We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Style Skincare The 11 Drugstore Self-Tanners We Love The Most Including some of our editors' favorites for a healthy glow. By Addie Morton Addie Morton Addie is a Nashville-based freelance writer who is obsessed with all things home decor. In addition to Southern Living, her work has appeared in many print and digital publications, including Better Homes & Gardens, HGTV, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Great American Country, and Tennessee Athletics. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 25, 2024 Fact checked by Jillian Dara Fact checked by Jillian Dara Jillian is a freelance writer, editor and fact-checker with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. In addition to fact-checking for Southern Living, Jillian works on multiple verticals across Dotdash-Meredith, including TripSavvy, The Spruce, and Travel + Leisure. brand's fact checking process In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line Tips for Choosing More to Consider Questions and Answers Why Trust Southern Living Southern Living / David Hattan Whether you’re preparing for a special event or just wanting a sun-kissed look, drugstore self-tanners are an affordable way to achieve a natural glow—without the risk of sunburn. “Self-tanners provide a nice glow without exposure to harmful UV rays from the sun or tanning beds, reducing the risk of skin damage and premature aging,” says Kristina Black. “It’s more convenient being able to apply it in the comfort of your own home, and you are able to control the results yourself.” Meet the Expert Kristina Black is the owner of Southern Luxe Beauty in Nashville. Not all self-tanners are created equally, so we’re here to help in your search. We spoke with Black to learn more about what to look for when shopping for drugstore self-tanners, and we evaluated each product’s application type, number of shades, and development time to find the best options. Plus, we put a few of our favorite products to the test in a real-world evaluation. Our Top Picks Best Overall: b.tan Love At First Tan Tanning Mousse at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best Water Mousse: SOL by Jergens Sunless Tanning Water Mousse at Amazon (See Price) Jump to Review Best Fast-Acting: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam 1 Hour Express at Amazon ($23) Jump to Review Best Gradual: Jergens Natural Glow Tanning Moisturizer at Amazon ($11) Jump to Review Best Hydrating: Tanologist Hydrating Daily Glow Gradual Tanning Lotion at Amazon ($13) Jump to Review Best Eco-Friendly: Alba Botanica Sunless Tanner at Amazon ($7) Jump to Review Best for Dark Skin: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam at Amazon ($26) Jump to Review Best Scented: b.tan Disco Candy Tan Self Tan Mousse at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best for Face: L'Oreal Paris Self Tan Drops at Amazon ($18) Jump to Review Best Face Moisturizer: Jergens Natural Glow Face Moisturizer at Amazon ($12) Jump to Review Best Overall b.tan Love At First Tan Tanning Mousse Ulta View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $10 View On Target $20 What’s Great About It Violet base prevents orange tones Minimal transfer after drying Easy and even application with mitt Budget-friendly What Could Be Better Requires overnight development for noticeable tan This editor-loved product is an excellent value for the price. There are five shades in the line, but we particularly love the Love At First Tan/Level 2 option, which has a violet base to counteract any orange tones. The mousse’s slight tint allows beginners to see where you’ve applied the product to help with even application. We also love this pick because it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and doesn’t contain any parabens. We found that this product isn’t sticky while drying and doesn’t transfer at all once rinsed off. The product develops in as little as one hour, although the manufacturer recommends keeping it on for upwards of four hours if you want an even darker tan. We personally found that our tan was barely noticeable after we rinsed it off after an hour, but we noticed significantly more color in the morning. Thus, consider applying this self-tanner the night before for optimal results. Mousse is Black’s favorite self-tanner formulation for a reason: When applied with a mitt, it’s easy to control and blend. Those who are new to self tanning can purchase the product plus an application mitt to get started. We found the mitt to be helpful at buffing out the product. The smaller size allows you to easily get around knees and ankles, plus it also comes with an applicator to apply the product to your back. Type: Mousse | Shades: Five | Development Time: 1-4+ hours Southern Living / Melanie Fincher Best Water Mousse SOL by Jergens Sunless Tanning Water Mousse Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart $13 What’s Great About It Water-based formula means it’s easy to apply Streak- and transfer-free What Could Be Better Takes up to 24 hours to fully develop The SOL by Jergens Water Mousse is water-based, translucent, and airy for a smooth application. This means you won’t have to worry about streaks or color transfer, making it a good beginner-friendly option. Plus, when applied with a mitt, mousse is easy to control and blend. We love that the SOL formula includes coconut water and self-tanning agents that come from natural sugars, plus it has passion fruit essence for a nice tropical fragrance. It’s important to keep the development time in mind if you’re wanting a deep color. Though you can wash off after four hours, it can take up to 24 hours for the tan to fully develop—but on the bright side, it’ll last for several days. Type: Mousse | Shades: Two | Development Time: 4–24 hours Best Fast-Acting Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam 1 Hour Express Ulta View On Amazon $23 View On Walmart $17 View On Ulta $26 What’s Great About It Develops in as little as an hour Easy and even application with a mitt Fragrance-free Minimal blotchiness with an even fade What Could Be Better Only available in one shade Needs overnight development for full color payoff Not 100% transfer-proof If you’re looking for a last-minute tan, turn to Bondi Sands’ Self Tanning Foam 1 Hour Express. In as little as 30 minutes, you’ll have a light/medium tan; in one hour, you’ll have a bronze tan. The tanner will continue to develop even after it’s washed off. However, we found that overnight development is needed for full color payoff, so this product is also great for planned events. Like other Bondi Sands products, this self-tanner is vegan and cruelty-free. We love that the mousse is tinted to serve as a guide color when applying. Though not required, a mitt is recommended for even application. The mitt was helpful for buffing the product into the skin to avoid a streaky finish and protecting hands from getting stained or over-tanned. This product is only available in one shade and gave us one of the deepest tans of any product we’ve tried. Make sure to work quickly before the mousse starts to dry down. Within 5-10 minutes of application, our skin felt completely dry and didn’t have a sticky residue. During the one-hour development time, we sat on a dark towel since we noticed a bit of color transfer on light-colored fabric. We loved that this product faded uniformly, and we were gradually back to our natural skin tone in about five days. Type: Mousse | Shades: One | Development Time: 1–3 hours Southern Living / Melanie Fincher Best Gradual Jergens Natural Glow Tanning Moisturizer Amazon View On Amazon $11 View On Walmart $11 View On Target $3 What’s Great About It Easy application with a smooth texture Transfer-free Long-lasting with no blotchiness Natural look with no noticeable scent What Could Be Better Needs to be thoroughly rubbed in to fully absorb Even application is difficult Formula contains alcohol We were impressed with Jergens’ Natural Glow Lotion during our testing. We loved this lotion’s smooth texture and found it easy to apply. It didn’t leave our skin feeling sticky, and within three days, we noticed a natural looking tan that wasn’t patchy or blotchy. We didn’t notice any color transfer on our sheets or clothes, and we loved that this product doesn’t have a noticeable scent. This pick comes in two colors: fair to medium and medium to deep. It features antioxidants and vitamin E to deeply moisturize your skin. These ingredients also help your tan’s longevity. However, keep in mind that the formula does include alcohol, which can be drying to the skin and eventually strip your tan. We did find that we had to thoroughly rub the product in for it to fully absorb. Pro tip—consider using a tanning mitt to help with even application. It’s also important to remember that you’ll need to apply this lotion daily to maintain your color. Overall, we found this self-tanner to be effective for gradual, long-lasting results without transfer issues. Type: Lotion | Shades: Two | Development Time: Gradual build with daily application Southern Living / Moriah Mason Best Hydrating Tanologist Hydrating Daily Glow Gradual Tanning Lotion Ulta View On Amazon $13 View On Target $13 View On Ulta What’s Great About It Can replace your everyday body lotion Made with hydrating ingredients Lightweight and fast-drying What Could Be Better Development takes time, and you need to apply it every day Lightweight lotions are ideal for the body because they’re easy to apply and blend. This pick by Tanologist is meant to be applied daily for a gradual color build, and can replace your everyday body lotion. You can pick between Fair/Medium and Medium/Dark colors to best fit your skin tone, or opt for the brand’s Brightening or Firming lotions instead. We love this pick’s nourishing formula, which includes hyaluronic acid, squalane, and beta glucan to hydrate the skin. Plus, sweet almond oil nourishes and protects the skin barrier while blackcurrant seed calms inflammation. It also includes a slight tropical fragrance to fit into your everyday beauty routine. Since this is a gradual tanning product, the color payoff cannot be seen immediately. It’s important to apply this product daily to achieve your desired results and to keep your skin hydrated and exfoliated. If you’re in need of quick results for an event, consider a mousse self-tanner instead. Type: Lotion | Shades: Two | Development Time: Gradual build with daily application Best Eco-Friendly Alba Botanica Sunless Tanner Amazon View On Amazon $7 View On Target $7 View On Herbspro.com What’s Great About It No synthetic fragrances or parabens No oxybenzone or octinoxate Fast development time What Could Be Better Only one shade available May be too subtle for some This self-tanner is made from plant-based ingredients and does not contain oxybenzone or octinoxate, two common sunscreen ingredients that are banned in Hawaii for their effects on ocean ecosystems. We love that the moisturizing formula includes shea butter oil, orange peel oil, and almond oil, and is made without synthetic fragrances or parabens, so it’s great for those with sensitive skin. The development time is less than three hours, so you don’t have to sleep in it overnight like most self-tanners. This is a pretty subtle self-tanner, so we do wish this product was available in more than just one shade. That does make it a good option for people with fair skin, or those who just want a very light glow. And though Alba Botanica makes sunscreen, keep in mind that this product does not protect against sunburn. Type: Lotion | Shades: One | Development Time: 3 hours Best for Dark Skin Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam Ulta View On Amazon $26 View On Walmart $17 View On Target $26 What’s Great About It Easy to apply Smells like fresh coconut What Could Be Better Expensive 6–8 hour development time Bondi Sands is owned and made in Australia, and the formula is designed to give you a bronzed tan with an easy application. The brand’s Ultra Dark Self Tanning Foam is recommended for those with dark skin tones or experienced tanners looking for the darkest glow. This fan-favorite self-tanner is one of the more expensive self-tanners on our list, but that’s because it’s comparable to several high-end self-tanners on the market. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated without sulfates or parabens. The brand recommends applying the product with a mitt and using long, sweeping motions. A lot of self-tanners on the market have a weird smell, but Bondi Sands is known for its fresh coconut scent. That comes in handy since the development time is 6–8 hours before you can wash it off. Type: Mousse | Shades: Three | Development Time: 6–8 hours Best Scented b.tan Disco Candy Tan Self Tan Mousse Ulta View On Amazon $10 View On Ulta What’s Great About It Sweat- and transfer-resistant Has a unique candy scent What Could Be Better Only available in one shade Why have an average self-tanner when you can have one that smells amazing? Disco Candy Tan is another b.tan product, but it has a special feature: Unlike most self-tanners, this one actually smells like candy. Like Love At First Tan, Disco Candy Tan is vegan, cruelty-free, and is made without parabens. You can start to see color in as little as one hour, but you can leave it on for up to eight hours. In addition to the sweet smell, this pick is “party-proof” with a sweat- and transfer-resistant formula. Though the b.tan line has multiple shades, keep in mind that Disco Candy Tan is only available in Darkest/Level 3. Type: Mousse | Shades: One | Development Time: 1–8 hours Best for Face L'Oreal Paris Self Tan Drops Amazon View On Amazon $18 View On Target $16 View On CVS $20 What’s Great About It It’s fragrance-free The formula includes hyaluronic acid What Could Be Better Development takes time Only available in one shade Tanning your face is intimidating for anyone, but especially for beginners. That’s why we recommend this self-tanner from L’Oreal Paris that’s made specifically for your face. To achieve a light, sun-kissed glow, simply mix 5–7 drops of this product in with your favorite moisturizer. If you’re going for a deeper, bronzed glow, opt for 8–10 drops and apply to your neck and face. Keep in mind that you’ll want to match the color of your body when deciding on how many drops to use. The face is more sensitive than the body, so we love that this pick is fragrance- and dye-free. The formula also doubles as skincare, as it includes hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin. You can use this product with most serums, but it’s recommended to skip AHAs or retinol to prevent a streaky finish. Your glow will build naturally with daily application, and you’ll need to reapply daily until you reach your desired results. Type: Liquid drops | Shades: One | Development Time: Gradual build with daily application Best Face Moisturizer Jergens Natural Glow Face Moisturizer Amazon View On Amazon $12 View On Walmart $11 View On Target $11 What’s Great About It Has SPF 20 3-in-1 product Oil-free What Could Be Better Expensive Only two color options Similar to facial drops, moisturizer with self-tanner is a great option for your face and neck. Jergens Natural Glow is a gradual self-tanner meant to be used once per day. In addition to adding hydration and color, this moisturizer also protects your skin from broad-spectrum UVA and UVB rays with SPF 20. This lightweight and oil-free moisturizer is available in two shades, though we wish there were more options. You can use this product as a base under makeup or apply before bed and wake up with a glow. While there are several pros, this is one of the most expensive items on our list for price per ounce. However, it’s a three-in-one product and acts as a face tanner, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Type: Lotion | Shades: Two | Development Time: Gradual build with daily application Best Towelettes L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Towelettes for Body Amazon View On Amazon $12 View On Walmart $12 View On Walgreens $16 What’s Great About It Very convenient Formula includes vitamin E and AHAs What Could Be Better Only available in one shade Single-use towelettes aren’t very cost-effective or eco-friendly Are you in need of a tan on the go? Look no further than the Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes by L’Oreal Paris. Each pack comes with six towelettes that have enough self-tanner for one application. The formula includes nourishing vitamin E and AHAs, which help improve skin texture. Both work together to create a streak-free and natural looking glow. Since towelettes are ideal for on-the-go use, development time is important to keep in mind. This product clocks in at 2–4 hours, which is on the lower end for self-tanners but could be inconvenient if you’re in a rush. Luckily, L’Oreal Paris has other self-tanning products in this line that you can use at home for touch-ups. Type: Towelette | Shades: One | Development Time: 2–4 hours The Bottom Line Overall, we recommend b.tan’s Love At First Tan. Because it’s a mousse, it’s easy to apply, especially if you use a mitt. It’s available in five levels, plus has a violet base that counteracts any orange. For a slightly more fast-acting tanner, the Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam 1 Hour Express, starts showing results in as little as 30 minutes. Tips for Choosing the Right Self-Tanner Application Type There are several types of self-tanner, including mousse, spray, lotion, liquid drops, and towelettes. Each has their advantages and works better on different parts of the body. Liquid drops can be added to facial moisturizer to create a subtle facial glow, while lotion is easy to apply to your legs like a typical lotion. Mousse is easy to control, especially if you use gloves. Those who value convenience and mess-free self-tanner may enjoy spray and towelettes, although spray tanners aren’t the best for beginners. Shade Range “Choosing the right shade is sometimes trial and error,” says Black. “It’s always best to start with a lighter shade, and if it isn’t dark enough for you, go a shade darker.” Self-tanner is all about creating a healthy glow, so avoid shades not designed for your skin tone. You can also try a color-correcting formula such as Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water that helps even out your skin tone. Development Time Development time varies by product. Some self-tanners can deliver results within an hour while most require several hours to fully develop. Black says she prefers products with longer development times, as they typically have the most color pay-off. Keep your desired results in mind, as well. If you prefer a darker color, leave your tan on for the full time. For those wanting a lighter glow, consider washing off before the max recommended time. Ingredients Ingredients have a large impact on your tan’s longevity. Black recommends self-tanners with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamins A, C, or E. Though these ingredients are not required for good color, she says they help your skin retain moisture. To avoid stripping your tan’s glow, Black recommends avoiding products with fragrances, parabens, alcohols, or mineral oil. More Drugstore Self-Tanners to Consider Banana Boat Summer Color Self Tanning Lotion: We found this self-tanner to give a natural-looking color. It has a thin consistency, absorbs well into the skin, and is easy to apply. We didn’t notice sticky residue, color transfer on clothing or sheets, or fading from daily showers. However, it takes awhile to show color payoff, and it gave us the lightest tan of any product we tested. If you’re looking for a slight glow, consider this long-lasting option. Questions and Answers What is the best self-tanner for beginners? Black’s favorite way to self tan is with mousse and an application mitt, and beginners may find this to be easiest. Mousse is easier to control than sprays and liquids, which means you have a better chance of avoiding uneven and streaky results. When possible, avoid clear self-tanner and opt for one with a bronzer/color guide so you can see where you have applied the product. “If you’re a beginner, I would recommend watching a video on how to apply [self-tanner] and trying it during a time where you don’t have anywhere important to be in case it doesn’t turn out how you would like,” Black advises. “I tell everybody that practice makes perfect, and it will get better with each application!” How should you apply self-tanner? Preparation is key. Black first recommends showering, exfoliating, and shaving. Next, apply lotion on your hands and dry areas including elbows and knees to prevent the tan from sticking and creating an uneven color. Work with small amounts of self-tanner at a time and blend with a mitt in circular motions from your calves to your neck. For your face and neck, you can add facial drops to your moisturizer. You can also use the same product as your body and apply with a kabuki-style brush if you are not acne-prone or do not have sensitive skin. Black recommends getting dressed in dark, loose fitting clothing and allowing the tan to develop for eight hours before showering. All self-tanners develop differently, so check the label to figure out your desired color and development time. How long does self-tanner last? This depends on your aftercare routine, but generally speaking, Black says self-tanner can last 5–7 days. It’s important to take care of your skin after using a self-tanner to avoid stripping the tan’s color. To prolong your tan, Black recommends staying hydrated and using fragrance- and paraben-free beauty products. How often should you use self-tanner? Black says she likes to use self-tanner once or twice per week to keep a year-round glow. For those wanting a special occasion glow, she recommends applying self-tanner the night before your event. The type of self-tanner also impacts application frequency. Gradual lotions build over time and need to be applied daily to achieve your perfect bronze, while mousse and liquid tanners typically develop within a few hours and do not need to be reapplied for several days. Why Trust Southern Living Addie Morton is a contributing writer for Southern Living who specializes in home decor and lifestyle content. For this story, researched a variety of drugstore self-tanners and evaluated each on formulation, ease of application, development time, and shade range. She also spoke with Kristina Black, the owner of Southern Luxe Beauty in Nashville, which specializes in luxury beauty services. Plus, editors put a few of our favorite products to the test in a real-world evaluation. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit