Why it's great: If you're obsessed with being tan, readers say this self-tanner will promptly deliver darker skin after the first application. "The color payoff from this line is amazing," raves one reader. "It's a natural looking golden bronze shade, plus it smells great and doesn't rub off on your sheets when you apply at night." Other readers agree, with one even saying she said goodbye to tanning beds when this tanning lotion came into her life. "My new tan looks amazing and fades beautifully," she says. "This is one of my favorite products, and I get to keep a summer glow all year round. No more tanning beds for me."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.0*
Why it's great: Readers say the sunless tanning lotion not only "dries quickly," but also gives you immediate color payoff. "One day I decided to try this before work when I only had about ten extra minutes," confesses one user. "My tan looked absolutely amazing and didn't come off on my clothes at all." Other readers agree, saying the self-tanner looks "completely natural" and you don't have to worry about streaking or patchy areas. "Honestly this self-tanner made my skin look flawless and airbrushed," another user shares. "I'm in love."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 10*
Why it's great: If you want a natural-looking tan, that's not streaky or orange, then readers say this self-tanner is your ticket. "I'd tried just about every self-tanner out there, and had pretty much given up until I picked this up," confesses one reader. "It's light, dries quickly and there's no streaking. I've never had a tan that looked so natural." Readers say the foam consistency of the self-tanner guarantees an even application, and gives you a nice, "sun-kissed" look.
The last thing you want to hear in your head after slathering on a self-tanner is that Oompa-Loompa song. We've all been duped by too-orange self-tanners, no? Nothing's worse than trying to do the right thing by avoiding the sun and arduously applying a tanning lotion, cream, foam, gel or spray to your body, only to wind up with dark elbows and streaky legs.
There has to be some sunless tanning winners out there, because bronze-y stars constantly grace the red carpet (and you know most of them wouldn't risk wrinkles by baking in the sun to get that glow.) But how do you know which of the best self-tanners is going to yield the most natural-looking results?
Our readers tried and tested a ton of self-tanner skin care products for your sunless tanning pleasure. Since tanning creams have gotten a bad rap for often being hot streaky messes, it's super helpful to know that real women tried out these particular products and rave about them. You can read the enthusiastic reviews from everyone, from our freckly, pale-skinned friends who can't (and shouldn't) sunbathe but miraculously found faux glow bliss, to gals who praise the magic of self-tanning power to cover up the tan lines that are ruining their strapless dress game. And of course, regardless of how amazing a sunless tanner formula might be, the secret to making it look real is in the application. Here, a few tips on how to expertly apply self-tanner:
-Exfoliate and shave before you let self-tanner anywhere near your body. Use a mild exfoliant to make sure you're sloughing off your dead skin cells before the self-tanner goes on.
-Stand between two mirrors to apply the self-tanner, so you can see exactly what you're doing.
-Be extra mindful of the knees, hands, elbows, feet, ankles and face. These are the areas where self-tanning mistakes show up most. Use a minimal amount of tanning lotion in these areas, and consider wearing latex gloves or a tanning mitt to apply it.
-Once you've applied your self-tanner, keeping your skin hydrated is the key to making it last. Apply lotion daily.
