Over 60 testers helped us assess five brands of gradual tanner. They evaluated how easy each is to apply, how well the colour develops, whether it leaves patches or streaks, and the scent. In the lab, we use a DigiEye machine to take photos of self-tanned parts of the body to analyse the tan's coverage over a week. The higher the score, the more even the tan.

The Gradual Clear Self Tan Water Mousse is the new-gen way to tan. Building you up to a light-medium everyday glow with continued use over a few days, this vegan formulation contains no guide colour, meaning no development stain transfer. The perfect recommendation to your clients if they are new to tanning or have worries of transferring tan. Tanning waters often come in the form of a clear spray, and can be used both on the face and body for an all over glow. According to Lookfantastic, tanning water "blends water, skin-loving vitamins and active tanning ingredients to hydrate, soften and tan your skin in one step." Not only does it smell amazing, but the moisturising ingredients lend the skin a subtle glow which hides smaller colour mistakes by adding vibrancy and radiance to your complexion while looking natural and sunkissed. If you’ve struggled with areas of patchy tan in the past, you can kiss these goodbye with our Gradual Self Tan, as you can add as much or as little as you need to any areas to give you that perfect golden sheen. It’s an express mousse, which means it can be left on for between 30 minutes and 3 hours before showering off, depending on the intensity of colour you’re hoping for. Erring very much on the side of caution for my first application, I went for just 30 minutes of tan-based basting before hopping in the shower. By the morning, what had developed was a golden, very convincing tan that was noticeable enough for my colleagues to ask whether I'd caught the sun at the weekend, but not so tell-tale that it looked unnatural.

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Just the sight of this jumbo-sized orange bottle might be enough to trigger misty-eyed nostalgia in anyone who came of age during the early '00s tanning boom. Garnier Summer Body was an icon and OG of the gradual tanning world, and while the formula has been tweaked and perfected over the years I'm pleased to report that all the things we loved about it remain intact. Namely, its low price, easy texture, subtle results, and sunshiney fragrance. Sienna X creates some of the most revered-by-professionals spray tans on the market, with a sideline in excellent home products too. The secret? Undertone. Almost everything this brand does shares a brilliantly natural-looking olive base that's miles away from the orange disasters some might associate with self-tanning.This gradual lotion would be a great introduction to the brand, offering the option to build up a believable bronze colour bit by bit. Apply it as you would your body lotion, enjoy the tropical coconut fragrance and non-claggy texture, and repeat as you like on subsequent days. If you find the idea of fake tan a bit daunting but are also finding your skin a little sallow and sun-starved, then this mist is the perfect solution to persuade you to give a faux glow a go. It’s a tanning water, which means it’s super lightweight and therefore doesn’t settle into pores or cling in patches. What I really like about it though is that it’s so low-maintenance to use. Developing self-tans: The classic home tanning product. These usually come in mousse or liquid form and tend to give the deepest colour in one go. "These are created for the well-practised tanner at home, due to their long-lasting effects," says Harknett. "They're also ideal for a holiday, for those who don’t want to sunbathe but long for that sun-kissed glow. The benefits are colour that can last a good week with an aftercare regime. The downside is without correct skin preparation the tan can sometimes blotch, streak, and not develop evenly." Instant wash-off tanners: These can be applied speedily without any developing time and then washed off when you're done. "A non-commitment tan. Think body makeup to give an instant glow and even out imperfections such as dry skin on legs" explains Harknett. "These are ideal for that last-minute invites and nervous tanners as they dry in seconds and can be rinsed away fastif something goes wrong. The downside is all that work of applying a beautiful tan is washed away in one shower."

This Vegan formula is also FREE of Parabens, Gluten, GMO, PEGs, SLS, Petroleum and Mineral Oils. Pair together with the Gradual Rose Water Mist and Luxury Self Tan Mitt in a beautiful travel bag for a fab gift set that your clients will love. Use our Sienna X Eraser Mitt or an exfoliating glove to gently exfoliate the skin, focusing on areas where the fake tan is clinging. Use circular motions and moderate pressure to help remove the top layer of the skin. The NEW Sienna X Exfoliate Scrub is also a great way to naturally assist in removing aged fake tan. Enriched with ingredients such as Lime Pearl Caviar which is a natural exfoliant for a smoother and brighter complexion. Citric Acid also assists in gently exfoliating to renew the skin. CLEANSE THE DAY AWAY

This Vegan formula as certified by the Vegan Society, is also FREE of Parabens, Gluten, GMO, PEGs, SLS, Petroleum and Mineral Oils & Nut Oil. Pair the Gradual Rose Water Mist with the Gradual Self Tan Lotion with a fab cosmetics bag for a beautiful gift set that can be retailed in your salon. Sienna X Award Winning Gradual Self Tan Lotion is a colourless rich and luxurious moisturising cream, perfect for those wanting to build up their colour and remain in control over their shade.