For decades, people with dark skin tones have not been able to find fake tans that look good on them. Most formulas on the market have been made for light skin, ignoring the undertones and depth that deep complexions need. Fake tan products (along with bronzer and bronzing drops shade ranges) have come a long way, and there are now more fake tan products made just for dark skin tones. For example, Black-founded brands like Caribé know how to meet the needs of dark skin tones in the tanning space.Phoebe Ellis, co-founder of Caribé, says, “A common misconception about fake tan is that it is only used to darken skin.” “On darker skin, however, this isn’t the only goal—we use fake tan to enhance what’s already there by evening out tone, boosting warmth, and blurring the appearance of dark spots.”In the past, we couldn’t get a good tan because the colours on the market just weren’t right. “The depth wasn’t there,” she says, adding that fake tan is a safer way to get a glow without the risk of sun damage. “You can get your summer glow back without hurting your skin or lying out in the sun all vacation to keep the tan up.”
Ellis shares her knowledge about what to look for when choosing the best fake tans for dark skin, as well as all the tips and tricks for making sure your application is perfect. I also asked our Who What Wear UK editors to test the best formulas on the market to see how they work on dark skin.
What to Look For
Ellis says, “For people with darker skin, there are three main things to look for: hydrating ingredients, the right undertones, and buildable formulas with a deep tone. Our skin is naturally drier, so it’s always best to choose formulas that add moisture instead of stripping.”Depending on how deep your skin tone is, olive or red tones are the best for dark skin. She says, “These colours go well with our natural skin tone and stop that ‘ashy’ or too orange look that many generic tans leave behind—no oompa loompa vibes.” “Self-tanners that are good for dark skin also come in richer colours, and with a buildable mousse you can gradually and naturally make the glow stronger.”
Our editors have tested the best fake tans for dark skin. Scroll down to see them.
The Best Fake Tans for Dark Skin: What Works
Felicia has a bottle of Caribe tan in her hand.
Caribé Tanning Mousse is the best overall, and it costs £25.
The best express formula is Bondi Sands Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam in Caramel, which costs £20.
Isle of Paradise Self Tan Drops in Dark, £20, are the best drops for tanning your face.
1. Mousse for tanning in the Caribbean
Best Overall Tanning Mousse
- Two shades
- Tanning mousse formula
- Time to develop: 4 to 6 hours.
Pros
- Made just for people with dark skin tones
- Dries quickly and is simple to put on
- No smell of fake tan
Disadvantages
- You have to move quickly when blending because it dries quickly.
Before Felicia tried out the Caribe fake tan in medium shade
Thank you to @feliciapennant for the picture for Who What Wear UK.
Felicia after trying out the medium shade of Caribe fake tan
As a Black woman with dark skin I was told that I didn’t need fake tan before. I had heard enough scary stories about streaky orange to stay away. Felicia Pennant, the acting senior fashion and beauty editor for branded content, says, “However, after a lot of research, I found that the safest and easiest way to get a summer glow is fake tan.”Two sisters and other women of colour started the brand in 2024. It calls itself the world’s first tan for melanin-rich individuals.” Reviews from regular women, beauty editors, and influencers are all positive, so much so that I wondered if this best-selling tanning mousse was too good to be true. Spoiler alert: it’s not, and I love it.
I don’t have anything to compare it to because I’m new to fake tan, but I can say that it’s lighter and darker than I thought it would be. It smells like the tropics, as promised, instead of the strong fake-tan smell that smells like cookies or nuts. I already put cocoa or shea butter all over my body after every shower, so I was happy to see that shea butter was one of the nourishing and hydrating ingredients, along with aloe vera juice, glycerin, and apple extract.
Choosing the right colour to get a natural-looking tan that looked like it had been kissed by the sun was the part that scared me the most. I figured out that I was between light and medium by matching my skin tone to the four visual references (but not mentioning cool and warm undertones). I chose the medium C94 shade. “Caribé also has a tanning mitt and brush to protect your hands and make the finish look the best,” she says.
I followed the clear instructions and put the mitt on my hand. Then I added three pumps of the mousse to my covered palm and rubbed it up and down the inside of the other arm in circles. I chose to fake tan my arms instead of my legs because they are one of the lightest parts of my body and probably the best place to test a new product.
I did notice that the mousse dried and melted into the mitt very quickly, so if you’re not quick enough, it will be gone before it touches your skin.
I could see the difference right away in the pictures and in real life. My arm suddenly glowed, which made the dullness of the other arm stand out even more. It was about two shades darker, like I had been on a beach vacation, which is fine with me. However, the brand says to apply more mousse for a deeper colour.
It got better and better over the next day, and my skin never felt dry.
The more I think about it, the more I think Caribé could be a good replacement for the shiny body makeup I’ve seen all over my social media. I don’t like how heavy products feel on my skin, but this one doesn’t stain and lasts for up to a week with a lighter coverage.
The price seems fair to me, but the bottle is small for someone who is 5’11”. I’m not sure if 150ml will be enough to cover my arms, legs, chest, and face more than once, which could make my new fake tan habit cost more than I thought it would.
How to Get Ready for a Fake Tan
Ellis says, “Preparation when tanning is a must and very easy.” “As part of your regular everything shower gently scrub and moisturise your skin to keep it smooth and hydrated. If you have darker skin, pay special attention to dry spots on your elbows or ankles, as the tan can stick to these areas. Then, use a tanning mitt to apply the tan evenly.
Ellis says, “For deeper tones, a gradual tan with a guide colour gives you more control over the intensity and helps avoid patchy results because you know where the tan is being applied.” “Following this routine helps keep the tan up, so there will be no more pale winters!”
How We Tried
We asked the editors of Who What Wear UK to help us find the best fake tans for dark skin tones. They tried out a lot of different fake tans over the course of a few weeks, including facial tanning drops, tanning mousses, and express formulas, to see which ones work best on dark skin.
We had each of our editors try out the fake tans themselves and write honest reviews about how easy they were to apply, how well they worked, and how they looked overall in the end. They also included before-and-after photos in their reviews.
Why You Should Trust Us
We at Who What Wear UK know that beauty is not the same for everyone. Over the years, our editors have tried thousands of products, including some for skin care, makeup, hair, and nails. They also work closely with dermatologists, makeup artists, and other industry experts to make sure that every guide is well-researched relevant to you, and includes a wide range of products.
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We only care about formulas that work, whether they’re cheap favourites or high-end investments. We choose our products based on real results knowledge of the ingredients, and what we would really tell a friend to buy.
