The 7 Best Self-Tanners, Tested Over Time By Our Editors (2025)

The best self-tanners are easy to apply—without rubbing off on clothing or sheets—and leave skin with an even, natural-looking glow. After extensive testing, we determined that the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse is our best overall pick. It dries quickly and starts to develop into an even tan after an hour—which is great for those who want quick results. We also recommend the Jergens Natural Glow Body Lotion, an excellent drugstore option that gives of gradual, subtle color with daily application.

We enlisted a panel of six testers, who used the top contenders over the course of months, and conducted interviews with experts to determine the following best self-tanners.

Our testers evaluated each product based on the ingredients, ease of application, development time, scent and longevity. The right formula can give a long-lasting healthy wash of color that fades evenly over time. “Look for hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and coconut oil, as they lock in moisture, preventing dryness and uneven fading,” says Courtney Claghorn, founder of spray tan studio Sugared and Bronzed. “Vitamin E and antioxidants also support skin health and keep your tan fresh.” Ahead, find the best self-tanners for a gorgeous glow.

This luxurious tanning mousse is our top recommendation thanks to its ease of application, how quickly it works and its customization factor. The whipped formula applies evenly and absorbs into the skin quickly; I found that using the St. Tropez applicator mitt ensures a smooth, even application while keeping my hands clean. The mousse is tinted, so you can easily see if it’s applied evenly or if you missed a spot.

Based on how many hours you leave it on, your tan can range from subtle to deeper tan, although I found that even after an hour, I had a rich, natural-looking tan that looked believable for my fair (type III) skin tone. The one downside our multiple testers noted is the lingering scent, which some described as “a strong perfume smell.”

This easy-to-use tinted mousse is ideal for beginners and those daunted by the self-tanning products because it leaves skin with a subtle, buildable wash of color that’s also moisturizing. One applied, it dries down quickly without any stickiness, and the ingredient list includes aloe vera and hyaluronic acid for hydration and to prevent uneven fading. The tinted formula also helps with even application and showing where you’ve missed any spots.

Unlike the St. Tropez mousse, this one has to be left on for about eight hours before it’s rinsed off, and the results are soft and natural. “This looked great after showering, and the color was very even,” says one tester. If you’re looking for a more noticeable tan, opt for the Dark shade.

Unlike most tanners, these travel-friendly wipes can be packed in your bag, and there’s no possibility of messes or spills. The individually wrapped towelettes are quick drying (gently rub the wipe in circular motions to apply, and color develops in several hours) and in my testing lasted an impressive four full days. Although these are designed for facial use, I was able to cover my face, neck, chest and arms with one wipe; you would need two to three wipes to cover your whole body. This isn’t tinted, so you won’t see where you’ve already applied it—but I didn’t find this problematic with how easy these were to use.

Our testers loved the even, sun-kissed glow that developed: “It faded to the perfect shade without any additional application and was still there by the end of the week.” Another benefit? The wipes also contain lactic and glycolic acids to gently exfoliate skin and reduce the appearance of pores.

This facial tanning water contains ingredients that hydrate and soothe your complexion. Glycerin and aloe boost hydration, while cucumber fruit extract and marshmallow root soothe and reduce inflammation. It’s meant to be applied as the last step in your skincare routine, and you can use a fluffy brush or your fingers, which is my preferred application method. I’ve found that smoothing it over my skin provides more noticeable results—although if you’re looking for a more subtle, diffused tan, use the brush.

The clear liquid is completely unscented and in the year that I’ve been using this has never irritated or given my skin breakouts (I have combination, acne-prone skin). The color reliably lasts for a few days. Just keep in mind that it takes longer for the tan to fully develop—approximately eight to nine hours.

The Clarins Self Tanning Tinted Gel feels like a milky cleanser—a changeup in consistency from some of the more common mousse formulas on the market. It has a faint tropical scent that fades within 30 minutes of application, and there’s no need to apply the formula with anything but your hands. “Because it’s a gel, it dries quite quickly but not so fast that you feel rushed and can’t apply it to your whole body in one fell swoop,” says our tester, who has used this product for a decade.

The color develops within 30 to 40 minutes and looks incredibly natural on our tester’s fair skin. If you want an extra-subtle wash of color on your face and neck, mix it into your moisturizer before applying.

If you have dry skin, the Tan-Luxe Hydrating Self-Tan Water is a great option packed with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, beta-glucan, aloe leaf juice and panthenol. It also includes vitamin C, which can help brighten your complexion and boost collagen production. To apply, you spray it directly onto your skin—each spritz covers a fairly large surface area—and rub it in using a mitt. Like the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse, you leave it on for 30 minutes to three hours, depending on how dark you want your tan to be.

“I typically leave it on for about 90 minutes. It gives the most natural color of any self-tanner I’ve tried—no orange tinge,” says our tester, who has been using this product for two years. The abundance of hydrating ingredients also ensures your sun-kissed glow fades evenly. “One of my favorite things about this tanning product is how naturally it fades—I never end up looking splotchy or having leftover tan patches,” she says.

The Jergens Natural Glow Body Lotion is our top pick for an affordable formula that leaves skin with a buildable tan. It has over 31,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and our tester gave it high marks for its easy application and pretty, natural-looking results. “Though it does have that slight stickiness right after application, it’s not the same level as many sunless tanning foams or mousses where you feel like you can’t touch anything for several minutes and need to fully air dry,” says our tester, who uses the medium to deep shade. She didn’t notice any transfer onto sheets or clothing, and the lotion is enriched with vitamin E and antioxidants to keep skin looking (and feeling) soft and smooth.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and written dozens of skincare stories, including the best moisturizers for aging skin, vitamin C serums, hyaluronic acid serums and more.

• Author of this story Katherine Louie is a lifestyle editor with over seven years of firsthand experience testing skincare, haircare and makeup.
• This story was assigned and edited by deputy editor Jane Sung, who oversees the beauty and grooming category and has two decades of experience product testing and covering lifestyle topics.
• Louie gathered key insight and guidance from Courtney Claghorn, founder of spray tan chain Sugared and Bronzed, and Jenni Blafer, founder of Sunkissed by Jenni, an airbrush tanning company based in LA.

How We Tested The Best Self-Tanners

After intensive research and narrowing down to the top contenders, we tested self-tanners on a range of skin tones while relying on the same criteria to evaluate each product: scent, ease of application, results and longevity. Our beauty team categorized testers using the Fitzpatrick skin scale described below. I consider myself a type III; our other testers range from type I to IV.

• Type I: Skin always burns, never tans and is sensitive to UV exposure.
• Type II: Skin burns easily and tans minimally.
• Type III: Skin burns moderately and tans gradually to light brown.
• Type IV: Skin burns minimally and always tans well to moderately brown.
• Type V: Skin rarely burns and tans profusely to dark.
• Type VI: Skin never burns, is deeply pigmented and is least sensitive to UV exposure.

We ensured our testers started with clean, exfoliated skin, which helps provide an even and long-lasting tan, according to Jenni Blafer, founder of Sunkissed by Jenni. As each tester opened the bottle, we had them note any smell if there was one and whether it dissipated during application. During the application phase of testing, we evaluated how messy it was to apply, how quickly the formula dried down and whether there was any lingering stickiness or residue. Post application, we observed the quality of the tan, whether it was even, how long it took to develop, how many days it lasted and if any color transferred to bedding or clothing. Another important consideration was whether the tan looked patchy as it faded.

How To Pick A Self-Tanner

There are several factors to consider when shopping for the best self-tanners. According to two experts we interviewed, here’s what to keep in mind.

Formula

Formulas range from lotions to oils to mousses. Finding the best one for you depends on your skin type and preferences. “If your skin tends to be on the drier side, lotions and creams are great since they add hydration while giving you a smooth, even tan,” says Courtney Claghorn, founder of Sugared and Bronzed. “If you want to get bronzed a little quicker, mousses dry fast and blend easily, making them a go-to for oily or combination skin. Oils and waters are perfect if you love a skincare-infused glow that builds gradually and feels lightweight.” Blafer notes that serums and mists are good for hard-to-reach areas and layering, but require careful blending to avoid uneven spots.

Development Time

The development time comes down to the type of formula and can range from 30 minutes to eight hours. If you’re new to self-tanning or unsure about your application skills, you might want to start with a gradual option like the Jergens Natural Glow Body Lotion. With most options, showering can halt the development process if the color develops too quickly or it’s too dark.

Shades

Certain products like the Vita Liberata Tanning Mousse are available in several shades, so you can choose the option that complements your natural skin tone and tanning preferences. If you want a subtle glow or you have pale skin, opt for a light or medium shade, while those who want a deeper glow should choose a darker color. Other formulas, like the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse, allow you to customize your shade based on how long you leave it on.