The 18 Best Self-Tanners
Skip the skin-damaging sun (or, heaven forbid, tanning booth!) and get your glow the safe way with the best self-tanning lotions, creams, sprays, mousses, wipes, and more guaranteed to give you a faux bronze that looks so real no one will believe it's from a bottle.
Jergens
amazon.com
When the GH Beauty Lab tested the hydrating foam version of the Jergens cult classic gradual tanning moisturizer, it received high scores for going on quickly and giving skin a subtle warmth. "I've tried many, and this is my favorite," one tester said. "I'd pay any price for results like these."
Tarte
ulta.com
Score Tarte's product at Ulta and get a handy application mitt with it. The updated version of their best-selling tanner, it's now packed with ingredients to exfoliate and moisturize (key for even, non-streaky tans) while adding color. "The formula goes on smooth and mitt makes for easy application," one Sephora reviewer commented.
Beauty by Earth
amazon.com
This lotion-based tanner is a best-seller on Amazon for a reason: Reviewers say they liked that they could control how deep their color got by applying over the course of 4-7 days — and the fact that they could actually pronounce the ingredients.
Coola
amazon.com
While GH Beauty Lab testers loved that this pick absorbed quickly and left skin feeling great, many thought the mist was harder to control than lotion and left some streaking. Several fans noted, though, that it produced a "natural-looking" tan that "does not look orange or fake." Pro tip: Keep bathroom floors clean by standing on an old towel or newspaper while applying.
St. Tropez
amazon.com
GH Beauty Lab testers thought this tinted gradual-tanning body lotion worked quickly to deliver their perfect color. "The slight tint immediately gave a healthy look to my legs and aided in the application to ensure even coverage," one user reported. "My skin is quite light and it was extremely realistic, just as a sun-developed tan would occur." To avoid staining your clothes, make sure skin is completely dry before getting dressed— some users said the rich texture took longer to absorb.
Body Drench
amazon.com
Self-tanners infamously don't smell the best, but GH Beauty Lab testers praised the almost undetectable scent of Body Drench's tinted dry oil with a hint of shimmer. "I liked that this product had a pleasant fragrance throughout the process, with no detectable or underlying 'chemical' smell that many others have" one user noted. It gave skin a "nice deep glow," another said. Shake the bottle before use since it separates over time and put down a towel— some thought the oil's thin consistency made it messy and hard to apply.
TAN-LUXE
sephora.com
GH Beauty Lab testers loved the Tan-Luxe lotion's scent during application and development, and that their tan looked natural and not blotchy. "I liked the even tone of the color and the way my skin felt," one said. "I noticed no blotchiness." For best results, apply it with a tanning mitt since some people said its thin consistency made application more difficult.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
amazon.com
A bestseller, these Dr. Dennis Gross self-tanner pads for face are a two-in-one self-tanner and skin perfector. Swipe one on to up your glow while also exfoliating, tightening pores, and helping to reduce sun spots, thanks to added alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids. "These allow me to use less face makeup because they even out my skin tone," a Dermstore reviewer said.
ST.TROPEZ
amazon.com
This easy-to-apply formula is the mousse version of one of our Beauty Lab's top-tested picks. With hundreds of positive reviews, it's a bestseller at Amazon, Sephora and Ulta. Spread it and leave it on for one to three hours before rinsing to get your perfect bronze. "I'm not the best at applying fake tanners, yet no matter how badly I apply it, it looks great and not patchy," one Sephora reviewer said.
Clarins
sephora.com
GH Beauty Lab testers liked this Clarins gel's natural-looking and streak-free color. "It didn't look like a a fake tan," one marveled. "It looks like my normal color after a day in the sun." One caveat: The results were a tradeoff with the formula's unpleasant smell during application. A few testers also said the gel left skin feeling tacky and sticky.
Vita Liberata
amazon.com
Made with organic botanicals like rose and orange blossom, GH Beauty Lab testers liked that this Vita Liberata formula had a pleasant scent during application. Many noted that they liked the fact that it had virtually "no smell." The tanning results were subtle, though: Some testers felt it didn't produce their desired depth of color following the directions provided and that the color achieved faded quickly.
ULTA
ulta.com
Bronze beautifully without breaking the bank using this tinted Ulta Beauty airy mousse formula, which scored top at achieving a “tan” that looked uniform and faded evenly. Testers also rated it highest for easy application, with 90% saying they would continue to use it. It earned the best score for its mousse application method and high marks for not leaving streaks or blotches on skin.
Tarte Cosmetics
dermstore.com
For the most true-to-life (or true-to-beach!) faux glow, look no further than Tarte’s fast-acting, long-lasting foam, which scored high at being absorbed quickly and giving skin an even tone testers liked. The tint helps cover all areas and avoid missed spots, the Beauty Lab says, and an impressive 100% of testers reported that the color produced was natural-looking — the top score of all products. This pick also rated well at soaking in fast and giving an even-toned effect without splotches, and had the longest-lasting results.
L'Oreal Paris
amazon.com
In an almost unheard-of feat for a self-tanner, this watery L’Oréal Paris mousse infused with coconut juice and castor oil collected perfect points for its “pleasant” tropical scent. Plus, it came out on top for being easy to use and tied for cleanest application, being easiest to spread, and getting absorbed fastest. It left skin "buttery soft" after application, one tester marveled.
Isle of Paradise
"Clear" self-tanners are all the rage right now because they claim not to ruin your sheets and towels while developing a natural glow. While we haven't formally tested this formula in the Lab, this formula from Isle of Paradise is a reviewer favorite that looks and feels just like water, and comes in three options for fair, medium, and deep skin tones and results.
Josie Maran
.com
Available in three scents, including mango and apricot vanilla, GH Beauty Lab testers liked scent and the natural color, though some wished it was deeper. The formula was also quick-drying and non-greasy. "It did not streak, spot, or have any orange tan hue to it," one user reported.
Isle of Paradise
amazon.com
Self-tanning drops allow you to turn your favorite standby moisturizer into a fast-acting, mess-free self-tanner. You can add anywhere from three to 12 drops to your skincare for a totally customizable color on face and body. While we haven't tested this formulation in the Lab, reviewers swear that "a couple of drops into my daily lotion [gives] an amazing glow," and "haven’t had any problems with streaky-ness or blotchiness."
CosmoSun
amazon.com
For both instant bronzing effects and a deep tan that develops over time, look no further than this CosmoSun by Cosmopolitan mousse with a deep color payoff that's perfect for olive skin tones or darker. The light foam formula will soak into skin quickly, and the tint helps you apply it evenly for no missed spots, streaks, or blotchiness.
The 18 Best Self-Tanners
Skip the skin-damaging sun (or, heaven forbid, tanning booth!) and get your glow the safe way with the best self-tanning lotions, creams, sprays, mousses, wipes, and more guaranteed to give you a faux bronze that looks so real no one will believe it's from a bottle.
Thanks to new formulations, you'll never look like an Oompa Loompa.
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