Everyone wants to get a glow, and when it comes with a touch of bronze, it’s all the better. With the best self tanner, you can get a radiant, well-rested look that seems to be the byproduct of a sun-drenched getaway—it’s up to you whether or not to disclose that it came from a bottle. Fortunately, editors and celebrity experts don’t gatekeep their intel on the best self tanners for every age, skin tone, and gender. Our Top Picks “Self-tan has always been a cloak of confidence for myself, and for my celebrity clients, but for some reason, it was only communicated to consumers as a one-body-shape, one-skin-tone type of beauty product, which has never been the case for me!” explains celebrity tanning expert and founder of Isle of Paradise, . He believes we should rely on self tan to help boost confidence by awakening a lit-from-within glow that naturally peps us up. “Our skin looks more even and our glow more prominent–and that, in turn, affects our day-to-day mood,” he says. Want to experience the glow-boost yourself? Just ahead of summer, here are the best self tanners, according to editors and bronzing buffs. In This Story Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Glow Drops Vita Liberata Fabulous Gradual Tanning Lotion Tan-Luxe The Water Hydrating Self-Tan Water Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Self Tanning Dry-Oil Coola Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad Self-Tanner for Body St. Tropez Self-Tan Luxe Whipped Crème Mousse Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner Lotion Loving Tan 2 HR Express Mousse Clarins Self Tanning Body Booster Drops If you’re new to the world of self tanner or simply are curious how products create that bronzed effect, Hep breaks it down: “The self-tan ingredient [found in many products], DHA (dihydroxyacetone), reacts with our skin giving the illusion that we’ve been away.” From gradual tanning lotions to self-tanning drops, there are plenty of easy-to-apply options offering a subtle face and body glow infused with skin-nourishing ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, and . “The best way to think of self-tan is that it mimics vacation skin without having to go on vacation–essentially, it’s a vacation in a bottle!” says Hep. “I would opt for a self tanner that has a bronzer, which is also known as the color guide,” says founder Isabel Alysa, a celebrity spray tan artist whose clients include
Miley Cyrus,
Jennifer Lopez, and
Kim Kardashian. This helps guarantee a more even application so you don’t miss any spots. “[If you're more fair-toned], I would also choose a self tanner that is a light or medium shade, versus going with a dark option. The DHA with a dark self tanner might be too high and can actually cause orange hues if not used on the correct skin tone.” Another pro tip (especially if you’re in rush) Alysa shares? Opting for an easy-to-apply spray or mist to ensure “a good, even tan.” When it comes to choosing the best self tanner for you, “the rule I always use is light for light skin tones, medium shades for medium skin tones—think someone who naturally tans in the sun, with an olive skin tone—and dark shades for deeper skin tones,” Alysa says. “Following those guidelines will ensure a brown, natural-looking self tan, and reduce the chance of orange hues.” According to Bethany Menzel, co-founder and creative director of , “Why you want to self tan can also help determine which tanner is best for you." If you want to have an everyday glow that’s easy to maintain, she recommends a product that goes on transparent and develops gradually. “This will make your tan routine feel maintainable and avoid tan transfer on your clothing and sheets.” On the other hand, she says: “If you just plan on tanning for a single event you might be willing to put up with the transfer of a quick-developing product with guide color.” Alysa recommends using self tanner on the body once a week, though the face could benefit from some extra bronze. “Self tanner on the face fades the most quickly because we tend to wash the face the most, and the skin there is very thin,” she says. “Having self-tanning drops or a touch-up spray for the face is amazing.” None of us want to go through the effort of self tanning to reveal streaky, patchy bouts of color. The key to a great tan is all in the preparation, says Marc Elrick, founder and CEO of Tan-Luxe, who recommends prepping skin 24 hours before application. “Any shaving, exfoliating, and moisturizing should be done the day before to ensure you have the perfect base,” says Elrick. Then when you’re ready to apply your tanner of choice, moisturize dry patches to avoid product buildup and prevent sparse color. To avoid staining or rubbing off on fabrics, Elrick recommends allowing products to dry fully first, a process you can speed up with a blow dryer on a cool setting. When it comes to tanning the face, Menzel suggests finding a formulation that moonlights as skin care. “A lot of people are scared to use self tanner on their face because of breakouts, which can be a common problem when you don’t pay attention to the ingredients in the tanner you choose," she says. “I recommended using something clean, that includes ingredients specifically designed to your skin.” Menzel shares her
Hack for waking up with a sun-kissed glow: Applying self-tanner at the end of your skin care routine in the evening, then doing your makeup routine next day according to the developed color. “Even better, that lets you minimize your typical routine. A fresh tan will even your skin tone and a lot of people find they don’t need their usual foundation.” Hep offers a few extra tips: Use an applicator mitt and sweep it along the contours of your body in lengthways motions, set tan with translucent powder, then buff off excess on your eyebrows with a clean spoolie. Additionally, Alysa shares specific tips for applying self tanner in different formats: Finally, “If you haven’t applied self-tanner with a brush before, this is a total game-changer!” Menzel adds. “It prevents getting tanner on your hands and helps to evenly distribute the color all over—don’t forget the areas you can’t see, like behind your ears and the back of your neck if you wear your hair up. Brushes work best with a tanning water that you can mist.”