Sunny, beautiful days are finally upon us, which means that desire for a sun-kissed glow is no longer on the horizon, but here. My 16-year-old daughter and I have been searching for self-tanners that actually look natural, not orange, and don’t leave behind weird patches, streaks, or smells on our skin or clothes. We’ve read the reviews, gone through trial and error, and finally landed on several self-tanners we can rely on to help us look golden with zero sun damage.
We have a few self-tanners we rely on faithfully, but have also tried others that left us laughing hysterically at our new zebra stripes. So I’m sharing a few of our favorites and several we’re shopping for after reading tons of raving reviews. I’m currently obsessed with the St. Moriz self-tanner for how quickly it works, while Amazon shoppers swear by Jergens Natural Glow, St. Tropez self-tanner, and more for an amazing glow without the salon price, uneven look, or mess.
St. Moriz Self-Tanning Mousse
If you want a self-tanner that works fast and doesn’t leave streaks, I highly recommend the St. Moriz self-tanner. The brand sent me a free sample of the mousse, and I was so excited with the results that I showed my teen, and now she’s claimed ownership of it. It’s lightweight and applies smoothly, giving you a natural-looking tan within a few hours, which is great for busy moms like me. My 16-year-old is just as obsessed and says, “I like that it is vegan, cruelty-free, and has clean ingredients.” Plus, it’s only $14.
Bondi Sands Self-Tanning Foam and Application Mitt
As a mom of a teen who’s recently become interested in experimenting more with skincare and beauty, I’ve been searching for a self-tanner we can both feel confident in. The Bondi Sands self-tanner caught our eye because it promises a barely-there tan with easy application. And anything with a mitt to avoid orange palms is a win in my book. Pump the foam onto the mitt, glide it over your skin, and let it develop for 6 to 8 hours.
Before trying anything, I like to read reviews from other shoppers. “It smells great, goes on evenly, and the color looks natural,” raved one reviewer.
L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes
My teen and I use some type of towelette every day, whether makeup remover wipes or cleansing cloths, because they’re zero mess and quick to use. We found these self-tanning towelettes while shopping on Amazon and can’t wait to try them. They’re ideal for a quick, mess-free tan without rinsing or streaks. My daughter said, “I love how you don’t have to rinse it off and it’s travel-friendly." Whether we’re packing for a trip or just want an easy glow at home, these towelettes make tanning convenient and simple.
St. Tropez Self Tan Express Mousse
Over 10,000 shoppers bought this St. Tropez self-tanner last month, and that number is about to be higher because I’ve got my eye on it. You essentially choose your darkness by leaving the tanner on for a certain amount of time. For example, if you leave it on for one hour, you’ll have a light glow, two hours will give you a medium tan, and after three hours, you’ll be deep bronze. But honestly? I love that you can see results in as little as an hour (in other words, my kind of tan) and “it doesn’t turn you orange,” according to one shopper.
Isle of Paradise Face Self-Tanning Drops
I recently discovered these tanning drops while shopping with my teen, and maybe I’m out of the loop on some things because I’ve never heard of these before. The Isle of Paradise Face Self-Tanning Drops come in a convenient one fl oz bottle and are available in dark, light, and medium glows to choose a shade that complements your skin tone. They even have natural ingredients like avocado oil and grapefruit, making me love this product even more.
Body Drench Quick Tan Bronzing Spray
This Body Drench tanning spray claims you’ll have a beautiful tan in no time. It instantly dries, which means you don’t have to wait around like a starfish, and the spray makes it easy to apply without any streaky stripes. Plus, with a pack of two, you can either share with your own teen (or hide your bottle so they don’t “borrow” it), or put one away when the first runs empty.
Shoppers rave about it, with one saying, "As a professional makeup artist, it’s rare to find a product that effortlessly blends artistry with that elevated, lit-from-within glow—but this one delivers every time."
Loving Tan 2 HR Express Self-Tanning Mousse
The Loving Tan 2 HR Express Self-Tanning Mousse is great for busy moms and teen daughters who want a natural-looking tan fast. I love that it dries in just 60 seconds, doesn’t leave any sticky residue, and “lasts over a week,” according to one reviewer. It has natural ingredients, so you can feel good about what you're putting on your skin, and each bottle gives you over five applications.
Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner Body Lotion
Not everyone wants to spend hours on the beach to get a tan (or risk a real tanning bed), so Jergens Natural Glow is an excellent option for achieving a glowing, bronzed look without the sun. It’s best for medium to deep skin tones and has ingredients like coconut oil to keep your skin soft. The 7.5 oz bottles come in a two-pack to keep one at home and the other for easy touch-ups. As a gradual tanner, it gives you a smooth, beachy-glow over time without any streaks.
Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Self Tanner Mousse
With an average 4.3-star rating out of 12,141 reviews, the Coco & Eve self-tanner is well-loved on Amazon. The tanning mousse comes in bronze, medium, and ultra dark shades, so there’s a match for whatever level of tan you’re after. I also love that I can apply it at night and sleep in it, letting it develop into a deeper tan by morning without any mess. It’s a simple way to get that golden look without being in the sun.
Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Tanning Lotion
My teen has been reading tons of positive reviews about the Beauty by Earth Self Tanner and says, “I love that it has a normal-looking glow and it won’t get on my clothes after using it.” You can get it in two tones: fair to medium or medium to dark—both of which give you streak-free, believable tans. Plus, it’s suitable for both your body and face.
b.tan Love at First Tan Bundle
I love how the b.tan Violet Self Tanner Kit comes in six fun bundle options, like the Besties Bundle, which includes a mitt and second mousse, and the Self-Travel Bundle, which has travel-friendly sizes in the brand’s tanning mousse, face mist, and more. The Fall In Love at First Tan set includes a mousse and mitt to get you started with self-tanning at home. My teen loves how it delivers a non-orange tan and how fast it works. “It doesn’t have a fake tanning smell and it only takes hours instead of days to work,” she says.