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Face tanning is not as simple as tanning your body. What’s perfect for your body may not work well on your face, as the skin there is sensitive, and harsh formulas can trigger breakouts. self-tanners come in great variety, but not all are safe to be used on the face. Today we will discuss some of those specifically designed for face-tanning.
Face tanning involves a lot more care and expertise, and there are a lot of things you need to consider. So, stick along as we have everything you need to know about self-tanners for the face. We will also recommend some of the best available products for your convenience.
Face Tanners: How they are different from body tanning?
As we said, face tanning is a bit different from body tanners. You can’t use any sunless self-tanner on the face for several reasons. For one, most of the body tanners are unsuitable for the face, as it is a lot more sensitive than the rest of the body. .
Creams and lotions made for body tanning can be too harsh. They may include ingredients that your face won’t be able to handle well. It may trigger acne breakouts or clog your pores. Some chemicals and fragrance in self-tanners can also cause allergic reactions if you have sensitive skin.
Things to Consider While Buying a Self-Tanner for Face
Here are a few things you need to be sure of before you buy a self-tanning product for the face.
Skin Types
We all have different skin types; oily and combination skin, sensitive skin, and some have dry skin. And, likewise, there are a variety of formulas that cater to these skin types. You need to find one that works best for you.
Skin Nourishment
Your skin is the most important. The best thing to do is find a formula that not only gives a streak-free tan but also further nourishes your skin and makes it softer and more supple.
Anti-aging Ingredients
If you have loose skin, wrinkles, or fine lines, you probably need a formula rich in vitamin E and other ingredients that enhance the collagen production of your skin to make it firmer and tighter.
Shade of Self-tanner
The rule of thumb is to always go a shade lighter than what you think you need. Your face doesn’t have to match your body, as it may appear more unnatural. You can also go for gradual tanners and get the perfect bronze you prefer and work your way up to your required shade.
Natural Ingredients
No one takes care of your skin better than mother nature. Check all ingredients in your face tanner and choose the one with the most—if not all-natural ingredients.
Best Sunless Self-Tanners for Face
We have shortlisted some of the best available options in the market. Let’s look at some of them.
Golden Star Beauty Self-Tan Serum for Face
Who’s it for? This one is perfect for those who are looking for an anti-aging organic self-tanner.
This one offers the greatest tan you have ever had. The serum is specifically formulated for your sensitive skin. The formula is suitable for any skin type and it won’t clog your pores or give you breakouts. Apart from giving your face a sunkissed glow, this serum is excellent for healing and nourishing your skin.
The Golden Star Beauty Facial Sunless Tanner blends certified organic oils that penetrate the skin and work on the tissues underneath. It comes with Vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid, which are considered miraculous ingredients in any skin-nourishing formula.
Vitamin B5 makes your skin soft and healthy and stimulates your skin’s healing process. Hyaluronic Acid, on the other hand, is found in connective tissues of your skin. It locks in moisture and gives your skin an even tone.
This self-tanning serum has an anti-aging effect, as both vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid improves the elasticity of your skin and removes fine lines. The serum is easy to apply and dries on the skin instantly. And, unlike other face lotions, it feels light on the skin.
For more organic self-tanners, be sure to check out: The 10 Best Organic Spray Tans!
COOLA Organic Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum
Who’s it for? Best for those who want a fresh and radiant look, along with a perfect tan.
Coola is a brand that prides in giving only the best and organic products. Its Self-Tanning serum comprises of only natural and organic ingredients, perfect for any skin types. The absence of chemicals makes this serum the first choice of customers.
This product comes with a lot of skin healing properties. It’s perfect for a fresh, tanned, lively look as if you have just returned from an island. With a perfect tan, it protects your skin, makes it look younger and healthier, and gets rid of any aging signs, as well.
Coola blends some powerful ingredients into this serum. With plenty of argan oil and hyaluronic acid, it aims to heal and nourish even the inner layers of your skin. The formula contains plant stem cells, known to smooth the skin and reduce signs of skin aging.
A very unique ingredient in this self-tanner is the Chlorella Vulgaris extract, a form of algae that keeps skin hydrated and replenishes essential vitamins and minerals.
In addition to all these wonderful ingredients, Coola adds powerful antioxidants that keep your skin young forever.
Skinerals Californium Self-Tanner Sunless Tanning Mousse
Who’s It for? This one is perfect for those who want a mineral-base formula for their skin’s protection and regeneration.
If you are someone who thinks ordinary self-tanners are a bit heavy and creates an orange look, this one by Skinerals is your best bet. It is light as a cloud self-tanning mousse, which dries within seconds.
With all-natural ingredients, Skinerals offers a safe and effective formula that blends in your skin’s layers, giving an instant bright glow to your face. It also has a smooth application for an even-toned skin, without blotches or streaks.
Its innovative formula focuses on minerals—not chemicals—that restore your skin and promote healthy cell growth. This self-tanner remains gentle on sensitive skin and does not cause any irritation. It also leaves you smelling like heaven with its light fragrance.
Fake Bake The Face
Who’s it for? Perfect for those who need a formula for fine lines and wrinkles.
Fake Bake The Face is a brilliant product that offers great convenience. Its spray tanning formula makes applying easy and carefree.
This sunless tanning formula combines three important ingredients: Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), Dimethyl Isosorbide (DMI), and Erythrulose. Together these ingredients work on your skin to enhance its pigmentation. The result is a more natural look that other self-tanners fail to deliver.
Besides its potent sunless tanning formula, the spray comes with peptide matrixyl. Matrixyl is a powerful anti-aging ingredient that reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Other useful ingredients like jojoba oil, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamin E further accentuate its anti-aging effects and make your skin soft, smooth, and firm.
What goes into this product is as important as what does not. It is free of any gluten, paraben, synthetic chemicals, and DMDM Hydantoin. You can rest assured that what you put on your face is good for all skin tones and types.
Tan Towel Face Tan Tanning Wipes
Who’s it for? For someone always on the go, these tanning wipes are their best friend. Easy to carry, easy to apply.
Self-tanning wipes are easy-to-use products that make your life easier. These are perfect for on-the-go treatments. Don’t have time for a parlor visit and can’t wait hours for the results? Tan Towels are your best bet and one of my personal favorites!
Infused with the right amount of self-tanning solution, these tanning wipes are also a safe option if you fear of overdoing it. No messy applications or cakey looks are expected, as they know how much is enough for you.
Its advanced formula not only leaves your skin glowing and radiant, it also enhances your beauty by making it soft and supple. Its biodegradable material is no hazard to our mother earth, and the benefits to skin abound — a great option for a smooth look.
Norvell Bronzing 4-Faces Sunless Facial Self-Tanning
Who’s it for? Perfect for makeup lovers who hate wearing sticky and heavy base.
Norvell offers a complete self-tanning formula that treats your skin, as well. It’s a spray that delivers professional-grade results. Its faux glow is specifically formulated for the face and is perfect for spot-treatment or tanning touch-ups, as well.
It’s a multi-tasking face tanning formula that can be used as a make-up base. No need to apply heavy and sticky foundations or primers during the summer anymore! Its cosmetic color blends in the skin and gives a finished, even tone.
Its rich formula is packed with some essential anti-aging extracts of beet, tomato, cranberry, acai fruit, rosemary, and ginseng. Also packed with Vitamin E, its antioxidant properties protect the skin from cell degeneration.
You can make use of the formula for some other body parts where color tends to fade easily like the shoulder or neck. With a sweet-smelling almond-raspberry scent, you’ll love this spray more than anything. This self tanning spray is perfect for rejuvenating and repairing your damaged skin.
Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
Who’s It for? These self-tanning drops are perfect for someone who wants the exact control on color depth.
This one is a bit different from your regular tanner. It’s not a mousse, spray, or lotion but self-tan drops, which you can mix in your moisturizer for smooth application.
Though a little goes a long way, and you don’t need too much, you can still control the depth of color on your face. You can add little and build it up as you go to get your perfect bronze color.
Tan-Luxe’s tanning combines some carefully selected skin boosting and smoothing ingredients like raspberry seed oil, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera. All these ingredients have skin-nourishing and healing properties.
Applying these tanning drops is hassle-free. Add a few drops to your moisturizer, serum or oil on your palm, and dab it evenly over the face. You can add the quantity of drops if you want more color. After applying once or twice, you can have an idea of how much you accurately need.
Eco Tan – Organic Face Tan Water
Who’s it For? Suitable for those with oily skin, prone to acne breakouts.
If you have oily skin and don’t want a heavy feel of lotions and creams, then this one’s for you. This face tanner comes as a water formula. Its liquid, water-like consistency makes it easy to apply. You don’t need deep massages; simply dab the water on your face evenly, and you’re ready to go.
Unlike some harsh self-tanners that use synthetic chemicals for coloring your skin, this one comes with an all-organic formula. Its certified natural ingredients include cacao, herbs, flower extract, fruit extract, and chamomile for a perfect glow.
The tanning water immediately blends into the skin, reaching to its inner pores, stimulating the tan, and nourishing the inner layers of skin.
Eco Tan’s water can be a good concealer if you have some acne scars on your face. It hides them well and gives an even tone to your skin.
Tanceuticals Facial Self-Tanner
Who’s it for? This lotion suits someone who prefers a slight glow and a deeply moisturizing formula — not a great choice for a deep and dark tan.
Tanceuticals’ Facial self-tanner has won numerous awards for its wonderful formula. It’s rated one of the best self-tanner for the face. With an even, streak-free tan, this tanning lotion comes as a complete package for your skin.
Its unique ingredients are carefully blended for the sensitive skin of the face. This slight thicker formula has more moisturizing content and is perfect for skin with dry patches. Unlike some ordinary lotions, it won’t clog your pores or cause an acne breakout.
Instead of using harsh chemicals, this tanning lotion gives a slight glow to your skin. It’s not actually a bronze formula completely rather it works more like a regular moisturizer. Its coconut-like smell makes you feel as if you are on a tropical beach.
James Read Sleep Mask Tan Face
Who’s It for? This tanning gel is perfect for the one who prefers a deep tan in one night.
If a subtle glow is not enough and you are looking for a deep bronze, then this transparent gel is for you. After all, what’s the point of applying a self-tanner if your tan isn’t noticeable?
Infused with many beautifying ingredients for your skin, James Read’s tanning gel provides a deep and even tan in just one night.
The black rose oil in it has anti-aging properties that make your skin younger and beautiful. The formula is enriched with Aloe Vera extracts that instantly hydrate the skin and make it look fresher with an even skin tone.
Lots of other vitamins further make this tanning gel completely nourish your skin. It also has an odorless formula, free of nasty smell that you associate with ordinary self-tanners.
How to Apply Self-Tanner on the Face?
No matter what type of self-tanner you are using, the application is pretty much the same, with few exceptions here and there. Half of the effect of your self-tanner depends on your application. Even a good one can cause blotches and streaks if applied the wrong way.
Exfoliate Your Skin:
Exfoliation makes your skin soft, as it removes dead cells from your skin. The accumulation of these dead cells may cause rough patches that tend to absorb more self-tanning solution. A clean face will evenly absorb and give a streak-free tone.
Do an Ice Facial:
Ice will close your pores and will help with the even distribution of the tanning solution.
Moisturize Your Face:
Moisturizing your face depends on what products you are using. If you are using water, spray, or serum tanner, moisturizing your skin would help in the even distribution. However, lotions or mousse are moisturizers in itself, and there’s no need to moisturize the skin beforehand. If you are using drops, you need to mix them in your lotion or serum.
Protect Your Brows:
The hair on your brows may get colored if you are not protecting them from your self-tanner. Remember, tanned brows are not as cool as a tanned body.
Protect the Sensitive Areas:
Protect your eyes or nostrils. Especially if you are using sprays, make sure your eyes are protected.
Don’t Forget Your Ears and Neck:
Spread the tanning solution down to your neck for an even look. You may not need it as often, as the face gets washed more and fades away quicker than the neck, but still, keep it well-matched to your face. The same goes for your ears—they would be a giveaway if left untanned.
Don’t Eat or Laugh While Drying
While you are waiting for the self-tanner to dry, don’t eat or laugh because the movement may cause the tanning solution to gather in lines and cause streaks on your face.
Wash Your Hands Immediately
Wash your hands straight after applying the self-tanner or you would end up having colored palms.
Final Thoughts
Applying self-tanners on the face can be tricky, especially if you have sensitive skin that is prone to breakouts. But a good facial tanner can solve your problem. Not only does it give a streak-free, even tan, but the right formula will heal your existing skin problems as well.
We have recommended a wide variety of self-tanners for the face—all have something for a particular skin type. Choosing the right one will ensure your skin feels and looks great!
