14 of the best gradual tanning lotions to keep you looking healthy and glowy in the winter months

The facial mist one:

Ella & Jo Face Filter Mist & Glow, £23

If you’re a facial mist fan, then this gradual tan is going to appeal to you as it has a very light, watery texture that you simply mist over your face. Or, you can do as a few of the GTG team do and use it on hands and feet when using a full-strength fake tan to help it blend in seamlessly. It has a light watermelon scent and comes in two options: light-medium and medium-dark.

The gorgeously-scented one:

Self Glow by James Read Endless Summer Gradual Tan Moisturiser, £44

Not only does this light, non-sticky lotion contain all the skin hydrating ingredients you want in a gradual tan, such as aloe vera and hyaluronic acid, but it smells sublime. Think of a high-end perfume, but in your tanning product. After one use, it leaves skin looking healthy and subtly tanned and after a few layers, it leaves a gorgeous, golden glow.

The mousse one:

Dove Body Love Summer Revived Gradual Tanning Mousse, £11.49 

There is something quite comforting about a mousse texture; it’s very easy to manipulate, as it doesn’t slip and slide like a lotion or a milk, making this a great option for any first-time gradual tanners. This one dispenses as quite a dense mousse, almost like a shaving foam consistency, and a small blob (table tennis ball size) easily covers both arms. It has quite a strong fruity smell, but absolutely no whiff of tanning agents and it leaves the skin feeling silky soft, just as though you’ve applied regular body lotion.

The cult one:

Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk, £11.95

All of Bondi Sands’ products fly off the shelves, but this is one of their best-sellers thanks to the gorgeous colour it creates and how easy it is to use. Bondi Sands is known for creating a slightly deeper colour. It has a very silky consistency, which makes it really easy to glide over, and it sinks in in seconds. It also comes with a very handy pump applicator.

The one for legs:

This Works Perfect Legs Gradual Tan, £42 

For days when it’s warm enough to not cover your legs with tights, jeans or leggings then you may want them to look like they have some life to them, rather than pallid and grey. And while this can be used all over, its gel-like formula lends itself particularly well to dehydrated legs, which need extra hydrating TLC compared to the rest of the body. It is also tinted, which makes it foolproof to apply and avoid any streaks and means it leaves you with an instant glow-up, but the real magic happens when you apply every day for three days straight. By day four, your legs will look like they’ve been on a mini break.

The colour-correcting one: 

Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Butter, £18

With its rich buttery texture – it contains avocado and cocoa butter – this is a great option for anyone with dry skin who wants to boost their glow at the same time. However, its real USP is that it contains clever green pigments that counterbalance any redness in the skin (don’t worry, they don’t make your skin look green). Not only do they improve the overall tone of your skin, but they also reduce redness, creating your truest tanned hue.

The face one:

Bali Body Gradual Face Tan, £29.95 

If self-tanning drops are too much too soon for you (they can be very high in DHA percentages, so they develop deeply and quickly), this gradual tan face moisturiser will build up your glow over four to five days. It has a handy push-down applicator top, which dispenses the right amount each time. It also helps keep the formula airtight, ensuring its longevity. It has a fairly rich consistency, so oilier skin may want to use this at night to give it time to sink in.

The supersized one: 

Gatineau Golden Glow Gradual Tan, £55

While this does come with a hefty price tag, it is utterly enormous (400ml to be precise) so if you are a gradual tanning addict, it makes economic sense to buy this. However, there are lots of other sizes available too. It has a light, silky texture and a lovely, light refreshing scent that makes putting it on in the morning a little moment of joy. It also fades perfectly without leaving obvious streaky patches. And the product has proved so popular there is now a lightweight and super silky face serum option too – Gatineau Golden Glow Gradual Tan Face Serum, £12. 

The face and body one:

Institut Esthederm Reflets De Soleil, £48

With its caramel-tinted hue that has very subtle shimmer, not only does this instantly give your skin a touch of glow, but it acts as a handy guide colour. It has a very light texture – not dissimilar to a gel-cream moisturiser – that feels light on the skin and can be used from head to toe.

The budget one: 

Garnier Summer Body Moisturising Lotion, was £12 now £6

With its distinctive apricot scent (which you either love or don’t), this gradual tan has a lighter consistency than most but still feels ultra hydrating, and you get a good-sized bottle for the price tag. It creates quite a strong golden brown hue too so you may only want to use it once a week. Handily, it comes in two shades, light and dark.

The one for when you’re in a hurry:

Tan Luxe The Gradual, £25

Packed full of moisture-trapping humectants, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, this sinks in quickly, making it a great option for when you’re in a hurry in the morning but don’t want to forgo some glow. It has a very light scent and a serum consistency.

The eco one: 

Evolve Organic Beauty Sunless Glow 3-in-1 Gradual Tan, £24 


Having just undergone a formulation tweak, this gradual tan may look familiar but is slightly different. In fact, it is now more efficient and effective than ever. It has the same gradual tanning loveliness of the original (it uses a raspberry derivative as the tanning agent) along with some big-hitting skin hydrators, making this as much of a body lotion as it is a gradual tan. The new element, however, is a pre-tan accelerator and post-tan extender. Carob fruit extract cleverly boosts melanin production in the skin, meaning your tan will last longer.

The hydrating one:

St Tropez Gradual Tan Daily Firming Lotion, £18 

Containing hyaluronic acid, marine algae extract and natural oils, this creamy gradual tanner really does feel like you’re applying a regular body lotion. However, take more care than you would with a regular body cream, as it’s not tinted, so you do need to make sure you apply an even coating.

The holiday one:

Skin & Tan Body Glow Gradual Tanner, £12.99

This has a lightweight consistency that feels refreshing and hydrating on the skin, making it a great choice for applying at the end of a long and weary day. It has a fresh scent and is really easy to buff in.