58% of UK self‑tan users tried a sunless tanning brand they hadn't used before in 2025, a notably high level of experimentation for a category traditionally shaped by routine and…
UK
Suncare
Consumer Attitudes
simple
UK Attitudes towards Sunless Tanning Consumer Report 2026
"Consumers are aiming to be more tanned (and skinnier) than ever, signalling a shift in beauty ideals. Smarter shade tech and skin‑first performance can grow the self-tan market."
Shiyan Zering, Senior Beauty and Personal Care Analyst
58% of UK self‑tan users tried a sunless tanning brand they hadn’t used before in 2025, a notably high level of experimentation for a category traditionally shaped by routine and fear of mistakes. This points to weak loyalty in the category and suggests many users feel their current products aren’t fully meeting their needs. Win share quickly with clearer undertone systems, more reliable results and skincare or makeup‑aligned products that feel worth switching for. Strong performance, better shade accuracy and credible skin‑first claims can turn these switch‑prone users into long‑term loyalists.
At the same time, the category’s most active and valuable users, Gen Z and younger Millennials, are shifting toward ‘real’ tanning methods and disengaging from key formats. Re‑engaging this group to win share back from professional sunbed usage is the defining growth priority through 2026–27.
With high interest in mini sizes, brands can boost penetration by pairing clearer in‑store navigation with mini trial formats that let shoppers test depth and undertone before committing. Minis lower risk while retaining premium cues, improving trial, accuracy and long‑term value capture.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Evolving usage trends in sunless tanning and the risks posed by Gen Z’s shift toward UV tanning
Opportunities to elevate shade accuracy and undertone‑specific innovation across fair, medium, olive and deeper skin tones
How to overcome major barriers to adoption, including safety fears and mess anxiety to poor in‑store visibility and confidence gaps
The role of seasonality in limiting category value, and how to build relevant routines to boost year-round frequency
How beauty and social media trends are reshaping expectations, accelerating demand for glow‑first, skincare-hybrid, contour and brightening formats.
Brand and retail dynamics revealing which brands consumers use most, which ones are innovating, and how minis and tech‑guided shade tools unlock penetration
Market Definitions
For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definitions:
sunless/self-tanning products in any format
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for sunless tanning products
Opportunities
Act now: the category is open, experimental, but under pressure
Act now: respond to social media-driven tanning trends with a believable, glow‑first strategy
By 2028: reduce risk and grow reach through clearer discovery and trial opportunities
By 2030: unlock year round-growth by reframing self-tan as everyday skin enhancements
MARKET FACTORS
Snapshot – market size
Demonstrate value per use and keep pricing accessible to retain users
Graph 1: the financial confidence index, 2017-26
Tapping into Gen X’s shade needs can stabilise category value
Social media-led routines can drive glow‑enhancing self‑tan growth
Reclaim value by promoting self‑tan as the safer alternative to UV tanning
Promote healthier, sun-safe habits to younger consumers
Embed self‑tan into preventative skincare routines to grow frequency
Win trade‑up spend with specialised, skin‑condition‑safe innovation
Occasion‑led opportunities to grow category value
Mass market self-tan brands are the most well-used
Drive brand value growth by shifting users to trade up
THE CONSUMER
How to increase usage of sunless tanning products
Sunless tanning format demand sees little shift
Graph 2: usage of select sunless tanning products in the last 12 months, 2024-26
Gen Z return to the sunbed
Retain high‑value younger users by reframing self‑tan as the safer, easier glow
Graph 3: usage of any sunless tanning product in the last 12 months, by generation, 2023-26
Unlock a disengaged segment by building trust with co-creation
Self-tan users are interested in using tech for shade guidance
Boost product confidence and drive trial with tech and minis
How to overcome barriers to adoption
Address multiple friction points to gain relevance in routines
Lead with skin safety to win risk-averse consumers
Address practical fears to build usage confidence
Show clear value to convert cost-cautious non-users
Improve in-store visibility to close the self-tan discovery gap
Reposition applicators as core tools to drive routine usage
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Makeup-ify the self-tan segment to capture wider audiences
Speed‑driven, skincare‑led formats have innovation potential
Prep‑and‑aftercare systems can elevate self‑tan performance
Self-tan users show high brand experimentation
Lack of private label launches signals major missed opportunity
Differentiate through biotech-driven DHA innovation
Re‑enchant self-tan routines through sensorial formulas
More innovation in tanning supplements can tap into the inside‑out beauty momentum
APPENDIX
Supplementary data
Population estimates
Market definition
Market segmentation – suncare
Market share – self-tan
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
UK generation groups
Other methodologies
Mintel Spark
Abbreviations
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