It’s been over a year since I published my self tanning routine, and I still do everything pretty much the same! But what I’ve done since then is test out various products from several different brands. I’m highlighting below my top 4 self tanning brands that I’ve tried so far and their top rated products. I’m also sharing a few self tanning essentials that will come in handy no matter what brand you decide to use!
Loving Tan
Loving Tan is the first brand of self tanners I tried and is still a personal favorite! I have found that their 2 hour express bronzing mousse in shade ‘dark’ gives me the darkest tan! However, you do need to be careful with application to avoid streaking and dark spots. I always apply my Hempz lotion to my ankles, knees, elbows, and hands before applying. Although it’s 2 hour express, I typically sleep in this formula overnight for a deeper tan. You can also use Loving Tan’s Deluxe Gradual Tan to deepen or extend the life of your tan. This is formulated with shea butter so it’s super nourishing. Loving Tan also has a tinted self-tanning cream for your face that I haven’t personally tried yet.
St. Tropez
St. Tropez is another very popular brand of self tanners that I love! It personally gives me just as much of a long lasting tan as the Loving Tan brand. However, I feel like the Loving Tan formula matches my skin a little bit better. The Loving Tan formula pulls more of a purple/red tone, and the St. Tropez formula pulls more of a blue/green tone. The tone of this self tanner will neutralize redness in your skin, so if that’s your skin type then this brand would be perfect for you. St. Tropez just recently released a limited edition self tanner with Ashley Graham that I’ve heard tons of great reviews on! The more I’ve read about it to share this post, the more excited I am to try it! This self-tanner is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid Complex, Rosehip Oil & Vitamin E.
Tanceuitcals
The reason I was eager to try the self tanner from Tanceuticals is because of the clean ingredients it is formulated with. It contains Acai Berry, Argan Oil and Pomegranate to help improve the quality and appearance of skin. This self tanner is very easy to apply and blend to prevent streaking, so if you’re a beginner this would be a great option! It also doesn’t have the typical self tanner smell. Personally, I do not achieve quite as deep of a tan when using this product, but I still highly recommend the product and the brand! Tanceuticals is also known for their tanning lotions for the body and face.
Isle of Paradise
Isle of Paradise is another brand I highly recommend! Their tanning drops are the only tanning product I use on my face. I was nervous about using anything on my face, but they do not make my skin break out at all. You simply apply the drops into your nighttime moisturizer and wake up with sun kissed skin! I tried to use the drops with my body moisturizer though, and it did not turn out well. Since there is no guide color in the drops, I found it difficult to see where I was applying, and my tan turned out streaky. I 10/10 recommend the drops for your face though! I like that the drops come in 3 shades, and I personally use the shade ‘dark.’ They also have a very popular self tanning water, as well as a new Glow Clear self tanning mousse.
Essentials
I go into more detail of my self-tanning routine in this post, but I will briefly share a few essentials here as well. I always start by exfoliating the night before with this exfoliating mitt from Amazon. You will also want to grab another mitt for application, otherwise you will stain your hands with the self tanner. It’s also much easier to blend when using a mitt. I also recommend applying a light layer of lotion to the dryer parts of your body before application. To get the most out of your tan, it’s important to keep your body and skin hydrated. I will also use a tan extender lotion if I want my tan to last even longer. I love this one from Norvell or the one I previously mentioned from Loving Tan.
If you’re in the market for a self tanner, I hope you found this post helpful! Let me know if you have any questions or if there’s another brand I should add on my list of products to try!
