind the unpleasant odours in your lotion. Choosing unscented products that are either fragrance-free, DHA-free, or that contain other, more potent ingredients mask its scent, so they're a good idea if you're not a fan. 

Additionally, if you don't mind a fragrance but prefer something more deliberately perfumed, look for gradual self-tanning products containing plant and fruit oils like jasmine, ylang-ylang and other concentrated perfumes. Your skin will not only look golden and sun-blushed but will smell delicious, too.

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

Now, before you go slathering on your chosen gradual self-tanning lotion, you might want to read these few tips on how to get the best out of your product.

• Make sure to buff your skin before application. This will remove any dead skin cells laying on top so that you're left with a smooth, streak-free finish.

• Take your time adding just a little blob of product at a time - less is always more!

• When applying, instead of going up and down, make small circular motions with your fingertips. This will allow the product to absorb into the skin evenly.

• Go easy on the dry areas of your body, such as your elbows and knees. The dry skin will make the product stick, and if too much is used, you'll be left with dark, patchy areas. 

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Written and researched by Annie Hopkins