20-03-2025
The best self tanner of 2025 — yes, you can totally fake a sun-kissed glow
The first time I ever tried self tanner was in 2002. I was in my 20s, had an early-summer wedding to attend, a shortish dress to wear and only my splotchy-pale winter legs to pair with it. I wanted a fake tan and I wanted it fast. At the last minute, I picked up an inexpensive Jergens self-tanning product and applied it hastily with my bare hands on my un-prepped skin. The result was a streaky, uneven, too-caramel colored mess. My palms, which I'd waited too long to wash, resembled Oompa Loompas; I attended the event with my legs orange striped.
Since then, a lot has changed in the world of at-home tanning, In fact, in 2025, choosing the best self tanner is easier than ever before. With an array of new formulations — from bronzing mousse to wipes to drops to traditional creams — there's a sunless tan method for most everyone, no matter your skin type or shade. If you're looking for a little skin glow up, self-tanning products are superior in all ways to time spent baking in the sun, decreasing your risk of skin cancer, hyperpigmentation, age spots and premature wrinkles. You just need to learn how to use them first.
Best self tanner overall
Other top self tanners we recommend for 2025
How we tested
Popular self tanners we tested but didn't include in our list
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Meet our expert
Update, Mar. 20, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our number one pick for the best self tanner remains unchanged.
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I've been testing self tanners since my days as an editor at Lucky magazine — nearly 20 years. For this story, I tested 15 new (or new to me) face and body self tanners, leaving each on a week after initial application. I added those I liked to the list of standby self tanners I already know and love. I rated each product on: smell, texture, application, efficacy, development time, staying power and cost.
I found self tanner mousses and foams to generally be the easiest and most fool-proof, which is why there are so many represented here. Heavier creams were (with few exceptions) harder to control. With one notable exception, I could not get self-tanning "mists" to appear smooth.
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I tried the + Lux Unfiltered No 36 Supernatural Tanning Mousse Foam and the tan itself was fine, but the fragrance was far too strong and chemical for my taste and, at $40, I felt it was too expensive for what it was.
People love Loving Tan 2 HR Express Mousse but, even after an hour of drying, it transferred tan color all over my sheets.
Every teen on TikTok is obsessed with these Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops but I found them to be uneven and too subtle, plus they left my face sticky.
There's a lot to like about the Tan-Luxe Hydra-Mousse Hydrating Self Tanner, a cruelty-free, toxin-free, ultra-hydrating mousse that tops many "best self tanner" lists, but ultimately the $50 price tag felt, for me, like not enough bang for your buck.
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"The best way to apply self tanner is with a tanning mitt as well as makeup brushes to blend areas such as wrists, knuckles, fingers, feet and toes," says celebrity airbrush-tanning artist Kristyn Pradas (her clients include Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Lawrence, Susan Sarandon and Kaley Cuoco). Pradas has been in the tanning game for more than a decade — she also owns the award-winning Pradas Glow spray-tan chain, with locations in Miami, New York and Los Angeles and has been featured as a tanning specialist on the Real Housewives of New York.
Other pro tips for applying self tanner include using less product in high crease/high texture areas such as knees an ankles — you can even dilute your self-tanner with your favorite moisturizer in these spots to ensure a more even look.
In terms of prepping skin pre-self-tan, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, the best way to get the most natural glow from self tanner is to exfoliate first (I like Bliss's Lemon Sage Body Polish for this — it's effective, affordable and doesn't smell like a cheap surf shop) and then dry skin completely. If you're not using gloves, wash your hands frequently so the product doesn't settle into your palms. And don't forget to allow time for any product to set: You should wait at least 10 minutes post application before putting on clothes.
The active ingredient in most self tanners is something called dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, a sugar compound that, when it interacts with the proteins of our skin cells, creates a temporary darkening of the skin. Dihydroxyacetone is FDA approved and safe for most skin types (though, as with any new product, you should test self tanners on a small area before a full application, particularly if you have sensitive skin). DHA creates a gradual tan, usually developing over the course of 2 to 8 hours, so don't freak out — and do not add more — if you're not seeing color right away.
This is a hard "No"! The American Academy of Dermatology advises applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher over self tanner whenever you plan on being in the sun.
So what if you make a mistake when applying self tanner or apply too much? Kristyn Pradas has you covered: "The best way to remove self tanner that has not yet developed — for instance from palms of your hands — is with witch hazel, or witch hazel wipes work amazingly well," she says.
If your tan is already developed and it's looking too dark or in the wrong place, Pradas has this advice: "You can make a homemade mix of baking soda and lemon juice, then, in circular motions, apply to the area you want to either lighten or remove self tanner. You may also use a loofah or a washcloth."
Lastly, for a tan that's fading unevenly: "Salt scrubs are my favorite. For dry or balanced skin I love mixing salt with jojoba oil. For extra dry skin I like to mix the salt with apricot seed oil or avocado oil. These options will help nourish your skin while you are exfoliating."
"One of the biggest mistakes people make with self tanner is thinking there is one shade or one hue for everyone, says Pradas. "Just like with makeup, certain hues look better with certain skin tones."
When in doubt, choose light options with olive-brown undertones which tend to look good on most skin tones.
"People should look for a self tanner that is hydrating, glides on easily, yet dries quickly. This will ensure an easy stress-free application," says Pradas. "This will also help to prevent crease marks from developing and to prevent the self tanner from transferring to clothing leaving your skin uneven in certain areas."
Celebrity airbrush-tanning artist Kristyn Pradas
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