The Best Fake Tanners

Beauty by Earth Self-Tanner

Get the tan you deserve

Say hello to your new sunkissed glow with this Beauty by Earth self-tanner.

Best Overall

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Boasting a natural, hydrating formula that’s super-effective for all skin types, the Beauty by Earth Self-Tanner is that holy grail of self-tanners: It’s nourishing, quick-drying, and boosts your natural color without making you look orange. Organic shea butter, green tea extract, and coconut oil combine with self-tanning ingredients to protect and restore your skin while giving you a nice, even, healthy-looking glow; no parabens or chemical-based ingredients needed. It’s well-suited for even the most sensitive skin types, and you can use it all over your body and face, too.

Pros:

• The formula is comprised of organic, natural ingredients that nourish the skin and give you a natural glow
• Super-smooth application
• You can use it on your face and body, which isn’t always the case with self-tanners
• Works great on all skin types, even super-sensitive complexions

Cons:

• It’s not cheap

Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Body Mousse

Mousse it up

This awesome mousse from Jergens makes sure the application process goes smoothly.

Best Mousse

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Since most of us apply self-tanners to our entire body, it makes sense that you would want something light, smooth, and fast-drying. After all, nothing ruins a beach day like streaky, oily skin. That’s why we adore this mousse from Jergens. Best used with a self-tanning mitt, this subtle tanner gives you a light bronze look after a single application. Best of all, the color is long-lasting, so you can easily build up the shade until it’s as dark as desired.

Pros:

• Available as a single or in a bulk buy
• Very buildable, with a lightweight, streak-free formula
• Doesn’t leave a sticky residue
• Fairly quick-drying

Cons:

• We recommend getting a self-tanning mitt for this one, since it’s easy to overapply on certain areas and underapply on others

Coco & Eve Self Tanner Mousse Kit

Includes a soft velvet mitt

Coco & Eve offers a fantastic bronzer that comes complete with an applicator mitt.

Best Kit

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If you want to give your skin the premium treatment, go with this complete kit from Coco & Eve. Not only does it come with a foaming bottle of some top-shelf bronzer, but it also includes a machine-washable applicator glove. The glove makes spreading the bronzer easy as pie, so you can spend more time on the beach and less time rubbing in the bronzer with your fingers. The bronzer itself produces an exceptionally natural look and it’s comprised of premium ingredients that hydrate and rejuvenate.

Pros:

• Available in medium, dark, and ultra-dark, so you’re sure to find an option that fits your skin tone
• Produces an even tan in about two hours
• It’s almost impossible to get streaky skin

Cons:

• Pretty expensive
• Stays a bit sticky for up to half an hour after application

Sublime Bronze Self Tanner by L’Oreal Paris

A little dab goes a long way

This simple tanner might be lightweight, but it spreads evenly and smoothly every time.

Most Lightweight

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L’Oreal is the real deal. Their beauty products are always enriched with the most top-of-the-line ingredients and their self-tanning mousse is no exception. This lightweight formula is packed with vitamins and minerals for healthy, fast absorption. It also smells lovely thanks to the coconut base that enriches the feel and the scent. Another buildable self-tanner, this one is a must-have for trips to the beach.

Pros:

• Great value buy
• Contains vitamin E
• Glow is healthy and natural-looking
• Skin looks tighter and smoother, due to the collagen and elastin in the formula

Cons:

• It’s not quite as long-lasting as some other options

L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes

Keep a couple in your bag

These affordable towelettes are perfect for achieving a quick self-tan while you travel.

Best Towelettes

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When it comes to a good fake tanning product, you don’t want something complicated. For those that aren’t interested in donning an applicator glove and going to town for half an hour, there are quick-and-easy solutions. These towelettes from L’Oreal are the easy way to bring the bronze with you. Keep a couple in your travel bag and break them out before you hit the boardwalk. They produce a natural-looking, radiant tan in just a couple of hours. The application requires almost zero effort, and you don’t even have to worry about streaks. All in all, these are easily some of the best fake tanner wipes available.

Pros:

• It really doesn’t get easier to apply fake tanner than these wipes
• Produces a really even, natural-looking glow
• Lasts several days
• Virtually no mess

Cons:

• You can pretty easily miss a spot and not realize it until a couple of hours later

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I use a self-tanner?

You should only have to use self-tanner a few times per week to see results.

Is self-tanner bad for my skin?

Especially if you invest in an organic, non-toxic product, self-tanning won’t do any damage to your skin.

What are the best tips and tricks for learning how to apply self-tanner?

We have one word for you: exfoliate. Regardless of where you apply fake tanner on your body, you need to make sure to exfoliate first so that the product goes on as smoothly as possible. For your body, you can use a physical scrub or brush to slough off dead skin cells. For your face, opt for a facial cleansing brush or even a washcloth.