Most of us dread heading home after a tropical vacation, but if there's one perk associated with leaving, it's the post-vacay glow that we get to flaunt when we get back. But for those of us who want that bronze look all year round without having to book a trip, self-tanner can be a life saver.
Not to mention, self-tanning is a great alternative to sunbathing and tanning beds, which aren't exactly the most skin-friendly. Dr. Robert Anolik, a board-certified dermatologist, tells Shop TODAY that "ultraviolet radiation from both natural sunlight and artificial sources (such as tanning beds) is a known carcinogen." Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist, also tells us that "self-tanners provide a natural-looking tan without the need for UV exposure, helping to prevent premature aging and reduce the risk of skin cancer."
To talk all things tanning, we caught up with Natalia Radosz who is the founder and CEO of Glow 2 Go, a New York City-based spray-tanning company. With 14 years of experience in the tanning industry under her belt, Radosz knows all the tips and tricks when it comes to fake tan. No matter if you've been tanning for years or are a rookie, this guide will answer all you're questions and will help you obtain the a bronze even the gods are jealous of.
Keep reading to have all your tanning questions answered and to shop the award-winning tanning products that earned our stamp of approval.
Best tanning accessory$undefined$9.00
Affordable, expert pick$undefined$30.00
How does self-tanner work?
Is it paint? Is it bronzer? What actually is self-tanner? Radosz clarified: "A lot of people think that we paint on their skin, but it's actually a chemical reaction between the tanner and your dead skin cells."
Radosz went on to summarize that the dark color you see after applying a tanning mousse or getting a spray tan is makeup to ensure that the tan is evenly applied. This color will eventually disappear after a shower, leaving the actual developed tan in its place.
How to prepare for self-tanning
There are a few things you can do to maximize your self-tanning experience, with the first being to exfoliate prior to your tan application. "The most important thing is going to be to exfoliate the night before because the tanner will be on the top layer of your skin. If you don't exfoliate, that top layer of skin is going to shed off within the next couple of days, then you're going to be complaining that your tanner is blotchy," explained Radosz.
Ami Desai, a makeup artist, previously shared self-tanner advice on Jenna & Friends (formerly Hoda & Jenna). She also advised exfoliating pre-tanning, and said, "I love using exfoliating gloves to easily and efficiently get rid of dead skin."
Besides exfoliating, putting lotion on before bed is the second best thing you can do to make sure your skin is hydrated and ready to soak up the tanner.
How to apply self-tanner
While each product comes with its own set of directions, it's a pretty straight-forward process. Typically, you'll start by applying either a lotion or mousse onto a tanning mitt or brush and begin to massage the product into your skin in a circular motion.
You'll want to make sure you dilute the self-tanner on the knees, ankles and elbows, because these areas tend to absorb more self-tanner than the rest of your body. A great way to ensure that your tan doesn't stick too much along these areas is by applying a little bit of lotion to these targeted sections before you begin. "Lotion acts as a barrier that's gonna block the tan from sticking too much in those areas," said Radosz.
Dermatologist-favorite self-tanners
These self-tanning drops are recommended by Garshick, who says they "work to hydrate the skin using avocado, grapefruit and chia seed oils." She reveals, "These can be incorporated into a moisturizer or serum making it easy to apply, especially when applying to the face."
This bronzing foam from Coco & Eve was recommended by Garshick, too. She says that it's "easy to apply" and "won’t leave the skin with any streaks." Garshick continues, "I especially love that it is lightweight and dries easily."
The best self-tanners, according to editors
Anita Chomenko, a social media video producer at Shop TODAY, says she "recently tried this self-tanner and was impressed with the results!" Chomenko tells us, "The formula is a self-tan water, which I’ve never used before. Just spray it on your skin and blend using a mitt for even distribution. It comes on colorless, which means you don’t have to worry about color transfer on your clothes or sheets. You can see the color develop in just four hours! I ended up with a nice and noticeable glow. You’d think I just got back from vacation, instead of from my apartment. My tan lasted all week long!"
Shannon Garlin, an associate editor at Shop TODAY, tried this self-tanner and was seriously impressed by the results. "As an obvious vampire, I’ve always been scared (and often scoffed) at self-tanners," she says. "That’s until I received a sample of this and out of sheer desperation for an upcoming vacation, I gave it try. I was SHOCKED."
Garlin continues, "The light/medium is perfect for those who just want to look 'less pale.' As an amateur tanner, I love the foam consistency, too, it allows for a fool-proof application! The end result is a natural sun-kissed hue and doesn’t leave you orange or streaky. And when it fades, it evenly and slowly disappears."
I love using this to get a subtle glow on my face. I normally apply after my skin care routine and wake up with a little bronzer color. My favorite part of this product is that you don’t have to wash it off in the morning like other self-tanning products. Plus, it smells amazing.
Winning the best gradual self tanner in our 2023 Shop TODAY Beauty Awards, this lotion became an instant favorite among our team. Assistant partnerships editor Lauren Witonsky has tried many tanners and said, "I've never had a lotion give me such a nice color, almost as dark as a [traditional mousse tanner]. I don’t have to use a mitt to apply or shower it off before wearing it out since it’s a regular white lotion."
Commerce editor Vivien Moon is a fan of this self-tanner and tells us, “I’ve been using products from Lux Unfiltered for years and love their selection that always gives me a sun-kissed look without crossing over into orange territory.” She goes on to say, “This specific lotion has been my go-to for a long time and I love how easy it is to apply, how buildable it is and (the best part) that I can sleep on my white sheets and not have to worry that the lotion will leave a stain after application.”
Taking home the gold in our 2025 Beauty Awards "best overall self tanner" category, our reviewers had nothing but praise for this product. Former NBC news intern Jordan Greene said, "Out of all the self tanners I’ve used, this is the best one yet. The color spreads evenly and isn’t too dark."
Witonsky also uses this self tanner by St. Tropez. She tells us, "I’m always searching for the bronziest, longest-lasting self-tan — and I think I may have found a new favorite. St. Tropez just released their 'richest, darkest, deepest' tan on Feb. 12 and it seriously lives up to the hype. It has violet undertones, so it leaves me looking olive (read: not orange) even though I naturally have super fair skin."
See some of our favorite self-tanners in action:
Best self-tan application accessories
Unless you’re extremely flexible, reaching every inch of the skin on your back to evenly apply a product is impossible! If you don’t have a friend or roommate to jump in and save the day, this handy back tan applicator will be your saving grace. All you have to do is, “put a small amount of mousse or lotion along the applicator and pull it tightly across your back and glide all over your body in back and forth motions,” according to the brand.
When you use a mitt to apply tanner, you can guarantee that you tan will be streak-free while keeping your hands free from stains. To clean the mitt all you have to do is wash with warm water and let it air dry to remove build-up. Bonus: This application mitt comes highly recommended by the Shop TODAY editors themselves.
This kabuki-style vegan brush is great for those tricky areas like your hands, feet, elbows and knees. Similar to a makeup brush, all you have to do is squeeze some product onto the brush and buff and blend until your skin is completely covered with tanner.
Best self-tan removal products
This mitt is specifically designed to correct any tanning mistakes and even out your skin texture before applying another layer of tanner. To properly utilize this mitt, the brand says to "use on wet skin in gentle circular motions with your regular bath or shower products."
Say goodbye to unwanted tanning residue with this gentle tan eraser that is great for sensitive skin. Enriched with glycerin, this exfoliating foam helps gets rid of a patchy tan in only 5-10 minutes, according to the brand.
Other self tan accessories
It's always recommended to wear loose, dark clothing after tanning to ensure that the product doesn't transfer or stain any of your clothes. This silk robe from Amazon is the perfect post-tan outfit since it won't cling to your body, thus allowing the product to properly dry. Even better, the low price point ensures you won't be heartbroken if it gets stained.
Chances are you’ve probably used translucent powder to set your concealer or foundation, so why not do the same thing for your tan? Right after you’ve completed your tan, apply this powder to “remove post-tan tack and help with any post tan odor. This bronzed translucent light powder provides a sheer flawless finish that doesn’t clog pores,” says the brand. This is great to apply to areas where you sweat (under arms, arm creases, etc.) to prevent creasing or running.
This silk-like sheet protector will ensure your sheets don't stain while you're catching up on your beauty sleep. Unlike cotton sheets, the brand specifically designed this sleeper sheet so it wouldn't absorb any product or drag and rub your skin.
Better yet, the company guarantees it won't stain or your money back.
Frequently asked questions
When it comes to how long your bronze will last, it varies. "It really depends on the person and their natural skin cycle. If their skin is shedding and very dry, then it's going to only last five to seven days," Radosz explains. "If they're the kind of person that drinks a lot of water, hydrates and moisturizes their skin two times a day, it can last up to two weeks."
"The reason why it's really hard to remove a spray tan or a self-tan is because you need to get that top layer of your skin off since it [experienced] a chemical reaction," explains Radosz. "Use a wet towel and scrub that area. If it's something like your palm that's dirty, you can mix a little bit of baking soda and lemon juice and then just let it sit there for five to 10 minutes, it's going to help lighten that area."
"If you altogether want to remove some of that tan because you feel too dark, then I would just do a hot steam shower and use soap because that's going to get that top layer of your skin off much faster," Radosz adds.
Garshick tells us that "it's important to consider moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid or aloe vera, which help keep the skin hydrated and prevent dryness or flakiness."
She continues, "Some self-tanners also contain antioxidants like vitamin E which can help protect the skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure."
A few things to avoid in the hours immediately before tanning is lotion, deodorant and makeup. These products will block your pores from properly absorbing the product, leaving you more susceptible to streakiness.
Another tip Radosz gave is to not apply anything to your skin for a minimum of eight hours after tanning as this can interfere with the developing process.
How we chose
Before choosing the best self-tanning products, the Shop TODAY team spoke with a self-tanning professional about how they work (and how to apply them). We also spoke with a board-certified dermatologist about the importance of self tanners (versus UV tans), and then chose editor-favorite products.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Robert Anolik is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York.
- Natalia Radosz is the founder and CEO of a spray-tanning company in New York City called Glow 2 Go.
- Ami Desai is an experienced makeup artist who's also an expert in lifestyle and beauty.
- Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist working in New York and New Jersey.
