11 Best Self-Tanners for a UV-Free Glow All Year Round
Whether you're craving a vacation-induced glow but don't have any travel plans or you desire a tan without baking in the sun's harmful UV rays, the best self-tanners on the market will be your new best friend. But as anyone who has been unintentionally transformed into a streaky, orange version of themselves knows, scoring believably gleaming limbs can involve some risky trial and error. The reason it's tougher to nail how to self-tan your face than, say, find the perfect foundation shade, is because self-tanners rely on dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a sugar that safely darkens the skin.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: St. Tropez Luxe Whipped Crème Mousse, $48
- The Allure Favorite: Loving Tan Platinum Ultimate Self-Tanning Mousse, $40
- Best Drugstore: Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer, $10
- Best for Face: Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops, $28
- Best With Moisturizer: Tanologist Face + Body Drops, $20
- Best for Redness: Isle of Paradise Even Skin Tone Self-Tanning Body Butter, $28
- Best Gradual Tanner: Bondi Sands Pure Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion, $22
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should you look for in the best self-tanners?
- How long does a self-tan last and how can you prolong it?
- How to achieve a streak-free tan with self-tanners
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: St. Tropez Luxe Whipped Crème Mousse
Why It's Worth It: Whether you're a self-tanning pro or a newbie, this bronzing mousse has a light-as-air, whipped texture. In comparison to sprays, you actually have more control with a mousse. They're also relatively easy to rub in with a mitt. This formula dries quickly too and leaves skin hydrated and soft to the touch.
Editor Tip: If you're looking for a deep, just got back from vacation tan, apply one coat of the tanner and then a second coat 24 hours later.
Type: Mousse | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, echinacea, vitamin E | Shades: 1 | Development Time: 8 hours
More to shop from St. Tropez:
- For the times you're in a rush: Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse, $46
- For your face: Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist, $33
- For a little bit of everything: Award Winning 3 Piece Self Tan Kit, $55
The Allure Favorite: 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. 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.
Editor Tip: This tanner is the brand's deepest color (Maximum) for an intense tan. If that's not your thing, they also offer the Deluxe Bronzing Mousse in three shades: Medium, Dark, and Ultra Dark.
Type: Mousse | Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, coffee extract, pomegranate extract | Shades: 1 | Development Time: 8 hours
Best Drugstore: Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
Why it's worth it: The Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer has oodles of awards to its name (including a 2023 Allure Readers' Choice Award) and for good reason. Though this drugstore-friendly formula has been around since the dawn of self-tanner time, it still delivers one of the most natural, hydrating glows on the market. The creamy lotion simultaneously hydrates and imparts a believable bronze in a few days.
Editor Tip: Replace your everyday body moisturizer with this to reveal a subtle tan and extreme softness and hydration.
Type: Cream | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, glycerin | Shades: 2 | Development Time: 2 to 3 days
More to shop from Jergens:
- A lightweight self-tanner: Natural Glow Instant Sun Body Mousse, $15
- The in-shower treatment: Natural Glow In-Shower Lotion, $12
- For a bronzed glow: Natural Glow Instant Sun Self Tanner Moisturizer + Bronzer, $15
Best for Face: Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops
Why It's Worth It: For self-tanner beginners, the coconut-water-based Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops are as natural and easy-going as they come. Thanks to DHA, this mango-scented, 2021 Best of Beauty-winning bronzer gradually deposits a nourishing, non-drying wash of vacation-like glow.
Editor Tip: Give the container a hearty shake and press down on the end of the applicator to add two to three drops of the bronzing liquid to your moisturizer of choice. From there, apply evenly all over your face and neck — making sure to address your hairline so there aren't any random gaps in coverage.
Type: Liquid | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, banana, coconut water, dragon fruit, fig | Shades: 2 | Development Time: 8 hours
More to shop from Coco & Eve:
- A classic tanning mousse: Self Tanner Mousse Kit, $39
- For a quick face touch-up: Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist, $29
- The full kit: Bali Bae Self Tan Set, $69
Best With Moisturizer: Tanologist Face + Body Drops
Why It's Worth It: Add a few drops of the Tanologist Face + Body Drops to any face or body moisturizer before going to sleep and you'll wake up like you just stepped off the beach. Not to mention, the cocktail of ingredients in this formula is ideal for sensitive skin.
Editor Tip: With these self-tanning drops, keep in mind that the more drops you use, the darker the tan so don't say we didn't warn you.
Type: Liquid | Key Ingredients: Pink grapefruit, goji berry, and juniper | Shades: 1 | Development Time: 8 hours
Best for Redness: Isle of Paradise Even Skin Tone Self-Tanning Body Butter
Why It's Worth It: Allure 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.
Editor Tip: Trakoshis also mentions that just like any self-tanner, wash your hands after applying because, well, no one wants tan palms.
Type: Cream | Key Ingredients: Coconut, eucalyptus, chia seed, peppermint oils | Shades: 1 | Development Time: 8 hours
More to shop from Isle of Paradise:
- For light, streak-free results: Self Tanning Water, $32
- For your face: Self Tanning Drops, $29
- For much-needed moisture replenishment: Self Tanning Oil Mist, $32
Instant Glow: Tarte Brazilliance Plus+ Self-Tanner with Mitt
Why It's Worth It: Tarte Brazilliance Plus+ Self-Tanner is great for when you need glow, fast. It's moisturizing so it can double as a body lotion and it smells like coconuts. Plus, it comes with a mitt — what's better than that?
Editor Tip: Consider this more body makeup that lasts. 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: Maracuja, squalane, aloe, citric acid | Shades: 1| Development Time: Instant
Best Gradual Tanner: Bondi Sands Pure Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion
Why It's Worth It:Bondi Sands's 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 actually looks like your skin, rather than an obvious, orange-hued tan.
Editor 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: Hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E | Shades: 1 | Development Time: 8 hours
More to shop from Bondi Sands:
- The quickie: 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, $26
- Alix Earle-approved: Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam, $27
- Best for tantouring: Aero Self Tanning Foam, $29
Best on Amazon: 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 darkest tan possible.
Editor Tip: Make sure you apply every bit of excess product on the mitt on your face so you don't overdo the color.
Type: Mousse and water | Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, jojoba seed oil | Shades: 1| Development Time: 1 hour (mist); 8 hours (mousse)
Best Ingredients: Coola Sunless Tan Luminizing Body Serum
Why It's Worth It: It's not water, or a mousse, or even a 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. Oh, and major points for smelling like a fresh piña colada.
Editor Tip: There's fine pearlescent mica in this formula so apply it as a body highlighter to glow while it develops.
Type: Lightweight serum | Key Ingredients: Mica, sugar-beet derived DHA | Shades: 1 | Development Time: 3 to 4 hours
Most Hydrating: Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum
Why It's Worth It: Tailored towards 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.
Editor Tip: Apply this directly to the face or body before the rest of your routine, go to bed, and wake up glowy and tan.
Type: Lightweight serum | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, soybean fiber, beetroot extract | Shades: 1 | Development Time: 3 to 4 hours
More to shop from Tan-Luxe:
- The Complexion Brightener: The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, $50
- Easy Application: The Water, $48
- A luxe, skin-conditioning self tanner: The Crème, $49
What should you look for in the best self-tanners?
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 tough 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 indistinguishable from the real deal — and a much healthier habit in the short and long term (bye-bye, sun damage). Other common ingredients found in mousse, lotions, and spray tans is 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.
How long does a self-tan last and how can you prolong it?
Here's the thing: every self-tanner's longevity is totally up to the formula and pigment intensity. A subtle, faux sun-kissed glow can wash down the drain in a matter of days, while a dramatic bronze may last for upwards of two weeks. As a rule of thumb, Evans previously told Allure that faux tan products of any kind last about five to 10 days. "Your skin will naturally shed over five to ten days, and no self-tan will last longer than ten days," she said.
There are quite a few tips our editors have garnered over the years to make a self-tan last for weeks, which you can read here, but here are a few key takeaways. First off, 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 include washing with a gentle cleanser, making sure your skin is always moisturized, and avoiding intense actives like retinols and acne treatments, which can dissolve color on your face.
How to achieve a streak-free tan with self-tanners
One of the golden rules of self-tanning starts with your skin-care routine: Exfoliate beforehand. Spray tanner Anna Stankiewicz of Louise O'Connor Salon in New York City, suggests sloughing dead skin with an oil-free cleanser laced with glycolic or salicylic acid. Just be sure to remove any and all residue before proceeding, so you can start off 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.
If you're new to applying self-tanner, experts suggest testing a lighter-toned formula at first to minimize the look of potential mistakes, patches, and streaks. "Once you get used to using a classic shade and you wish to go darker, you will have the confidence to use the darkest formula," self-tanning expert and St. Tropez brand ambassador Sophie Evans previously told Allure.
To save you from playing chicken with a million formulas, we compiled the best sunless tanners in the form of mousses, lotions, and even tanning mists that'll have your friends wondering where you got that streak-free tan without jetting off to a tropical destination. Stick to these expert-approved self-tanning products and your beloved sunscreens for a healthy, UV-damage-free bronze — and thank us later.
How we test and review products
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 outcome (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.
Our staff and testers
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.
