Whether you’ve booked a beach break or a city break, many of us feel more comfortable in our holiday clothes with a tan.
Achieve your perfect colour before you step on the plane with a helping hand from a pre-holiday fake tan.
That’s where we come in. Experts in sunless tanning and sensitive skin, our natural and organic self tanners work with your skin to provide a long-lasting, natural glow.
At a glance:
- Pre-holiday fake usually takes at least 8 hours to develop
- For a quick, streak-free, sunless glow, choose a self tan made with DHA
- Our top pre-holiday fake tan is Green People’s Self Tan Lotion
- Remember! Always exfoliate before you use fake tan
Ever-so easy to apply, there’s no need to worry about streaks or skin dryness, because our moisturising self tans nourish and moisturise as they tan, giving a flawless, lasting holiday fake tan application every time.
Ready to get glowing? Scroll on to discover our best pre-holiday fake tan, along with tips on the best time to apply fake tan before your holiday.
When to apply fake tan before a holiday
Self tan usually takes 8-24 hours to develop. Apply your tan the night before you travel, and your tan will have developed by the time you reach your holiday destination.
Alternatively, apply Glow and Protect SPF30 at any time of day and build your glow on the go. More about that in the next section.
Best fake tan for fast pre-holiday glow
For a fast, pre-holiday fake tan on your face and body, look no further than our skin-kind Self Tan Lotion.
Dermatologically tested and enriched with a nourishing Aloe Vera core, quick-drying DHA develops into a soft, sun-kissed tan within 8 hours, allowing you to reveal a ‘just walked off the beach’ skin glow.
Self Tan Lotion 150ml
Tan easily at home with this natural and organic self tan lotion
332,00 kr
Best fake tan for long-lasting holiday glow
Looking for a pre-holiday fake tan that lasts for the duration of your holiday? You need Age Defy+ Liquid Gold Tanning Drops.
Luxury liquid drops of sunshine powered by the twin-tanning action of DHA and Erythrulose, DHA gets your glow going in under 8 hours before Erythrulose steps in to deliver a longer-lasting glow. The result? A pre-holiday tan that lasts 4-5 days, that’s customised to you.
We love that this pre-holiday tan can be used on the face and body. It’s oh so easy to use, too. You mix a drop or two with your favourite face cream or body lotion and then apply.
Prefer a deeper holiday tan? Simply add more drops! Read more about how to use tanning drops.
Age Defy+ Liquid Gold Tanning Drops 30ml
Glow from head to toe with our scent-free certified organic tanning drops
466,00 kr
Best pre-holiday self-tan with SPF
For a safe pre-holiday tan, choose a gradual tan with the added benefits of built-in UV protection, such as Glow and Protect SPF30, our innovative 3-in-1 gradual tanner, which can be used to build your holiday tan on the face and body.
Infused with intensely hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, enjoy a timelessly radiant glow from the speedy twin-tanning action of DHA and Erythrulose while knowing that UV filters and anti-ageing antioxidants from Green Tea are safeguarding your skin from sun damage.
The best bit? Because it contains SPF, this self tan can be applied at any time of day. Smooth it on just before you travel and build your glow on-the-go.
Mineral Sports+ SPF30 Sun Cream 50ml
Reflect and protect with this 100% mineral SPF. Great for sport.
184,00 kr
How to prep your skin for holiday fake tan
Pre-holiday tanning your legs or arms? For a streak-free glow, first buff the body with either an exfoliating mitt or a body scrub.
We love Exfoliating Hand & Body Scrub. Infused with a blissful natural aroma of wild berries, which gets us in the holiday mood, this natural body scrub harnesses the refining power of Bamboo Stem and Pineapple to rid the skin of rough patches.
Exfoliating Hand & Body Scrub 200ml
Treat your skin to berry bliss with this invigorating hand and body scrub
227,00 kr
Applying self tan to your face? Encourage a smooth and even application by prepping your skin with our Fruit Scrub Exfoliator.
Oh, so gentle on delicate complexions, it's crafted with ultra-fine exfoliating particles of Bamboo and Bilberry, and a soothing Aloe Vera base for soft, instant radiance without the risk of redness.
Fruit Scrub Exfoliator 50ml
Reveal a smoother complexion with this certified organic exfoliator
268,00 kr
How I perfected my pre-holiday fake tan – by Elli
Elli manages our social media posts. Here she explains why Glow & Protect SPF30 is always her first choice for a safe and long-lasting pre-holiday fake tan.
Glow & Protect SPF30 150ml
Glow, hydrate and protect in one intelligent step
431,00 kr
We hope you have found our guide to pre-holiday fake tan helpful. Browse our natural and organic self tans or get a personalised fake tan recommendation tailored to your skin needs by contacting our friendly UK customer care team on 01403 740350 or @GreenPeopleUK.
REVIEWED BY CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to "Glow before you go: the best pre-holiday fake tans." Please do not use an affiliate link.
