Whether you’re reading this in the winter and cringe every time you see your pale appearance in the mirror or trying to achieve that perfect glow during the summer without all the damaging UV rays, we’re here to save the day with the best self-tanners on the market.
There’s nothing better than feeling like your best self with a healthy, bronzed tan, but unless you live in sunny California or Florida, that may not be possible all year long. Self-tanners will get the job done without exposing your body to all the potentially harmful UV rays.
A quality self-tanner is a great way to achieve that perfect glow any time of the year —and they’ve come a long way from the smelly, orange and streaky options.
Expert tip: Be sure to exfoliate before applying self-tanner and moisturize your body daily to help your tan last longer.
In an effort to help you get your best tan, the New York Post spoke with a handful of experts including influential celebrity makeup artists and tanning experts who have tried just about every self-tanner in the industry.
Meet the Experts:
Jeannia Robinette has worked in the beauty world for more than 20 years. She has created quite the client list that includes A-listers including Angelina Jolie, Victoria Beckham, Gisele Bündchen, Jennifer Garner and many more.
Megan Lanoux is known both in NYC and LA for makeup, hair and grooming and has worked with various stars such as Diane Sawyer, Eva Longoria, Debra Messing, Julianne Hough and Jessie James Decker.
Alexandra DiMarchi is a celebrity airbrush artist and global tanning expert for Tan-Luxe who has worked with well-known stars like Shay Mitchell, Shanina Shaik, Ashley Park from “Emily in Paris,” Halsey and many more.
Kelly Tully is a professional, celebrity makeup artist based in Las Vegas, Nevada who has worked with many contestants from Bachelor Nation, Brittany Mahomes (wife of Kansas City Chiefs’ starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes) and more.
Keep reading to find out which self-tanners they rave about the most and check out the FAQ section afterwards to find out the best way to put self-tanner on and other expert tips.
The St. Tropez Self Tan Dark Bronzing Mousse is a great option for those with darker skin tones who want a glow. It has a darker guide color to ensure no missed patches but continues to develop into an intense, deep-bronzed tan that suits you. The brand states that it’s best for those looking for an intense yet natural color, equivalent to a two-week holiday in the sun.
Lanoux recommends this St. Tropez self-tanner because it’s streak-free and can be used on both the face and body. “Not only is it long-lasting [but it] doesn’t dry the skin out,” she said.
“I like Bali Body because when you use a mousse, it’s always easier to apply with a very dark formula,” Robinette said. “It’s more of a natural application and this has a very deep color and is made specifically for those with those deep, caramel-y bronzed skin tones. It just kind of gives the skin an extra layer of glow because when you’re dark, you don’t need that much extra color.”
The Bali Body Tanning Mousse is easy to apply, fast-drying and lightweight. Plus it’s natural, 100% vegan and enriched with soothing chamomile extract, antioxidant coffee seed extract and rejuvenating pomegranate extract to leave your skin feeling soft.
Kimberley Nkosi, the skincare and tanning expert on the set of the upcoming “Barbie” film, took to Instagram to reveal the exact products she uses to achieve Gosling’s natural-looking glow — one of the products being the popular Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops.
“For me, applying sunless tanner isn’t about spraying something on and hoping for the best. It’s about a feeling more than a look,” Nkosi said. “Plus, when you work on set, there’s so many things to take into consideration. The camera picks up every little detail and can completely change the appearance of the tan, especially under lights. Being mindful of this and being consistent is key to achieving a flawless tan each and every time.”
The expert then went on to say that she “always [uses the shade] medium with a touch of dark to balance [Gosling’s] under tone and [to] make sure he [is] camera ready.”
Expert tip? Svetlana Feller, owner Spray di Solé Tanning says “You can apply the product directly onto freshly washed skin, this is great for mixing in with a serum or moisturizer.”
Not convinced yet? Get more information by checking out our review on the Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops.
While many choose not to tan their face, if you’re going to do it, Lanoux recommends you do it overnight. “It’s hard to tan your face during the day because you can’t put makeup on after,” she said. “[Self-tanning] while you sleep makes it feel effortless.”
Lanoux enjoys the James Read Sleep Mask because it gives a gradual tan “so you don’t wake up looking crazy [and] can slowly build on your tan.”
It has a colorless formula so it won’t ruin your clothes and has a lightweight and hydrating essence that’s filled with antioxidants.
An expensive self-tanner doesn’t always guarantee the best glow. In fact, you don’t have to spend more than $15 to get the perfect tan. The Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse came highly recommended by Lanoux for her drugstore pick.
“It’s easy to apply without leaving any streaks, smells nice and really gives your skin a bronze that looks natural from the sun,” said Lanoux who recommends you apply this product with a mitt.
It’s available in both a light and deep bronze shades and has more than 15,000 positive reviews on Amazon.
Robinette also recommends a Jergens self-tanner if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option. While she loves all Jergens products, instead of the mousse, she really loves the Natural Glow Moisturizer.
“It comes in a variety of different shades (from light to deep colors) and the formula is really light and airy. It’s super easy to use and it leaves your skin moisturized which is always a bonus!” she said.
The Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer will enhance and deepen your natural skin tone to provide an easy and streak-free glow.
There’s nothing worse than a patchy tan and people often forget to be diligent with their hands, wrists, feet and ankles. “Messy hands and feet are a dead give away when self-tanning but these wipes from Jergens make it so much easier to get into those small nooks and crannies for a flawless glow,” Robinette said.
The Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Towelettes come in a range of colors and cost less than $20! What’s not to love?
The Kora Organics Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion is a great option for someone with sensitive skin and or looking for a clean recommendation.
“It has essentials oils to hydrate your skin and a lot of great clean ingredients that go into your body while tanning it – making it a very pleasant and safe self-tanner, which is especially great for those with sensitive skin,” Robinette said.
Supermodel Miranda Kerr, Kora Organics founder, is also a huge fan of this self-tanner. “I love that this self-tan lotion has a very natural, buildable color and smells great. I use it throughout the year to maintain a healthy glow,” Kerr said, according to the website.
It features noni extract, which is a fruit native to the South Pacific Islands that is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and is known for its natural rejuvenating properties. The product also includes rosehip – which is abundant in antioxidants, essential fatty acids Omega 3 & 6, Vitamins A & C and anti-inflammatory properties. And it’s scented with lavender essential oils so you can avoid that traditional spray tan odor.
Lanoux is also a fan of this Luna Bronze product because it’s 100% natural, organic and vegan.
Luna Bronze Total Eclipse is a natural and organic express tanning mousse that’s made to give your skin an instant dark tan that will develop within just one hour, with no orange hues! The lightweight formula is made in Australia with 98% certified organic and naturally derived ingredients, including nourishing oils to give your skin the dual benefit of hydration and softness.
“It’s easy to apply, it smells really nice and overall just gives a supernatural glow. It also dries faster than other self-tanner options,” Robinette said. “Sometimes products can take hours and hours to dry but this tan mist is a bit quicker which is always nice.”
The Coola Organic Sunless Tan Dry Body Oil Mist is infused with a natural coconut scent to cancel out that self-tan smell and features 70% organic ingredients that deliver a natural-looking radiance that lasts up to three days. This fast-drying, streak-free, transfer-free formula is enriched with argan oil, vitamin C, hibiscus and chamomile extract giving you smooth and hydrated skin.
It’s non-GMO, vegan, cruelty-free, free of oxybenzone, parabens, sulfates and phthalates.
When it comes to self-tanning oil, Lanoux stands by the James Read Coconut Dry Oil Tan Body.
“It’s super hydrating with coconut oil, vitamin E and it drys quickly and tans your skin within a few hours,” Lanoux said.
It’s fueled with soothing antioxidants, in addition to coconut oil that creates a translucent formula to unveil a luxurious glow upon application.
When it comes to quality self-tanners you can find at the drugstore, Tull loves Bondi Sands. “Finding a self tanner from the drugstore has never been easier since Bondi Sands sell their products at Walgreens and CVS!” She told The Post. “I recommend all of Bondi Sands’ products.”
Enriched with aloe vera and infused with a scent of coconut, this lightweight self tanning foam will leave your skin glowing like a day on Bondi beach — formulated to give a flawless bronze that is never streaky or orange-looking.
This product is ideal for those with an olive complexion or anyone who prefers a darker glow.
For those who want a tan face without the sun damage, DiMarchi recommends the Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops.
“Self tanning drops that are specifically designed for your face are the best. I love using the Tan-Luxe Illuminating Face Drops since they are formulated to plump your skin and come in two different shades light/medium and medium/dark. This product will not clog your pores and are made of concentrated DHA drops that allow you to customize your shade.”
Expert tip: Two drops will give you a radiance (light glow), four drops gives sun-kissed skin and six drops will give you a golden look.
This pick features raspberry seed oil to moisturize and condition, as well as aloe vera for ultra hydration.
Before lathering one of the above self-tanners to your body or face, there’s a few steps that experts recommend you do before getting your glow on. DiMarchi tells us how to prep, apply and maintain your tan below:
“Shower, shave and exfoliate is always the first step. When someone applies self tanner they want to have smooth and even skin without any topical products (a.k.a lotion), this way there is no barrier and the tan develops evenly,” DiMarchi said. As for exfoliation, Tull recommends dry brushing to remove the dead skin and allow for fresh skin to be primed and ready to absorb the product.
One exception to lotion in this process is applying a small amount to the dryer areas of your body (feet, elbows, knees, hands) to prevent the tan from over developing. DiMarchi uses the Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion ($15) on herself and clients.
“Apply the product with your favorite tanning mitt, makeup brush, or just your hands. Use a mitt for mousse, hands for gradual self tanners and use a makeup blending brush to evenly blend your hands, feet, elbows and knees,” DiMarchi told The Post. “Less is more when tanning the common ‘difficult areas’— never reapply product, use whatever is left on your mitt or blending brush instead.”
After you’ve applied the product to your body, wash your hands to ensure their palms and wrist will be tanned/blended perfectly.” DiMarchi likes to use the Ouai Hand Wash ($32) after self-tanning as it exfoliates your hands with biodegradable jojoba beads, which will remove any DHA (which stands for dihydroxyacetone – the active ingredient in most self-tanning products) from your palms.
After washing your hands, DiMarchi likes to use a makeup blending brush to buff out the top of the hands and around the wrist and if you’re feeling extra fancy, set your tan with a setting powder. “This is a professional tip that can be used at home. I always set my clients around the common areas that crease or sweat like the neck, underarms, under breast, lower back, inner thighs,” DiMarchi said, who’s favorite powders for this are the Elf Halo Glow Setting Powder ($8) or the Saie Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder ($30).
For best results, most experts recommend keeping the tanner on for at least eight hours before showering but be sure to read the instructions for the product at hand.
“The longevity of your self tanning application is determined by post care and lifestyle,” DiMarchi said.
“Apply moisturizer daily to hydrate your skin and ensure an even fade. Avoid super hot showers and scrubbing. Someone with an active lifestyle may cause their tan to fade more quickly and possibly uneven,” DiMarchi said. “If the self tanning application is for a specific occasion I suggest avoiding these activities till after, if it’s for someone who tans regularly, I suggest adjusting personal care products to maintain your tan.”
Pro Tip: If you do workout regularly, sweat a lot and still wants a sunless glow, DiMarchi recommends gently patting your skin with a workout towel to avoid the sweat from getting into your tan and causing your tan to get blotchy.
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