The best summer glow isn't built on UV rays—it's built on clever beauty products.

Woman in sunglasses on a beach showing how to achieve a sun-kissed glow without sun damage

From believable self-tan to glow-enhancing body makeup and SPFs you'll actually enjoy wearing, here's how to achieve healthy-looking, sun-kissed skin without relying on the sun.

Every summer, millions of us quietly have the same thought: I'd feel so much better with a bit of colour. Not because we're chasing perfection, but because bronzed skin has an uncanny ability to make us look more rested, feel more confident and somehow make every summer outfit look that little bit better.

The problem is that our skin keeps the receipts. Every sunburn, every afternoon spent chasing a tan and every "I'll skip the SPF just this once" moment leaves its mark. We know more than ever about the link between UV exposure, premature ageing and skin cancer, so the idea of baking in the sun simply doesn't hold the same appeal it once did.

Thankfully, beauty has finally caught up with common sense. Today's glow comes from clever formulas, not UV rays—and fortunately, creating healthy-looking, sun-kissed skin no longer relies on sunshine alone. The latest self-tanners deliver believable colour without the tell-tale streaks, body-perfecting formulas instantly blur bruises and uneven skin tone, and today's lightweight SPFs make protecting your skin feel like part of your beauty routine rather than a chore.

The Modern Formula For A Summer Glow

Creating a believable glow isn't about relying on one hero product. The best results come from combining three simple steps: build colour with self-tan, protect your skin with an SPF you'll actually enjoy wearing, then finish the look with a few clever makeup tricks that bring warmth, radiance and polish exactly where you want it. Think of it as your shortcut to that just-back-from-holiday look—minus the sun damage.

Build The Glow: The Best Self-Tanners

Woman holding a camera on a beach wearing a striped shirt and red bikini for a summer beauty editorial

The days of orange ankles and obvious fake tan are, thankfully, behind us. Today's best formulas are so believable they're more likely to prompt, "Have you been away?" than, "What fake tan are you wearing?" Whether you're after a subtle glow, a richer bronze or a little warmth for your face, these are the products worth knowing about.

St. Tropez Self Tan Express Dark Whipped Mousse — **St. Tropez** **Self Tan Express Dark Whipped Mousse** **(£37)**

***Best for****: A deeper glow in less time.*
If you're after a richer, holiday-worthy tan without waiting overnight, St. Tropez's Express Dark Whipped Mousse delivers. The lightweight whipped formula develops in as little as three hours, allowing you to control the depth of colour while creating the brand's signature natural-looking, streak-free finish.
**Application:** Apply using the *St. Tropez Ultimate Tan Body Brush*, buffing over the skin in long, sweeping strokes before blending around hands, feet, knees and elbows for the most seamless finish.
**Editor's tip:** The body brush makes all the difference, especially around awkward areas where fake tan tends to catch.

James Read Golden Days Milky Tan Toner — **James Read** **Golden Days Milky Tan Toner** **(£39)**

***Best for:*** *Keeping your face, neck and décolleté glowing.*
Body tans have a habit of outlasting your face, especially if you're cleansing and using active skincare every day. James Read's Milky Tan Toner is designed to bridge the gap. The ultra-fine mist works like a hydrating facial toner, gradually topping up your glow while refreshing the skin, so your complexion never looks a shade behind the rest of your body.
**Application:** After cleansing, close your eyes and mist evenly over your face, neck and décolleté before the rest of your skincare. Use daily or every few days to maintain your preferred depth of colour.
**Editor's tip:** Keep it on your bathroom shelf alongside your usual toner. If it's part of your skincare routine, you're far less likely to forget it.

Gatineau Golden Glow Gradual Tan — **Gatineau** **Golden Glow Gradual Tan** **(£44)**

***Best for:*** *Beginners and anyone who prefers a subtle glow.*
If the words *fake tan* still conjure up memories of streaky ankles and orange palms, Gatineau is here to restore your faith. This cult gradual tanner behaves more like a luxurious body lotion, allowing colour to build slowly over a few days so you're always in control. The result is less "I've fake tanned" and more "I've been spending every lunchtime in the garden."
**Application:** Massage onto clean, dry skin just as you would your usual body moisturiser, washing your hands afterwards. Reapply every day or two until you've reached your ideal depth of colour.
**Editor's tip:** If you're new to self-tan, this is the one to start with. It's incredibly forgiving and almost impossible to overdo.

Utan Tan gummier — **Utan** **Tan Gummies(£25)**

***Best for:*** *Supporting your glow from within.*
Not every tanning product comes in a bottle. Utan's gummies take a different approach, combining carotenoids, antioxidants and nutrients that support normal skin pigmentation in a supplement designed to gradually enhance your natural warmth. They're not a replacement for self-tan, but they are an interesting addition to a summer beauty routine—particularly if you'd rather spend two minutes eating a gummy than twenty applying mousse.
**Worth knowing:** The results are subtle rather than dramatic, making these best used alongside your favourite self-tan rather than instead of it. And, just to be clear, they never replace your daily SPF.

Protect The Glow: The SPFs You'll Actually Want To Wear

Woman in a striped oversized shirt holding a camera on the beach during a summer editorial shoot

We've finally reached the point where SPF is less of a chore and more of a beauty product in its own right. The thick, chalky formulas we reluctantly slapped on as children have been replaced by lightweight creams, tinted moisturisers and glow-giving body products that you'll genuinely want to use. And that's good news, because the best summer glow isn't the one you've spent hours chasing—it's the one you're still enjoying long after the season is over.

**Anua** **Zero-Cast Moisturising Finish Sunscreen(£18)**

***Best for:*** *Lightweight everyday protection.*
If you've ever skipped SPF because it felt greasy, heavy or ruined your makeup, Anua might just change your mind. This Korean favourite melts into the skin in seconds, leaving behind nothing more than soft, hydrated skin. No white cast, no pilling and no sticky finish—just effortless protection that slots seamlessly into your morning routine.
**Editor's tip:** Apply it right down to your neck and don't forget your ears. They're two of the easiest places to miss and often the first to catch the sun.

IMAGE Skincare DAILY PREVENTION Pure Mineral Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30 (£62) — **IMAGE Skincare** **DAILY PREVENTION Pure Mineral Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30** **(£62)**

***Best for:*** *No-makeup makeup days.*
Some mornings you want your skincare, SPF and complexion product to do the heavy lifting in one step. IMAGE's tinted mineral moisturiser evens out skin tone with sheer, natural coverage while protecting against UV damage, making it perfect for those warm summer days when a full face of foundation feels like far too much effort.
**Editor's tip:** Wear it on its own for a fresh, natural finish or use it as a lightweight base beneath bronzer.

Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Spray (£20) — **Sol de Janeiro** **Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Spray** **(£20)**

***Best for:*** *Quick top-ups and family beach days.*
Body SPF is often the first thing to be forgotten once you're actually outside. Sol de Janeiro's lightweight spray makes reapplication almost effortless, covering arms, legs and shoulders in seconds while surrounding you with the brand's unmistakable holiday-inspired scent. It's the sort of product you'll actually keep reaching for throughout the day—which is exactly the point.
**Application:** Spray generously over exposed skin before heading outdoors and reapply regularly, particularly after swimming or towelling off.

Ultra Violette Disco Queen SPF 50 Luminous Body Oil (£38) — **Ultra Violette** **Disco Queen SPF 50 Luminous Body Oil** **(£38)**

***Best for:*** *Glowing skin with serious protection.*
Body oils have long been associated with tanning, but Ultra Violette has completely rewritten the rulebook. Instead of encouraging you to bake in the sun, this SPF body oil leaves skin looking beautifully luminous while delivering broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection. The finish is glossy without feeling greasy, making bare legs, shoulders and décolleté look healthy, hydrated and holiday-ready.
**Editor's tip:** Think of this as the grown-up answer to the shimmer body oils we all used to wear. You still get that gorgeous light-catching finish—just without compromising your skin.

Perfect the glow: The Products That Pull Everything Together

Woman wearing sunglasses leaning against coastal rocks in a luxury summer fashion and beauty editorial

Think of these as the beauty equivalent of putting on your favourite jewellery before leaving the house. They won't create your glow from scratch, but they will make everything you've already done look even better. A touch of body makeup to blur the odd bruise, a sweep of bronzer where the sun naturally catches your face, and suddenly you've gone from looking like you've made an effort to looking like you simply woke up glowing.