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If you’re looking for a little glow this summer, but you don’t want to spend countless hours in the sun, your best bet is trying a self-tanner. Whether you’re looking for the best self tanning lotion or the best self tanner for face, there are tons of products to shop from brands like Isle of Paradise, Jergens, Coco & Eve, and Bali Body, but it’s hard to know which one is right for you. Before you start searching for the best self-tanners online, it’s important to keep a few tips in mind.
Experts Featured in This Article
Brittney Bennett is a spray tanner at Be Bronze Tanning Studio in Los Angeles.
Sophie Evans is St. Tropez’s skin finishing expert.
James Read is the founder of James Read Tan.
Veronique Munro is the founder and CEO of Infinity Sun.
Clara Anderson is the head tanner of Vita Liberata.
First, be aware of your body’s pH level and anything that could affect it, such as showering right before a tan or certain body washes. DHA, the ingredient in tanning solutions that creates the bronze color, interacts with your skin’s pH, which means things like your period and when you shower can affect how well your skin accepts the tan.
“I can tell within two seconds, within that first spray, if you’ve showered right before, which is not good,” Brittney Bennett, a spray tanner at Be Bronze Tanning Studio in Los Angeles, tells PS. “If you shower, I like a good 12 hours but a minimum of four hours prior — shower, shave, exfoliate — because if you do it right before, your tan will be 20 to 30 percent less dark. Same thing with your period. The pH balance of your skin is what the tan is working with.”
Ahead, we’ve curated expert advice, bestselling formulas, and customer favorites to make shopping for your next self-tanner a little easier.
When to Get a Spray Tan
After getting a spray tan, you might notice that distinct tan smell, but avoid spritzing a fragrance to mask it. “A patchy neck can be caused by perfumes and products left on the skin before application,” says Sophie Evans, St. Tropez’s skin finishing expert. She suggests the St. Tropez Tan Remover Mousse ($31) if the patchiness is too noticeable to cover with makeup. “You can also apply a little loose translucent powder after your tan application to avoid any dark neck creases.”
When it comes to big events, Evans suggests giving your tan 24 hours to develop and settle before the event. “If an event is Saturday, I recommend getting a tan on Thursday night,” she says. “Sometimes, a self-tan instant bronzer can take two showers to remove fully. You could also opt for a clear water mousse or gel, like St. Tropez’s Purity Water collection. This range contains no bronzers, so there is nothing to transfer. Plus, you can wear it all day without feeling sticky or the need to shower.”
How to Get the Perfect Tan on Your Hands
“People always get the hands wrong,” says James Read, founder of James Read Tan. “I recommend you work the excess tan using a tanning mitt from the arm and stop just as you come to the hands. Then, using a small amount of moisturizer, lightly buff to blend over the hands. Then, using a tanning mist, spray over the hands, then buff again using a mitt. I always do two coats — don’t forget to do the Gaga claw.”
How to Fix Your Tan If You Get Wet
The most common questions experts get are how to fix a mishap if you happen to get wet or sweat before it’s time to rinse your tan. There are options, but the timing is crucial.
“How much time has passed will determine the best course of action,” says Veronique Munro, founder and CEO of Infinity Sun. “If it happens within an hour of your spray tan, it may be best advised to rinse off and respray. If several hours have passed, it is likely that the tan has begun developing enough to when you take your first shower and remove the cosmetic bronzer, your tan will be even.” (Most airbrush tans include a cosmetic bronzer, which produces the immediately tanned look while the actual tan is developing and washes off in the shower.)
How to Tan Dry Areas
“A common tanning mistake for beginners is applying too much tan to drier areas, such as hands, elbows, knees, and feet, which results in an uneven finish,” says Clara Anderson, head tanner of Vita Liberata. “To avoid this, apply a light layer of an oil-free moisturizer to those areas prior to tanning and use a makeup brush to buff product lightly over the skin. Don’t forget to wipe the knuckles and the palm of the hands clean when you’re finished to remove any excess product, giving the most natural finish.”
Anderson also suggests wearing loose-fitting pants instead of a skirt, dress, or shorts so the tan doesn’t move if your legs rub together. “This will help the guide color remain even on the skin as well as ensure you don’t rest your hand on your leg and have the product develop on your palm,” she says.
Now that you’ve got all the facts about spray tans, it’s time to answer the one question we’re all thinking: what is the best self-tanner? We’ve rounded up the best picks, and whether you’re looking for the best self tanning lotion, a mousse, or a mist, there’s no shortage of good finds ahead.
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