If your pale, post-winter/spring skin needs a boost, or you naturally have a medium or darker skin tone and want some enhancement, a self-tanner may be just the thing. Today we're rounding up three of the best self-tanners to easily and quickly give you that warmer glow without any harmful UV rays. (By the way, a “base tan” isn't what it's cracked up to be.)

Readers, do you use self-tanner? What are your favorite brands and products?

A quick note: As with a lot of beauty products, online reviews for self-tanners aren't always super helpful, as there are often a wide variety of opinions, from “I love this self-tanner! It applies perfectly” to “This smells horrible, is patchy, and I hate it.” So, YMMV — that's why travel sizes can be your friend here. Many brands offer travel/mini sizes, such as Bondi Sands, Beauty by Earth, and Isle of Paradise.

{related: what is your favorite sunscreen? — and yes, we're due for an update!}

Here are some of the best self-tanners out there.

Reader-Favorite Self-Tanners

These are some of the self-tanning products readers have recommended — and we're excited to try these newer self-tanner drops that you add to your regular lotion. During the NAS, Nordstrom has some great deals on self-tanner drops and St. Tropez mousse, also…

3 of the Best Self-Tanners for 2024

Best General Self-Tanner: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse

This limited edition, Sephora-exclusive self-tanner, St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse, is in mousse form and has an “island-inspired” fragrance. Specifically, St. Tropez notes, it smells like “tropical fruit blended with velvety coconut, vanilla, and Tahitian gardenia.” (That does sound nice.)

Reviewers' opinions of the scent include “pleasant,” “fresh,” “divine,” “really good” and also … “a problem for some people.”

To use this tanner, which is vegan and cruelty-free, you apply with a mitt and wait one to three hours before showering. Your tan will develop over the next eight hours.

Nordstrom has a value set (two containers, 3.38 oz. + 13.7 oz.) for $56 during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale; you can also find this self-tanner for $46 for 6.7 oz. at Sephora. (There are also self-tanning drops from St. Tropez in the NAS.)

Best Face Self-Tanner: Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

You've got a choice for getting more color on your face, and if you're seeking something that lasts longer than a bronzer or tinted moisturizer, these self-tanner face drops from UK company Tan-Luxe are a good bet. The Face is designed to be added to your moisturizer, serum, or face oil, and you can customize the shad — from 2 drops (“radiant”) to 12 drops (“bronzed”). (You might want to start small, to avoid a Ross “Mississippi” situation.)

This product is cruelty-free, vegan, and also free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone, and talc. Reviewers say the scent is “great,” “way better than other self-tanners,” or alternately, “strongly like apple cider vinegar,” or non-existent. So, yeah.

These face drops are $50 for 1 oz. at Nordstrom and are available in two shades: light/medium and medium/dark.

(There are also self-tanning drops from St. Tropez in the NAS — 2 oz. for $59.)

Best Self-Tanner for Darker Skin Tones: Loving Tan Platinum Ultimate Self Tanning Mousse

For a recommendation for a self-tanner that works well for darker skin tones, we turned to the Instagram of Jackie Aina, popular Nigerian American content creator and lifestyle brand founder. (Check out her “Black Girls Tan” Insta story highlights for more!)

Aina says she loves this Platinum Ultimate Self Tanning Mousse from Australian brand Loving Tan. It's an Allure Best of Beauty award winner, too, and promises “The deepest, darkest tan possible.” (Especially if you have lighter skin, note the company's caveat, “experienced tanners only.”)

Loving Tan claims this self-tanner will dry in as little as 60 seconds and will develop your tan in two hours — a lot more quickly than some other tanners. Not only can it enhance your skin tone, but it can help with hyperpigmentation.

Various reviewers say the scent is “minimal,” “pleasant,” “does not smell good,” or is nonexistent, so YMMV.

This self-tanner mousse is $27.96 (30% off, marked down from $39.95) for 3.3 oz. at Nordstrom; the 6.7-oz. size is available at Ulta for $65.

Readers, please share! What are your favorite self-tanners for face and body?

The post 3 of the Best Self-Tanners for 2024 appeared first on Corporette.com.

Readers, what are your thoughts on self-tanners? I haven't considered them for a looong time for some reason, but this year, during a rare trip to a CVS, I saw this Jergens “gradual tan” lotion, and it had the Allure stamp of approval, so I grabbed it. Why haven't I been doing this all this time? I wondered.

(Not that there's anything wrong with pale legs! You do you. I've been trying to expand my collection of shorts to “more colorful” varieties, and I feel like tanned legs might help me feel more confident.)

So one morning, I got out of my shower and happily applied the lotion all over my legs and upper arms. I hope it isn't streaky or too orange, I thought.

Well, the good news is, it was not streaky at all — and in fact it's such a gradual tan that if my legs got a bit darker it really isn't noticeable. Which I'm ok with because I feel more tan, if that makes sense? (Clearly photographs would have been helpful.)

The BAD news is that I instantly remembered why I have historically hated self-tanners — the SMELL. To my nose, I smelled like “dirty feet” all day, and, frankly, it bugged the bejesus out of me.

Upon some research, I discovered that the smell is the chemical reaction happening as the self-tanner hits your skin… so it's essential to the process. But! I found advice on the internet that suggested putting the self-tan lotion on before bed and letting it dry… and I am HAPPY to report that that seems to work, and the smell goes away in the morning after a shower. (Apparently the chemicals need to be on your skin for 6–10 hours.) Because it's been so cold, it hasn't been a big deal, but I suspect my technique needs a bit of help since there is now a slightly dark stripe on my shin.

So let's discuss, readers — what are your favorite self-tanners? I checked old threads and have linked some of the products mentioned there below, but I figured it would be good for a newer discussion. (Ah, and here's a 2017 discussion from the readers about self-tanner vs. pantyhose.) Do you have tips on application technique or products? (I've been using one of those exfoliating gloves.) (Ah, and it looks like Jergens has some self-tanning tips on their website.)

The Jergens lotion I got is around $9 at CVS, Walmart, Amazon, Target, and your local drugstore. (I know readers had mentioned the Jergens in-shower lotion, and upon looking now, Target also has a “three days to glow” product from Jergens as well.)

These are some of the self-tanning products readers have recommended — and we're excited to try these newer self-tanner drops that you add to your regular lotion. During the NAS, Nordstrom has some great deals on self-tanner drops and St. Tropez mousse, also…

Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

• Is there a mantra or slogan that will help me combat imposter syndrome?
• AITA for not moving to the middle seat to be closer to my husband on a recent flight?
• What are your latest favorite nonfiction books for fans of Mary Beard?
• I'm so annoyed by people who look at their smart watches instead of paying attention to our conversation…
• Let's have a secrets thread…
• I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
• I'm thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?

The post Coffee Break: Jergens Natural Glow appeared first on Corporette.com.