Whether you prefer your self-tanning in the form of lotions, drops, spritz or foams, new-gen fake tan formulas deliver a golden glow with zero sun-damage. Shaking off its streaky reputation, our beauty desk puts 18 of the best self-tanners to the test – from melt-away mousses to colour-correcting butters – and answers every faux-glow question you panic-Google come summer
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Decades of research have made one thing crystal-clear: chasing a sun-kissed skin in tanning beds or under midday rays is a fast track to premature ageing and melanoma. The solution? Fake it. A fake tan (more politely called a self tan) delivers the same bronzed results without the UV fallout.
If your last brush with at-home bronzing left you tiger-striped, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. Today’s top-rated self-tanning lotions use lower levels of DHA (dihydroxyacetone, the active ingredient in self-tan) paired with moisture magnets like hyaluronic acid and aloe. Many even slip in a pinch of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to whisk away dead cells first, giving colour an even canvas and side-stepping that muddy fade-out. Green- and violet-based pigments cancel out that dreaded orange tone, while antioxidant boosters keep skin supple long after the glow sets.
Which self-tan type fits your routine?
Lotions, sprays, oils, drops, foams, butters… the list of available self-tan options goes on and the right texture can make or break both application and end result. Below, we've created quick cheat-sheet to help you find your perfect formula:
Mousse & Foam:
The espresso shot of self-tan, mousse formulas are light, fast and punchy. The whipped texture melts into skin and sets in under a minute, meaning you can shimmy into linen trousers almost immediately. In fact, our best self-tanning lotion overall is a foam, chosen precisely because it leaves zero tack and develops into a deep olive bronze by bedtime. In short, they're ideal for busy bodies and last-minute packers.
Lotion & Cream:
If dehydrated limbs are your nemesis, reach for a lotion. These richer formulas double as body moisturisers and often moonlight as gradual self-tanning creams, just add a layer nightly until you hit peak glow and top up every other shower for a continuous glow. The extra hydration blurs flaky patches that can sabotage colour, making lotions the friend of dry or mature skin.
Custom Drops:
Control freaks, rejoice. Self-tanning drops turn any serum or body cream into a bespoke bronzer. Two drops equal a hint-of-holiday flush while four venture into back-from-abroad territory. Because the base is your usual skin care, drops are brilliant on the face, neck and décolleté where you might want a subtler shade shift.
Spray & Mist:
An ultra-fine cloud that settles where lotion sometimes streaks, spray tan in a can could be considered real-life Photoshop for your limbs. Hold the nozzle 20 centimetres away, mist in circular motions, then buff gently with a velvety self-tanning mitt to catch any overspray. Mists shine on seasoned tanners, or on anyone who routinely recruits a roommate to tan those hard-to-reach backs.
Butter & Oil:
A thick body butter laced with DHA is your winter-skin saviour. The pigmented yet creamy consistency lets you see exactly where you’ve applied, so first-timers can relax. Oils, meanwhile, glide on and leave behind a lit-from-within sheen that's perfect for bare-leg season. Both options lock in moisture, keeping colour even for the full five-day stretch.
Need help deciding? Below, our editor panel road-tested each category to pinpoint formulas that suit every skin type and complexion.
How to prep skin for the best, long-lasting self-tan result
A flawless fake tan begins at least two days before you even open the bottle. First, remove hair – whether you wax, sugar or shave – and follow with an oil-free body scrub to sweep away every last flake of dead skin. That smooth canvas is what stops colour clinging in dark streaks.
Twelve hours before tanning, massage a light, unscented body lotion over notoriously thirsty zones such as elbows, ankles and knuckles. Hydrated skin absorbs DHA more evenly and holds it for longer. Finally, head into the bathroom with completely clean, product-free skin: no deodorant, no perfume, no body oil (all three can distort undertone). Nail this prep ritual and today’s high-tech formulas will reward you with a believable bronze that stays fresh for three to five days. If you're lucky (and diligent) these results could stretch to a full working week if you keep showers lukewarm and moisturise daily.
Expert tips on applying fake tan evenly
A self-tanning mitt is your insurance policy against zebra stripes. Pump mousse or lotion onto the mitt, not directly onto the body, and work in palm-sized sections. Keep the mitt moving in long, circular strokes and bend elbows and knees as you go; taut skin means no tell-tale white creases later. Whatever’s left on the fabric is plenty for drier spots (knees, ankles, wrists), so buff those areas last.
If you go sans glove and worry about orange palms? Rub a pea-sized blob of hand cream into cuticles, between fingers and along the sides of your thumbs before you start. When you’ve finished tanning, a quick swipe with a damp cotton pad over knuckles melts away any excess.
On choosing the right fake-tan colour and undertone
Picking depth is easy: go Light and/or Medium for a faint archipelago after-glow and Dark to Ultra Dark for back-from-the-beach bronze. Choosing the right undertone is where real magic happens. If your skin leans pink, reach for a green-based mousse that neutralises redness. Beige or neutral complexions look healthiest under classic golden-brown formulas, while naturally olive or yellow undertones sparkle against violet-based foams that add earthy depth without muddiness. When in doubt, start one shade lighter: self-tans build beautifully, and remover mousse is a chore you can avoid.
How to remove self-tan – and get fake tan off your hands fast
Even the best self-tanner has an expiration date, both in terms of on-skin experience and shelf-life. When colour begins to break up, coat dry skin in a dedicated self-tan remover, wait five minutes, then rinse under warm water while massaging with a two-sided exfoliating mitt. Stubborn patches? Mix a little baby oil with baking soda, leave it on for ten minutes, then buff away. It dissolves DHA without tearing at your skin.
To get fake tan off hands safely, start with the aforementioned purpose-made tan-eraser: massage it into dry skin, let it sit for five minutes, then rinse while buffing gently with a washcloth – its cocktail of oils and mild acids dissolves DHA without irritation. Stubborn knuckle lines can be spot-treated with a quick, wrist-tested paste of baking soda and micellar water, while the tiniest dab of whitening toothpaste rescues deep creases, just rinse well and never use it on large areas.
Can I use self-tan on my face?
Yes, you absolutely can self-tan your face, but success hinges on gentler formulas and a lighter hand. Look for products billed as “ self-tanner for face” or “self-tanning drops”; they use lower DHA levels, are labelled non-comedogenic and often include soothing hydrators like hyaluronic acid to offset any tightness.
If you only have a body mousse to hand, blend a pea-sized pump with your regular night cream, then buff it over clean, dry skin with a damp beauty sponge, skimming hairline and brows last. Always patch-test along the jaw, skip strong acids or retinoids the same evening (they can strip colour), and remember that facial skin develops faster than the body. One light layer is usually enough to match your neck without veering two shades darker by morning.
Discover the best self-tanners of 2025
Ready to meet your match? Scroll on for an under-€10 drug-store gem, a luxe lotion and the colour-shifting mousse that beats a professional spray booth.
Best self-tanner overall
What it is: A colour-guide-free, fragrance-free water-to-foam that carries natural DHA, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. One walnut-sized pump covers half a leg and sinks in before you’ve capped the bottle.
Why we love it: We apply in airy PJ shorts, slip into fresh white sheets and never worry about stains. Six hours later the mirror reveals an even, olive glow that clings for five days and fades like a soft-focus filter. No scaly ankles in sight!
Best luxury self-tanner
What it is: A silky-smooth gel with 90 per cent natural-origin DHA, texture-buffing lactic acid and a breeze of neroli that lingers just long enough to enhance any routine.
Why we love it: Indulgent and effortless, Dior's self-tan steers clear of orange streaks with a faux glow that reads more 'Old Money' than Tigger the Tigre.
Best drug-store self-tanner
What it is: A €9 body cream that hides a light dose of DHA inside Dove’s cell-moisturisers base, so you get 72-hour hydration and a slow-burn holiday tint. Zero guide colour, fresh-laundry scent.
Why we love it: This formula lives on our nightstand. Slap it on before bed and wake up with just home-from-a-holiday limbs, all in a squeeze-tube that costs less than a flat white and croissant.
Best self-tanner for pale / fair skin
What it is: A colour-correcting facial-and-body mist spiked with peach pigments that neutralise pink undertones common in Scandinavian complexions.
Why we love it: It’s virtually impossible to overdo: a couple of spritzes deliver a faint flush, but you can layer nightly for boosted bronze. Zero guide colour means zero mess, and the aloe and coconut water combination keep delicate fair skin calm.
Best self-tanner for deep / dark skin
What it is: A salon-strength, red-violet-based mousse that actually amplifies melanin without the dreaded cast.
Why we love it: One coat is enough (saving product and laundry) and the undertone is tuned to perfection, enhancing deeper skin with a rich, photo-ready glow that lasts up to ten days. We also swear by its “wear-anywhere in two minutes” dry-down.
Best self-tanner for olive skin
What it is: A cool-toned, charcoal-green foam designed to cancel sallow yellow undertones while still developing into a deep Mediterranean bronze.
Why we love it: This is a colour-correcting bronze in mousse form. Just swipe on and your natural olive undertone looks sun-kissed, never muddy. The lightweight Nordic formula also means no tacky finish. A key factor if humidity isn’t your friend.
Best self-tanner for dry skin
What it is: A shea-butter-rich body milk laced with aloe, hyaluronic acid and tiny doses of DHA for slow-burn colour.
Why we love it: It kills two chores, moisturising and tanning, in one swipe. Even chronically parched shins stay satin-smooth, and the colour fades beautifully patch-free.
Best self-tanner for sensitive skin
What it is: A Swedish organic-certified mousse that’s vegan, fragrance-free, alcohol-free and fortified with soothing oat lipids.
Why we love it: Sensitive-skin readers finally get glow without the gamble: no stinging, no redness, no perfume headache. Just a whisper-soft tan that friends assume is real.
Best self-tanner for oily skin
What it is: A non-comedogenic, water-fresh gel that dries in under 60 seconds and leaves zero oily residue.
Why we love it: It behaves like a mattifying primer but gifts you a dash of Caribbean colour overnight. Break-out-prone backs and chests stay clear, and the gel’s faint citrus scent vanishes before you’ve even closed the bathroom door.
Best self-tanning mousse / foam
What it is: A punchy violet-pigmented foam that counteracts orange tones and deepens to a festival-ready bronze in one coat.
Why we love it: At under €15 it outperforms pricier rivals, blending like whipped cream and rinsing clean to reveal a flawless, Instagram-filter finish that sticks around for five days.
Best self-tanning drops
What it is: Concentrated DHA-plus-hyaluronic acid droplets that turn any serum or face cream into a tailor-made tanner.
Why we love it: These drops makes your tan utterly customisable with zero extra steps. Just add two drops into your face cream for a touch of tan, four for full-on golden glow. The drip-free pipette and slick glass bottle look great on a vanity, too.
Best self-tanning lotion / cream
What it is: A spa-brand body milk infused with vitamin E, jojoba oil and gradual-glow DHA.
Why we love it: Silky enough to feel like après-sun care, but delivers a uniform tan in just three nights. The light Mediterranean citrus scent beats the usual biscuit bouquet any day.
Best self-tanning spray
What it is: A Swedish handheld device that atomises self-tan into micro-particles for an airbrush-studio finish at home.
Why we love it: Reach every awkward angle ( be it back, hamstrings, shoulder blades) in 60 seconds flat. TikTok can’t stop posting receipts of streak-free, high-gloss limbs, and the capsules are mess-free, so your bathroom stays white.
Best self-tanning mist
What it is: A vitamin-E-loaded facial cloud that sets make-up while it quietly develops a 24-hour lit-from-within tint.
Why we love it: It’s the lazy girl’s glow: spritz, air-dry, done. No need for mitts or massage, and the superfine mist never clogs pores, meaning it is ideal for breakout-prone complexions.
Best self-tanning butter
What it is: A rich cocoa-shea butter whipped with low-dose DHA plus a hint of light-reflecting shimmer.
Why we love it: The texture feels like an indulgent dessert, and you can literally see where you’ve applied, preventing patchiness. After two nights your limbs look moisturised and subtly sun-kissed, leaving a perfect glow for strappy-dress season.
Best self-tanning oil
What it is: A 99 per cent certified-organic dry oil that nourishes with argan and rosehip while imparting a whisper-soft bronzed veil.
Why we love it: No guide colour, no transfer. In short? You can snooze in white silk with confidence. The dropper dispenses sparingly so the 100 ml bottle lasts ages, and the satin finish flatters mature or texture-prone skin.
Best express one-hour self-tanner
What it is: A three-in-one rapid mousse that lets you pick depth: one hour for a glow, two for medium, three for the full St-Tropez jet-set effect.
Why we love it: Total commitment time? Ten minutes of application plus your chosen wait. In just an hour and a bit, you’re showered, dressed and bronzed for up to a week. Ideal for last-minute event invites or pre-flight emergencies
Best gradual self-tanner
What it is: A feather-light oil-lotion hybrid with raspberry-seed oil and cell-plumping hydrolysed silk.
Why we love it: Smells like nothing, feels like nothing, but leaves you waking up subtly golden after night one. Keep layering and you’ll peak at a believable Mediterranean bronze. All without a patch in sight.
Best self-tan remover
What it is: A glycolic-acid mousse that dissolves DHA in five minutes while priming fresh skin for tomorrow’s tan.
Why we love it: No more sugar-scrub arm workouts. Pump, wait, rinse and stubborn patches lift cleanly taking you back to square one, minus the irritation.
Best self-tanning mitt
What it is: A double-sided, velvet applicator glove with reinforced seams and a snug cuff that keeps palms pristine.
Why we love it: It buffs like an airbrush, washes out like new and never sheds lint. One mitt will see you through an entire summer at least, never leaving you cursing over discoloured knuckles.
Best self-tanning brush
What it is: A dense, vegan-bristle kabuki brush designed to sweep mousse or shimmer along collarbones, shins and tricky wrists.
Why we love it: Blurring edges and streaks in seconds, this little tool is perfect for pro-tanners who want to up their faux glow game. Plus, the champagne-gold handle looks exceedingly glam on your dressing table.