11 Nontoxic Self-Tanners That Deliver Glowier Results Than the Actual Sun
Melissa Meyers is a Los Angeles–based influencer with a focus on beauty, style, travel, and wellness. Her blog, The Glow Girl, aims to empower women to embrace the best version of themselves and cultivate a glow from the inside out. Below, hear from Meyers about her favorite nontoxic self-tanning products to keep her skin looking sun-kissed, healthy, and glowing all winter and beyond!
I love sporting a healthy glow all year round, and a great tan magically seems to improve the tone, texture, and color of the skin while also helping to mask any imperfections. Thankfully, gone are the days when you had to bask in the sun for hours to look like a bronzed goddess or use a smelly, toxic self-tanner that makes your skin look like a roast turkey.
Over the years, I've road-tested countless self-tanners, but this year I decided to try some nontoxic ones to see how they'd compare to my other favorite formulas. Surprisingly, they far exceeded my expectations, so I've put together a list of my favorite clean, self-tanning formulas that are not only safe to use but also provide the most gorgeous, naturally bronzed skin.
To get the most natural-looking, long-lasting tan, make sure your skin gets some TLC before and after tanning! The most important tip I can share is to exfoliate beforehand to ensure even coverage. I like to use Dermasuri's Exfoliating Scrub Mitt ($15) from head to toe in the shower. Unlike loofahs, this mitt's unique fabric texture removes surface layers of buildup and dead skin cells instantly! I use the mitt with water, or with my favorite body scrub, Herbivore's Amethyst Exfoliating Body Scrub ($46).
The botanical-based self-tanning products listed below are all derived from organic ingredients and formulated without any harsh chemicals, preservatives, parabens, or unnatural fragrances. Best of all, orange skin is nowhere to be found. These suggestions all offer the most natural, golden look! Also, I only tried products that went on clear or white and didn't stain clothes or sheets. Keep scrolling to discover my top seven nontoxic self-tanners for skin that looks sun-kissed.
This natural self-tanner is at the top of my list—it hydrates the skin, and the scent is an incredible combination of coconut milk and verbena. The streak-free formula goes on just like your favorite body butter and can be used every day. After the product develops, the tan is a perfect golden brown. It's free of parabens, sulfates, DEA, and TEA, with naturally sourced organic ingredients that also firm and moisturize. I'm so obsessed with this product that I shared it with my husband and daughter, who both have fair and sensitive skin. They're huge fans and now keep bottles of their own!
Pros: Fast-working; natural-looking; keeps skin extra hydrated with shea butter, mango butter, and aloe
Cons: Leaves residual tanner on your hands if you're not careful
Customer Review: "I've used many, many tanning lotions throughout the years. I have fair skin and this is the most natural-looking product I've found. I blend it with a moisturizer for light coverage or use it straight up for a slightly deeper color. I'm on my third bottle in the last two years."
An amazing gradual self-tanner, this is my fave for a buildable tan. Its super-natural color is great even for fair-skinned girls. The brand uses DHA that is naturally derived from sugar, which is a safe, nontoxic alternative to naturally bronze the skin. Free from harmful chemicals, it has a pleasant spa-like scent and is great to use year-round. Leave it to supermodel Miranda Kerr to create a certified-organic self-tanner that's a true winner!
Pros: Builds a natural, sun-kissed glow; ultra hydrating; certified organic
Cons: Expensive
Customer Review: "Super impressed with this clean formula self tanner. I am very pleased with the light, subtle but noticeable color it gives me after 1 use. It's definitely gradual so darker desired tans will take a few uses, but for my skin tone - it's perfect! Love! Kora products in general have all been winners in my book and this one did not disappoint."
This nontoxic self-tanner is great for those with sensitive skin and doesn't have that dreaded fake-tan smell. It's vegan-certified and free of toxins. The quick-drying lotion goes on white and is also streak-free, with natural ingredients such as jojoba, avocado, apricot, grape seed, and coconut. This formula can also be used on your face and is perfect for all skin types. I found the tan to be very natural and gradual, so it's good to use daily if you want to build up a rich glow.
Pros: Contains organic botanical extracts, nourishing oils, and vitamins
Cons: Not fragrance-free
Customer Review: "Love this tanner! It provides a beautiful golden sun kissed look, without all of the nasty chemicals some other self tanners are full of. This is natural and plant derived. It has a nice light fragrance and good consistency, very moisturizing. I also bought a tanning mitt and found the application to be smoother and more even looking with the mitt."
Say hello to perfect sun-kissed skin! This tanning product does a great job of covering up natural skin imperfections and leaves you with a glowing, golden color. I love that the simple, natural, organic ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and Japanese green tea leaf extract leave my skin looking and feeling fabulous. It's also a great alternative to the top brands that sell chemical-filled tanners. I'm not the only one who thinks so—you can check out the thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon too!
Pros: Contains hydrating ingredients, like shea butter and aloe vera, and botanical extracts; comes in two shades that work for all skin tones
Cons: None
Customer Review: "I love a good spray tan but rarely have time for it and they are about $60 per tan. I wanted to give this a try because I don't like the foam tanner. This is absolutely AMAZING! I bought a mitt to apply it and it went on with no issue. Applied before bed and waiting like 10 minutes before putting on clothes. It does have that 'spray tan smell' to me but it was fine. I did rinse off with body wash in the morning. My upper arms always have a hint of red to them and I am pretty fair. The color this left is so pretty."
I am extremely picky when it comes to self-tanners for the face, and I found this one to be amazing with its color-correcting technology. Just add the clear drops to your favorite moisturizer, and integrate it into your regular skincare routine for a stunning tropical glow. You can feel confident putting this on your face since it's cruelty-free and 100% vegan and made using certified organic ingredients. It has low pH levels, non-sensitizing and hypoallergenic ingredients, and pure oils. There are no mineral oils, petroleum, gluten, GMOs, or toxins. This formula offers light, medium, and dark tan options. I like to use the medium, as it gives me the perfect amount of glow every time!
Pros: Customizable self-tanner for the face, evens tone, brightens dull skin
Cons: Contains vitamin C and may not be suitable for extra-sensitive skin
Customer Review: "OH MY GOODNESS BUY THIS IMMEDIATELY! these tanner drops say they are light but really aren't that light they do get dark but i loveee these especially since i get super white in winter but this mini can last you foreverrrr."
I wrote about this self-tanner on The Glow Girl when it made its debut. This invisible foaming tanning water is super fast-drying and perfect when in a hurry or you have to get dressed quickly after applying. It also leaves the skin with a great natural glow and will never stain even the whitest clothing or sheets! It also contains certified-organic ingredients and is made with natural extracts like pomegranate, papaya, aloe vera, and licorice to enhance skin with no telltale self-tanner scent. Tip: Wait four to eight hours before showering to get the full effects of this tanner!
Pros: Contains certified-organic ingredients, gives the skin a natural glow, doesn't stain clothing or sheets
Cons: None
This self-tanner was developed using a unique DHA derived from sugar beets, an Ecocert-approved ingredient from one of the UK's best natural, cult clean-beauty brands. All of its products are 100% nontoxic and between 90% to 99.9% organic. This formula comes in a glass bottle pump and goes on as a natural-colored lotion, leaving skin with a gorgeous bronzed glow as it develops. The scent is mild, and it blends easily, leaving skin super moisturized.
Pros: Shea butter, sesame, and coconut oil lock in hydration to the skin; uses a unique form of DHA derived from sugar beets to provide a natural self-tan and glow
Cons: Not fragrance-free, expensive
Customer Review: "Very natural color with a mild scent."
The Best Moisturizers to Elevate Your Tan
After your tan has made its debut, it's important to moisturize and keep skin hydrated to help the color last as long as possible. Below are my clean-beauty favorites that will surely extend the longevity of your gorgeous glow.
Formerly Olie Organic Face Oils, Biography's signature Golden Ray Glow Drops use natural, 100% sustainably sourced materials. This collagen-enhancing oil blurs the appearance of fine lines and gives the skin a subtle glow.
This organic body butter smells incredible, and it's made with ingredients that are safe enough to eat. It's an all-natural, deep moisturizer—because it's so hydrating, my tan lasts much longer if I apply it after the tan is freshly developed. A little bit goes a long way, so the jar lasts a while!
More Nontoxic Self-Tanners We Love
Coola's Sunless Tan Firming Lotion creates a streak-free, natural-looking tan, while caffeine extract in the formula also works to tighten and firm the skin.
This Eco Tan cream delivers a rich honey-like tan with other organic ingredients like aloe vera, avocado, and macadamia oil.
Shea butter, sweet almond oil, and safflower oil provide a deep golden-brown tan that looks and feels extra vibrant.
This sunless tanning mousse is packed with extra-nourishing ingredients like aloe, Indian gooseberry, açaí berry, fig extract, and goji berry extract.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.
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