12 Best Self-Tanners That Give All Skin Types a Natural-Looking Glow

Pro tip: If you're looking for a deep, just-got-back-from-vacation tan, apply one coat of the tanner to start, and a second coat 24 hours later.

Type: mousse | Key ingredients: DHA, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, echinacea, vitamin E | Shades: 1 | Development time: 8 hours | Mitt required: yes | Fragrance: fruity | Lasts up to: 7 days

More to shop from St. Tropez:

• The original, time-saving bronzer: Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse, $46
• Pleasantly-scented (and a 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner): Self Tan Berry Sorbet Bronzing Mousse, $48
• For your face: Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist, $33
• For all-over: Award Winning 3 Piece Self Tan Kit, $55

Best Gradual Self-Tanner: Isle of Paradise Even Skin Tone Self-Tanning Body Butter

Why it's worth it: Shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis fell in love with the Isle of Paradise Even Skin Tone Self-Tanning Body Butter back in 2021, and to this day it's still the one she reaches towards. "With this body butter, you won't see instant results as it takes the formula around eight hours to develop into that beautiful golden tone you're looking for," she says. Not to mention, it has color-correcting benefits while it develops, which is why the cream is a green hue—to balance out any redness in the skin.

Pro tip: Trakoshis mentions that just like any self-tanner, wash your hands thoroughly after applying because, well, no one wants orange palms.

Type: cream | Key ingredients: DHA, coconut, eucalyptus, chia seed, peppermint oils | Shades: 1 | Development time: 8 hours | Mitt required: no | Fragrance: fragrance-free | Lasts up to: 7 days

More to shop from Isle of Paradise:

• For lightweight, streak-free results: Self Tanning Water, $32
• To bronze your face: Self Tanning Drops, $29

Best Express Self-Tanner: Tarte Brazilliance Plus+ Self-Tanner

Why it's worth it: Tarte Brazilliance Plus+ Self-Tanner is great for when you need glow, fast. It doubles as a moisturizing body lotion and smells like coconuts—a far cry from uber synthesized-smelling formulas of yore. If the fragrance and feel sound nice, you'll appreciate how this self-tanner is formulated: Conditioning ingredients like squalane, aloe, and citric acid make a highly blendable cream, while the brand's proprietary PureShield scent control technology nips the classic chemical self-tanner smell in the bud. Plus, it comes with a mitt—ta ta, Oompa Loompa palms!

Pro tip: If you have uneven areas or scars you want to disguise, this formula doubles as body makeup—and is long-lasting at that. Apply it with a mitt and allow it 30 seconds to fully dry before getting dressed for a day or night out. By the time you get home, your tan settles and deepens.

Type: gel | Key ingredients: DHA, maracuja, squalane, aloe, citric acid | Shades: 1 | Development time: instant | Mitt required: yes | Fragrance: fragrance-free | Lasts up to: 5 days

Best for a Deep Tan: Loving Tan Platinum Ultimate Self-Tanning Mousse

Why it's worth it: It takes many layers for most self-tanners to achieve the same saturation you get after one application of Loving Tan Platinum Ultimate Self-Tanning Mousse. It's the real deal. For the same reason, this 2022 Best of Beauty winner is not recommended for beginners—though, it does have a built-in color guide that makes it easy to see which areas you've already covered.

Pro tip: This tanner is the brand's deepest color (Maximum) for an intense tan. If that's not what you're going for, Loving Tan offers the Deluxe Bronzing Mousse in three shades: Medium, Dark, and Ultra Dark.

Type: mousse | Key ingredients: DHA, aloe vera, coffee extract, pomegranate extract | Shades: 1 | Development time: 8 hours | Mitt required: no | Fragrance: fragrance-free | Lasts up to: 10 days

Best Drugstore Self-Tanner: Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer

Why it's worth it: The Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer has oodles of accolades (including a 2023 Allure Readers' Choice Award) for good reason. Though this drugstore-friendly formula has been around since the dawn of self-tanner time, this easy-to-blend cream still delivers one of the most natural, hydrating glows on the market—and it costs less than half of many competitors. The creamy lotion imparts a believable bronze in a few days and keeps skin moisturized, thanks to glycerin and vitamin E. In fact, you can go ahead and skip your usual body moisturizer on self-tanning days.

Type: cream | Key ingredients: DHA, vitamin E, glycerin | Shades: 2 | Development time: 2 to 3 days | Mitt required: no | Fragrance: fragrance-free | Lasts up to: 14 days

More to shop from Jergens:

• A lightweight option: Natural Glow Instant Sun Body Mousse, $15
• The in-shower treatment: Natural Glow In-Shower Lotion, $12
• For extra moisturization: Natural Glow Instant Sun Self Tanner Moisturizer + Bronzer, $15

Best Shimmery Finish: Coola Sunless Tan Luminizing Body Serum

Why it's worth it: It's not water, mousse, or even lotion. Coola's Sunless Tan Luminizing Body Serum feels less like a conventional bronzing product and more like the silkiest formula you've ever applied below the neck. You can apply with your hands, or, pick up the Coola Organic Sunless Tan Kabuki Body Brush to round out your routine. Oh, and major points for smelling like a fresh piña colada. As you can probably gather from the name, you're going to get a lightly shimmery finish with this bad boy—it also contains fine pearlescent mica, for further proof.

Type: lightweight serum | Key ingredients: DHA, mica, sugar-beet derived DHA | Shades: 1 | Development time: 3 to 4 hours | Mitt required: no | Fragrance: Piña colada | Lasts up to: 3 days

Best Self-Tanner Drops: Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum

Why it's worth it: Good for dry skin types, Tan-Luxe's Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum is an innovative five-in-one treatment that contains hyaluronic acid, cocoa seed extract, and raspberry seed oil to nourish, soothe, and firm the skin while leaving behind an otherworldly glow. It can take up to 12 drops to arrive at peak bronziness, but with some healthy trial and error, you'll figure out your perfect dose. Since it's lightweight and quick-absorbing, apply this directly to your face or body before the rest of your routine, go to bed, and wake up glowy and tan—it's beauty rest on another level.

Type: lightweight serum | Key ingredients: DHA, hyaluronic acid, soybean fiber, beetroot extract | Shades: 1 | Development time: 3 to 4 hours | Mitt required: no | Fragrance: raspberry | Lasts up to: 7 days

More to shop from Tan-Luxe:

• The Complexion Brightener: The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, $50
• Easy Application: The Water, $48

Best for Nighttime: Bondi Sands Pure Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion

Why it's worth it: Bondi Sands' Pure Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion is chock-full of skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E for a buildable tan that looks like your skin, rather than an obvious, orange-hued tan. The non-comedogenic formula is safe on sensitive skin and won't clog your pores. Just make sure your skin is clean, dry, and exfoliated before rubbing the lotion on your body in circular motions.

Pro tip: This 2021 Best of Beauty Award winner is quick-drying and transfer-proof—so you can dive into bed or get changed into your clothes very soon after—and you start seeing results after just one to three applications.

Type: lotion | Key ingredients: DHA, hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E | Shades: 1 | Development time: 8 hours | Mitt required: no | Fragrance: fragrance-free | Lasts up to: 5 to 7 days

More to shop from Bondi Sands:

• The Best of Beauty Winner: Gradual Tanning Milk, $21
• The Quickie: 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, $26
• Alix Earle-Approved: Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, $27

Most Versatile Self-Tanner Set: B.Tan + Glow Self-Tanner Bundle

Why it's worth it: What's better than one self-tanner? Two self-tanners (and a mitt, of course.) The B.Tan + Glow Self Tanner Bundle. This set comes with a mousse tanner and face and body mist. The mist is great for hydration and a more subtle, natural tan, while the mousse is for achieving your deepest tan.

Pro tip: If you want to tan your face, use the excess mousse on your mitt left over from body application. (Our faces tend to absorb color more quickly, so you don't want to overdo the dosage.)

Type: mousse and water | Key ingredients: DHA, vitamin C, vitamin E, jojoba seed oil | Shades: 1 | Development time: 1 hour (mist); 8 hours (mousse) | Mitt required: yes | Fragrance: fragrance-free | Lasts up to: 7 or more days

Best Face-Tanner: + Lux Unfiltered N°12 Bronzing Face Drops

Why it's worth it: Even though the +Lux Unfiltered N°12 Bronzing Face Drops are fragrance-free, they include a bounty of antioxidizing fruit oils that boost your whole skin-care routine. The 2022 Best of Beauty-winning drops get mixed with your moisturizer and develop into a streak-free tan over eight hours. You can sport these drops under your makeup, but let the formula rest on your face for five minutes before doing so.

Type: serum drops | Key ingredients: DHA, hyaluronic acid, coconut water, apple fruit extract, passionfruit oil, and pomegranate extract | Shades: 1 | Development time: 8 hours | Mitt required: no | Fragrance: no | Lasts up to: 7 days

Best Bronzing Drops: Charlotte Tilbury Island Glow Easy Tanning Drops

Why it's worth it: If you want a more subtle, gradual bronze, digital art director Ingrid Frahm—whose beauty routine is inspired by a "surfer mermaid" look—can't get enough of Charlotte Tilbury's Island Glow Easy Tanning Drops. "This is like a bronzer and tanning drop hybrid since it gives an immediate light tint—but also develops into a gradual tan when mixed in with my moisturizer," Frahm notes. Because of the dropper application method, you can easily build your level of intensity. Two to four drops gives you a natural glow, but you can go up to five to eight for a golden tone, or 9 to 12 for a deep bronze.

Pro tip: Into faux freckles? Using a small eyeliner brush, dab this formula onto the bridge of your nose and into cheek territory for a super cute (and natural) look.

Type: lightweight serum | Key ingredients: DHA, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, chicory root extract, citric acid, mica | Shades: 2 (Fair/Medium and Tan/Deep) | Development time: 8 hours (for subtle tint), 4 days for fuller bronze | Mitt required: no | Fragrance: not specified | Lasts up to: not specified

Best Self-Tanning Kit: Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Bundle

Why it's worth it: The Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Bundle is like the ultimate self-tanning cheat code, complete with three essentials to help you get your most pro-looking at-home results yet. The lightweight, fast-drying mousse develops in two hours, and the green-gray-colored formula ensures no orangey ickiness. Make sure you're not wearing any moisturizer before applying the self-tanner before going in, and use the mitt and brush to reach tricky areas like your feet and toes.

Type: mousse | Key ingredients: DHA, lotus extract, coconut, mango extract, fig extract | Shades: 3 | Development time: 2 hours | Mitt required: yes | Fragrance: yes | Lasts up to: Up to 14 days

Frequently Asked Questions

King previously explained to Allure that the active ingredient in most self-tanners is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which interacts with the top layer of the skin to create a bronzed color. "It's a typical chemical reaction called the Maillard reaction," she stated. During the Maillard reaction, the skin's proteins respond to the sugars in the DHA to form a darkened look—similar to the science behind caramelizing sugar in a pan.

One of the most popular ingredients featured in fake tan products is dihydroxyacetone, a sugar-based compound most commonly known as DHA. As cosmetic chemist Ginger King explains, DHA reacts with the amino acids on the top layer of the skin to provide a gradual tan. The problem? It can be challenging to stabilize, hence the dreaded tangerine tint, cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller previously told Allure. Luckily, self-tanners have come a long way, and many of today's options impart natural-looking tans that are almost indistinguishable from the real deal—and a much healthier habit in the short and long term. Common ingredients found in mousse, lotions, and spray tans are erythrulose, another sugar that stabilizes DHA, moisturizing emollients for a smooth and streak-free glide, and different forms of encapsulation technology to enhance the product's finish and neutralize DHA's usually-pungent smell.

Here's the thing: every self-tanner's longevity depends on its formula and pigment intensity. A subtle, faux glow can wash down the drain in a matter of days, while a dramatic bronze may last for up to two weeks. Self-tanning expert and St. Tropez brand ambassador Sophie Evans previously told Allure that faux tan products typically last between five to 10 days. "Your skin will naturally shed over five to 10 days, and no self-tan will last longer than ten days," she said.

Beauty treatments like waxing and manicures can impact your self-tan, so make sure you take care of those before your self-tan session. "All of those treatments can remove self-tanner," spray tanner Anna Stankiewicz of Louise O'Connor Salon in New York City previously told Allure. Other things to note while using a self-tanner are to wash with a gentle cleanser, make sure your skin is always moisturized, and avoid intense actives like retinol and acne treatments, which can dissolve the color on your face or body.

One of the golden rules of self-tanning starts with your skin-care routine, so exfoliate beforehand. Stankiewicz suggests sloughing dead skin with an oil-free cleanser laced with glycolic or salicylic acid. Just be sure to remove any residue before proceeding, so you can start with a clean, dry, and product-free slate that'll maximize your self-tanning results. This is a crucial step because oils "could interfere with the binding of DHA to the stratum corneum," according to New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, and lead to uneven development. While your skin should be mostly dry, spot-moisturize as needed for areas like around nostrils, knees, elbows, and ankles to keep them from turning dark or orange, Stankiewicz previously recommended.

If you're new to applying self-tanner, experts suggest testing a lighter-toned formula first to minimize the look of potential mistakes, patches, and streaks. "Once you get used to a classic shade and wish to go darker, you will have the confidence to use the darkest formula," Evans told Allure.

Post-application, err on the safe side when it comes to drying time. "If the directions say five minutes, wait 10," Stankiewicz said. For extra protection, you can also brush a talc-free powder all over, which "stops the tanner from transferring to your clothes," she adds. Finally, avoid showering or sweating for six to eight hours.

In short: No. While self-tanners for your body and self-tanners for your face have overlapping ingredients, David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City, suggests separate products for separate parts of your body. "I would not use body self-tanner on the face," he previously told Allure. "It's much more comedogenic and oily and can often break you out."

If you've made an error mid-application or are ready to remove the tanner before it fades on its own, there are a few things you can do. "After the self-tan has fully developed and your first shower has taken place, mistakes can be removed and fixed in lots of ways depending on the severity of the mistake," Evans explained. She advises using an exfoliating mitt on wet skin to lift unwanted color when dealing with patches and streaks. You can also use a baby wipe to dab away excess or misplaced product as you're self-tanning.

You can remove self-tanner from your hands the same way you would remove it from other parts of your body. Still, the best way to prevent temporary staining is to wash your hands immediately after using them to apply the self-tanning product.

• Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist
• Randy Schueller, a cosmetic chemist
• Sophie Evans, a self-tanning expert and St. Tropez brand ambassador
• Anna Stankiewicz, a spray tanner at Louise O'Connor Salon in New York City
• Shari Marchbein, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
• David Kim, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City

We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but self-tanners are another story. While some can be used across different skin tones, textures, and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. When reviewing self-tanning products, we also take into account testers' experience levels. For instance, an innovative new formula may provide the perfect bronzed glow, but if there's a streaky learning curve for sel-tan beginners, we have to consider this when determining whether it is worthy of a recommendation.

For our review of the best self-tanners, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and experts we've interviewed for the piece — who all have different skin tones, concerns, types, and desired outcomes (i.e., subtle versus dramatic). Testers considered performance across three primary categories: efficacy, ease of use, and value. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we can fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Treat your skin to more Allure-approved essentials:

• 10 Bronzing Drops That'll Make Every Hour Golden Hour
• 7 Best Facial Self-Tanners for an Unforgettable Glow
• 15 Shea Butter-Spiked Products for Soft, Supple Skin

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