Summer is arriving at last, and we’re all looking forward to spending hours basking in the sun by the pool or on the beach. While we know sun damage is bad, let’s be honest, most of us do it anyway in order to try and achieve that golden bronzed look. Even if you wear sunscreen, there are many risks to spending too much time in the sun, from accelerated aging of the skin to skin cancer. This year, we should all skip the skin damage and jump straight to the golden glow by using self-tan. If you can easily achieve the look from a bottle, why not spare your poor skin? After all, the skin is the largest organ in the body, so it’s crucial to take care of it. Over time, self-tanners have improved immensely thanks to advances in product formulations that fixed things like the orange cast, bad odors, and streaking. Picking out the right tan for you can be a bit of a challenge. With so many options, which do you pick? Let’s take a look at the best ones around today.
St. Tropez Self-Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse
With an easy-to-apply formula, St. Tropez’s mousse is one of the best picks in the game. It has hundreds of positive reviews and is a best-seller on Amazon, Sephora, and Ulta. All you need to do is spread it and leave it one for one to three hours before rinsing it off to get that perfect bronze. According to reviews, no matter how badly it gets applied, it doesn’t appear patchy – a huge plus for beginners.
Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops
The great thing about self-tanning drops is that they allow you to turn your favorite moisturizer into a quick, no-mess, self-tanner. Just add anywhere from three to 12 drops to your skincare for a customizable color on your face and body. One review said “a couple of drops into my daily lotion [gives] an amazing glow,” and another said, “haven’t had any problems with streaky-ness or blotchiness.”
Josie Maran Agan Liquid Gold Self-Tanning Oil
This oil is available in three sents, including mango and apricot vanilla. The natural color is nice, however, some reviews said they wished the color was deeper. The formula is quick-drying and non-greasy, a big plus. One user said, “It did not streak, spot, or have any orange tan hue to it.”
St. Tropez x Ashley Graham Ultimate Glow Kit
The collab comes with an easy-to-apply mousse and mitt for easy, streak-free application. Reviewers have stated that the “whipped texture is super smooth to apply, glides really nicely — easy to make sure you don’t miss a spot,” and how the formula is low-maintenance and looks natural. “I love that you can leave this product on all day and the bronzer looks so nice right away and doesn’t look over the top once the tan develops,” a review said. The best part? It smells great too!