Let’s be real — a healthy tan can make us all feel just a little more alive. And after the gruelling grey winter we’ve just been through here in the UK, we could all use a little summery vitality.

Personally, having a little tan instantly puts me in a good mood and magics up a beautiful glow for my face. The trouble is, in winter and spring, my skin is snow-white. I don’t really have any natural tan in my skin. Naturally, I set out on a mission to find a solution that didn’t involve buying countless tanning products or undergoing damaging tanning treatments. So, when I came across the carrot juice hack I was skeptical but too intrigued not to try it.

The carrot juice experiment

I decided to get clued up on the best method for natural tanning, even in the colder months. As a beauty editor, I know that the sun and UV rays are damaging to the skin, so using a sunbed would never be an option for me.

And fake tan products are not only expensive, they often contain a lot of chemicals, which I would prefer to avoid using in the long run.

There must be something that makes you tan naturally, right? That’s when I remember a school friend telling me that she always ate carrots to get a quick tan. That sounded pretty interesting to me, so I thought I would give it a try.

A natural tan with carrots? Is that even possible?

Before I start my experiment, I want to consult a dermatologist on whether this idea makes sense. Dr. Christian Merkel confirms that “yes, carrots can change the colour of the skin.” However, he also warns that “the shade is usually not as brown as the tan you get from the sun, but more orange.”

According to Dr. Merkel, this is due to the beta-carotene in carrots and also the vitamin A, which not only has skin-protecting properties, but also provides a tint. Apparently, it has a literal medical name: carotenemia.

Are there any risks to drinking carrot juice?

Although carrot juice is largely considered to be healthy (it’s vegetable juice after all) there are some potential side effects to be aware of.

The main thing to watch out for is digestion disruption. Carrots are packed with dietary fibre, which is good for you, promoting healthy digestion and bowel regularity. However, when you change the amount of fibre you’re eating (or, in this case, drinking), your digestion can temporarily change as the system adjusts. You might notice side effects like stomach pain or changes to your bowel movements.

Here’s how my test went

I stock up on lots of carrot juice. Eating carrots would also work, according to Dr. Merkel, but you would have to eat a ton of them to see any results. “It’s best to drink about 300ml a day to achieve a tan after about four weeks,” Dr. Merkel advises.