Best Fake Tan for Older Skin in Australia: How to Choose a Self Tanner for Mature Skin
If the fake tan you loved in your thirties now looks patchy, clings to dry shins or catches in fine lines, you're not imagining it. Skin changes as we get older, and the way a self tan sits and fades changes with it.
The good news? A soft, believable glow is completely doable at 50, 60 and beyond. It just comes down to choosing the right formula, the right shade and a gentler routine. This is your guide to the best fake tan for older skin in Australia, and exactly how to make it look gorgeous.
- Hydrating formulas, like a gradual tanner or a creamy lotion, glide more evenly over drier, textured skin.
- Choose a shade one to two tones deeper than your natural skin, with a warm, honey undertone.
- Exfoliate gently 24 hours before, then moisturise knees, ankles, elbows and hands just before you tan.
- Use a dedicated face tan serum on your face, neck and décolletage, not your body tan.
- Fake tan gives colour, not sun protection, so keep wearing SPF every day.
- Quick answer: the best fake tan for older skin
- What makes a fake tan good for older skin?
- How self tanner works on mature skin
- Which type of fake tan suits mature skin best?
- The VAMS edit: our picks
- Comparison table: match your skin to a tan
- What shade to choose after 50
- How to apply fake tan on older skin
- Older legs and the face
- Does fake tan protect you from the sun?
- FAQs
What is the best fake tan for older skin?
For your face, a dedicated serum such as the LAMAV Face Tan Serum ($32) gives you lighter, more controllable colour. VAMS Beauty is a Melbourne-based online clean beauty store, and every tan in this edit comes from LAMAV, a certified organic Australian brand, or Coco Sense Organic.
What makes a fake tan good for older skin?
As skin matures, it typically holds less moisture and renews its surface more slowly. That's why a tan that looked seamless years ago can now grab on dry patches or fade unevenly. When you're choosing a self tan after 50, look for:
- A hydrating base. Humectants like aloe vera, glycerin and hyaluronic acid draw water to the skin's surface, while butters and oils like shea, macadamia and argan leave skin feeling soft. Hydrated skin takes colour more evenly.
- Buildable colour. A formula you can layer gradually is far more forgiving than one dark application.
- A warm, honey undertone. Golden tones tend to look more natural on mature skin than very deep or orange-leaning shades.
- A lighter texture for the face. Serums and drops sit more smoothly on fine lines than a rich body tan.
- A formula that suits your skin. If your skin is sensitive, patch test any new tan first. Natural and organic formulas often contain plant oils, which can still upset some skin.
How does self tanner work on mature skin?
Almost every self tan uses DHA (dihydroxyacetone), a sugar-derived ingredient. It reacts with amino acids in the outermost layer of your skin to create a brown tone, with no UV involved. Because the colour only sits in that top layer, it fades as those surface cells naturally shed, usually over five to seven days.
Here's why that matters as we get older. Drier, rougher areas hold more DHA, so they look darker. Where the surface sheds unevenly, the fade can look patchy. That's why gentle prep and daily moisture make an even bigger difference to your tan after 50 than the brand you choose.
Which type of fake tan suits mature skin best?
Each format behaves a little differently on mature skin. Here's the short version (for the full breakdown, read our guide to the types of fake tan):
- Gradual tanner: our top pick. It doubles as a body moisturiser and builds colour slowly, so it's the hardest to get wrong.
- Lotion or cream: lovely when you want more depth. The creamy texture gives you time to blend over knees and ankles.
- Mousse: fast-drying and popular, but it gives you less time to blend and can catch on dry patches.
- Mist: light and handy for top-ups, though harder to see where you've applied.
- Face serum or drops: the best choice for your face, neck and décolletage.
The best fake tan for older skin in Australia: the VAMS edit
Every pick below is from an Australian brand, in stock and chosen for how it feels on drier, more mature skin.
Comparison table: which fake tan suits your skin?
| Your skin | Best format | VAMS pick | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry or textured body skin | Gradual tanner | LAMAV Gradual Tanning Moisturiser | Hydrating base and slow build for an even look |
| Fair skin or first-time tanner | Gradual tanner | LAMAV Gradual Tanning Moisturiser | Light honey colour that's hard to overdo |
| Want deeper colour | Lotion | LAMAV Self Tanning Lotion | Buildable bronze from one application |
| Face, neck and décolletage | Face serum | LAMAV Face Tan Serum | Lightweight texture made for facial skin |
| Very dry, thirsty skin | Rich lotion | Coco Sense Coconut Self Tan | Coconut oil, shea butter and jojoba for a nourished feel |
| Dry shins, knees and ankles | Lotion and mitt | LAMAV Tan Application Mitt | Creamy texture and a mitt give you time to blend |
What shade of fake tan should you choose after 50?
Aim for one to two tones deeper than your natural skin. A soft, golden glow looks fresh and believable, while a very dark tan tends to draw the eye to texture. A few simple rules:
- Fair skin: start with a gradual tanner and build over three or four days until you love the colour.
- Light to medium skin: a lotion gives a richer glow in one go. Use a gradual tanner to maintain it.
- Warm over cool: honey and golden undertones flatter mature skin and help you avoid an orange cast.
- When in doubt, go lighter. You can always add another layer tomorrow.
How do you apply fake tan on older skin?
A gentle routine is the secret to a smooth, even result on mature skin:
- Exfoliate gently 24 hours before. Use an exfoliating mitt with light pressure, focusing on knees, elbows, ankles and heels.
- Shave the day before, not on tanning day.
- Moisturise your driest spots with a thin layer of moisturiser just before you tan: knees, ankles, elbows, wrists and the backs of your hands.
- Apply with a mitt in sections, using a small amount and smooth, circular strokes. Start at your legs and work up.
- Use what's left on the mitt for joints, hands and feet, so these areas don't grab too much colour.
- Let it develop in loose, dark clothing. LAMAV recommends leaving its tans on for 6 to 8 hours before showering.
- Moisturise every day afterwards and top up with a gradual tanner every few days to keep the colour even as it fades.
For the full step-by-step method, see our guide on how to apply fake tan for a streak-free glow.
What's the best fake tan for older legs and the face?
For legs, a creamy lotion or gradual tanner is your friend. The skin on your shins is often drier than the rest of your body, so it can grab colour or fade first. Exfoliate gently, moisturise ankles and knees before you start, and buff in with a mitt. A soft, even tan can help legs look more uniform in tone, which is why so many of us love a glow in the warmer months.
For the face, skip the body tan and reach for a lightweight serum. Apply it to freshly cleansed skin, blend down onto your neck and décolletage, and keep it light around your brows and hairline. A thin, hydrating layer sits more smoothly on fine lines than a heavy formula, and you can build colour over a few days.
Does fake tan protect older skin from the sun?
No. Self tan colours the surface of your skin but offers no protection from UV, according to Cancer Council Australia. However golden you look, keep wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Browse our mineral sunscreen collection for daily options.
The VAMS Edit takeaway
The best fake tan for older skin is the one that respects how your skin feels today: hydrating, buildable and in a soft, golden shade. Start with a gradual tanner for your body and a light serum for your face, prep gently, moisturise daily, and build your glow at your own pace. Your skin, your rules, your glow.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best self tanner for mature skin?
A hydrating gradual tanner is the best self tanner for most mature skin because it builds colour slowly and doubles as a moisturiser. The LAMAV Gradual Tanning Moisturiser is our pick for the body, and the LAMAV Face Tan Serum for the face.
What is the best fake tan for older skin over 60?
Over 60, choose a moisture-rich gradual tanner or lotion for the body and a lightweight serum for the face. Go one to two shades deeper than your natural skin, exfoliate gently first and moisturise dry areas before you apply.
What is the best gradual tan for people over 50?
Look for a gradual tan with a hydrating base and a warm, honey undertone. The LAMAV Gradual Tanning Moisturiser builds a light honey tan with shea butter, macadamia oil and aloe vera, so skin feels soft while the colour develops.
Which fake tan looks most natural on older skin?
Colour built gradually in a golden shade looks the most natural. A gradual tanner or a lotion applied in light layers gives a believable glow, while one heavy, dark application is more likely to catch on dry patches and fine lines.
What is the best natural self tanner in Australia?
For a natural-ingredient option, LAMAV is a certified organic Australian brand with a gradual tanner, a self tanning lotion and a face serum. Coco Sense Organic's Coconut Self Tan is another plant-based choice. All are available at VAMS Beauty.
What self tanner is best for skin that gets patchy?
A hydrating gradual tanner is the most forgiving if your tan tends to go patchy. Exfoliate gently 24 hours before, moisturise dry spots just before applying, use a mitt, and keep moisturising daily so the colour fades evenly.
Where can I buy fake tan for mature skin in Australia?
You can shop fake tan for mature skin online at VAMS Beauty, a Melbourne-based clean beauty store. The range includes LAMAV's gradual tanner, lotion and face serum plus Coco Sense Organic, with free shipping on orders over $100.
Is fake tan suitable for sensitive older skin?
Many gentle, skincare-led self tans suit sensitive skin, but everyone's skin is different. Patch test any new formula on a small area 24 hours before using it all over, even if it's natural or organic.
Does fake tan protect you from the sun?
No. Fake tan colours the surface of the skin but offers no UV protection, so you still need to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.
References
- Cancer Council Australia: guidance on fake tan and sun protection (self tan does not protect against UV).
- The Australasian College of Dermatologists: patient information on dry skin and caring for skin as it ages.
- Ingredient and usage details: LAMAV and Coco Sense Organic product information, as listed on vamsbeauty.com (October 2026).
Read more on The VAMS Edit: How to Apply Fake Tan · Types of Fake Tan Explained · Foundation Settling Into Fine Lines
Explore more at VAMS Beauty: Shop Fake Tan · Shop LAMAV · Moisturisers · Mineral Sunscreen
