I love being tan, but I hate fake tanning. Yes, I’ve tried some of the best fake tans on the market, but I’ve never been able to get a flawless finish. Be it the spots around my knees and elbows, or some very orange hands, no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to fix it. With summer approaching, I’ve been desperate to find an alternative, and I think I may have found it. Enter, milking.
It may sound strange, but milk is becoming a big beauty trend this season. From milky nails to milky toners, I’m actually a huge fan, but Tanning Milk is definitely my favorite invention to date. As the name suggests, these products have a light, milky consistency, and unlike tanning foams, they do not contain any guide color. This usually worries me, but you can apply these products like body lotion and get the most beautiful, natural-looking finish without any stains.
I’m such a fan that I took it upon myself to try out some of the most popular tanning milks on the market, and have included my top picks below. If you want to glow like never before this summer, keep scrolling…
Best Tanning Milks, Tried and Tested
1. Bali Body Self Tanning Milk
earring body
self tanning milk
Main Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, Vitamin C
Pros
- easy to apply
- does not transfer
- Enriched with skin loving ingredients
- coloring is easy
Shortcoming
- It has a relatively strong fake tan smell
First of all my favorite at the moment is tanning milk. In fact, ever since I got my hands on it, I have been using it non-stop. It has such a light, hydrating consistency (it’s packed with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and vitamin C, by the way) and it’s so easy to apply. The brand recommends using a tanning mitt, but I actually just put my hands in it straight away, and I wash them thoroughly after application. The product soaks into the skin in seconds, doesn’t transfer, and if I apply it at night, I wake up in the morning with the most beautiful golden glow. One application definitely gives a more natural finish, but it’s really easy to build up the color. I like to apply it two to three nights in a row for a perfect finish. Since adding this product to your body care routine, fake tanning has never been easier.
2. Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk
bondi sands
daily gradual tanning milk
Main Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Vitamin E
Pros
- Can be used everyday for a natural looking glow
- hydrating consistency
Shortcoming
- too strong fake tan fragrance
If you want to look like you’ve spent a few days in the south of France, this Bondi Sands tanning milk is for you. The consistency is a little thicker than the option above, but it still absorbs quickly into the skin and feels nice and hydrating. It gives such a natural looking tan that you can actually use it daily to maintain a golden glow year round. Plus, the pump format makes it very easy to use. I will say that it probably has the strongest fake-tan smell out of all the options I’ve tried, but the finish is so nice that I’ll overlook that.
3. Boots Glow Tanning Milk
Main Ingredients: glycerine
Pros
- very affordable
- Feels more like body lotion
- mild coconut aroma
Shortcoming
- I would recommend exfoliating the skin before applying this
Boots have created an incredibly affordable alternative which, unlike others in this roundup, has less of a fake-tan smell and more of a faint, coconut-like scent. Similar to the Bali Body Tanning Milk, it has a very light consistency and feels exactly like a body lotion. I would still recommend exfoliating your skin in the shower before using this product, but I was very impressed with its even application and golden finish. For under £10, you can’t go wrong with this stuff this summer.
4. Bali Body Face Tan Milk
Main Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, Vitamin C
Pros
- Contains lots of skin-loving ingredients
- easy to apply
Shortcoming
- More on the subtle side, which some people won’t like
- a little more expensive
After testing (and loving) the tanning milk above, I’m glad to see an option for my face too. I usually add a few tanning drops to my moisturizer, but this milky lotion is so easy to apply. Similar to Bali Body’s Tanning Milk, it’s packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and vitamin C, and it’s designed to be the last step in your skin care routine (before SPF, of course). One thing I found a little confusing was that the instructions recommended applying 3-5 drops, but it didn’t have a pipet applicator, making it difficult to measure. Instead, I take a small amount and apply it evenly all over my face, and the result is a natural-looking glow that always gets me compliments. This is definitely more on the subtle side, but it’s easy to create if you like a darker brown.
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