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I love being tanned, but I hate fake tanning. Yes, I’ve tried some of the best fake tans on the market, but I can never get a flawless finish. Whether it’s patches around my knees and elbows, or some very orange hands, no matter how hard I try, I can’t get it right. With summer approaching, I’ve been desperate to find an alternative, and I think I might have just done it. Enter, tanning milks.
As strange as it sounds, milk seems to be a big beauty trend this season. From milky nails to milky toners, I’m actually a big fan, but tanning milks are definitely my favourite invention to date. As the name suggests, these products have light, milky consistencies, and unlike tanning foam, they don’t have a guide colour. That would usually concern me, but you can apply these products as you would a body lotion and achieve the most gorgeous, natural-looking finish without any streaks.
I’m such a fan that I’ve taken it upon myself to try some of the most popular tanning milks on the market, and have rounded up my top picks below. Keep on scrolling if you want to glow like never before this summer…
The Best Tanning Milks, Tried & Tested
1. Bali Body Self Tanning Milk
Bali Body
Self Tanning Milk
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin C
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Doesn’t transfer
- Packed with skin-loving ingredients
- Easy to build up colour
Cons
- Does have a relatively strong fake tan scent
First up is my go-to tanning milk at the moment. In fact, since getting my hands on this, I’ve been applying it non-stop. It has such a lightweight, hydrating consistency (packed with hyaluronic acid, ceramides and vitamin C, btw) and is so easy to apply. The brand recommends using a tanning mitt, but I actually go straight in with my hands, and I wash them thoroughly after applying. The product sinks into the skin in seconds, doesn’t transfer, and if I apply it at night, I wake up in the morning with the most beautiful golden glow. One application definitely gives a more natural finish, but it’s actually really easy to build up the colour. I like to apply it two to three nights in a row for the perfect finish. Since adding this product to my body care routine, fake tanning has never been so simple.
2. Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk
Bondi Sands
Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk
Key ingredients: Aloe vera, vitamin E
Pros
- Can be used everyday for a natural-looking glow
- Hydrating consistency
Cons
- Very strong fake tan scent
If you want it to look as if you’ve spent a couple of days in the South of France, this Bondi Sands tanning milk is the one for you. The consistency is a little richer than the option above, but it still absorbs into the skin quickly and feels nice and hydrating. It gives such a natural-looking tan that you can actually use it daily to keep that golden glow year-round. Plus, the pump format makes it so easy to use. I will say this probably has the strongest fake-tan smell out of all the options I tried, but the finish is so good that I’ll overlook it.
3. Boots Glow Tanning Milk
Key ingredients: Glycerin
Pros
- Very affordable
- Feels more like a body lotion
- Faint coconut scent
Cons
- I would recommend exfoliating the skin before applying this
Boots has created an incredibly affordable option that, unlike others in this roundup, has less of a fake-tan scent and more of a faint, coconutty aroma. Similar to the Bali Body tanning milk, it has a very lightweight consistency and feels just like a body lotion. I would still recommend exfoliating your skin in the shower before using this product, but I was so impressed with the even application and golden finish it gave. For under £10, you seriously can’t go wrong with this stuff this summer.
4. Bali Body Face Tan Milk
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin C
Pros
- Contains lots of skin-loving ingredients
- Easy to apply
Cons
- More on the subtle side, which some people may not like
- A little more expensive
After testing out (and falling in love with) the tanning milks above, I was delighted to see an option for my face, too. I usually mix a few tanning drops in with my moisturiser, but this milky lotion is so much easier to apply. Similar to Bali Body’s tanning milk, it is full of skin-loving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides and vitamin C, and is designed to be the final step in your skincare routine (before SPF, of course). One thing I found a little confusing was that the instructions advised applying 3-5 drops, but it doesn’t have a pipette applicator, making it hard to measure. Instead, I take a small amount and apply it evenly all over my face, and the result is a natural-looking glow that always earns me compliments. It is definitely more on the subtle side, but easy to build upon if you prefer a darker tan.
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We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
