A gradual tan is the secret to a low-commitment, streak-free golden glow — perfect for those not quite confident in their fake tan abilities or to top up your colour as needed.
As the name might suggest, the best thing about gradual tans is that the colour builds up slowly, making it unbelievably easy to achieve an even tan. If you’re too scared to risk failure with a dark foam or spray tan, this is the faux glow product for you. Plus, it’s just as handy for seasoned professionals who’re looking to extend the life of their tan or deepen their colour — with minimal effort, of course.
Here, beautyheaven rounds up 10 gradual tans that are all available right here in Australia, so you can find your perfect match for summer.
The Best Gradual Tans To Shop In Australia
Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk
from $13.99 at MYER
Get all the benefits of a hydrating body moisturiser and fake tan with this gradual tanning milk. The antioxidant, aloe vera and vitamin E-enriched formula helps to hydrate and nourish
Key features:
Develops into a natural golden tan with continued use
Use daily to keep skin hydrated and golden
Enriched with antioxidants, aloe vera and vitamin E
Hydrates and nourishes skin
Available at:
- $13.99 from MYER
- $16.99 from Chemist Warehouse
- $19.99 from Priceline
Jergens Natural Glow Skin Firming Moisturiser Medium To Deep Skin Tones
from $9.39 at Chemist Warehouse
Enhance the appearance of your body before you pop on your swimmers this summer with this firming and glow-enhancing moisturiser — it visibly blurs cellulite and leaves the skin with a sun kissed glow.
Key features:
Designed to help visibly firm skin
Formulated to help minimise the visible appearance of cellulite
Develops into a natural-looking glow
Streak free finish
Infused with collagen and elastin
Available at:
- $9.39 from Chemist Warehouse
- $13.99 from Amazon Australia
- $15.99 from Priceline
Bali Body Gradual Tan
from $25.95 at Chemist Warehouse
Build your way gradually to a bronzey, golden tan naturally with this 100 per cent natural tanning moisturiser that’s been enriched with a hydrating blend of coconut oil, coffee seed extract and cocoa butter.
Key features:
Enriched with coconut oil, coffee seed extract and cocoa butter
Contains 100 per cent natural DHA
Hydrating moisturiser gradually builds to the perfect tan
Available at:
- $25.95 from Chemist Warehouse
- $25.95 from Bali Body
- $26 from Woolworths
St Tropez Gradual Tan Medium/Dark Firming Lotion
from $18.99 at Chemist Warehouse
If you struggle with a patchy tan due to relentlessly dry skin then you need to give this moisturising gradual tan a go. Packed full of hyaluronic acid, marine algae, blueberry oil and raspberry seed oil, it helps to lock in moisture for up to 72 hours, while tan technology and melanin boosters promise a streak-free sun kissed glow.
Key features:
Hydrates, protects, smooths, soothes and firms skin
Locks in moisture for up to 72 hours
Enriched with hyaluronic acid, marine algae, blueberry oil and raspberry seed oil
Tan technology and melanin boosters promise a streak-free sun kissed glow
Available at:
- $18.99 from Chemist Warehouse
- $18.99 from Priceline
Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer Self Tan Lotion
from $11.39 at Chemist Warehouse
Need to look glowy, and quick? This streak-free gradual tanner develops in just an hour and lasts for up to a week. Perfect for enhancing your natural glow before a big event, it’s also enriched with nourishing and smoothing apricot oil for added benefits.
Key features:
Natural-looking, streak-free tan in one hour
Results last up to one week
Enriched with nourishing and smoothing apricot oil
Steak-free finish
Natural, healthy glow
Available at:
- $11.39 from Chemist Warehouse
- $14 from Coles
Loving Tan Deluxe Gradual Tan
from $28.45 at Oz Hair & Beauty
Looking for a way to extend the life of your fake tan? This lightweight gradual tan enhances and extends your natural olive glow for an extra two weeks, while acai berry, coffee extract, and shea butter help to condition the skin for a softer, smoother and more supple feel.
Key features:
Lightweight texture
Natural olive colour
Enhance or extend the life of your fake tan by up to two weeks
Infused with antioxidant-rich acai berry and coffee extract
Contains moisturising shea butter for soft, smooth and supple skin
Available at:
- $28.45 from Oz Hair & Beauty
- $29.99 from Priceline
- $30 from Sephora
Le Tan Gradual Coconut Tanning Lotion
from $7.99 at Australis
Le Tan’s signature coconut scent is synonymous with summer as far as we’re concerned, which is why we love incorporating this gradual tanning lotion into our body care routine when the weather warms up. It doesn’t just smell amazing though, the infusion of coconut water makes this stuff incredibly hydrating, and leaves skin feeling silky smooth.
Key features:
Infused with coconut water
Hydrates and moisturises
Refreshes your fake tan
Coconut scent smells like a summer holiday
Available at:
- $7.99 from Australis
- $8.99 from Chemist Warehouse
- $14.99 from Priceline
Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion Fair to Medium Skin
from $6.49 at Chemist Warehouse
An oldie but a goodie, Dove’s take on the gradual tanner has been recommended to us by those in the know for years. It’s streak-free, hydrating and as affordable as they come.
Key features:
DeepCare Complex moisturises, nourishes and smooths
Gradually builds to a glowing tan
Available in Medium to Dark
Available at:
- $6.49 from Chemist Warehouse
- $6.49 from Amazon Australia
- $6.50 from Big W
Australian Glow Gradual Tanning Moisturiser
from $23 at Big W
Our personal favourite on this list, Australian Glow has managed to create a gradual tan that feels more like a lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturiser than a sticky tan. It’s easy to integrate into your daily routine for a subtle sun kissed glow, pls, the delicious vanilla-cocoa scent doesn’t hurt either.
Key features:
Vanilla-cocoa scent
Shea butter, Kakadu plum, green tea, witch hazel, and hyaluronic acid promote silky smooth skin
Lightweight and non-greasy
Streak-free and sun kissed finish
Available at:
- $23 from Big W
The Quick Flick Quick Glow Whipped Gradual Tan & Body Moisturiser Mousse
from $17.40 at Priceline
Familiar with a tanning mousse and want to stick to what you know? This moisturising gradual tanning mousse should slip easily into your routine then. It’s enriched with a blend of hydrating blend of glycerin, antioxidants, and cucumber extract. The lightweight, fast-absorbing formula contains 100 per cent natural DHA for a natural-looking radiant glow.
Key features:
Infused with hydrating glycerin, antioxidants, and cucumber extract
Contains 100 per cent natural DHA
Lightweight mousse texture
Fast-absorbing
Natural-looking radiant glow
Available at:
- $17.40 from Priceline
Main image credit: @alessandraambrosio
Do you have a favourite gradual tan?
I used some of them.
Love the blue bottle of the Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk. Never used it though
it does look interesting
Have used the Jergens and Dove.
Lots to choose from
Too Many !
The Jergens one is pretty good
good to know
I have used St Tropaz and Dove
I’ve tried a few, I’m not a regular user though.
Some good products to try.
I prefer a gradual colour build
St Tropez works very well. Easy to apply and does give a very natural tan look.
I’m currently using Dove, easy to use and loving the colour
I like the affordable options!
So many different brands now
Lovely budget friendly products.
I never got into tanning.
If I’m going on a cruise and my legs still have the winter white look then I’ll use a self-tanning product just on my legs to give a hint of colour.
I don’t use these products
I just don’t like tans, natural or artificial. I don’t want one, and I don’t really like them on others.
Can’t be bothered with fake tan anymore!
So many to choose from.
The only way I get colour.