Skip the skin-damaging sun and get your glow on the safe way with a faux tan that look so real no one will believe it’s from a bottle. Over the years, self-tanners have improved vastly thanks to advances in product formulation that address issues like the dreaded orange cast (by using cooler tones), unpleasant scent (helped by superior odor-neutralizing and masking fragrances) and streaking (better formulation bases such as self-tanning drops, lotions, creams, mousses, wipes and mists that apply and spread more easily).
But how exactly do self-tanners work? “The active ingredient in most self-tanners is dihydroxyacetone or DHA, which has been allowed by the FDA for external use,” says Sabina Wizemann, senior chemist at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab. DHA works by temporarily tinting skin to darken it, with results that either appear instantly or develop within a few hours or days and color lasting about a week. Remember that self-tanners will not protect against sunburn or sun damage because they don’t contain sunscreen ingredients (unless indicated on product packaging), so dermatologists and GH Beauty Lab scientists still recommend applying a sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to protect skin. If you apply self-tanner correctly, the color should last up to a week (and a tan-removing product can help if you need to return to your natural skin color before that).
How we test self-tanners
The GH Beauty Lab constantly scans the market for the best self-tanners, spanning from affordable drugstore picks to high-end formulations. In the Beauty Lab’s most recent self-tanner test, our scientists distributed products to our panel of consumer testers from across the country, who applied self-tanner daily until they reached their desired tone and then reported how the self-tanner wore and faded. Testers rated the products on everything from ease of application to scent, look and feel on skin, and how well they built up color and faded over time. In the end, GH Beauty Lab pros crunched data from over 2,990 consumer survey questions to find the best self-tanners on the market. These are the highest-rated, most natural-looking self-tanning formulas for body and face, as determined by the GH Beauty Lab:
1
Best Overall Self-Tanner for Face and Body
Self Tanning Milky-Lotion
A GH Beauty Lab test winner, this lightweight lotion with softening glycerin can be used on both face and body to give skin a flattering warmth that testers loved. Evaluations found that the lotion glided on effortlessly with no mess or drying time. 100% of testers agreed the instructions were easy to follow, usage wasn’t messy, it absorbed fast and it left skin with a natural-looking finish. Several noted that the color wasn’t “orangey.” “This is a winner — I’ll never go back to the self-tanners I’ve used in the past,” one said. Note: The buildable formula doesn’t need to be rinsed off and can be reapplied as desired to get a darker shade (a tester said two applications resulted in a “deep tan”).
- Multifunctional formula
- Mess-free and short drying time
- Natural look
2
Best Value Self-Tanner
Express Tan Tinted Mousse
Bronze beautifully without breaking the bank using this tinted Ulta Beauty airy mousse formula, which scored top in GH Beauty Lab testing at achieving a “tan” that looked uniform and faded evenly.
It rated above the rest on many fronts: 100% of testers liked the “airy” mousse and mitt application, 85% said the color wasn’t
streaky or blotchy, 95% found that it faded evenly and 90%
would continue to use it. “The result looked like my actual
suntanned skin,” one raved.
- Easy to apply
- Even color
- Not streaky
3
Best Drugstore Self-Tanning Mousse
Natural Glow Instant Sun Mousse
When the GH Beauty Lab tested this hydrating foam version of 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.”
- Subtle, gradual results
- Improved cult-favorite formula
- Good value
4
Best Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion
The Gradual Illuminating Tan Lotion
GH Beauty Lab testers loved the Tan-Luxe gradual self-tanner 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.
- Gradual, even results
- Natural-looking tan
- Thin consistency makes application tricky
5
Best Self-Tanner for Beginners
Self-Tan Express Bronzing Mist
Grab St. Tropez’s self-tanning mist for a natural-looking tan that’s pretty much foolproof. The mist applicator and blending mitt ensures even coverage, and GH Beauty Lab testers loved that they got their perfect level of color in a single application. “I got a beautiful golden tan with just one use,” a fan said. “I’ve kept the tan for four days and it’s still going.” Since it’s an aerosol mist, apply in a well-ventilated area that you don’t mind getting messy.
- Easy-to-use aerosol mist for even coverage and no streaking
- Deepens skin tone in one use
6
Best Self-Tanner for Fair Skin
Argan Liquid Gold Self-Tanning Oil
If you have fair or pale skin, turn to this Josie Maran self-tanning oil, which rated highly with GH Beauty Lab testers for its natural color and scent, either mango and apricot vanilla. 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. Note that some users wished the color produced was deeper.
- Gradual, natural results for fair skin
- Non-greasy and quick-drying
- Great scent
- Color may not be dark enough for some skin tones
7
Best Tinted Self-Tanner Oil
Quick Tan Self-Tan Dry Oil
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.
- Great scent
- Gives a deep glow in one use
- Oil can be difficult to apply and messy
8
Best Self-Tanner for Sensitive Skin
Sunless Tan Dry Oil Mist
Made with skin-softening natural and organic ingredients like aloe and argan oil, this Coola dry oil mist self-tanner absorbed quickly and earned the highest score for leaving skin feeling great in GH Beauty Lab testing. Several users reported that it produced a “natural-looking” tan that “does not look orange or fake.” Note that some testers thought the mist was harder to control than lotion and left some streaking. (Pro tip: Keep bathroom floors clean by standing on an old towel or newspaper while applying.)
- Natural-looking color
- Conditions skin
- Soaks in fast
- Some testers found the tan streaky
- Pricey
9
Best Natural-Looking Self-Tanner
Brazilliance 2HR Express Deep Foaming Self-Tanner
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 in GH Beauty Lab testing at absorbing 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 giving an even-toned effect without splotches and had the longest-lasting results.
- Absorbs quickly
- Produces a believable tan
- Resists fading
10
Best Self-Tanner to Take on a Beach Vacation
Gradual Tan Tinted Everyday Body Lotion
GH Beauty Lab testers thought this St. Tropez tinted gradual-tanning body lotion worked quickly to deliver their perfect color, ideal for when you’re hitting the beach and need a faux tan fast. “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.
- Tinted for instant results
- Gradual color builds to the perfect golden tan
11
Best Self-Tanner for Face
Daily Sunless Tanning Serum
With a formulation like a skincare serum, Soleil Toujours was created specifically to self-tan the face. In GH Beauty Lab testing, it scored well for achieving the desired depth of tan color. The formula can also be mixed into any leave-on skincare product to achieve a subtler effect. “My skin seemed to have a glow and brightness to it,” a tester reported.
- Can mix with your favorite skincare products
- Noticeable results after a single application
- Expensive
- Some users noted a slight orange tone when used on its own
12
Best Smelling Self-Tanner
Sublime Bronze Hydrating Self-Tanning Water Mousse
In an almost unheard-of feat for a self-tanner, this watery L’Oréal Paris mousse infused with coconut juice and castor oil earned 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 absorbing fastest. It left skin “buttery soft” after application, one tester marveled.
- Top scores for scent in Lab evaluations
- Simple to use, fast-drying mousse
- Clear formula can make it difficult to see where applying
13
Best Self-Tanner for Dark Skin
Sunless Tan Express Sculpting Mousse
Tailor your level of color with Coola’s self-tanning mousse plus applicator mitt. In GH Beauty Lab testing, 89% of users agreed they were able to achieve their desired depth of tan. It also scored well for being easy to apply and spread and delivering an even result that wasn’t streaky or blotchy. “I was able to get a deep, dark tan,” a tester remarked.
- Can produce a deep tan
- Easy application
- Even look that’s not spotty or streaky
- Some testers found the scent unappealing
- Expensive
14
Best Organic Self-Tanner
Ten Minute Tan for Face & Body
Made with organic botanicals like rose and orange blossom, GH Beauty Lab testers liked that this Vita Liberata formula for both face and body 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.
- Subtle, pleasant scent
- Easy-to-apply lotion
- Tan may not be dark or long-lasting enough for some
- Pricey
15
Best Self-Tanner Wipes
Self-Tanning Towelettes
Swipe on a faux tan with Comodynes’s single-use self-tanner wipes, which proved to be truly mess-free. In GH Beauty Lab testing, 100% of users agreed that the product didn’t stain clothes or other fabrics after it was dry. It also earned the highest marks for soaking in fast and not staining hands when washed immediately after application. Note that some testers found the towelettes weren’t easy to apply and produced uneven results that could be streaky or blotchy.
- Fast-absorbing
- Won’t stain clothes or hands
- Clear formula can be tricky to apply
- Some found the tan uneven or streaky
April Franzino
Beauty Director
April Franzino is the Beauty Director at Good Housekeeping, part of the Hearst Women’s Lifestyle Beauty Group.
Danusia Wnek, Good Housekeeping Institute
Chemist, Health, Beauty & Environmental Sciences Lab
Danusia Wnek is a chemist in the Health, Beauty & Environmental Sciences Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty and health tools.
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