I hope you love the products I recommend in this article. Just so you know, Bronze Booty may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page. This helps me keep Bronze Booty updated with all of this great information. I hope you find exactly what you're looking for!
Summers and tan go hand in hand. We all love a perfectly tanned body but taking a flight to the nearest beach for a few holidays is not something we can all afford. Even if that is possible, who wants to expose their bodies to the furious UV rays of the sun? Not many of us.
This is where self-tanners prove their worth. You can get a natural bronze glow without having to lay under the scorching sun for hours.
What are Sunless Self-Tanners?
Self-tanning products promise to give a radiant sun-kissed glow without exposing your skin to the sun’s UV rays. These easy-to-apply lotions, sprays, towelettes, and moisturizers keep your skin tanned for weeks.
The best thing about these products is that they are perfectly safe. Some even come with plenty of nourishing and healing formulas to make your skin rich and supple.
Do You Need Expensive Self-Tanners?
Self-tanners are desirable, but nobody wants those orange patches and dried streaks. Fortunately, sunless tanning products these days have come a long way! You can expect a perfect fake tan, free from streaks or muddy look. Want to know the best part? You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a quality product!
You can get a good one with excellent results while staying within budget. They are easily available from any drugstore or supermarket and are more cost-effective than many skincare products.
10 Best Drugstore Self-Tanners of 2020
Here we have selected our favorite 10 drugstore self-tanners for the year 2020. Let’s look at each of them in detail.
L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Hydrating Self-Tanning Water Mousse
L’Oreal Paris is a well-trusted name in the beauty arena. With that, this Sublime Bronze Self-tanning Mousse is perfect for a natural sun-kissed glow.
Its lightweight formula not only gives you a natural look, but it also gives you that lightweight, natural feeling. The mousse seeps into the skin invisibly, leaving no trace of streaks or patches, and gives a natural glow and feel.
The best thing about this Sublime Bronze Tanner is that you don’t have to deal with a messed up, flaky look, as it absorbs into the skin.
Not just a self-tanner, it is also enriched with Vitamin E and coconut water to nourish your skin. With a perfect tan, you get the bonus of hydrated and supple skin.
The Best Self-tanner for Dry Skin
L’Oreal’s Water Mousse formula is perfect for summer days. It suits those with dry skin who want to have a hydrated, perfect tan. The coconut water and Vitamin E in this formula makes your skin fresh and supple.
A Self-tanner that Smells Like Coconut
This easy-to-apply mousse also has its own special scent. The fresh fragrance of coconut water makes you smell like you are actually enjoying a beach day.
L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion
This product is another one by L’Oreal in the form of a tanning lotion. Perfect for dry winters, this gives your skin a nourishing, subtle bronze tint. The slight shimmer gives a glow to your face and leaves a natural look. There’s no need to slather it over your body, as a little goes a long way. It instantly absorbs into the skin without leaving any dry streaks or patches.
Unlike other thick self-tanners, which are greasy and difficult to apply, this Sublime Bronze Lotion gives an airy feel. It provides a subtle bronzed hue across your body. Once it dries, you won’t feel it on your skin at all.
An Easy-to-Apply Self-Tanner
The L’Oreal Paris Self-tanning Lotion is perfect for those who want an easy-to-apply lotion that does not feel sticky. Its instant formula quickly absorbs into the skin and gives a slight bronze glitter. This one’s for you if you want to have a light glow instead of a deep dark tan.
Tinted Facial Lotion that Subs as Foundation
You can apply it as your makeup base; you don’t need to wear any foundation with it. Just make sure you rub it well on your skin and spread it evenly to give your face a healthy glow!
L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes
L’Oreal Paris offers something for everyone. And, if you are someone looking for quick and smart options, then these towelettes are your best bet. No need to measure droplets of self-tanning lotions, no more endless rubbing before it absorbs, and no more color streaks on the skin.
These towelettes offer great convenience. Simply take out a towelette, rub it gently on your skin, and you are good to go. It will also buff off any dry skin that prevents you from getting an even tan.
Super-Fast Self-Tanning Wipes
Infused with Vitamin E and AHAs, these self-tanning towelettes keep your skin soft and smooth. These one-time-use towelettes are perfect for quick results, as well. It takes two to four hours for an even and streak-free tan. Getting sun-kissed was never this easy.
Spill-Free Self-Tanner To Keep In Your Bag
L’Oreal’s Sublime Bronze Towelettes are perfect for those who need an on-the-go self-tanning. Its slim pack can be conveniently placed in your handbag, and you don’t have to worry about any spills.
Alba Botanica Sunless Tanner Lotion
Alba Botanica Sunless Tanner Lotion is perfect for all-year use. The non-sticky formula works on your skin quickly, giving a perfect tan within three hours!
Unlike some streaky tanners that take long to absorb and feel heavy, Alba Botanica gently seeps into your skin, quickly interacting with the skin cells while nourishing your skin from within.
A Natural Self-Tanner You’ll Love
This is perfect for those who like it natural when it comes to their skin. Its all-natural vegetarian formula is free from any synthetic fragrance or parabens.
Ultra-Hydrating Self-Tanner
The 100% vegetarian formula includes the goodness of ingredients like shea butter, almond, and safflower oil for skin hydration.
Bondi Sands Self Tanner Foam
This self-tanner foam is an excellent option for a flawless streak-free tan. The quick-absorbing mousse disappears on your skin within minutes while leaving behind a fresh glow. Just make sure you don’t slather it on your skin.
Take a few drops, and keep working it on your body in sections. The Bondi Sands Self Tanner Foam’s gentle texture does not give you a heavy feel and, at the same time, it is potent enough to give a bronze tan within a few hours.
Dark Self-Tanner You Can Control
This one is perfect for some of us who prefer a dark, long-lasting tan. Choose the shade you want, then rinse it within two to three hours for a gentle glow and subtle tan. For those who want a long-lasting, dark tan, it is recommended to leave it on for a few more hours.
Fast Tanning Starts within 30 Minutes
The Bondi Sands Tanner starts working on your skin cells really fast. The tanning process starts within thirty minutes and keeps getting darker with time.
Bondi Sands Self-Tanner Liquid Gold – Sunless Tanning Oil
For a subtle bronzed skin glow, the Liquid Gold Tanning Oil, another product by Bondi Sands, is one to be considered. It is suitable for all skin tones, non-streaky, and dries down quickly.
The formula develops quickly, within two to three hours, and lasts for up to a week. It is also infused with coconut and argan oil for a hydrating and long-lasting tan.
The Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Tanning Oil is perfect for those who want the subtle bronzy glow. This is also good for those who want an easy application process, without the hassle of washing off. Another plus for this product is it has that refreshing coconut smell, which helps avoid the unfortunate self-tanner (DHA) scent.
A Self-Tanning Oil to Use at Night
It should be noted that you should be using a tanning mitt or foundation brush to blend the product, and it’s best recommended to be used at night, as it leaves a slightly greasy feeling on the skin. Other than these, people who have used this product have nothing but praise for it.
Doesn’t Leave Tan on Clothes or Sheets
The tanning oil is easy to use with a subtle guide color, and you can also build it up by reapplying every 30 minutes. It also doesn’t leave any color residue on the clothes or sheets, and showering after an application is not necessary.
Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse
This product from Jergens is another great option for a self-tanning mousse, as they are hard to compete with as far as quality and effectiveness are concerned.
Its tinted formula also spreads easily over your skin, giving a precise and even distribution, ruling out any possibilities of forming streaks or dry patches.
The Jergens Natural Glow Tanning Mousse is available in both light and dark bronze shades. For optimal and sustained results, make sure to prep your skin well before application.
A Self-Tanner That Dries in Minutes
The tanner quickly absorbs into the skin and dries within 60 seconds. No more hours of waiting for the tanner to settle and dry.
Tanner That’s Light on the Skin
One of the first few things you would instantly notice is its airy feel on the skin. Its formula does not have the thick, creamy feel that puts you off, especially in the summer. This product is ideal for those who can’t stand a sticky skin feeling during summers. The airy formula stays gentle on your skin, letting you enjoy a tanned look without feeling icky.
Jergens Natural Glow + Firming Moisturizer and Tanner
The Natural Glow + Firming Moisturizer is another great option from Jergens. This one particularly combines its firming moisturizer formula with a tanner. With some amazing moisturizing effects, this sunless tanner leaves your skin radiant with an inner glow.
Unlike other tanners that give you a loud, dark color, this Jergens self-tanner works subtly in giving you that tight and smooth-feeling look. It also comes with an amazing elastin and collagen formula, which have anti-aging effects that firm your skin.
Hydrating Self-Tanning Formula
The formula is especially helpful during dry seasons when you need some external hydration, and ordinary tanners make the skin even drier. Jergens Natural Glow + Firming Moisturizer is perfect for those with flaky and dry skin. It not only gives a good tan but it also has skin repairing agents.
Self-Tanner That Firms Skin
It is also perfect for those with fine lines or loose skin because of its collagen and elastin ingredients for firm and tight skin.
Australian Gold Instant Sunless Tanning Lotion
This Instant Tanning solution is perfect for those with busy routines, as it’s an instant formula that gives fast results. It comes with an increased DHA blended with caramel for a darker tan. Despite the strong color, it does not give you a fake look, as it builds a natural hue on your skin without any streaks or patches. Skin tone remains even and smooth.
The healing agents included in this self-tanner render a smooth look to your skin. It would also leave you with that tropical look and smell, perfect for recreating a true Australian beach life at home amidst your daily routine.
Shea Butter Self-Tanner
The Instant Sunless Tanning Lotion has powerful ingredients, like shea butter, Vitamin E, and Kakadu Plum to enrich your skin and give a long-lasting tan.
A Truly Tropical Tan
This one is for those who enjoy the tropics, and the color and look it gives. The product’s dark tan, light feel, and amazing smell would surely transport you to your ideal atmosphere.
Banana Boat Self-Tanning Lotion
You don’t really have to miss summer when you can have it all year round with this Banana Boat Self-tanning Lotion. There’s no need to be careful when applying in fear of a streaky, patchy look. Just slather it over and rub it well. The lotion quickly absorbs in the skin, leaving no traces behind, expect for a quick and fresh glow.
The product’s self-adjusting skin formula gives you control over your tan. Choose the shade you prefer, be it a slight fresh summer glow or a dark bronze tan. You are able to choose your look, as it is available in light, medium, and dark shades.
Skin Smoothing Lotion
Besides a perfect summer look, the Banana Boat Self-tanning Lotion takes care of your basic skin nourishment, too. It includes Aloe Vera extracts and Vitamin E for smooth and soft skin.
A Gradual Self-Tanner You’ll Love
If you are someone who prefers to change tan shades, then this one’s for you, as this product’s formula lets you control the intensity of your shade–be it light or dark.
Can’t Say “No” to Tanning and Skin Conditioning
Sunless tanning is a fun, easy, and safe way to get a good tan. This new range of sunless self-tanning products in the market that come with nourishing skin formulas are nothing less than a boon. Choose the one that suits your skin conditions the best.
We have listed so many cool options, ranging from a mild glow to a deep dark tan. Go with the look you love and get the perfectly smooth and supple skin in bonus, as almost all of these sunless self-tanners have particular healing agents for skin nourishment. Stay in style with some of these best available options.