Fashion & Style

These Self-Tanning Products are Literally Foolproof

Photography via iStock

You couldn’t mess them up if you tried.

The journey to a streak-free self-tanning solution has been a long and winding road, one featuring unfortunate streaks, unpleasant scents, dyed-orange palms, and plenty of stained bathroom counters. But the latest developments make the wait worth it.

Mists, waters and mousses that go on clear and develop gradually, over a few hours after application, make it nearly impossible to create a mess. Below are our favourite self-tanning products that you can’t screw up. Trust us.

Saltyface Tanning Water

Take your self-tan up to your face with this sensitive-skin-friendly Tanning Water by Saltyface. Ideal for beginners, this lightweight formula delivers a seamless tan that develops over time and leaves behind a hydrated, sun-kissed glow.

Dolce Glow D’Oro Self Tanning Lotion

Coming to you from the Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez-approved beauty brand Dolce Glow, this moisturizing D’Oro Self Tanning Lotion offers up a medium to dark bronze tan that is buildable, fast drying, and non-transferrable. It’s a total triple threat!

NUDA Self Tanning Water Mousse

The express formula within Nuda’s newly launched Self Tanning Water Mousse allows you to create a customized tan that develops to your liking — depending on how long you leave the product on before rinsing. This way, you can adapt your tan to your skintone and the results you’re looking for.

Bondi Sands Technocolour

Bondi Sands is always a go-to when it comes to self-tanning, and the release of products like this revolutionary foam proves why. Available in four shades, the new Technocolour line of one-hour express foams aims to enhance the beauty of your natural skintone without changing it.

Tanologist Daily Glow Body Lotion

A firming body lotion and tanner in one? Yes, please! This Tanologist offering harnesses the power of caffeine, squalene and grapeseed oil to help sculpt and smooth skin while your tan gradually develops at the same time.

James Read H2O Tan Mist

Infused with hydrating rose water, this game-changing mist can be used under or over makeup, or on its own, and builds a gradual glow as you continue using it. You don’t even have to blend it in!

Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse

The OG of gradual self-tanner, there’s a reason Jergens is still a go-to. This mousse definitely allows you to see colour instantly, but it does deepen over a few hours, so use less than you think you’ll need. That being said, it adds a natural glow and never goes on streaky, so it’s still super foolproof.

St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse

This clear mousse is freshly scented (hibiscus flower and green mandarin water) and goes on clear, revealing glowy skin after four to eight hours.

Clarins Self Tanning Milky-Lotion

Allow us to reference a Sephora.com review for this one: “This is my new favourite self-tanning product. 1st: it smells AMAAAAAZING. It doesn’t smell anything like a self tanner— just a nice smelling body lotion. 2nd: it is so hydrating 3rd: it leaves such a nice bronzy colour to my skin and is never streaky. It lasts about a good week before starting to “shed” off. Highly recommend. Clarins did an amazing job with this product.” Need we say more?

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