Getting color without baking in the sun is the whole point, and the right formula is the difference between a believable tan and a streaky orange mess. These self-tanners for a summer glow cover every comfort level, from a beginner-friendly water that’s hard to botch to the deep, develops-overnight mousse that regulars swear by. Each one is easy to find on Amazon, and none of them leave you smelling like stale biscuits by morning.
Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water
If you’re nervous about self-tanner, this is the bottle people hand a first-timer. The clear water sprays on without a color guide, so you can’t see streaks as you go, which sounds backward but actually forces you to blend evenly. It comes in three tints keyed to undertone (peach for fair skin, medium for golden, dark for deep), so you choose by your coloring instead of guessing. Color builds over four to six hours and reads natural in daylight. Still, use a mitt, because bare palms will stain fast.
St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse
St. Tropez is the salon standard for a reason, and the Purity version skips the sticky feel that turns people off self-tanner. It goes on as a clear, lightweight mousse that won’t transfer onto white sheets while it develops. The scent is also far less “fake tan” than most, thanks to their aroma-guard technology. Because it’s a true overnight developer, you shower in the morning and the color keeps deepening through the day. For a foolproof medium-to-deep tan, this is the one to beat.
Loving Tan 2 Hour Express Dark Mousse
When you want deep, bronzy color fast, the Loving Tan Express delivers in about two hours. The tinted mousse has a color guide, so you can see exactly where you’ve applied and get even coverage even if you’re not experienced. It’s pricier than drugstore options and the bottle doesn’t last forever, but the payoff is a rich, glowy tan that genuinely looks like a beach week. However, two hours is the minimum, so leave it longer for the darkest result.
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam
Bondi Sands is the affordable workhorse, and the coconut-scented foam is a cult favorite for good reason. The color guide is generous, so application is nearly idiot-proof, and the Dark shade gives you that Australian-summer bronze without much effort. It develops in one to three hours depending on how deep you want to go. The foam can feel slightly tacky before you rinse, though, so plan to lounge in old clothes while it sets.
Tan-Luxe The Body Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
These drops are the smart pick if you don’t trust yourself with a full-body tan yet. You mix a few into your body lotion or oil and build color gradually, so there’s basically no way to streak. More drops means a deeper tan, which puts you in total control of the outcome. They’re also great for topping up an existing tan between fuller applications. Plus the illuminating finish leaves skin looking glowy rather than flat once the color develops.
b.tan Glow Your Own Way Tanning Mousse
For under fifteen dollars, b.tan punches way above its price. The dark mousse develops in about an hour, has a clear color guide, and the scent is one of the better budget formulas out there. The brand’s whole vibe is unfussy, and the result is a deep, fast tan for people who don’t want to spend salon money. Because it develops so quickly, though, keep an eye on the clock so you don’t go darker than you planned.
How to Pick Your Shade
The best of these self-tanners for a summer glow comes down to how much control you want. If you’re new, start with the Tan-Luxe drops or the Isle of Paradise water, because both are almost impossible to botch. If you want salon-level results, St. Tropez and Loving Tan are worth the splurge. And if you just want a deep tan for the price of lunch, b.tan and Bondi Sands get you there. Whatever you choose, exfoliate first and use a mitt, since prep matters more than the formula itself. For more warm-weather beauty picks, browse the fashion category.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we believe in.