The 10 Best Self-Tanners for Fair Skin in 2024

Guide to Buying the Best Self-Tanner for Fair Skin 2024

Now you’ve seen the best self-tanners available, here’s everything else you need to know to help guide your buying decision.

How Do Self-Tanners Work?

Self-tanners, otherwise known as sunless tanning products, give your skin that healthy, sun-kissed glow without the harmful UV rays in tow. Self-tanners are sold as lotions, mousses, oils, sprays, and even wet wipes, like the Tan Towel Self-Tan Towelettes. Sunless tanning salons have also increased in popularity in the past 15 years.

So how does this sun-in-a-bottle bronze your skin? The active ingredient in self-tanners is DHA, which reacts with dead skin cells on the epidermis (i.e., the outermost layer of the skin) to darken your skin and simulate a gorgeous, sun-kissed glow. It typically wears off after a few days, but there are a couple of ways to prolong your tan — we’ll get into that later.

Key Ingredients to Look Out For

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)

DHA is the active ingredient in all self-tanners. This colorless chemical is made from fermenting plant sugars, and bonds with the proteins on the top layer of your skin to slowly darken them. This is why you should avoid pools for a while after applying a self-tanner; chemicals like chlorine will break down DHA and cause it to wash off more easily.

Aloe Vera

Think of aloe as a miracle plant for the skin. Not only is it great for soothing painful sunburns, but it’s chock full of nourishing botanicals and vitamins that will also bust acne and moisturize dry skin. However, aloe only works against lighter acne, so those with deeper or cystic acne will still need another stronger acne-fighting alternative.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a great natural-inflammatory agent for the skin, helping to ease injury and irritation. Since it’s an astringent, it will also dry the skin out a bit, which is welcome news for those with light acne or blackheads. This is partly because of the active tannins in witch hazel, which are plant-based compounds with antioxidant effects.

Hyaluronic Acid

Known for moisturizing dry skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and accelerating the healing of wounds, hyaluronic acid works wonders on a number of skin conditions. Some self-tanners include it for improved hydration and moisturization.

Green & Black Tea Extracts

Green and black tea extracts have anti-inflammatory agents that reduce the redness of skin? We’ll drink to that. Additionally, Camellia Sinensis has anti-aging properties that, like hyaluronic acid, will turn back the clock a bit by smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin B2

Some self-tanners include vitamin B2 to help prevent the skin from drying out too much. This is because vitamin B2 regulates mucus production in your skin and helps it absorb zinc more easily, which is an important mineral for good skin health.

Vitamin B5

Vitamin B5 smooths and softens the skin and also promotes your skin’s healing process. In addition, it absorbs moisture from the air to keep your skin looking dewy and healthy.

Vitamin B12

Like Vitamin E, vitamin B12 stimulates cell reproduction and reduces the dryness and redness of skin. It may also fight against hyperpigmentation, angular cheilitis, and angular stomatitis.

Vitamin E

Of course, there are some vitamins that pep up your skin in particular. Vitamin E, for example, has antioxidant properties that fend off free radicals that may damage the skin. It’s also good for lessening any damage done to your skin by UV rays and promotes cell growth as well.

Natural Oils & Extracts

There’s also a host of natural oils and extracts that promote skin health and dewiness. You’ll find that a lot of the self-tanners on our list include natural oils like argan oil, avocado oil, cocoa oil, coconut oil, and olive oil.

As for the extracts, common names you’ll see are coffee, jojoba, oat, rooibos, safflower, shea, soybean, tapioca, and walnut. Because these botanicals are naturally-derived, they’ll do nothing but nourish and rejuvenate your skin.

Are Self-Tanners Safe?

When used as directed, self-tanners are great alternatives to sunbathing. While DHA is an FDA-approved chemical that’s safe for the skin, you should avoid applying it near the mucus membranes, such as the lips, nose, or delicate skin around the eyes.

So be extra mindful of these areas when you’re applying self-tanner at home. If you’re heading to a sunless tanning booth instead, though, make sure you have an experienced technician doing the job; they’ll know to pay extra attention when applying the sunless tanner around these areas.

How Do I Apply a Self-Tanner?

You’ll get the best results by following the directions on the package. If you don’t have a self-tanner within reach, though, then we’ll break it down for you here:

1. Shave

If you have to shave any part of your body, now is the time to do it. Otherwise, you’ll end up shaving off your brand new tan, and you wouldn’t want that now, would you?

2. Exfoliate

It’s also important to exfoliate before you get down and brown. Use a washcloth or gentle exfoliating product to slough off dead skin cells. You might want to pay a little extra attention to areas where your skin is thicker creased, such as the elbows, knees, and ankles. Pat your skin dry afterward.

3. Moisturize

This isn’t required, but you might get better results by lightly moisturizing your entire body before you apply the self-tanner. Just be careful not to apply too much, though, as the self-tanner won’t absorb as easily into the skin. We recommend using a gel moisturizer that absorbs fast so that you won’t have to wait for too long.

4. Apply

Apply the self-tanner in sections by massaging it into your skin in circles. Many self-tanners come with application mitts to help you spread the color evenly. We highly recommend using these mitts for two reasons: one, so you can apply the color as evenly as possible, and two, so you don’t turn your hands dark brown in the process!

The most important thing to keep in mind, however, is to start from the bottom up. This way, you can make sure your legs are nice and even before moving up to your chest and arms. Don’t be afraid to enlist a little help for your back, either.

5. Watch the Face

Go light when applying self-tanner on your face, or use an entirely different product altogether. Some self-tanners are designed specifically for facial skin, which is usually a bit more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body. For this reason, it’s not uncommon for people to go a little lighter on the face compared to the rest of the body.

6. Wash Those Hands

Naturally, your hands will be pretty dark by the time you’re done. Scrub those hands as soon as you finish so they don’t turn orange. Make sure to wash the knuckles and fingers extra well so they don’t stain, either.

My Skin Looks Splotchy —  Now What?

Fear not; there are a few great home remedies for skin speckled by self-tanner. Whether you want to buff out a few streaks or remove the fake tan completely, try out some of these tricks:

• Lemon Juice – Rub a lemon on the darker spots to lighten them up a bit. Lemon juice is a natural exfoliant, so you can even out your tan without using any harsh, synthetic chemicals.
• Baby Oil – If lemon juice isn’t an option, try baby oil. Drier skin tends to hold onto pigments more, so moisturizing your skin will have the reverse effect. Simply apply a thick layer, wait around 10 to 15 minutes, and then wash it off in the shower.
• Sugar Scrubs – Use a sugar scrub to buff out any streaks in your fake tan. Plus, you’ll exfoliate your skin at the same time, making it a win-win.
• Rubbing Alcohol – Rubbing alcohol will help fade any unsightly splotches resulting from a fake tan gone wrong. While it does have the same effect as the other methods mentioned above, rubbing alcohol also has a drying effect on the skin, so use it sparingly.
• Exfoliating Gloves – With exfoliating gloves, you can take these splotchy matters into your own hands — literally! Wear these handy, lightly abrasive gloves in the shower and rub all over. Not only will you even out your new skin tone, your skin will feel baby-soft afterward.
• Take a Dip – If it’s warm out, then hop in the pool to wash away those self-tanner streaks. The chlorine in the water will break down the DHA in the self-tanner, making it much easier to wash off.
• Curdled Milk – Hear us out — we’re not asking you to leave a carton of milk out for a week and then slather it on your skin. You can curdle good milk pretty quickly by letting a slice of lemon sit in a full glass of it. After that, apply the milk mask to your skin and let it sit for 15 minutes. Since milk and lemon juice are both natural exfoliators, they’ll fade your tan pretty gently.
• Toothpaste – We know — the list is getting crazier as we go on. But you’re probably not shocked to learn that whitening toothpaste can have a similar effect on a dark, uneven tan. Apply a thin layer of whitening toothpaste to the overly-tanned area in question, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then wash it off.
• Self-Tan Remover – If none of these home remedies work, then invest in some self-tan remover, the purpose for which is pretty self-explanatory.

When Should I Apply a Self-Tanner?

The best time to apply a self-tanner is at night, so you can give your skin an uninterrupted chunk of time to let it soak in. Don’t worry about any developing streaks or spots, either; you can always wash those off in the morning. Any lingering streaks and smells should also wash off.

If that isn’t feasible, then apply it in the morning before work or school. You need to keep the self-tanner on for at least six to eight hours so that it can soak in properly. Just make sure you choose a self-tanner that doesn’t stain, unless you want to get caught orange-handed.

Once the six to eight hours have passed, hit the shower to clean up any remaining messes.

How Long Does Self-Tanner Last?

When applied properly, high-quality self-tanners can last up to eight days. But like we just talked about, you’ll first need to wait about six to eight hours in most cases for the self-tanner to really take effect. This is because the DHA in the self-tanner reacts a bit slowly with the dead skin cells, and showering before this time frame is up will only wash the product off altogether.

When it comes to self-tanner, patience is indeed a virtue.

How Can I Make My Fake Tan Last Longer

The secret to making a fake tan last is in the application process. If you apply your self-tanner properly, then you can get some pretty good mileage out of it. Of course, the quality of your self-tanner is important, too; cheaper self-tanners are more prone to splotchy streaks, and may also have brassy, orange undertones. No thanks.

As for the maintenance of your fake tan, though, we have one suggestion: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Even though pigments bond to drier skin cells more quickly, you’ll be much less likely to shed your top layer of skin cells if you thoroughly moisturize.

You may also want to consider applying aftersun with a teaspoon of self-tanner three to four days after the initial application. The aftersun will moisturize your skin while the dollop of self-tanner will pep up the pigmentation a little.

Does Self-Tanner Come off in the Water?

It depends on what kind of water you’re soaking in. Chlorinated water, like the kind you find in pools, will break down the DHA, the main active ingredient in self-tanners, and cause it to wash off in the pool — especially if you take a dip within four to eight hours of the first application. If you’re unsure about how much of your new fake tan will wash off in the pool, wait a little bit longer.

However, it’s much harder to wash it off in, say, the shower. This is because there are no chemicals or minerals in shower water that’ll be at odds with the DHA. In fact, it’s recommended that you take a shower to clean up your new look six to ten hours after the initial application.

Before You Go A-Bronzin’

Now that you’re armed with plenty of knowledge about what self-tanners are and how they work, we hope you’ll choose one from our top ten list and get the faux glow of your dreams. As always, follow the directions to the T and don’t forget the sunscreen — no matter whether you’re seaside or snowed in.