There is no better compliment than being told your skin is glowing. The easiest way to get that glow? Applying the best self-tan for your face. A few drops of product or overnight application gives skin a non-orange bronze while keeping your precious skin out of the sun. It may seem like voodoo magic, but these products create a tint by using a chemical called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as their active ingredient.
"DHA is a colorless sugar that interacts with the amino acids in the dead cells located in the outermost layer of the skin (the stratum corneum). This interaction leads to a browning reaction, resulting in the appearance of a tan," shares Alessandro Mendes, Chief Innovation Officer at custom cosmetic development and manufacturing company Cosmetica. "Self tanners only affect the top layer of the skin, which consists of dead cells. This is why the tan from self tanners gradually fades as these dead cells are shed and replaced by new ones."
You may have to reapply every few days for a continuous bronze, but with these non-comedogenic formulas it's a no-brainer—especially when you think about the alternative. "Tanning extensively, especially under the sun or using tanning beds, can cause detrimental effects on the face and overall skin health," notes board-certified dermatologist Dr. Divya Shokeen founder of Ocean Skin and Vein Institute and Oathology. On top of an increased risk in skin cancer, excessive tanning accelerates skin aging, leading to premature wrinkles, sagging, and hyperpigmentation or dark spots. "Self-tanning products offer a safer alternative by providing a tan without the harmful UV exposure," she adds.
Ahead, experts share their take on the best facial self tanners for a brilliant, sunless glow at any time.
What to Look for in a Face Self Tanner
- Formula
Facial self tanners come in many formulations, such as drops, creams, mousses, sprays, and wipes, with separate styles catering to different application preferences and skin types. Medical aesthetician and Voodoo Makeup founder Aimee Carr prefers drops because they can be mixed in with your favorite facial moisturizer; you have control over how deep your tan is because you add the product. Mousses and creams typically offer a faster and more intense color payoff, while wipes are extremely convenient and great for travel.
Tanning drops are a great way to create a customizable bronze shade.
- Shade
According to Mendes, your final color results will depend on multiple factors such as the concentration of DHA, the formulation's pH level, and your own skin tone. "Some self tanners may provide a more natural-looking tan, while others may result in a deeper or more intense color," he shares. Most products will come in a few base variations, so you can pick a tan that works for you.
- Ingredients
When shopping for a face self tanner, customers should look for products formulated with gentle and non-comedogenic ingredients to minimize the risk of irritation and breakouts. Mendes suggests ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, antioxidants, and botanical extracts.
"Self tanners are generally safe for most skin types and do not inherently cause acne. However, like any product applied to the skin, there's a chance of a breakout if the product clogs pores or irritates the skin," shares Dr. Shokeen. "Choosing non-comedogenic (won’t block pores) self tanners and following proper application and exfoliation techniques can minimize this risk."
Fragrance-free formulas are also ideal, as fragrance can be hard on sensitive facial skin. However, this is harder to find than it sounds, as fragrance is often added to facial self tanners to mask the unpleasant smell of DHA.
The Best Self Tanners for Your Face
- The Best Face Self Tanner Overall: + Lux Unfiltered N°12 Bronzing Face Drops
- The Best Face Self Tanner Drops: Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self Tan Drops
- The Best Face Self Tanner Mist: Dolce Glow Acqua Hydrating Self Tanning Face Mist
- The Best Face Self Tanner Serum: Coola Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Self Tanner Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
- The Best Face Self Tanner Gel: Dior Solar The Self Tanning Gel
While there are many facial tanning drops on the market, + Lux Unfiltered's lightweight formula stands out from the rest. "I love this brand because it's non-toxic, vegan, and fragrance-free which is so important when products are going on your face and being absorbed into your skin," shares Carr. With self tanning drops, you can add as much or as little product as you want into your favorite moisturizer for a deep or natural no-makeup makeup look.
Pros: Easy to use; Fragrance-free; Aesthetician-approved; Contain skin-loving ingredients
Cons: None found
Tan-Luxe's beloved facial self tanning drops—which Marie Claire beauty editor Samantha Holender called the overall best product in her drop-specific tanning product roundup—come in both full and travel-size bottles so you can bring them on the go. "The formula comes in two shades for a customizable tan and contains ingredients to keep skin healthy and hydrated," Holender wrote. Another pro? These drops are non-comedogenic, so you don't have to stress about clogged pores.
Pros: Formulated for your face; Easy to control; Nice smell
Cons: None found
If drops aren't your thing, try a hydrating face mist. I'm all about Dolce Glow, a celeb-loved brand (Miley Cyrus partnered with them to get bronzed for her Endless Summer Vacation performances) founded by tan artist Isabel Alysa. Made for your face, Acqua is dermatologist- and allergy-tested. It's captured into an ultra-fine mist so you feel hydrated, dewy, and refreshed as your bronze slowly develops.
Pros: Hydrating; Mess-free; Allergy-tested; No noticeable scent; Under $40
Cons: None found
A serum is a great addition to your skincare routine, and this version excels at multitasking. "This one will give you a gradual tan that also has a lot of great ingredients for healthy skin," notes Carr. Because this includes hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and argan oils it provides tanned skin that is also hydrated, leaving you with a natural glow.
Pros: Masks as skincare; Hydrates; Aesthetician-approved
Cons: Some customers find the glow too subtle; Over $50
Not only is this one of my favorite self tanners for pale skin, but it also makes Holender's 2024 best self tanner picks. "It's subtle in the best way possible and completely customizable," she said. "One layer of the product will give you a little radiance, two layers a sunkissed glow, three layers a definite tint, and so on and so forth. It goes on silky smooth and there's no risk of streakiness."
Pros: Silky smooth; Doesn't leave streaks; Customizable
Cons: Over $50
Also Recommended
Isle of Paradise knows self tanner. While their newest offering doesn't contain DHA, it still does the trick. Released in March 2024, the instant face bronzing serum provides a dewy, bronzed, glowing complexion that washes off whenever you're ready to let it go. You can use it as a primer, base, highlighter, tan enhancer, or just skincare—it contains ingredients like niacinamide, squalane, and jojoba oil.
Pros: New; Innovative; Skin-loving ingredients; Multitasking
Cons: None found
Interested in a vitamin-C-loaded self tanner that can fit right into your makeup routine? Olehenriksen has you covered with their tinted face primer. "A primer is great if you are looking for a natural look. It's a fast way to brighten up your face without makeup, or it creates a base for makeup application that doesn't leave you too cakey," notes Carr.
Pros: Multitasking; Aesthetician-recommended; Suitable for all skin types
Cons: None found
French skincare is everything—try Typology for proof. Almost au naturel and best for those with dull or pale skin, their vegan Self-Tanning Serum is made with 10 percent bio-engineered DHA and carob pulp extract, stimulating the skin's natural tanning process. You can mix it into your moisturizer for a subtle effect or apply it straight to the skin for a more intense look if you're feeling up to it.
Pros: Made with 99 percent naturally derived ingredients; Customizable
Cons: Over $50; Often sold out
A brand new edition to the world of Charlotte Tilbury, the Beautiful Skin Island Glow Easy Tanning Drops were created for "sunkissed skin that glows all year round." Streak-free and non-sticky, they feature both immediate and gradual illumination so you're happy from morning application to before-bed cleansing time. They also feature hydrating hyaluronic acid and vederine, which mimics the benefits of vitamin D without the sun exposure.
Pros: New; Skin-loving ingredients; Available in two shades
Cons: None found
Infused with coconut for the full beach-day experience, L'Oréal Paris's self tanner is the crème de la crème of drugstore options. This one, in particular, has a misting formula, which allows an even, streak-free tan in just a few spritzes. Close your eyes and let it wash over you. Weightless and incredibly easy to use, it's also infused with vitamin E for hydration and formulated without dyes or silicones.
Pros: Affordable; Easy to use
Cons: None found
When TanTowel rose to fame in the late '90s, they answered the very most important question: How can we make self tanning easier than ever before? Crafted in the format of a moisturizing towelette, all you have to do is sweep the towel over your face to receive an even glow. Cleanup is easy too—throw away your single-use towel, wash your hands, and call it a day.
Pros: Easy to use; A longtime favorite; Provides a natural-looking glow
Cons: Each towel is single-use
I find the most challenging aspect about self tanner is figuring out when to apply it. Do I want to risk a streaky application showing up halfway through the day? How do I feel about washing a little orange off my pillowcase if I put it on before bed? That's where this genius little product comes in. A sleeping mask that features all the normal moisturizer necessities like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, Bondi Sands' Pure Self Tanning Sleep Mask is colorless, fragrance-free, and gentle enough for sensitive skin. Put it on before bed, drift off, and wake up glowing.
Pros: Fragrance-free; Innovative formula; Hydrating
Cons: None found
MC's Director of Content Strategy, Jenny Hollander, said it best when complimenting these drops for our Best Self Tanners roundup: "No matter how magical the self tanner, I'm just not very good at applying it. Streaks, stained clothes, patchy spots—it's not the self tanner, it's me." Her solution? These Clarins self tanning facial drops, which you just mix with a few drops of moisturizer to finish out your skincare routine. "It's foolproof, proven by the fact I've been using it for years and am yet to see a single streak on my face. The beauty equivalent of working smarter, not harder."
Pros: Buildable color; Suitable for all skin tones; Provides natural-looking color; Long-lasting; Hydrating formula; Easy to apply; A little goes a long way.
Cons: More product may be needed for darker skin tones.
A great affordable pick if you're in the market for facial tanning drops, SOL by Jergens Deeper by the Drop drops play by the "more drops for a darker tan" rule. (Also, how many times can I say drops in one sentence?) You'll first start to see a tan after four hours, and 24 hours after mixing your chosen amount in with your moisturizer you'll see the full extent of your new, natural-looking glow, which the brand has tested to work with your unique skin tone.
Pros: Long-lasting; Oil free.
Cons: Contains fragrance.
If you're looking to exfoliate your skin while getting your glow on, look no further than Dr Dennis Gross Skincare's Alpha Beta Glow Pads. While it might sound weird (doesn't exfoliating remove self tanner?), this one actually makes your tan better by offering a sweep of exfoliation before the DHA begins working its magic. And if you're worrying about too much exfoliation, don't fret: these single-use babies also contain lactic acid for hydration.
Pros: Exfoliating; Hydrating; Easy to use, Fragrance-free.
Cons: You might need to use a couple of wipes to get your desired effect.
I'll never forget the first bottle of St. Tropez that I splurged on before junior prom. Today, the smell is still so nostalgic (and honestly pretty good, considering DHA can smell awful) even when spritzed right onto my precious face. Great for all skin types, this ultra-lightweight, water-based mist promises a solution for dryness, dullness, and uneven tone. And if you're scared to mist too much because of its clear formula, don't fear: it imparts a subtle enough glow that there's no need to worry.
Pros: Easy to use; Hydrating; Skin-loving ingredients.
Cons: Clear formula can make application unnerving.
Another group that Tan-Luxe has covered: anyone looking for an ultra-glowy tan that gradually builds to your desired tone. Formulated as an oil/lotion hybrid with naturally derived raspberry seed oil, vitamin E, and aloe vera for all-day hydration, The Gradual can be used all over your body, including your darling face. Simply apply to your skin in a circular motion and wash your hands. Then, once it's developed, add more if you so feel like it.
Pros: Provides gradual color; Hydrating; Skin-loving ingredients.
Cons: Best for those with fair or pale skin.
Those interested in a dark tan should try Loving Tan's Purest Face Tanning Serum, which was created specifically for your face and décolletage and formulated with 97 percent certified organic and naturally derived ingredients, in the shade "dark." Sold in a serum format, this special little tube even contains an instant bronzer so you can glow as soon as you apply (just don't forget to wash it off after six to eight hours when development is complete).
Pros: Tested by dermatologists; Nice texture; Gentle; Absorbs quickly.
Cons: Some customers report pilling upon application.
Bali Beauty brand Coco & Eve wins the award for Marie Claire's favorite viral self tanner—TikTok had an absolute heyday with their Bali Bronzing Self Tanner Mousse. While I haven't seen as much chatter about their face offering, I can assure you it's just as good—and even easier to use: if you know how to use a spray bottle, you're already an expert. The color lasts for several days and departs all at once, so there's no fear of patchiness.
Pros: Easy to apply; Hydrating formula; Smells nice.
Cons: None found.
As TikTok's latest darling, Saltyface's Tanning Water had a lot of hype to live up to. And reader, it does the trick. Crafted with "ingredients you can feel confident putting on your skin," the brand's water formula was designed to be used as the last step in your skincare routine. To get the perfect glow, you'll want to apply it to a kabuki brush and buff it onto your face. Then simply fall asleep and wake up bronzed—there's no need to rinse.
Pros: No need to rinse; Easy to apply; Gentle ingredients; Available in two shades.
Cons: None found.
How Does Face Self Tanner Work?
Self tanners usually work by temporarily staining the skin. This happens through a chemical reaction between the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (or DHA, a colorless sugar derived from sources such as sugar beets) and the outermost layer of skin, aka stratum corneum.
"The reaction between DHA and amino acids in the skin is known as the Maillard reaction, similar to the process that occurs when cooking foods like bread or steak," explains Lisa Chevalier, a Physician Associate and Founder of SoVous Medical Spa and Laser Center. "During this reaction, DHA interacts with our amino acids on the skin's surface, resulting in the production of melanoidins and the subsequent bronzing of the skin."
A bottle of Charlotte Tilbury's new facial tanning drops glows on the beach.
This bronzed effect is also directly related to the amount of DHA in the product, which is why many self tanners are formulated to build upon themselves. "There are also other ingredients in these products that aim to increase the length of the tan and side effect of skin drying such as hydrators, antioxidants, and botanicals," she adds.
How to Apply Face Self Tanner
Because their formulas aren't all the same, there are different rules for applying various facial self tanning products. Always read the instructions. If your skin is sensitive or you're not sure about the color, try a patch test. "This can help ensure compatibility with sensitive facial skin. It may take some experimentation to find the perfect self tanner that meets all of one’s needs and preferences," says Mendes.
It's also essential to always wear SPF with your facial self tanner. Self tanners usually don't contain sun protection on their own. One more big tip? "Just make sure to wash your hands after application so the tanner doesn't transfer to your palms!" adds Carr.
How to Apply Makeup Over Self Tanner
It's a simple thing, but you'd be surprised how easy it is to forget that you'll need to match your foundation and concealer to your fake-tanned skin. "If you are using a facial tanner, then factor that into your buying and applying decisions," says Carr. You'll probably want to reach for two shades darker than your normal skin tone.
Should You Apply Self Tanner on Your Face?
If you're adding a self tanner to your face, it's important to mix up your skincare routine accordingly.
"Self tanners are generally safe for most skin types and do not inherently cause acne. However, like any product applied to the skin, there's a chance of a breakout if the product clogs pores or irritates the skin. Choosing non-comedogenic (won’t block pores) self tanners and following proper application and exfoliation techniques can minimize this risk.
Meet the Experts
With over 20 years of experience in the Cosmetic industry, Alessandro Mendes has developed and deployed new concepts and innovation formulation for companies like Beiersdorf, P&G, and Natura.
Holding a Master degree in Business Administration from FGV, Brazil, he has a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering from both the Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg, Germany and from the Escola Politécnica, USP, Brazil.
Dr. Shokeen attended the University of California, Los Angeles, as an undergraduate and graduated with a major in psychobiology with an interest in biochemistry. She received her medical education on the east coast at Drexel University College of Medicine, in Philadelphia, PA. Due to her leadership and scholarly excellence throughout medical school, she was awarded a research opportunity as a dermatology pre-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania during her first and second year of medical school.
Aimee Carr is an expert medical esthetician, celebrity makeup artist and founder of VooDoo Makeup.
Lisa Chevalier is a board-certified Physician Associate and founder of SoVous Medical Spa and Laser Center on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. A few of Lisa’s favorite topics include the aesthetics industry’s issue with over treating people, a review of various laser, light and energy treatments (how they work, who they work for, long-term vs. maintenance options, etc.), how to make a skincare routine and makeup more efficient, and beauty trends vs. science in a practice.
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