How do I apply self-tanner?

Every self-tanning product is different, so be sure to follow the directions provided and get any additional accessories needed for a smooth application–such as an applicator mitt. The key to a successful self-tanning experience is preparation. Before applying any self-tanning product, shower, exfoliate, shave, and dry the skin. Only apply moisturizer to thinner, dryer areas like elbows, knees, hands, feet, or any severely dry spots before application. When putting on the self-tanning product, be sure to apply it evenly all over the body for a smooth, even skin tone.

How do I prepare my skin for a sunless tan before my wedding?

"Sunless tanning prep should never go underestimated. Hydration and moisturizing should be a regular part of your routine, but if it’s something you struggle with, you should definitely make a conscious effort to step it up before a sunless tan," Claghorn advises. "When I recently got married in the British West Indies, I thought all of the things that would counteract my goal of well-hydrated skin: I knew I would be taking a long flight to get there, and once I arrived, I’d likely want to swim in the ocean quite a bit, and of course, enjoy cocktails on the beach and at the pre-wedding events. I was cognizant of the fact that I needed to counteract this in every way I could so that my tan was the best it could be," she reports. "Beginning a week before my wedding, I moisturized non-stop with S+B Hocoba Oil , made a conscious effort to drink more water than usual, and even got an IV drip the day before the wedding," she continues. "The night before I got sprayed, I showered with S+B Prep Soap and exfoliated with S+B Exfoliating Scrub and Mitt ." Claghorn also recommends that everyone, especially brides, get all their hair-removal and nail appointments done prior to getting a tan. "I got sugared before I left for Anguilla, so my legs and arms were smooth as could be," she adds.

What’s the proper aftercare for self-tanning?

Aftercare is equally as important as preparation when it comes to self-tanning. Rinse your hands immediately after application to avoid orange palms, but otherwise avoid any wetness to avoid streaks or patches. Most instant or overnight self-tanners will require you to rinse only after you’ve waited for the allotted amount of time (typically around four hours). Until it’s time to rinse, it’s a good idea to wear loose-fitting clothing that won’t smudge or stick to the product. Avoid body washes and moisturizers with active ingredients to help the tan last longer and keep it from getting patchy.

How can I make my sunless tan last longer?

"Beyond the prep, there are also quite a few things you can do post-application to enhance your tan’s longevity," says Claghorn. "Hydration is key. The skin is our body’s largest organ, so be sure to stay hydrated and moisturize regularly. If you’re spending a lot of time on airplanes, in a dry climate, in hot tubs, in salt water, or drinking more alcohol, you should most certainly step up your hydration and moisturizing game. If your tan is for a special event (like your wedding or someone else’s), I’d encourage cutting back on activities that dehydrate or skin-drying activities until all the photos are in the bag." She continues, "I showered with S+B Moisturizing Soap and for the areas that I didn’t have sugared pre-trip, I used S+B Fractionated Coconut Oil to shave. A lot of people think that you can’t put oil on a spray tan, but that’s just a big myth. You shouldn’t have oil on your skin when you go in for a tan, but anytime after the tan is fully developed, it’s actually quite advantageous to apply immediately post-shower while your skin is still damp, because it locks in moisture. I also packed quite a few sunless tanning products to use in rotation on various body parts to ensure my tan looked fresh the entire trip—and more importantly, in every photo!"

The 10 Best Self Tanners for Brides, Tested and Reviewed

Brides / Lecia Landis

You’ll already be glowing on your wedding day, but sometimes it’s nice to have a little extra oomph! Whether you’re planning a destination wedding or a beachside ceremony, or if you just want a sun-kissed look, applying self-tanner can give you that boost of confidence and help you feel your best on the big day. (Self-tanner can also be great for creating an even, smooth skin tone on darker skin.)

It’s essential to find a high-quality self-tanner that won’t leave you looking orange or streaky. You also want to avoid any self-tanners that will stain your precious white dress. If you’ve never applied any, follow our self-tanner dos and don’ts for tanning tips and best practices! When looking for the best self-tanner to use for your wedding day, first start by considering the shade that best suits you. Many tanners come in a range of shades (such as light, medium, and dark), which will affect the final result. Once you decide how tan you want to look, search for options made with skin-friendly ingredients and non-sticky, hydrating formulas.

Courtney Claghorn, the founder and president of Sugared + Bronzed, also recommends doing a trial tan several times leading up to the big day. "With a trial session(s), brides can ensure they can experiment and play with the exact depth of tan that they are looking for on their big day, which can depend on several factors, including their base color, the time of year, and place of their nuptials," she explains. "If a bride plans to apply her own self-tanner rather than get a professionally done airbrush tan, I’d recommend more than a couple of trial sessions, especially if this is something that is newer to them. Once a bride is sure of her application process and shade, I usually recommend [tanning] two to three days prior to the big day, depending on when pre-wedding events might be taking place."

To help you find the best self-tanners, we spend hours researching and testing various options for ourselves. We made our final selections based on the application process, formula consistency, noticeable results, and longevity of the tan.

Read on for the best self-tanners for a gorgeous wedding day glow.

Our Top Picks

Best Application:

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Express Tan:

Tanologist Self Tan Mousse at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Scent:

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Drops:

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Glow Drops at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Foam Formula:

Bondi Sands Aero Self Tanning Foam at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Mist:

L'Oréal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mist at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Face:

Sugared + Bronzed Sunless Tanning Mist at Sugaredandbronzed.com

Jump to Review

Best for a Destination Wedding:

TAN-LUXE Illuminating Self-Tan Drops at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Bronzing Formula:

b.tan Ultra Dark Self-Tanner at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Gradual Tan:

Tan-Luxe Illuminating Tanning Lotion at Amazon

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Brides

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

St. Tropez is a fan-favorite tanning brand for a reason. When we tested the classic bronzing mousse, we were astounded by how easy the application process was. We used the applicator mitt to apply the foam formula, and found that it was light enough to feel barely there but substantial enough to not plop to the ground. Plus, there was absolutely no mess and it dried incredibly fast. We also found that the formula spread evenly and left no streaks or defined lines. It felt weightless on our skin and rubbed in flawlessly.

After application, we were pleasantly surprised to find that there was no transfer or stains left on our clothes and sheets. As for the final result, we found that the tan looked its best in the first two to three days, and started fading by day five. So, we concluded that this would be great for an event like a wedding where you want a solid, natural-looking tan that will last for a weekend of events.

Price at time of publish: $44

Tanologist

View On Amazon View On Tanologist.com View On Tanologist.com

Vegan, cruelty-free, and clean ingredients are what make this self-tanner a top pick. Made with key ingredients like aloe vera, pink grapefruit, goji berry, and juniper, this long-lasting formula is dermatologist tested and safe for sensitive skin. We tested this with pale skin and applied it generously, and it still left no stickiness or mess. When using an applicator mitt, the formula went on smoothly and evenly, which prevented any streaks. The whole application process was effortless and only took about five minutes.

We absolutely loved that the finished product left no sticky feeling or marks on our clothes and sheets. It took about 10 minutes to notice a difference, but it developed even more overnight. Our pale skin was gone immediately! It looked natural, and it made us feel glowy, tan, and more confident. The tan lasted about two days, and while we do wish it lasted a bit longer, we loved the final result and would recommend it when prepping for a big event—like your wedding day!

Price at time of publish: $20

Coco & Eve

View On Amazon View On Cocoandeve.com View On Ulta

This Coco & Eve pick is unique in that it’s a self-tanner that also offers anti-aging and skin-firming benefits. It’s made with color guide technology, so your tan comes out even and works with your specific skin tone. The best part? Unlike many other self-tanners with a musky smell, this luxurious, 100 percent natural bronzing foam has a sweet mango and guava scent—we found that the smell was much more pleasant than a spray tan or other self-tanners we’ve used.

After testing, we loved that it didn’t transfer to any clothes even when we worked out and sweated. It didn’t transfer to our sheets, so we didn’t need to sleep on a towel. It developed into a nice golden, bronze color with no orange tones. It didn’t look blotchy when it faded, even around drier skin areas like the elbows, knees, and ankles. In other words, this pick is a winner in our books!

Price at time of publish: $35

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Glow Drops

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Kohls.com View On QVC

We love this clean and hydrating formula for how easy it is to incorporate into your everyday skincare routine. Just add a few drops to your moisturizer, and voila! We were really impressed with how this went on super evenly and we didn't notice any streaks or uneven patches, which we found pleasantly surprising for self-tanning drops versus a mousse or spray. Simply mixing it with our usual lotion made the process seamless.

The best part is that, even though we applied it before bed, there was zero transfer on our sheets or clothes. With showering and working out daily, the finished tan lasted about three to four days and it faded nice and evenly all over. We loved that the tan was a bit more subtle and very natural-looking, which is perfect for brides who want a boost! After using this several times, we decided that we'll definitely be restocking these drops once they run out.

Price at time of publish: $32

View On Amazon View On Beautybay.com

For a sun-kissed and long-lasting bronze that will keep you glowing from the rehearsal dinner to the afterparty, opt for this unique, aerated self-tanning foam from Bondi Sans. It's especially great for olive undertones, darker complexions, or those looking for a deeper bronze. This super lightweight formula delivers an effortless, streak-free tan in only six to eight hours—put it on right before bed to wake up bronzed from head to toe. Just be sure to rinse before putting on your all-white wedding weekend ensembles.

When testing this, we loved that the consistency was light and spongey. The tan was natural-looking and lasted about a week, which we were satisfied with. We also did not notice any runoff when showering (outside of the initial rinse-off) or when sweating.

Price at time of publish: $29

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mist

L'Oreal Paris USA

View On Amazon View On Lorealparisusa.com View On Target

Give your face an extra burst of glow with this budget-friendly pick. We love that this facial tanning mist was super easy to use. We spritzed it onto some makeup pads and used those to apply it to our face, but you can also mist it directly on the facial skin and neck. Compared to other self-tanners, this wasn't streaky or uneven at all. We also loved that it dried so quickly—our face felt dry almost immediately.

As for the results, we couldn't be happier! About 24 hours after applying, we got two compliments from two different people with the exact same phrase: "You look so summery!" We loved that it looked so natural and was so comfortable. The tan lasted about four or five days, but that was after showering two times a day (morning showers and after the gym). Overall, this is the perfect pick for a sun-kissed glow!

Price at time of publish: $15

Courtesy of Sugared + Bronzed.

View On Sugaredandbronzed.com

Whether you need a facial tan touch-up for your big day or on your honeymoon, this sunless tanning mist should be your go-to. It will help you appear well rested even after all of the busy-ness of the celebrations. Claghorn packed this for her destination wedding and honeymoon so she could ensure her tan would look fresh the entire trip.

"Immediately following the wedding, we began our honeymoon to St. Bart’s and Jumby Bay, Antigua, and I knew that I wanted to keep my tan thriving for the entire trip," she says. "I would use the Sunless Tanning Mist and the Sunless Tanning Mousse when I wanted an extra pop of color that day."

Price at time of publish: $39

TAN-LUXE THE BODY Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

Sephora

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Bluemercury.com

Ultra-convenient and easy to use, these self-tan drops are a must for the traveling bride. They come in a 1.69-ounce bottle, making them the perfect TSA-approved product to bring with you to your destination wedding or honeymoon. All you need to do is mix two to six drops (do more for a deeper tan) per body part with your usual moisturizer. The result? An all-over tan that looks like you just came home from a tropical vacation, even if you’re just on your way to one.

Price at time of publish: $60

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Walgreens

Another self-tanner ideal for various complexions and darker skin tones, this option is for the brides who want to look tan AF on their wedding day—just like the name suggests. The 100 percent natural, vegan, and paraben-free formula works to deliver a deep, sun-tanned glow in just a few hours. This powerful pick is best for those who are experienced with self-tanners.

Price at time of publish: $13

TAN-LUXE The Gradual Illuminating Tanning Lotion

Ulta

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Ulta

For those who would rather develop their wedding day glow over time, opt for this TAN-LUXE lotion and tanning oil hybrid. With ultra-hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, raspberry, and cellutone complex, it melts into your skin and applies like your daily moisturizer. This product is great for beginners or brides who want a more subtle, finished look. Apply every other day during the week leading up to your wedding for an understated glow.

Price at time of publish: $34

What to Look for in Self-Tanner

Desired shade

The first thing to consider when shopping for a self-tanner is how bronzed you want to be. Many brands offer various shades that will deliver different levels of tan, from deep shades to understated tints. Do you want a subtle glow that’s only one shade darker than your natural skin tone? Or do you want to look like you just came home from a month-long sabbatical in Mexico?

Ingredients

Once you determine your desired shade, take a closer look at the ingredients. The last thing you want on your wedding day is dry or irritated skin, so opt for formulas made with natural, vegan ingredients that will leave your skin hydrated and nourished. Lastly, consider which kind of self-tanning formula is best for you. Self-tanner comes in many forms, including oil, foam, lotion, and spray. Choose whichever option is best suited to your needs. For beginners, gradual moisturizers are the best way to go, while those who self-tan regularly can experiment with foams and sprays.

FAQ

How do I apply self-tanner?

Every self-tanning product is different, so be sure to follow the directions provided and get any additional accessories needed for a smooth application–such as an applicator mitt. The key to a successful self-tanning experience is preparation. Before applying any self-tanning product, shower, exfoliate, shave, and dry the skin.
Only apply moisturizer to thinner, dryer areas like elbows, knees, hands, feet, or any severely dry spots before application. When putting on the self-tanning product, be sure to apply it evenly all over the body for a smooth, even skin tone.
How do I prepare my skin for a sunless tan before my wedding?

"Sunless tanning prep should never go underestimated. Hydration and moisturizing should be a regular part of your routine, but if it’s something you struggle with, you should definitely make a conscious effort to step it up before a sunless tan," Claghorn advises. "When I recently got married in the British West Indies, I thought all of the things that would counteract my goal of well-hydrated skin: I knew I would be taking a long flight to get there, and once I arrived, I’d likely want to swim in the ocean quite a bit, and of course, enjoy cocktails on the beach and at the pre-wedding events. I was cognizant of the fact that I needed to counteract this in every way I could so that my tan was the best it could be," she reports.
"Beginning a week before my wedding, I moisturized non-stop with S+B Hocoba Oil, made a conscious effort to drink more water than usual, and even got an IV drip the day before the wedding," she continues. "The night before I got sprayed, I showered with S+B Prep Soap and exfoliated with S+B Exfoliating Scrub and Mitt."
Claghorn also recommends that everyone, especially brides, get all their hair-removal and nail appointments done prior to getting a tan. "I got sugared before I left for Anguilla, so my legs and arms were smooth as could be," she adds.
What’s the proper aftercare for self-tanning?

Aftercare is equally as important as preparation when it comes to self-tanning. Rinse your hands immediately after application to avoid orange palms, but otherwise avoid any wetness to avoid streaks or patches. Most instant or overnight self-tanners will require you to rinse only after you’ve waited for the allotted amount of time (typically around four hours).
Until it’s time to rinse, it’s a good idea to wear loose-fitting clothing that won’t smudge or stick to the product. Avoid body washes and moisturizers with active ingredients to help the tan last longer and keep it from getting patchy.
How can I make my sunless tan last longer?

"Beyond the prep, there are also quite a few things you can do post-application to enhance your tan’s longevity," says Claghorn. "Hydration is key. The skin is our body’s largest organ, so be sure to stay hydrated and moisturize regularly. If you’re spending a lot of time on airplanes, in a dry climate, in hot tubs, in salt water, or drinking more alcohol, you should most certainly step up your hydration and moisturizing game. If your tan is for a special event (like your wedding or someone else’s), I’d encourage cutting back on activities that dehydrate or skin-drying activities until all the photos are in the bag."
She continues, "I showered with S+B Moisturizing Soap and for the areas that I didn’t have sugared pre-trip, I used S+B Fractionated Coconut Oil to shave. A lot of people think that you can’t put oil on a spray tan, but that’s just a big myth. You shouldn’t have oil on your skin when you go in for a tan, but anytime after the tan is fully developed, it’s actually quite advantageous to apply immediately post-shower while your skin is still damp, because it locks in moisture. I also packed quite a few sunless tanning products to use in rotation on various body parts to ensure my tan looked fresh the entire trip—and more importantly, in every photo!"

Meet the Expert

Courtney Claghorn is the founder and president of Sugared + Bronzed, a well-renowned sugaring hair removal and sunless tanning studio with locations in California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Why Trust Brides

Chloe Caldwell is a commerce writer at Brides who specializes in shopping and lifestyle topics. She has more than five years of journalism experience writing about all things fashion, beauty, travel, and wellness.

The 21 Best Bachelorette Party Swimsuits for Every Bridal Party’s Style

Best Application

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse

Best Express Tan

Tanologist Self Tan Mousse

Best Scent

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam

Best Drops

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Glow Drops

Best Foam Formula

Bondi Sands Aero Self Tanning Foam

Best Mist

L'Oréal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Water Mist

Best for Face

Sugared + Bronzed Sunless Tanning Mist

Best for a Destination Wedding

TAN-LUXE THE BODY Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

Best Bronzing Formula

b.tan Tanned AF Ultra Dark Self-Tanner

Best Gradual Tan

Tan-Luxe The Gradual Illuminating Tanning Lotion

Related Stories

The 10 Best Self Tanners for a Wedding Day Glow, Tested and Reviewed

Best Application

St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse

Best Express Tan

Tanologist Self Tan Mousse

Best Scent

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam

Best Drops

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Glow Drops

Best Foam Formula

Bondi Sands Aero Self Tanning Foam

Best Mist

L'Oréal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Water Mist

Best for Face

Sugared + Bronzed Sunless Tanning Mist

Best for a Destination Wedding

TAN-LUXE THE BODY Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

Best Bronzing Formula

b.tan Tanned AF Ultra Dark Self-Tanner

Best Gradual Tan

Tan-Luxe The Gradual Illuminating Tanning Lotion

What to Look for in Self-Tanner

Desired shade

Ingredients

Why Trust Brides

Related Stories