The best self-tanners to get a natural-looking glow with no beach required
I don’t tan well — it’s a fact I’ve always been annoyed with. My fair skin just does not mesh with the sun, and since I’d rather not endure a sunburn (or worse, risk skin cancer or sun damage), I’ve always been an avid user of self tanner. Now I’ve accepted the fact that my skin is more prone to burn than tan, and a lot of that acceptance is thanks to amazing self tanner and bronzer products out there that can give me a faux glow when I want it.
But given my decade (or more, TBH) experience with tanning lotion and self tanning products, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to get a sunless golden glow.
The first step to nailing a fake tan that will have people wondering which beach you just got back from is finding a quality sunless tanner. And believe me, there are a lot of questionable ones out there that can leave you too dark, orange or with streaks that can take a lot of time to wear off. Thankfully, the list below has been vetted based on reviews, beauty editor picks or my personal experience.
Keep reading for the best sunless tanner and bronzer for your face and body.
The difference between a bronzer and self tanner
The list below includes both bronzers and self tanners (some self tanning products contain bronzers, FYI). A self tanner is a product that contains a color additive, usually dihydroxyacetone, aka DHA, an ingredient that reacts with your skin to turn it darker. Because of the nature of the product, you can’t “wash off” the tan.
The color will usually last for about a week, depending on how much you sweat and shower, and if you moisturize. A bronzer is a product designed to give you a bronze glow, but it does not “tan” your skin and the color is only temporary. It’s just a layer of color, like makeup, that you apply to your face and body that can wash off.