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Self-tanning is a weekly ritual for me. I’m fair skinned and want to avoid UV damage, so is my passport to subtly sun-kissed skin that makes me look like I’m fresh back from a vacation (even in the dead of winter). And since I’ve been fake tanning since I was a teen, I’ve experienced firsthand the changes in self-tanner formulations — from smelly, orange foam to weightless, non-offensive formulas — and let me tell you, they’ve come a long way.
Here, I’ve gathered the best of the best self-tanning products. Many are my absolute favorites, which I’ve tested over years of bronzing (including one that doesn’t have that dreaded biscuit-y smell some have). Others are recommended by self-tanning and skin-care specialists who helped me find the best products for every skin type and skin tone — and who also weighed in on how to avoid any disasters with your application.
Just note: No matter which product you use, start slow and steady. The trick to a natural-looking self-tan is choosing a formula that’s not just in the right shade but has undertones that complement your skin color. Whether it’s a mousse, a foam, or a water, the formula shouldn’t feel so sticky that you squirm during application. Instead, it should feel nice and hydrating on your skin, meaning it glides on and can easily be exfoliated off. (And if you’re looking for more of the best skin-care products and tips, read my guides to pimple patches and the best products for redness.)
What we’re looking for
Color range
To avoid a fake tan that looks, well, fake, you need to pick the shade of self-tanner that’s right for your skin tone. How dark a self-tan will get depends on the product’s dihydroxyacetone (DHA, the only FDA-approved ingredient for self-tanning) concentration. The more DHA, the darker the formula. That said, a darker product shade doesn’t necessarily mean it will produce deeper results on all skin types; most of your tan’s color is dependent upon your natural skin tone and the way it interacts with DHA. For those with fairer complexions, “Your skin will only be able to absorb a certain percentage of DHA — which is the darkness of tan,” says Holly Furlong, a tan specialist from Liverpool. “Pale people may think they need an extra-dark tan, but as the DHA percentage is too high, your skin won’t absorb it.” Instead, if you’re of a lighter skin tone, you’re better off building up your tan with layers of lighter-toned products. As someone with lighter skin, I avoid extra-dark formulas for this reason. If you have darker skin, you’ll want to choose a deeper tan shade, as self-tanner taxonomy is based on pale skin tones. Sabrina Johnson, a spray-tan stylist based in Los Angeles, recommends that darker-skinned clients leave the tan on for longer or apply the product twice. (The depth of the color will also depend on how long you leave it on — but more on that below.)
Undertones
Self tanners also have base shades, which affect the way it shows up on the skin. According to Johnson, this color only lasts for about two days before fading, but if you’re planning to self-tan before an event or photoshoot, it’s definitely something to keep in mind. There are four bases: red, brown, violet, and green. According to Harrington, those with warmer skin tones should stick to violet-based tanners, while those with a cool-toned or olive complexion should opt for a green-based tan. Red, she says, is great for deeper complexions, while brown is pretty universal and should work for just about anyone. If you’re worried about which one will work best for your skin tone, all of our experts recommend doing a patch test to make sure the color will look good all over. Different brands tend to formulate with different undertones, so we’ve noted when that information is available.
Format
Spray tans come in mousses, liquids, waters, and lotions — it ultimately comes down to preference. Lotions tend to be reserved for more gradual tanners, while mousses and liquid formulations are what come to mind when one thinks about self-tanner.
Development time
Some tans take a while to develop (four hours or longer), while other formulas — typically referred to as “express” tans — develop in less than two hours before needing to be rinsed off. The longer you leave the formula on, the darker you get.
Best self-tanner overall
Color range: Three shades | Undertones: Green/neutral | Format: Foam | Development time: 1-6 hours
I started using Bondi Sands tan about five years ago — and I’ve never considered switching since. As a brand, Bondi Sands is widely available, fairly affordable, and has a wide range of shades. But its self-tanning foam in particular ticks every box I look for in a self-tanner. It dries quickly, so you can pop your pajamas back on and get into bed within five minutes of applying a layer. It has a subtle coconut smell (I know a lot of people dislike the fake-tan smell, but it’s pretty much unavoidable, and as far as scents go, this has been one of my favorites). And, importantly, Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam is a non-drying formula, which I recommend for two reasons: (1) It’s kind to your skin and any dry areas you may have; (2) it doesn’t fade off in unsightly patches but rather more neatly and uniformly.
As I mentioned earlier, Bondi Sands offers an impressive range of shades, so it can work well with many skin tones — another reason why I’m crowning this one our best self-tanner overall. “Its products tend to be really dark, so they work for dark skin,” says Johnson, who notes that the brand’s self-tanner colors skew green or neutral, which helps with looking natural on many shades of skin. Spray-tan stylist Cait Cassagne of Studio C8 is also a fan. “The color has beautiful undertones,” she says. I started using it in a medium shade, eventually progressing to dark — and over that time can say my tan has always looked natural, and that I’ve even had people ask where I’ve been on vacation for such a glow.
Best less-expensive self-tanner
Color range: One shade | Format: Mousse | Development time: 4–8 hours
For slightly less, you can buy this self-tanning mousse from L’Oreal. We’ve previously recommended it for camouflaging cellulite. It’s a lighter product, so any missed patches won’t look too disastrous. It only comes in one shade — medium — but those with darker skin tones can apply a few layers to build up a more bronzed look, and this allows you to customize precisely how dark you want your tan to go. As it develops in as little as four hours, you can apply those layers quickly over the space of a day — meaning if you forgot to apply your tan before bed, you’ll still be bronzed and ready to go before evening. I would highlight that this tan is not the best for beginners, though: it doesn’t leave a guide color when you apply it, so there’s no way of telling where you’ve set it until the tan develops. However, no guide color means the tan is far less likely to leave smudges or streaks on your sheets as it develops — this isn’t ever a guarantee, though, as you still have to shower to wash the tan off.
Best self-tanning mousse
Color range: One shade | Undertones: Green | Format: Cream mousse | Development time: 8 hours
If your skin is on the drier side, you’ll probably want to choose a mousse formula, which is generally more hydrating than a foam. I was particularly impressed by this mousse, which includes a bevy of skin-care ingredients particularly suited to dry skin, including niacinamide, vitamin E, echinacea, and hyaluronic acid. And while it’s only available in one shade, it’s rich and deep, so it works on a range of skin tones.
Writer Meredith Lynch, who is also a committed self-tanner user, says that nothing compares to the St. Tropez whipped mousse. “It dries fairly quickly and the scent isn’t overpowering. I’ve accepted that most self-tanners don’t smell like Le Labo, but this one is better than most.” Lynch also likes that it has a color guide, which she says is helpful for keeping track of where you’ve already applied tanner.
Best no-transfer self-tanner
Color range: One shade | Undertones: Green | Format: Foam | Development time: 4-8 hours
One of the most common complaints I hear about self-tanners is that they stain bedsheets and clothes (some people even told me it puts them off tanning). So about a year ago, I asked on my Instagram Stories for suggestions of tans that avoided this problem. The feedback was overwhelmingly in favor of Bondi Sands Liquid Gold. While it has no guide color, unlike the L’Oreal Mousse, this tan doesn’t need to be washed off after the development time. The lack of guide color also means that the tan doesn’t transfer to clothing or bedding. As for the tan itself, it has the same longevity and shade that I love from the original Bondi line (it comes in only one shade, though, but from my scouring of the reviews, it seems that it develops just as golden on a variety of skin tones.) My only complaint about this tan is that the brand calls it fast drying: It’s anything but. I often have to stay undressed for ten to 15 minutes after applying for the tan to absorb and stop feeling sticky. For clean bedsheets and the ability to wear white maxi dresses in summer, though, I’m calling it a fair tradeoff.
Best quick-developing self-tanner
Color range: One shade | Undertones: Green | Format: Foam | Development time: 1-4 hours
I’m going to be completely honest and say that I discovered this self-tanner through Kim Kardashian’s now-defunct KKW beauty blog, where she shared that it’s the product she uses between spray-tan sessions. It’s an express tan, which means that instead of developing in the usual six-to-eight hours, it starts developing in as little as one hour, and continues for a maximum of four.
When I’ve used this one and just wanted a subtle glow, I’ve left it on for just an hour, and when I’ve wanted a richer, fresh-from-vacation tan, I’ve left it on for four hours and been pleased with the results. Those with darker skin tones won’t notice much after an hour or two, but at the end of the four hours, a nice, rich, warm tone develops. It’s also a no-transfer formula: Not only does this mean it won’t stain your clothes, but it also means it won’t feel sticky when it’s applied. Just note: St. Tropez claims there’s no fake-tan smell, but I’ve smelled this stuff myself, and there is definitely a scent (it’s not too pungent, though).
Best less-expensive quick-developing self-tanner
Color range: Five shades | Undertones: Green/neutral | Format: Mousse | Development time: 1–4 hours
This express tan from B.tan is a solid drugstore option. Like the St. Tropez above, this one develops in as little as one hour, and since B.tan offers it in a wide range of shades, it’s especially good for those with fairer or darker skin tones who want a deeper tan fast. Johnson tells me she likes this formula because it doesn’t make her skin feel dry and it offers a super-dark tan — and similar to Bondi tanners, this one has green-neutral undertones, which means it especially complements those with cool-toned or olive complexions.
Best self-tanner for sensitive skin
Color range: Three shades | Undertones: Colorless | Format: Foaming water | Development time: 6 hours
You may think having sensitive skin precludes you from fake tanning — but the good news is, it doesn’t. Bondi Sands actually has a whole line dedicated to sensitive skin formulas called Pure, which combines their tanning formula with hydrating ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid. It’s also fragrance free (which you probably already look for in most products if your skin is easily irritated.)
Bondi’s foaming water — which is part of the Pure range — comes in three shades, and only takes six hours to develop. Johnson, who has sensitive skin, told me that her skin has felt irritable after using other fake tans but that with this formula she “didn’t feel itchy at all.” The only potential downsides to this one are that there’s no guide-color to keep track of where you’ve applied, and the water-consistency means the tan is on the runnier side of the tans on this list. Beginners may have to do a few trial and error layers before mastering how to apply this tan correctly.
Best self-tanner lotion for face
Color range: One shade | Undertones: Colorless | Format: Lotion
Any of the self-tanners on this list can be used on your face (just be sure to do a patch test first, and take extra care to blend to avoid unsightly streaks). But if you’re prone to breakouts, or just have extra sensitive skin on your face, I’d recommend something specific, like this gradual formula.
Tan-Luxe’s The Gradual tans skin over time, so the results aren’t instant or dramatic. This can be a good thing if you’re just starting out or looking for a subtler glow. It’s also “basically skin care with tanner in it,” according to Johnson, who cites the lotion’s moisturizing ingredients including raspberry-seed oil, vitamin E, and aloe vera. It also has an oil-cream consistency, so it’s deeply moisturizing and hydrating and won’t feel dry on the skin. Our resident beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton is a fan, too. “Whether you’re new to self-tanning or are just looking for the most natural-looking tan possible, this is perfect,” she says. In one to two hours, you’ll start to see tanner, glowy-er skin that’ll last for around two days. Personally, I’ve found the results a little too subtle for my fair skin (and my tan preferences). But it feels good on the skin, and I’ve heard plenty of endorsements from others, like Rio, who buy it on repeat.
Best self-tanner drops for face
For my face, I prefer self-tanner drops over a lotion because I’m acne-prone — so adding new products into my routine is risky — and drops work alongside your already-existing skin-care routine. All you need to do is add them to your usual moisturizer, mix well, and then apply the mixture carefully to your face and neck for a gradual glow.
I’ve been using these St. Moriz drops for over four years now and love them. They only come in one shade, but the depth of the color they give is entirely customizable: the more drops, the darker the tan. I’ll apply four of these drops to my face twice per week, and it takes me at least three months to get through the little bottle — they’re potent, and they work quickly. It does take time to perfect application, though. As I mentioned, you have to rub them in slowly and thoroughly, and the drops are clear, so there’s no way of keeping track of where you’ve applied them. But patience with these pays off: The tan they leave is simply unbeatable, and I go makeup-free on most days thanks to my sun-kissed glow.
Some more self-tanners we’ve written about
Our Experts
• Cait Cassagne, spray-tan stylist
• Holly Furlong, spray-tan specialist
• Mally Harrington, spray-tan stylist
• Sabrina Johnson, spray-tan stylist
• Meredith Lynch, writer
• Rio Viera-Newton, aesthetician and Strategist beauty columnist
Update on June 18, 2024: Updated prices, checked stock for all products, and added a new no-transfer self-tanner.
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