Alright babes, this post has been long-awaited and I’m so happy to finally have it ready for you! I’m a big self tanner girl (stay out of that sun, ladies!) so I’m always down to try new brands. I’ve given each one that I have a fair shot and am ready to compare them all! I’ll give you Pros & Cons of each. Also, click here if you want to read all of my tips for getting a successful self tan.
Coola Sunless Tan Sculpting Mousse:
Pros: slight pina colada smell, not sticky, develops in 2-4 hours, doesn’t need to be washed off (but wait at least 6 hours to shower), 70%+ organic
Cons: pretty pricey ($48 for 7oz.)
Jergens Natural Glow Sunless Tanning Mousse:
Pros: no smell, dries quickly, not sticky if you do one layer only, I don’t shower it off, buildable to a dark color over a few days, the most affordable ($11.99 for 6oz.)
Cons: if you try to put multiple layers on at once, it can get sticky
Miami Gorgeous Self Tanning Mousse:
Pros: no smell, not sticky, buildable, made with argan oil & vitamins, no need to shower off
Cons: mildly pricey ($18 for only 4.2oz.)
Tanceuticals Self Tanning Body Mousse:
Pros: infused with cosmeceuticals (acai berry, pomegranate extract, argan oil) to moisturize, repair, and firm skin; light smell that I can’t say is good, but not bad either,
Cons: color is light so it needs a lot of building up, cooler tone, a bit sticky (takes more time to dry), must be washed off within 6-8 hours to achieve final result, mildly pricey ($30 for only 6.7oz.)
Golden Star Beauty Self Tanning Oil:
Pros: yummy almond smell, not sticky, buildable, made with argan oil & vitamins, no need to shower off, decent price ($28 for 8oz.)
Cons: needs multiple layers, says to wait 10 mins to dry and you won’t see full development for 24hrs
Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse:
Pros: no smell, not sticky, good color, buildable to very dark over couple days, takes only 1 min to dry
Cons: needs to be washed off after 6-8 hours to achieve final result, expensive AF! ($35-40 for 4oz. depending which shade you buy)
Xen-Tan Self-Tanning Lotion:
Pros: the best smelling self tanner – smells like yummy vanilla, rubs in easily, great color, not sticky
Cons: this has a horrible pump, it squirts out the littlest stream of lotion – I just unscrew the cap and get it out of the bottle that way or else it would take forever to pump out the amount needed, also expensive ($36 for 5oz.)
Tarte Glow with the Faux Foaming Self Tanner:
Pros: vegan, hypoallergenic lightweight mousse that gives an immediate natural-looking tan that only needs 2 hours to fully develop into a deeper color, then you can shower after 2 hours and the tan will stay
Cons: pretty pricey ($39 for 5oz. + a mitt)
L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Wash-Off Body Makeup Lotion:
Pros: express wash-off lotion that gives an instant tan without commitment – great for a newbie who can just wash it off if they don’t like the results, transfer-resistant color, can build 2 layers for a darker color, affordable ($9.50 for 3.55oz.)
Cons: I prefer mousses over lotions like this; the color is very warm, so it is best for those with warm skin tone – if you have more pale/ivory skin, I’d pass; the color is intense, so you should be sure to thoroughly rub in very evenly
Face Tanners:
Tanceuticals Self Tanning Face Lotion:
Pros: yummy coconut scent, gives gradual, natural tan without feeling sticky, lotion texture that we’re all probably use to rubbing into face evenly already
Cons: somewhat pricey at ($22 for 1.7oz.)
Tarte Brazilliance Maracuja Self Tanning Face Towelettes:
Pros: my go-to: you can wipe it across your face and it feels natural and will develop into tan over four hours, can build and wipe twice a day (or every day) for a darker tan, made with natural ingredients that are good for the delicate skin on your face and actually contain anti-aging properties, pretty affordable when you get 5 wipes for $10 and I even cut each one in half!
Cons: the only thing I can think of is that you should avoid water or sweating for the 4 hours that this is developing
Coola Senless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum:
Pros: minimal coconut smell, this is a 70%+ organic serum good for the skin and gives a very gradual tan, can use on its own or mix into your normal moisturizer
Cons: needs building, expensive AF ($54 for 1.7oz.)
St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Face Sheet Mask:
Pros: relaxing sheet mask format, contains moisturizing properties, gives a great tan color that lasts 4-5 days and can be customized to your needs (leave the mask on 5 minutes for a light tan, 10 minutes for a medium tan, or 15 minutes for a dark tan)
Cons: needs to be applied precisely so that no spots are missed, cost $9 each