I'm a Beauty Editor—This Is My Secret Weapon for Quick, Streak-Free Self-Tanning
It couldn't be easier.
When people learn that I'm a beauty editor, their first reaction is usually one of three things. The first is to ask, "What does that mean?" I explain that I test, curate, and write about beauty products for a living. The second is to ask, "So what's your favorite beauty product of all time?" If it were only that easy to answer a question like that! The third is to make some sort of observation like, "You don't strike me as someone who has a high-maintenance beauty routine." I always say the same thing: "I don't."
While I'm incredibly consistent and diligent when it comes to certain things like sunscreen and moisturizer, I'm pretty lax when it comes to other things. For example, I only style my hair when I feel like it, I don't wear makeup every day, and I refuse to use fussy, streaky, or smelly self-tanners. In fact, if a self-tanning product isn't incredibly easy to use, I'd rather go without it.
That's where self-tanning drops come in. They're my favorite way to self-tan because they're so simple. Add them into a moisturizer, apply said moisturizer to your skin, wait a couple of hours, and look into the mirror to see a sun-kissed and natural-looking glow. Sure, it helps to exfoliate before using them, but other than that, they don't require any special accessories or tools—just your favorite moisturizer. Keep scrolling to see the 11 best self-tanning drops on the market right now.
The Best Self-Tanning Drops, at a Glance
- Best Overall: Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
- Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Drops
- Best Self-Tanner Serum Hybrid: St. Tropez Tan Tonic Glow Drops
- Best for Breakout-Prone Skin: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops
- Best Clean Formula: Saltyface Tanning Water
Best Overall: Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
Size: 1.01 oz | Shades: 2 | Additional ingredients: Raspberry seed oil, aloe vera
One product I can personally vouch for is the Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops. They provide a customizable, natural-looking tan with no mess. I'm not the only one who thinks so. They're highly rated by customers for their smooth, even, and non-streaky effects.
Customer review: "I'm obsessed with self-tan and I could never find the perfect one for my face. They either made me break out or would darken some areas way more than others—even if I exfoliate regularly and hydrate my skin properly. When I tried this one (OMG) life changer. You can control your tan with the amount of drops you use, I’d recommend using 3–4 drops on your face and neck for a big difference and 2 for a natural glow."
Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Facial Drops
Size: 1.0 oz | Shades: 1 | Additional ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, coconut water
Infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and coconut water, this budget-friendly pick is easy on my wallet yet works just as well as high-end products.
Customer review: "I am one of those fair-skinned women that always looks orange with fake tanner no matter what product I have used. Finally came across these self-tanning drops and am in love. It looks natural and blends into my sun-tanned skin on my neck and chest seamlessly. It also made my skin feel smooth and silky on my face all day without drying out or weird smells."
Best Self-Tanner Serum Hybrid: St.Tropez Tan Tonic Glow Drops
Size: 1.0 oz | Shades: 1 | Additional ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin E, echinacea, hyaluronic acid
The cool thing about these tanning drops is that they include good-for-skin ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin E, echinacea, and hyaluronic acid. It's almost as if it's a self-tanner/serum hybrid.
Customer review: "I got the sampler size for free with my order of St. Tropez body tanner and I was so glad I did. They're expensive but SO WORTH it. My skin is very pale so I use 2 drops of this on my face directly and rub it all over evenly, and the color gradually develops in about an hour. It's the perfect sun-kissed glow, and I literally don't even have to wear any makeup it makes my skin look so amazing! Absolutely the BEST. The price is the ONLY con."
Best for Breakout-Prone Skin: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops
Size: 1.69 oz | Shades: 3 | Additional ingredients: Vitamin C, avocado
These drops come in three color shade options—light, medium, and dark—so you can tailor your tan perfectly. According to reviews, there's no streaking, no transfer, no skin irritation, and no breakouts. The latter means they're a good choice for people with acne-prone skin.
Customer review: "Isle of Paradise is one of my go-to self-tanning brands especially when it comes to face tanners. My skin is sensitive and these drops don’t make me break out like other products do. They’re easy to mix with my moisturizer and develop fairly quickly. I also spread it over my neck and décolletage area for an even look. It gives me a pretty natural-looking tan."
Best Clean Formula: Saltyface Tanning Water
Size: 1.8 oz | Shades: 2 | Additional ingredients: Organic sugar beet, cucumber, marshmallow root, calendula flower
Saltyface is a chic self-tanning brand that offers clean, vegan, and cruelty-free formulas. While I'm a fan of all of the brand's products, I regularly use the Tanning Water to bring some glow back to my dull skin.
Customer review: "I got the salty face tanning water recently after seeing so many ads on instagram, and I’m so impressed! I was worried it would turn me orange or just be nonexistent, but it’s given me the most natural sunkissed glow. I got the medium to dark and it’s worked so well. I do notice a slight smell the next day but it’s not abrasive. And the initial scent when applying is so pleasant, like almond extract honestly."
Best for Body: Tan-Luxe The Body Illuminating Self-Tan Drops
Size: 1.69 oz | Shades: 2 | Additional ingredients: Raspberry seed oil, aloe vera
The Tan-Luxe drops also come specifically formulated for your body that works the same way. Just mix them with your moisturizer and watch your tan develop over a few hours.
Customer review: "I'm a tan fanatic, I've tried everything on the market and nothing has been as easy and as pretty as this tan! It doesn't smell when developing, doesn't transfer, doesn’t fade quickly, doesn't end up streaky, and the bottle lasts a long time!! 10/10 worth every penny."
Best for Body, Less: Tanologist Face & Body Drops
Size: 1.01 oz | Shades: 4 | Additional ingredients: Juniper berry, vitamin C, pink grapefruit, goji berry
These can be used on the face and body and, from experience, provide a natural-looking glow.
Customer review: "These work so well! I used them once at night and people over my Zoom calls noticed immediately the next morning that I was noticeably tanner."
Best Scent: Lux Unfiltered Nº12 Bronzing Face Drops
Size: 1.0 oz | Shades: 1 | Additional ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, coconut water, apple fruit extract, passion fruit oil, pomegranate extract
These tanning drops are just as good as the brand's other all-star products, including the Nº32 Deep Gradual Self-Tanning Cream in Santal ($38) and the Nº28 Exfoliating Body Polish in Santal ($38). Both of those products smell incredible, and I can't recommend them enough. But back to the tanning drops. They never fail to give my skin a natural-looking glow. It never looks orange, streaky, or fake.
Customer review: "These drops are the best. They are super hydrating and the glow is phenomenal. I always get compliments when I have this on."
Best Hydrating: Nuda Hyaluronic Self Tanning Serum
Size: 1.01 oz | Shades: 1 | Additional ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, vitamin E
I've been using this vegan formula for months now. I like that it's completely clear and never stains my clothes. Plus, it has virtually no self-tanner smell, and it gives me the most natural-looking glow. Think "I just got back from vacation, and it shows."
Customer review: "Absolutely love this stuff! It’s the best face tanning serum I’ve tried. This one makes my skin feel super soft and glowy without makeup but it goes on really well under it too . Doesn’t feel greasy at all, and the tan develops gradually so you can build it up to the perfect shade for you. I’m definitely repurchasing this again!"
Best Glow: Australian Glow Self-Tan Drops
Size: 1.01 oz | Shades: 2 | Additional ingredients: Kakadu plum, goji berry, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera
If you want to mimic an Aussie glow without spending money on a plane ticket, reach for these tanning drops.
Customer review: "Have gotten compliments on my makeup, but wearing no foundation, just this! Blends very well into the skin over normal morning treatment/moisture products."
Prep Is Everything: Use These 5 Products Before Tanning for a Perfect Result
One of the major keys to an even, streak-free tan is to exfoliate the day before you tan. I like this body scrub because it's just coarse enough to slough away dead skin cells, yet gentle enough to not cause redness and irritation. Oh, and it smells like crème brûlée.
I like to use this body mask before I use self-tanner. With ingredients like sichuan pepper, ginseng, and red algae, it hydrates, plumps, and firms the skin on the bust, butt, and thighs.
Every beauty editor knows that no matter how good a self-tan formula is, it will look and apply *so much* more evenly if it has a plumped-up and ultra-moisturized base. This multitasking serum from Olay is affordable and ticks off every box.
Another drugstore product I love is this body serum that uses hyaluronic acid, pro-ceramides, niacinamide, and collagen peptides to deeply moisturize the skin.
If you want a one-and-done exfoliating and moisturizing system, I recommend Nerra's The Bathhouse Ritual. Inspired by ancient Mediterranean bathing rituals, it includes everything you need for the smoothest, most petal-soft skin pre-tan. Read my full review.
The best self-tanner results are achieved after an effective shower—meaning a good cleansing and exfoliating ritual before slathering on your color-developing drops. This tea tree body wash soothes dry, itchy skin for a smoother application process, making it a great first step before tanning.
This article was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
