I have a love/hate relationship with self tanners. I love that sun-kissed glow, especially when my skin is post-winter zombie white and I have to suddenly warm up to the idea of wearing shorts or a sundress. The hate part is pretty obvious and universal to us all: The streaks! The stink! The orange!
Fortunately, there are a few good tans-in-a-can out there, so when the occasion does call for an immediate quick glow fix, it doesn’t have to end up as a beauty horror story. Check out the best self tanners on the market today in the slideshow above.
More Self Tanners:
- Self Tanners and Bronzers: Secret Sun-in-a-Bottle
- Self Tanner 101: How to Apply Self Tanner Like an Expert
- The Best Self Tanners on the Market
The 5 Best Self Tanners For Self Tanner Haters (Like Myself!)
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For a Gradual Build-Up...
L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Serum, $11. This new self tanner has a serum-like texture that is super light and dries instantly. It also has a nice light, fresh scent that smells more like a luxe skincare serum than a self tanner. You're also supposed to use it in baby steps, which I love. Apply it every day for three days to build up to the color you want. This means no overdoing it.
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To Hide Skin Imperfections...
Bliss Hide and Glow Seek, $38. This clever tinted body spray not only coats your skin with natural-looking self tanner, but it also contains light diffusers to camouflage skin imperfections (read: cellulite) along with caffeine and peptides to firm up uneven skin (read: cellulite). Hey, every little bit helps. It also has maracuja oil and vitamin E to keep your skin soft and smooth. What I really love is the 360° spray to reach the trickiest areas.
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For a Tanning Boost to Your Regular Moisturizer...
Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster, $30. This is just genius—a glow-bestowing skin booster that you can mix into your favorite moisturizer, day or night. Just add three drops to your regular day or night cream to gradually develop natural-looking, beautifully bronzed skin. It also has a dose of aloe vera extract to help preserve skin's softness while giving your complexion a healthy-looking glow.
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For Fast Results...
Jergens Natural Glow Tanning Collection, $9 to $12. This spring, Jergens has introduced a new self-tanning collection. I gave it a road-test over spring break, and it was a savior. The Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse, $12, is a tinted, airy mousse that is easy to blend, and you can see exactly where you miss any spots. I love their classic Gradual Self Tanner, and the new mousse created the same natural color, just faster. Win-win!
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To Extend Your Faux Glow...
Jergens' new Tan Extender Daily Moisturizer, $8, is my favorite, though. It prolongs your hard-earned tan—and puts off having to redo the process for at least a week.
