You may not realize it, but applying the best self tanner lotion is one of the few safe ways to achieve a bronzed hue. Unlike UV rays and tanning beds, the best self tanner does not cause skin damage, so you may obtain your desired look without jeopardizing your skin’s health. That’s why skin professionals, such as celebrity aesthetician and dermatological nurse Natalie Aguilar, highly endorse them. Using the best self tanner product at home reduces your exposure to sunburn and skin cancer caused by the sun and tanning salons.
They include an FDA-approved chemical called dihydroxyacetone, sometimes known as DHA, which temporarily tans your skin’s topmost layers.” As a result, exfoliating your skin before application is critical, whether it’s by shaving, using a loofah, or using a refined body scrub. To achieve equal coverage, use a mitt while applying the best self tanner and to prevent your palms from darkening. We picked up the greatest the best self tanner available, working with Aguilar and James Read, the best self-tanner dermatologist-recommended specialist, and creator of James Read Tan.
Top 12 Best Self Tanners Lotion For Sun Free Glow 2021
The best self tanner is a safe, UV-free approach to achieve the sun-kissed look of someone who hasn’t been sitting in their apartment, far away from a window, for more than a year. However, not all the best self tanner are created equal Some must be left on your skin for an excruciatingly long period of time, while others are difficult to apply evenly.
How We Choose the Best Self Tanner
All of the best self tanner on this list has over 100 reviews and an average rating. Our best-rated selection is the self-tanner with the most overall reviews, and our best-rated less expensive pick is the one that satisfies all of our requirements at the lowest price in the category, in case you’re searching for a glow. The remaining goods are classified according to what people are looking for and what reviews are raving about.
1. Best Overall: Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam
This tropical-scented product contains potent anti-aging components such as raw virgin coconuts and antioxidant-rich mango, fig, and cocoa to tighten and moisturize your skin while also targeting unsightly cellulite. This easy-to-apply foam formulated with 100 percent natural DHA produces a natural-looking golden glow in as little as two hours. You may select your amount of tan from three tones, depending on whether you want a subtle boost or a deeper bronze. And because each recipe is created with a green-gray basis, you can be confident that it will not leave you with any orangey tones. Also worthy of mention? Unlike many self-tanners, which might have an unpleasant odor, this one has a delicious Balinese mango and guava flavor.
2. Best Budget: Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
This tried-and-true recipe is a keeper for a reason. It is a great pick from Reading and delivers a gradual tan that accentuates your natural skin tone. “It’s really hydrating and simple to apply,” he says. The composition, which contains moisturizers such as glycerin and avocado oil, as well as antioxidants such as vitamin E, not only nourishes and softens the skin but also works hard to protect it. This drugstore classic comes in two hues, light to medium and medium to tan, to suit a variety of skin tones. So, if you’re looking for a gentle glow, this hydrating lotion is a sure bet.
3. Best Drugstore natural self-tanner: L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Hydrating Self-Tanning Water Mousse
This ultra-lightweight mousse applies like a dream, providing a natural-looking medium glow with no need for time in the sun. The transfer-proof product goes on clear, which means it won’t stain your clothes, and dries rapidly, starting to function in four to eight hours. The recipe is filled with coconut water and vitamin E to keep your skin soft and smooth—plus, the coconut-infused perfume smells like summer. Expert advice? The manufacturer recommends applying three times over the period of 12 to 24 hours to achieve a deeper, longer-lasting tan.
4. Best self tanner for Face: James Read Tan Click & Glow Tan Drops
Read developed these face self-tanning drops to provide a more customized bronze. “The more droplets you use, the more tan you get,” he explains. Add two to four drops to your favorite skincare product, such as a moisturizer or serum, and mix together in the palm of your hand before applying evenly all over the face for an immediate shine. (Add six to eight drops for a darker tan.) Because the formula is buildable, apply it two to three times each week to build and maintain your color. Not only will it give you a natural-looking glow, but the product is also loaded with skin-loving ingredients: Vitamin E protects against free radicals and increases collagen formation, while aloe vera and hyaluronic acid moisturize, plump, and soothe.
5. Best for Fair Skin: St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse
The key to tanning fair skin is to gradually build up your color. This water mousse makes it simple to do so—just apply (no rinse required) and wait four to eight hours for the color to develop. Continue to reapply—and hydrate in between—to get the desired effect. Read enjoys this lotion because it’s light on the skin, and its transparent composition makes it simple to tan and go throughout the day or apply to bed. “It’s also quite hydrating thanks to the extra vitamins,” he adds. Is it also nice? In addition, the formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and non-comedogenic.
6. Best for Medium Skin: Tarte Brazilliance PLUS + Self-Tanner with Mitt
Tarte’s best-selling self-tanning gel not only fakes that just-back-from-vacation bronze in as little as four hours, but it also serves as a skin-loving body treatment. To achieve a smoother, more equal texture and tone, the recipe blends self-tanning ingredients with exfoliating citric acid, hydrating maracuja, and sunflower seed oils, and smoothing squalane. In addition, the bundle includes a bespoke application mitt to make the application easier. As a result, a lovely, streak-free deep tan that looks especially well on medium skin tones. Tarte created its patented PUREshield fragrance-control technology to guarantee you only see your tan, not smell it, since certain self-tanners can have a very specific (and unpleasant) aroma when they begin to work.
7. Best for Dark Skin: Bondi Sands Aero Aerated Self Tanning Foam
“The color is quite natural, it dries in 60 seconds (which means you can wear it out), and then fade down is natural,” writes 7 Read of Bondi Sans’ self-tanning foam. The lotion, which takes around six to eight hours to develop, has skin-soothing elements like vitamin E and jojoba oil for enhanced hydration, which can help your tan remain longer. It also has a lovely coconut aroma that transports you to a tropical beach. While this formula comes in three distinct hues, Ultra Dark is best suited for darker skin tones, producing a natural bronzed tan over a dark base.
8. Best Gradual: Vita Liberata Fabulous Self Tanning Gradual Tan Lotion
This lotion is ideal if you want a more gradual impact on your tan. The hydrating product, made with 100 percent natural ECOcert DHA, applies like a typical body lotion and develops over four to eight hours for a long-lasting, natural glow. It’s also extremely hydrating, containing moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and marula oil, as well as antioxidants to protect your skin from UV radiation and free radicals. What’s the best part? Because it applies clear and does not transfer to textiles, your sheets will remain white even after application. While it doesn’t contain any scent (making it ideal for those with sensitive skin), the recipe is a low odor and doesn’t smell as strongly as standard self-tanners.
9. best self-tanner for sensitive skin: James Read Tan Glow 20 Body Tanning Mousse
You don’t have time to sit around for hours waiting for your self-tanner to develop? Look no farther than James Read Tan’s express formula. This fast-acting mousse gives you a natural-looking glow in 20 minutes flat, which is rather astounding in our opinion, while also leaving your skin smooth, moisturized, and healthy. The recipe helps to brighten and smooth out the skin while also protecting it from free radical damage and stimulating collagen synthesis, thanks to skincare greats like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and fruit extracts. Overall, it is a must-have.
10. Best for Sensitive Skin: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water
This Isle of Paradise self-tanning water mixes tanning actives with a mixture of healthy nutrients including coconut oil, avocado oil, and chia seed oil to hydrate and protect the skin’s natural barrier. It’s also quite soft, making it ideal for people with sensitive skin: In addition to additional non-sensitizing and hypoallergenic components, the composition solely includes actives with low pH values. It comes in three separate formulae for light, medium, and dark skin tones, each of which is enhanced with its own unique complex: The light formula brightens the skin, the medium formula decreases redness and calms it, and the dark formula minimizes orange/sallow tones. It’s also worth noting that the formula comes in reusable bottles, making it an excellent choice in terms of sustainability.
11. Best Mousse: Australian Glow One Hour Express Self Tan Mousse
This mousse from Australian Glow is a great choice since it’s packed with natural botanicals including vitamin C-rich Kakadu plum, purifying cocoa, anti-aging powerhouse green tea, and antioxidant-rich goji berries. It also contains moisture-boosting nutrients, including hyaluronic acid and aloe vera. You may keep this mousse on for an hour for a mild glow or up to four hours for a deeper glow, depending on your desired level of tan. Plus, you may build up your tan with many coats, resulting in no orange tones or streaks.
12. Best Odorless: Loving Tan 2 HR Express Self Tanning Mousse
If you use self-tanner on a daily basis, you’re certainly aware that many products might have an unpleasant odour. That is why we like our Loving Tan product (which, as the name implies, was made by tan lovers for tan lovers). Not only does it smell good (no chemical odour), but the quick-drying composition also produces a natural bronzing look after only two hours. Of course, exfoliate and hydrate your skin before applying for an even, streak-free tan.