The best self-tan for mature skin

St. Tropez is the UK's most trusted tanning brand, and we can see why! This Self Tan Purity Face Mist infused with uplifting green mandarin water, hyaluronic acid, and tropical hibiscus flower extract helps to combat the effects of pollution and smells define. Sprayed on as a lightweight, transparent mist, it's a great option for dry skin, and you don't need to worry about making a mess or transferring it to clothes as it's translucent. Refreshing and easy-to-use, you'll have a glowing natural-looking facial tan developed to show off in 4-8 hours.

Customer review: "Love this! Am usually terrified of fake tan products for fear of ending up streaky and orange with strange coloured hands. This is different. It is a fine mist that dries in seconds and gradually develops. I apply it at night and never wake up with it on my pillow. Takes a few days to build up a nice colour, but looks completely natural with not a whiff of orange anywhere! The bottle lasts ages, I use about one bottle each year."

Dove is a trusted brand when it comes to skincare, so we're sure we can trust them when it comes to achieving a gorgeous, radiant tan. The Summer Revived Gradual Self-Tan Lotion provides a cell moisturising formula that locks in lasting hydration. Formulated with hydrating glycerin, aloe vera and pro-lipids, this dermatologically-tested tan works to nourish the skin. While it all sounds very expensive, this tan is by far the most affordable on the list.

Customer review: "Dove products always seem to suit my skin. Like the subtle tanning effect. I have sensitive skin and find this product very soothing and moisturising. Like to use this all year round."

If you love your white bed sheets and you don't want to get them covered in tan, then this formula is for you. Super lightweight and hydrating on the skin thanks to the Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin B5 and Aloe Vera in the formula. This tan fades naturally on the skin and beautifully, even on more mature, dryer skin. It also has a very refreshing scent of pink grapefruit.

Tested by our Senior Digital Writer, Lorna White: "As someone with dryer skin, I found this tan to fade beautifully and gradually compared to many other tans which can become flaky after a week or so. I also loved that my white bed sheets did not get stained after wearing this overnight. While I felt very confident applying this without a guide colour, it might not be suitable for first time tanners."

Beauty by Earth’s Organic and Natural Self Tanner is composed of organic ingredients that'll give you that sun-kissed look, without the damage. With organic shea butter, argan oil, and coconut oil, it will nourish as you tan. The colour is natural and easily buildable, which you can use to help diminish the appearance of veins and blemishes. We've picked this as our best self-tan for mature skin overall due to its highly-rated reviews on Amazon.

Customer review: "After years of using products like Fake Bake and L'Oréal and other fake tans bought in the shops, I wanted one that was not full of toxins or tested on animals and discovered this one by chance and all I can say is that it's brilliant! It smells lovely, has no streaks, the skin is silky soft after use and you end up a beautiful golden colour! I cannot recommend this product enough. I would honestly never buy a different self-tan product again, if I could give this 10 stars I would! Please buy - you will not be disappointed!"

Tried and Tested by Digital Writer, Lorna White

Skinny Tan’s Wonder Serum is tanning meets skincare. The brand's bestselling and top-rated Wonder Serum contains Q10 along with vitamin E extracts. These magical ingredients work together as a full-body anti-ageing skincare treatment perfect for mature skin. The guide colour allows you to see where the tan has been applied, and the tan develops over a few hours. After this time, you're able to wash it off to reveal a natural looking tan.

Our review: "I have to say this product is my new favourite tan. The colour was glowy and natural on my pale skin tone and it was the first tan that I received compliments for. I was always a big fan of mousse-based tans, but this serum felt much more moisturising on the skin and lasted much longer. It faded beautifully and did a good job at hiding any skin imperfections - I think I'll definitely be repurchasing!"

Read our full review of Skinny Tan here.

Nivea's Q10 Firming Plus Radiance Gradual Tan not only leaves you with a natural-looking sunkissed glow, but also contains a powerful Q10 coenzyme that tightens and firms skin for an anti-ageing effect. The formula is moisturising and hydrating, making it a fabulous option for mature or dry skin types. It leaves your skin feeling soft, supple and silky smooth all day long.

Customer review: "Just come back from holiday and I have a nice tan which I know is going to fade soon, I do not want to use a 'fake tan' so I got this as it kills 2 birds with one stone, It keeps my skin soft and moisturised and gives me a subtle tan to help top up my real tan! I use it at night and it only takes a few minutes to dry. It hasn't gone patchy and it doesn't have that horrible fake tan smell. Will buy again."

This lightweight, silky mousse from Coco & Eve delivers an instant bronze that is fast drying and develops in just two hours for a natural-looking golden glow. The Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam is non-sticky, leaves no streaks, and smells divine. It's fragranced with tropical mango and guava so you won't get that 'biscuit' fake tan smell, and you'll feel like you're holidaying in the tropics - we wish! The enriching formula is filled with natural antioxidants, botanicals, and amino acids to hydrate the skin, blur imperfections, and help to improve the signs of ageing and cellulite.

Customer review: "I bought the tan in medium (I am quite fair) and it applied really smoothly. I used a mitt and the tan smells lovely! It doesn't have that biscuit smell all other tans seem to have and it went on really evenly. I left it on overnight and washed the guide colour off in the morning. I am so pleased with the result! It looks really natural and not orange at all! I would 100 per cent repurchase this tan!"

Read our full review of Coco & Eve products here.

James Read's tanning brand has been endorsed by celebrities and tan advocates alike. The H20 Gradual Self Tanning Spray is an easy to apply mist that you spray over your face to give you a buildable bronzed effect. We would also recommend James Read's H2O Gradual Tan Drops, which can be mixed in with your favourite moisturiser or foundation during your skincare or makeup routine as an easy method of self-tanning your face.

Customer review: "Fantastic product. Easy to use. Great colour. Works quickly. No need to massage in, spray and go. Obviously, make sure any moisturiser that you use isn’t mineral-based or other ingredients that will block absorption. Highly recommended."

Enriched with apricot oil, vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids, it also intensively hydrates skin all day long. There's a choice between two shades, from 'light' to 'deep', so you can build a tan that suits you. With glowing reviews and loads of people adding it to their basket in time for summer, it's earned a spot on our shortlist.

Customer review: "Smells amazing and feels like luxury on my mature skin. A great price too."

Don't worry, this product won't leave you feeling greasy despite being oil-based. This Natural Bronzer Self-Tan Dry Oil from Garnier will absorb rapidly into the skin and dry instantly. This enriches the skin with nourishing coconut and apricot kernel oil, giving a gorgeous sun-kissed glow. It'll hydrate and soften dry skin. Plus, the spray applicator will help to evenly distribute the tan on your skin for quick and easy application - without streaks.

Customer review: "This 48-year-old biddy is not very often really, really impressed with something! The price, ease of use (took seconds), and the result is amazing. No smell, no streaks, no patches, and no reaction. Best of all no acne breakout. I DETEST having my photo taken, so I must be impressed."

Vita Liberata Fabulous Self-Tanning Gradual Lotion is an ultra-hydrating formula with nourishing organic botanical ingredients that'll make your tan look smoother and help with your anti-ageing routine. This lotion boosts your skin’s water levels and can leave it looking plump and youthful. Organic to help your skin heal, this self-tanner locks in your moisture for 72 hours. Great for dry or sensitive skin, it's completely free from parabens, perfumes, alcohol, and toxins.

Customer review: "This is a good gradual tan. It has left my skin feeling lovely and soft with no horrible smell that you normally get with gradual tanners – and no transfer. It works well and gives a very tanned look very fast. After one application, I looked like I had a tan and normally I'm ghost white. I definitely highly recommend this lotion."

Finding a self-tanner for your body is simple, but it’s not always so easy finding one that works well for your face, especially if you have sensitive or breakout-prone skin. COOLA's Sunless Tan Face Serum is made with moisturising hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and argan oil to leave your skin feeling smooth, hydrated, and glowing. It even has plant stem cell cultures too to help reduce the signs of premature skin ageing that you may have developed when trying to tan in the past. But, don’t be fearful if you have sun or age spots, as this product won’t darken or draw more attention to them. Use it on its own, or add it to your everyday moisturiser for a lighter boost.

Customer review: "I use 2 pumps with my moisturiser and have gradually developed a natural-looking tan. Love this serum as part of my daily routine!"

As we get older our skin often loses hydration. So, a moisturising self-tan will help tenfold if you're looking to glow. This Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser from Palmer's will keep your skin looking radiant and will provide a delicate, sun-kissed tan. Plus, you can gradually build it to get the skin tone you're looking for. Packed with pure cocoa butter and vitamin E, it'll provide 24-hour moisture to have your skin feeling its best.

Customer review: "I've been using this product for almost four years now and I have not been tempted to change. Use it twice a week to keep an even, natural tan; I get compliments on how natural it looks and have recommended it to whoever asks! I have quite sensitive skin and it is hard to find products that don't irritate me. So, I was so happy to be able to continue using something without ever having to change it. The smell, however, is hit and miss for some. I love it but my husband hates it! It smells like chocolate, what's not to like?"

The secret to a flawless tan is using a mitt - promise! Using your hands can leave streaks, patches, and turn your palms and knuckles orange. This Self Tanning Mitt Applicator is double-sided for durable use and makes self-tanning a breeze with good distribution, giving you a more even, natural-looking finish. It's machine washable so you can stick it in the machine when it's ready. We also love that it comes with a mini applicator so you can apply evenly to the more difficult areas, such as your face, ankles, or toes.

Customer review: "I hadn’t bothered with a fake tan in almost 20 years, because the whole 'self-tanner' ordeal at that time made tanning not nearly worth all the hassle, icky hands, and terribleness. Well, obviously, I have been missing out for a few years now, because these mitts came around at some point and completely changed the game! I do hope that the wonderful soul who originally invented this mitt is living the good life on a yacht somewhere because they deserve a top spot in the beauty hall of fame now and forever.

"Using this mitt, it took me roughly two minutes to smoothly and evenly apply a small amount of liquid self-tanner all over my gosh-awful ghostly white legs and feet. The mitt provided completely even coverage and blending, leaving me with a flawless coat of fake tan to mask the ugly. Then, astoundingly, I took the mitt off to find a perfectly clean and dry hand. I did not have to wash my hands after the application!"