The Best Drugstore Self Tanners and How To Use Them

Last Updated on July 24, 2024 by Prissila Murillo

With summer so quickly approaching, many are wondering the best way to achieve that perfect bronzy skin. Sun-tanning is always an option, but you run the risk of sun damage like burns or even premature wrinkles. So what is a girl to do otherwise?

In two words (or one hyphenated word): self-tanner. Sure, self-tanner can get a bad rep. Many people have seen the horror stories of self-tanner looking streaky or orange. But with the right products and techniques, you can be bronzed in no time! We compiled a list of some of the best drugstore self-tanners out there. In addition, we provided some tips on how to get your best tan yet. Enjoy!

The Best Drug Store Self Tanners

Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tanning Liquid

This self-tanner will always be one of our personal favorites. It leaves your skin bronzed and glowing, and you never need to worry about looking orange. The bottle has enough for us to usually get four-to-five applications, and it smells absolutely amazing. It’s easy to see why this product has a 4.5-star rating with 11,000 reviews. The one thing we will say is that it comes with the same average one-sided mitt that all self-tanners seem to come with. For the best results, we would recommend a two-sided microfiber mitt! That would mean one side to apply the mitt with the other to blend if you think you may have applied too much. Also, keep in mind that like most self-tanners it can stain light fabrics.

St. Moriz Self Tanning Fast Self Tanning Mousse

With this product, it’s easy to see why it has nearly a 4.5-star rating. This mousse works perfectly for everyone no matter what level of tan you’re trying to achieve. Want a light tan? Only leave the product on for an hour or so. Want a dark tan? You can leave this product on for up to three hours. On top of that, the color it gives is stunning, so no need to worry about looking too orange! But like any self-tanner, it can stain light fabrics. Be sure to keep that in mind when considering what to wear, where to sit, or where to lie down while you wait for it to develop.

Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner + Firming

Not only is this tanner good for your skin, but it’s also great for your wallet! This wonderful product comes in at only $8, and it has 4.5 stars with over 20,000 reviews. It doesn’t get much better than that! It comes in two different shades: light-to-medium and medium-to-tan. Basically, this product is a mixture of a self-tanner and a moisturizer. That’s why when you’re using this, you need to ensure you have plenty of time to let it dry. And as an added bonus, it has firming ingredients that are said to help reduce the appearance of cellulite. What’s not to love?

The Best Drugstore Self-Tanners: Our Tips for Applying Them

Self-tanners can get a bad rep. People often see horror stories of self-tanner applied incorrectly and think it’s impossible to get beautiful bronzy glowing skin from a self-tanner. Well, we’re here to tell you that couldn’t be farther from the truth! If you use one of the tanners from above plus the techniques down below, you will be glowing in no time.

1.  Exfoliate the night before. When you exfoliate, not only are you getting rid of dead skin, but you are also declogging pores and leaving them open. Indeed, this isn’t a bad thing! It’s good to clear the pores, but applying self-tanner right after exfoliating doesn’t give the pore enough time to close. This can leave you with speckles or spots (commonly found on legs and arms). The best way to prevent these speckles is to exfoliate in the shower the night before you plan to use a self-tanner.
2. Moisturize the night before not the day of. After exfoliation, your skin may be a little irritated. To prevent this or help heal any irritation, be sure to moisturize after exfoliating! The reason we recommend moisturizing the night before you self-tan (preferably after exfoliating as well) is this is going to allow the skin plenty of time to soak up the moisturizer. This way, when you apply the tan the next day, it won’t end up streaky or sitting on top of the moisturizer. For the best results, try to find either an oil-free or low-on-oil moisturizer; or better yet, find something water-based!
3. Make sure to bend joints when applying. For places like elbows, knees, and even fingers and knuckles, having them straight or fully extending can keep the tanning product from getting in all of the nooks and crannies. To prevent this, make sure you are bending your knees, elbows, fingers, etc. when applying self-tanner to those areas.
4. Use a foundation brush for the face and hands. For some areas of the body (like the face and hands), it can be difficult to use a tanning mitt. Rather than use the mitt, what we like to do is go in with a fluffy foundation brush. This is going to allow us to reach all of the spots on our face and hands. Finally, be sure to work the product into any of those hard-to-reach areas. Side tip: don’t forget to add tan to your ears as well!

Try these products to help you get the perfect tan!

• Microfiber Double-Sided Tanning Mitt
• Exfoliating Loofah
• CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion

Another one of our favorite products for self-tanning is Get Tan Again. This self-tanner will give you a natural glow and is made with the best ingredients to help you get your tan on from the comfort of your own home. The packaging is also super cute! But if there’s another product that you especially like (or you want to show off your best self-tanning work), find us on Instagram @successible_life. For a chance to be reposted, just use #SuccessibleBeauty!