The following post contains affiliate links, which sends me a small percentage of any sales at no cost to you.
Spring is here and I’ve been eyeing my stash of sunless tanners (BTW, are we calling them sunless tanners or self-tanners?) — it’s time I give myself some color.
I have tried SO many self-tanners over the years and my tastes have evolved. I used to be very into sunless tanning wipes. While I would still use them now, I prefer gradual tanning products and foams.
I figured I’d put together a list of my current favorite self-tanning products in case you’re looking for some:
St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse
Years ago, I bought several St. Tropez items during a brand sale and I ended up really loving the Classic Bronzing Mousse. There is a bit of a learning curve with mousse when it comes to applying it, but I’ve gotten the hang of it.
The key is to exfoliate really well and moisturize any dry areas (ankles, knees, toes) before applying the tanner. You’ll end up with a much better tan that looks more natural.
The brand of the mousse is such a personal preference; the color of the St. Tropez is one of the reasons I like it so much! It’s got more of a green base (as opposed to orange) which results in a deep, natural-looking tan for my skin tone.
Tanologist Daily Glow Gradual Tanning Lotion
Last summer, I bought two bottles of the Tanologist Daily Glow lotion and loved it! They have a few options for this product, so I’ll share what I know.
There are three different types of the Daily Glow Lotion, based on what your skincare needs are. There’s the “Hydrating” one (lavender bottle), which has hyaluronic acid and squalene to nourish the skin.
The “Brightening” option (peach bottle) has Vitamin C, niacinamide, and cherry extract to illuminate the skin. And finally, there’s a “Firming” option (light blue bottle) that has caffeine and grapeseed oil to sculpt skin.
Each lotion option also comes in different shades: either fair to medium, or medium to dark. Last summer, I used the Hydrating and the Brightening lotions in the fair to medium shade.
I didn’t really notice a difference in the lotions on my skin but will probably continue with the Brightening option since I feel my skin is uneven.
I really liked using the lotion daily, and it’s at a price point that makes it possible — I loved St. Tropez’s gradual lotion but it’s way too expensive for daily use!
Ulta Tropical Passionfruit Gradual Self Tan Whipped Mousse
I saw this on the clearance aisle when I was working at Ulta and bought it to try, and ended up loving it! It has a great color and, although the mousse goes on clear, I thought it was so fun to apply.
The texture is like shaving cream and reminded me of using those colorful foams in the bath when I was a kid. I’m shocked to see it’s still available (I assumed it was getting phased out) so I will be purchasing some to use ASAP!
Tarte Glow with the faux foaming self-tanner with mitt
This was another find I got because of a sale and I ended up loving it.
The Tarte Glow With the Faux has a nice, deep color (similar to the St. Tropez mousse) and goes on great. It comes with a mitt that I wash and use for all of my self-tanning products!
It dries quickly and doesn’t have that faux-tan smell. The bottle looks small, but I used it all summer!
Finally, I wanted to share a product I bought last summer that really helped me: the Coco & Eve Back Tan Applicator (linking similar options).
I used to not even bother with my back when it came to self-tanning, but if you want serious color, you can’t skip the back! I bought this and use it for my foams, mousses, and even the gradual tan lotion and it makes it so easy; plus you can wash it and hang it to dry.
What are your favorite self-tanning products?
To see more writing from me, be sure to subscribe to The Bitter Lemon by clicking “subscribe” on the right side of your screen. Want even more? Subscribe to my newsletter to get roundups, book recs and lifestyle tips.
The Bitter Lemon 