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16 Best Sunless Self-Tanners for a Healthy Summer Glow

Choose from mists, lotions, drops, and more for your face and body.

Headshot of Tierney McAfeeBy Tierney McAfee
best sunless self tanners
Sephora / Amazon

Everyone knows it's important to shield your skin from the sun's harmful rays with a reliable natural sunscreen or drugstore sunscreen. But when you want to skip the sun altogether without forgoing your summer glow, there's only one thing to do: Invest in one of the best sunless self-tanners! Just ask Alex Drummond! She's always sporting a bronzed and beautiful tan thanks to her favorite self-tanner. So, scroll through these picks (hers included) for a self-tanner that will leave you looking oh so sun-kissed and radiant.

Our Top Picks

  • 1
    Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops

    Best Self-Tanning Drops

    Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops

    $32 at Sephora
    Read more
  • 2
    St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse

    Alex's Fave

    St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse

    Read more
  • 3
    b.tan Love At First Tan Self-Tanner

    Best Self-Tanning Mousse

    b.tan Love At First Tan Self-Tanner

    Read more
  • 4
    Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner Face Moisturizer

    Best for Faces

    Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner Face Moisturizer

    Read more
  • 5
    Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Bundle

    Best Bundle

    Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Bundle

    Read more

All of the self-tanning lotions, mousses, drops, and mists on this list will safely give you the natural, glowing look of your dreams—even if the beach is miles or months away. Whether you choose a reliable drugstore favorite or a luxe, splurge-worthy find, you're guaranteed a streak-free sunless tan without a whiff of that dreaded self-tanner smell. Many of these products for the face and body also allow you to customize the depth of your tan. For example, there are self-tanning drops that allow you to go slightly darker, golden, or bronzed depending on how many you add to your daily moisturizer, or a mousse that you can rinse off after one hour or leave on longer for a deeper shade. While some of these self-tanners contain SPF, be sure to add some extra protection like one of the best sunscreens for the face.

No matter which self-tanner you choose, you should prep by cleansing your skin and exfoliating with a body scrub. With these easy-to-apply sunless self-tanners, you'll have a gorgeous summer glow in no time—any time!

1
Best Self-Tanning Drops

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops
1
Best Self-Tanning Drops

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops

$32 at Sephora
Credit: Sephora

Not only do these self-tanning drops work with your unique skin tone to customize your glow, but they're also infused with vitamin C and aloe to brighten, hydrate, reduce redness, minimize the look of dark spots, and create an even tone. Go sun-kissed, golden, or bronzed depending on the number of drops you add to your moisturizer.

2
Alex's Fave

St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse

St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse
2
Alex's Fave

St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse

Credit: Ulta

Alex Drummond says this vegan-friendly product is "the best self-tanner I've ever used." And considering how amazing her skin always looks, we're definitely trusting her on this one. Leave it on for one to three hours depending on your desired shade, rinse, then enjoy a long-lasting natural looking glow that's quick-drying, non-sticky, and streak-free. You won't even have a fake tan smell.

3
Best Self-Tanning Mousse

b.tan Love At First Tan Self-Tanner

b.tan Love At First Tan Self-Tanner
3
Best Self-Tanning Mousse

b.tan Love At First Tan Self-Tanner

Now 33% Off
Credit: Amazon

Worried about looking too orange when you self-tan? This 100% natural self-tanning mousse aims to knock out orange tones with a cool violet base. It's a #1 bestseller thanks to its easy-to-use one hour express formula that leaves no fake tan smell. The company recommends this "Love at First Tan" shade for first-time tanners, but you can go darker with four other color options.

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4
Best for Faces

Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner Face Moisturizer

Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner Face Moisturizer
4
Best for Faces

Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner Face Moisturizer

Now 14% Off
Credit: Amazon

Hello, three-in-one! This product pulls triple duty as a facial moisturizer, self-tanner, and sunscreen. It's formulated with a blend of nutrients, skin-tone enhancers, and broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection to keep your skin hydrated and healthy while gradually create a natural-looking glow when you use it once a day.

5
Best Bundle

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Bundle

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Bundle
5
Best Bundle

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Bundle

Credit: Amazon

Can't decide between a lotion or a mousse? Try this bundle that comes with both, plus a mitt and kabuki brush for easy, even application.

6
Best Overall Self-Tanning Lotion

Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Tanning Lotion

Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Tanning Lotion
6
Best Overall Self-Tanning Lotion

Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Tanning Lotion

Credit: Amazon

This top-rated self-tanning lotion has over 11,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. It's formulated with organic aloe vera, shea butter, and botanical extracts that hydrate your skin while giving it a warm glow.

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7
Best Self-Tanning Face Mist

St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist

St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist
7
Best Self-Tanning Face Mist

St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist

Credit: Ulta

This lightweight and tropically scented face mist will help you achieve a light to medium sunkissed glow with no streaks. Reviewers love that it's easy to apply without any rubbing in required.

8
Best Self-Tanning Mist

COOLA Organic Sunless Self Tanner Dry Oil Mist

COOLA Organic Sunless Self Tanner Dry Oil Mist
8
Best Self-Tanning Mist

COOLA Organic Sunless Self Tanner Dry Oil Mist

Credit: Amazon

This dry oil mist self-tanner offers a natural-looking tan while also hydrating and softening your skin with natural and organic ingredients like aloe vera and argan oil.

9
Best Self-Tanning Gel

Clarins Self Tan Instant Gel

Clarins Self Tan Instant Gel
9
Best Self-Tanning Gel

Clarins Self Tan Instant Gel

Credit: Nordstrom

This quick-drying tanning gel can be used on both the face and body for a natural-looking golden glow. In a consumer test on 85 women after 14 days of use, 94 percent said they had an instant tan and long-lasting glow.

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10
Best Self-Tanning Oil

Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Self Tanning Dry Oil

Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Self Tanning Dry Oil
10
Best Self-Tanning Oil

Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Self Tanning Dry Oil

Credit: Amazon

This easy breezy oil spray sets in a moment and lasts for up to a week, without any wash-off required. Reviewers say it will give you the perfect olive-gold glow.

11
Best for Darker Skin Tones

Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion

Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion
11
Best for Darker Skin Tones

Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion

Credit: Walmart

Banana Boat's beloved tinted lotion will give you a rich, streak-free tan. The Deep Dark Color is a great fit for darker skin tones.

12
Best Drugstore Self-Tanner

Jergens Natural Glow 3-Day Self Tanner

Jergens Natural Glow 3-Day Self Tanner
12
Best Drugstore Self-Tanner

Jergens Natural Glow 3-Day Self Tanner

Now 23% Off
Credit: Amazon

Jergens' cult classic tanning moisturizer will help you achieve a flawless, sun-kissed glow simply by applying your daily body lotion. It moisturizes with a hydrating blend of antioxidants and vitamins, while also enhancing your natural skin tone for a subtle tan.

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13
Skin-Firming Formula

TAN-LUXE The Gradual - Illuminating Gradual Tan Lotion

TAN-LUXE The Gradual - Illuminating Gradual Tan Lotion
13
Skin-Firming Formula

TAN-LUXE The Gradual - Illuminating Gradual Tan Lotion

Credit: Amazon

This daily self-tanning lotion features a skin-firming formula that reduces the appearance of cellulite while gradually creating a buildable glow.

14
Best Self-Tanner for Beginners

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse
14
Best Self-Tanner for Beginners

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse

Now 26% Off
Credit: Amazon

This top-rated self-tanning mousse features an advanced formula that allows you to control the depth of your tan. For a light sun-kissed glow, rinse off after one hour, or leave on for up to three hours for a deeper shade.

15
Best Smelling Self-Tanner

L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mousse

L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mousse
15
Best Smelling Self-Tanner

L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mousse

Now 41% Off
Credit: Amazon

This drugstore favorite offers a natural-looking, even glow at a fraction of the price. Plus, reviewers are obsessed with its tropical coconut scent.

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16
Best Self-Tanning Wipes

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad Self-Tanner for Body

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad Self-Tanner for Body
16
Best Self-Tanning Wipes

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad Self-Tanner for Body

Credit: Nordstrom

These self-tanning towelettes for the body are formulated with exfoliating and anti-aging Alpha Beta ingredients plus active vitamin D to make your skin look radiant as well as naturally tanned.

Headshot of Tierney McAfee
Tierney McAfee

Tierney McAfee is a freelance writer and Country Living and The Pioneer Woman contributor who covers entertainment, holiday & entertaining, food & drinks, design ideas, DIY, and more.

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