Best Self-Tanners and Self-Tanning Tips

It use to be that self-tanners just looked like you rubbed a bunch of orange kool-aid all over your body making you look like Snookie in her tan happy days (that aint a pretty look if you know what I’m sayin). But now, self-tanners have evolved to where you actually look like you got some sun, minus the harmful sunrays and potential cancer risk. Since I tend to be over-zealous with sun-protection, I wanted to share with you my favorite 5 self-tanners and some self-tanning tips to go with that will leave you with a streak free and bronzed body.

Self-Tanning Tips to Avoid Streaking and Splotching

A few weeks ago when I went to Disney World, my pasty legs were going to see the sun and so I decided to start on my self-tanning adventures. I usually go for self-tanning tints, but I needed to look like I had a serious tan, so I opted for a darker self-tanner. Well, I decided to not do ANY of the tips below because I didn’t have time etc. etc. Bad decision everyone, I looked like a Calico kitten and it wasn’t pretty. Use these self-tanning tips people, they work.

1) Exfoliate and clean your body really well. I use a body scrub and my clarisonic with the attachment that helps me reach my back. This helps you have an even and non-splotchy application.

2. Apply moisturizer to your elbow, knees, hands, feet, and corners of nose when doing the face. These are the areas of body that tend to grab onto the self-tanners. Applying the moisturizer to those areas just softens the effectiveness of the self-tanner, making it appear more natural.

3. When applying your self-tanner, I highly recommend using a self tanner mit. If you have one, place the self tanner on the mit, and then apply it to your body in curricular motion as if you are buffing it into the skin. I always start on my legs first and work my way up to my face.

Look Like This

Don’t look at my hammerhead big toes that need a pedicure A.S.A.P. Check out my tan! Do you see any splotching anywhere? The only area that I needed to apply a bit more to were my toes, but you can see my typical skin color (pasty white). On my legs I use the Xen-Tan I talk about below.

Putting self-tanner on your face can be frightening as it’s the last place you want to screw up. But check it out, I’m not looking like Snookie, no orange Kool-Aid effect, and no splotching. It was job well done (patting myself on the back). And if you are curious what I used on my face, it was the Kate Summerville face tanning towelettes below. They are amazing. On my arms I am using the St. Tropez Mousse self-tanner below.

5 Favourite Self-Tanners

1. Kate Summerville Body Tanning Towelettes and Face Tanning Towelettes: I fell in love with these towelettes when I got them in a beauty sample subscription because they are so easy to use, are paraben free, gave me a fabulous glow and would be perfect for travel. The face towelettes have Peptide k8 and other anti-aging properties, plus you can place two fingers into the self tanning pouch, making it super easy to give your face an even tan with circular motion. They are also great for someone with fair skin. $45.00

2. Perricone MD No Sun Tanner: This face and body self tanner is for people that want a little bit of a sun kissed glow, but want a little more control with how bronzed they get. This is a gradual self tanner that not only gives you the look of sun kissed skin, it has pro-Vitamin D to give you the other benefits of sun as well. It also doesn’t streak, and has no gross self tanner smell to it. $69.00

3. St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse: I am in love with this self tanner, but would recommend not using it if you are looking for just a light sun kissed tint. This highly sought after self-tanner will give you a deep golden tan that will make you look like you had a full day of fun in the sun minus the skin damage. It is infused with aloe vera to give long lasting color, and has Aromaguard™ fragrance technology that eliminates self tanner aroma by a minimum of 70%. It also comes with a tanning mitt, which makes it incredibly easy to apply, and I am obsessed with the fact that it is a mousse. $42.00

4. Xen-Tan Moroccan Tan: So this is the self tanner that got me on my self-tanning kick. It looks like a bronzing lotion, so you can immediately see where you are applying in order to not miss any spots and leaves you with a medium tan. It also dries quickly so you don’t get any residue on your clothes. Another bonus is that it has morrocan oil and peptides to help moisturize your skin while tanning. $35.00

5. Jergens Natural Glow: I have been using this self-tanner for years. It really has ended up being a go to option for winter time when I don’t want to look like a ghost, but also would feel weird sporting a full on tan. It use to have really strong self-tanning scent to it, but now it is odorless! For over-the counter, it does a great job for paler skin types and if you want more of a tan, you just add more. It is also extremely affordable at only $4-6.00.

6. Too Faced Royal Oil Coconut Oil Bronzer: I am slightly obsessed with this bronzing oil. It has mangosteen oil in it to protect against environmental damage, plus coconut oil to keep skin moisturized. It glides on the skin perfectly and dries quick to avoid transferring onto your clothes. While this isn’t a self-tanner that stay’s past a shower, it is perfect if you want to look bronzed without having to wait 3 hours for it to set. Plus, it has this gorgeous shimmer to it that will make your body look amazing. $35.00

Note* Most of these products were press samples per my request. All thoughts and opinions are that of my own.