Why the future’s orange for men...

FACED with the grey British skies, it’s not surprising that many women are turning to the bottle... to top up their tan.

But it seems they’re not alone in wanting a golden glow. Rising numbers of men are deciding to fake it, too.

One in seven admits using self-tan, with the proportion rising to one in three among men aged 16 to 24.

They could be inspired by reality TV stars such as Mark Wright, 29, who admitted fake tanning ahead of appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Research by retail analyst Mintel found the proportion of men using the products at home rose from one in ten in 2015 to one in seven last year. Among men aged 16 to 24, the proportion doubled from one in six to one in three.

The figures even suggested young men could be overtaking women in their love of bronzing. One in four visited a tanning salon in 2016, compared to only one in five women of the same age group.

The research also found gradual tanning lotions – which provide a gentle transition from pasty to bronzed when applied daily – were used by 12 per cent of men, up from 7 per cent the year before.

Over the same period, the proportion of men using oral tanning supplements, which claim either to boost the tan from sunbathing or help tint skin, rose from 6 per cent to 11 per cent.

Roshida Khanom, senior beauty and personal care analyst at Mintel, said: ‘Today’s men are reflecting on their image and how to express their masculinity. With younger men focusing on their appearance more, the self-tanning sector could see a boost.’

Warnings about sun exposure, sunburn and skin cancer have also topped up the popularity of fake tan products.

Mintel said more than half of Britons now use sun creams which provide a high level of protection, up from 45 per cent in 2015.

But many people are confused about the protection offered and whether products block both harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Miss Khanom said: ‘A simpler rating system, reflecting UVA and UVB protection and removing the need for language such as “multispectrum” and “broad spectrum” can ensure usage reflects consumer needs.’