We all want the gorgeous, bronze sunkissed glow that you get after being at the beach all day. However, by now, we all know that laying out in the sun without SPF is dangerous, and even the best tan isn’t worth the risk. Luckily, there’s a little something called self tanner that can help give you the glow you seek.
Using the wrong self tanner can lead to all kinds of trouble, from orange-hued skin to spending a ton of money on a product that doesn’t work. Pro tip: Houston dermatologist Jennifer Segal, MD, tells her patients “to use self-tanner liberally on the legs, and to apply it lighter on up towards the head, ending at the shoulders.” She warns that self-tanners can emphasize dark spots and sun damage on the face. Studio City, CA dermatologist Gene Rubinstein, MD says this is especially true for sun spots that have a bit of texture to them. “Self tanner will absorb more into those areas. Try to go around them or apply Vaseline or Aquaphor on those spots.” The experts note that self-tanners don’t mean you can skip sunscreen, which Fort Lauderdale, FL dermatologist Dr. Matthew Elias says is a common misconception.
Melville, NY dermatologist Kally Papantoniou, MD, says what’s great about good self-tanner products is that they allow you “to get that bronze glow without having to use darker shades of makeup, and of course, stay out of the sun.” We’ve rounded up some dermatologist-approved self tanners that won’t steer you wrong.
Best self tanners as recommended by dermatologists—from lotions to sprays
