20 Best Self-Tanning Spray Tans To Use At Home For A Perfect Glow
Skip the tanning bed.
A good self-tanning spray is incredibly useful for those of us who get scorched in the sun. And reasonably speaking, none of us should be getting too much sun exposure anyway.
That said, we all have stories of streaking and orange sunless tans, but choosing the right one can get incredible results. Self-tanners have come a long way in the last few years and a lot of the ones out there now look like the real deal. Why not check out some options we've put together to help you get started?
Under $20
1. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Makeup
Streak-free, sun-free, water- and transfer-resistant, this skin-perfecting self-tanning spray on will leave your legs looking smooth, tan, and firm all day long. And the price point that will have you stocking up.
(Amazon)
2. Neutrogena MicroMist Airbrush Sunless Spray
This self-tanning mist applies like a professional airbrush spray by delivering an ultra-fine-mist for simple, even coverage and a gorgeous, sunless tan all over your body. The one-touch continuous tanning spray dries in less than 5 minutes with no rubbing required and works at any angle to cover those hard-to-reach places, including your back.
(Amazon)
3. ULTA Bronze Glow Self Tanning Tinted Mist
Ulta's ultra-fine Bronze Glow Self Tanning Tinted Mist goes on evenly, works at any angle, and dries in minutes. The tinted formula gives you an instant glow while your natural looking tan develops. Aloe Vera, Green Tea and Vitamin E help soothe and hydrate skin.
(Ulta, $11)
4. St. Moriz Instant Self-Tanning Mist
St. Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mist offers a deep bronze, natural-looking tan with a professional finish. With a unique blend of active tanning agents, this ultra-fine mist formulation offers an instant bronzing, quick drying spray for a healthy glow all year round.
(Ulta, $13)
5. Australian Gold Spray Gel with Instant Bronzer SPF 15
Native Australian Acacia Extract provides antioxidant benefits. It contains a natural caramel bronzer, and enriches skin with an instant bronzed glow for a radiant-looking tan.
(Amazon)
6. Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tan Liquid
This tropical scented, non-sticky formula dries quickly for a beautiful, glowing tan that develops in about 4-6 hours. Fake Bake has a built-in color guide so you can see where you’re applying the self-tanning product on your skin, ensuring streak-free application.
(Amazon)
7. SugarBaby Golden Glamour Spray on Tan
This spray goes on as a fine mist, putting an end to uneven coverage. It ends up leaving skin with a smooth, natural, all-over believably bronzed tan.
(Amazon)
8. Sally Beauty Salon Bronze Airbrush Tanning System
The airbrush tan applicator produces a fine mist which ensures a flawless tan, while the instant bronzer gives you a beautiful glow. Simply insert the cartridge, hold it about 12 inches from your skin, and spray. Aloe vera and white tea extracts leave your skin smooth and moisturized.
(Sally Beauty, $12.99)
9. Sephora Tinted Self-Tanning Body Mist
If foams and lotions aren't your thing, try Sephora's self-tanning mist. It's tinted so you can see where you're spraying — just take the advice and spritz in the shower so you don't accidentally hit your couch or your cat.
10. L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Hydrating Self-Tanning Milk
If the idea of an instant, dramatic tan makes you sweat, consider this super gradual self-tanner, which not only delivers a subtle glow but also hydrates skin. On the other hand, if intense tans are your thing, this baby is the ideal maintenance product to prevent fading between fake bakes.
(Amazon)
Over $20
11. Gold Mountain Beauty Instant Spray Self Tanner
An instant bronzing mist that is derived from organic and natural ingredients like Walnut Shell Extract, Aloe Vera, and Calendula that hydrate and soothe the skin. The active ingredient 8 percent DHA works to tan the skin instantly for a golden sun-kissed glow without the orange tint.
(Gold Mountain Beauty, $35)
12. Tan-Luxe Wonder Oil
The dry-oil formula hydrates, sans greasiness, smells more like candy than DHA, and goes on clear via a mess-proof rollerball applicator. The tan itself develops over two hours, which is just enough time to tear your eyes away from the jaw-droppingly chic packaging.
(Sephora, $68)
13. COOLA Sunless Tan Dry Body Oil Mist
An easy-to-use, eco-certified cosmos organic sunless tan body mist that delivers a natural-looking, buildable radiance that lasts up to three days.
(Sephora, $46)
14. Supergoop! Healthy Glow Sunless Tan SPF 40
A two-in-one moisturizing formula delivers natural-looking, buildable, long-lasting color that’s streak-free, transfer-free and scent-free, all while offering broad spectrum UV protection.
(Sephora, $38)
15. Grace & Stella Bronze Doll Self-Tanning Spray
Look like you’ve just returned from a tropical vacation without the sun damage with Grace & Stella’s Bronze Doll Self-Tanning Spray. Worried about tell-tale stained hands? With the Bronze Doll, you will achieve an even, all over tan within minutes.
(Grace and Stella, $34.95)
16. Spray di Sole TanMeBox Self Tanning Kit
DHA from sugar beets and sugar cane provides the color in this gel by reacting to your skin's natural pigmentation, so no orange-ness here, and no streaks thanks to the brush-on application. Once you get the just-right tan, apply the shimmer bronzer and bronzing spray daily to enhance that natural (and natural-looking) glow.
(The Grommet, $77.95)
17. ECOCOCO Tanning Mousse
This mousse formula uses an innovative blend of Certified Organic ingredients including Certified Organic Coconut Oil, Cocoa Powder and Grape Extract to nourish and hydrate your skin while providing an instant rich, bronze tan. The organic formula contains a bronzer guide for a fool proof, streak-free finish.
(Amazon)
18. ModelCo Tanning Water
ModelCo Tan Water is an intensely hydrating translucent liquid self-tan formula that’s fragrance-free and develops into an all over radiant, bronzed glow in just 4 hours. The revolutionary formula features coconut water, green tea extract, and Rose Bulgaria Flower Oil to illuminate, hydrate, and offer the skin a bronzed hydro-glow.
(ModelCo, $25)
19. South Seas Skincare Tahitian Tan Mist
This revolutionary formula creates a natural-looking tan with no fuss. A fast-drying mist of golden brown pigment gives an even tan with zero streaks or grease. You'll love your newfound sun-kissed glow.
(Dermstore, $28)
20. BT Cosmetics Jet Set Sun Instant Tanning Mist
This new generation self-tanning mist will add an instant touch of color to your complexion. It's specially formulated to work gently on the skin, and what more could you ask for?
(Amazon)
Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her at alywalansky@gmail.com.
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