Self-Tanning

For the most radiant, streak-free results, always start with a smooth canvas.
- Gently exfoliate your face with a facial scrub and your body with a body scrub, using light circular motions to sweep away dead skin cells and help your self-tanner glide on evenly.
- Once skin feels soft and polished, it’s time to hydrate - the key to a longer-lasting glow. Apply a face moisturiser daily to keep your complexion comfortable and perfectly prepped for face tanning. Our favourite for self-tanner prep has to be the Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream for normal to dry skin.
For the rest of your skin, body creams are essential for locking in moisture and ensuring your fake tan looks beautifully natural.
Clarins’ Moisture-Rich Body Lotion is a timeless favourite, suitable for every skin type.

To achieve a sunkissed glow at home that looks natural and effortless, it’s all about how you apply your self-tanning lotion. Once your skin is prepped, smooth it on with a tanning mitt - this helps the formula blend evenly while keeping your hands stain-free. Pay extra attention to drier spots like elbows, knees, and ankles, and add a little body moisturiser beforehand to prevent patchiness. For your face, mix Clarins' Self Tanning Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster for Face directly into your usual Clarins face moisturiser, ensuring it blends seamlessly for an even, radiant complexion.

One of the biggest benefits of using self-tanner is that you can enjoy a healthy-looking glow without exposing your skin to the sun’s harmful UV rays, which in itself is a real act of care. But with Clarins, it doesn’t stop there. Our self-tanning products are formulated with plant extracts, like aloe vera and organic fig. So not only do they help you achieve a golden tan without sun, but they also leave your skin radiant and silky smooth.

Clarins self-tanners are also infused with DHA and erythrulose, making your skin treated to natural-looking colour, without the tell-tale streaks often associated with self-tan. Our sunless tanners deliver a flawless tan with minimal risk and maximum glow.

If you still want to spend time in the sun, remember to protect your skin with a high SPF sun care product. You can still tan with self-tanner on, but without SPF, your skin will continue to react to UV rays. And once the day is done, soothe and replenish with a refreshing after-sun mask to keep your glow looking beautiful for longer.

The best self-tanning product is the one that fits your routine and texture preferences.
- If you’re in a rush or just want to tan quickly, try Clarins' Self Tanning Instant Gel - a fresh, non-sticky formula that dries quickly so you can get dressed straight away.
- If you prefer a custom finish, Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster for Body lets you add a few drops to your usual CLARINS body moisturiser for an even, made-to-measure tan.

5-7 days is the average period that self-tanner will last. Most Clarins self-tanners gradually fade as your skin naturally renews. To extend your glow, keep skin soft with a daily moisturiser and gently exfoliate every few days to ensure an even fade. Top up with your favourite formula whenever you want to refresh your colour. With the right prep and care, your fake self-tan will stay luminous for longer and fade beautifully.

Yes, in general, fake tan products are safe to use during pregnancy as the ingredients only affect the outermost layer of the skin and are not absorbed into the body. However, for safety, we recommend you opt for lotion, gel and mousse texture rather than spray. Plus, you should always test a small area of skin 24 hours before applying the full amount to check for allergic reactions.
Read our Complete Pregnancy Guide to Fake Tan.