Today we’re taking the scaries out of using self tanners for your face.
If you’ve been hesitant about trying self tanners on your face for fear of creating a hot orange mess, fear no more. I’ve got you covered with the best self tanners and a few tips to get that sun-kissed glow all year round.
*Affiliate Disclosure: I do have affiliate links in this blog post. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company. I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly. If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product.
Best Self Tanner For The Face
I love how natural the Suntegrity self tanner looks on my face. While it can be used on your body as well, I love using this brand on my face. It gives my skin a glow and a nice tan look to it, without looking orange or overdone. Plus, there is no self tanner smell to it! It has a strawberry scent, which might sound weird, but it actually isn’t strong at all and just masks the self tanner scent. It does have natural fragrance in it, however it’s not synthetic.
Why use a self tanner for your face?
There are many, many reasons to use self tanner in general, but here are some reason I specially use it for my face:
- No makeup days. Self tanner is a great way to elevate your complexion without having to wear makeup.
- Year round glow. Even if I lived in a sunny climate year round, I wouldn’t want to expose my skin to the sun all of the time but I still want that sun-kissed look!
- Minimize the risk of skin damage due to sun exposure. While I’m not opposed to exposing my skin to the sun, I also don’t want to fry my skin and increase my risk of skin cancer. Unfortunately, my skin doesn’t tan easily but this may not be the case for your skin type.
- Minimize signs of early aging. I don’t want to speed up the aging process if I can help it. Constant sun exposure for most of us lends itself to the early onset of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Quick, lasting results. I love that I can apply a self tanner and within an hour or two see results that last for a few days depending on the self tanner.
- Even tan. Let’s face it a self tanner, if done right can look better than a regular sun-induced tan. No redness, inflamed skin, sun spots, you get the picture.
Considerations When Choosing A Self Tanner For Your Face
1. Ingredients
What to look for:
Self tanners that are non-comedogenic meaning they won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts.
Ingredients to avoid:
- Artificial dyes and fragrances.
- Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. This antimicrobial preservative is a formaldehyde-releasing ingredient.
- Phthalates and parabens.
- Alcohol or ethanol.
- Comedogenic ingredients – octyl stearate, isopropyl myristate, and mineral oil.
2. Application Type
- Cream or mousse is best for dry skin.
- Mousse is lighter and easier to apply and dries quickly.
- Drops are a great option if you want to control your level of tan. It’s also more fool-proof because you can add them to your moisturizer and achieve a streak-free, natural glow.
- Gel is a good option for oily or combination skin as it has a matte finish.
3. Skin Type
- Pale skin – choose a self-tanner in the fair to medium color range or that contains between 1-3% DHA.
- Medium or olive skin – you have more color flexibility so you can choose medium to dark shades with 5% DHA.
- Dark skin – look for self tanners that contain more than 5% DHA.
- Application Type
- Cream or mousse is best for dry skin.
- Mousse is lighter and easier to apply and dries quickly.
- Drops are a great option if you want to control your level of tan. It’s also user-friendly because you can add them to your moisturizer.
- Gel is a good option for oily or combination skin as it has a matte finish.
Related Content: Beauty By Earth Review
Best Self Tanners For Your Face
Maya Chia Water | Color
This self tanner is a multi-correctional tinted serum powered by antioxidants and created to hydrate the skin. It blends easily into the skin, provides a streak-free finish and won’t stain your hands or clothes.
Price – $65
Review
This is such a unique self tanner. It contains antioxidants, and feels like a serum on the skin. Applying it feels so good on the skin! It is a gradual self tanner, so the color will get darker the more you use it. I found after the first application I had a nice glow to my skin. It looked a little more polished, and warmer. A great option for those who have very fair complexions and don’t want to look orange or overdone. The tan looks so natural too! The tan didn’t last as long as some of the others, but it also wasn’t as dark.
You can also find it at Credo Beauty, Beauty Heroes and The Detox Market.
Beauty By Earth Self Tanner Drops
These tanning drops allow you to control the level of your tan. Just add a few drops into your moisturizer and apply for a streak-free tan.
Price – $31.99
Review
This gives your skin a subtle glow, and I emphasize the subtle. It’s one of those self tanner products you will have to use daily for several days to really see a glow on your skin. After one use my skin was slightly tanner, but not a ton. I had to layer for several days to see a significant difference. You want to mix it with your facial lotion. I just prefer to use a self tanner lotion that really gives me more color to my skin quicker. But some people may prefer the more gradual approach and this would be a great fit. It also smells like self tanner. It didn’t last as long, but also it is more of a gradual approach to a self tanner, so the results weren’t as noticeable.
You can also find it on Amazon.
Suntegrity Moisturizing Self Tanner
This self tanner blends antioxidant-rich botanical extracts with hydrating oils and nourishing plant-based butters for a radiant golden glow.
Price – $40
Review
Love this self tanner! It works so well at giving me a glow to my skin. I feel like I can wear just some concealer when I have it on and don’t need to do the whole foundation look because it makes my skin look so good. It doesn’t have a self tanner scent to it, but a strawberry scent that I actually love. I know that might sound weird but it’s not strong at all and smells so much better than the typical self tanner scent. It isn’t greasy either, but feels like a moisturizing lotion on the skin. I love that after one application my skin looks tan! It lasted for several days too.
You can also find it at The Detox Market, Aillea and on Amazon.
Eco Tan Face Tan Water
The original gradual self-tanner is lightweight, hydrating and gives you a healthy glow while clearing your complexion.
Price – $39.95
Review
If I want to use face tan water these are the best. It gave me more of a noticeable difference in my skin then the other face tan drops. They’re a little different to apply then a self tanner lotion, since it feels a little like a very watery serum you’re applying, however after watching their tutorial video on application I found the best way to apply is just using your hands. You only need a teaspoon for your entire face and neck. It does have a self tanner scent to it as well, but it didn’t seem as intense. I also liked how it dried instantly on my skin since it wasn’t a lotion. If the lotion feel bothers you, this might be a great option. The tan lasted me several days.
Beauty By Earth Face Self Tanner Lotion
This user-friendly tanning lotion helps you gradually build a tan without any dyes or harsh fragrances.
Price – $29.99
Review
This has been my tried and true for years. It works great and can be used on the body or face. I love that it doesn’t feel greasy or heavy. Soaks in and you get a noticeable difference in color after using it. It does have the self tanner scent to it. The tan lasts on me for 4 days.
You can also find it on Amazon.
How To Best Apply Face Self Tanner
Skin Prep
- Cleanse skin with an oil-free cleanser.
- Exfoliate skin by using a mitt or other gentle exfoliating product. Check out my favorite Exfoliators For Dry Skin here!
- Apply an oil-free moisturizer to any dry spots on your face.
- Splash cold water on your face or use a cold wash cloth or a cool roller to close pores. It’s also important to dry your face for an even application.
Application
Use your fingers or a brush to massage the self-tanner into your face covering the front, sides, and even around the ears and neck. A brush can assist in pushing the color deeper into the skin thereby minimizing unsightly streaking.
Post Application Tips
- Wash or scrub your hands to avoid staining your hands.
- Spray a lightweight serum or use an oil-free moisturizer to hydrate skin.
- Avoid exfoliating or using products with retinoids as they can decrease the lifespan of your tan and dry out your face.
Did I miss your favorite self tanner for the face? Share it below!
If you liked this post, check out these past posts:
Have you tried Salty Face? I’m curious about that one!
I haven’t but I’ll check it out! Thanks for the rec!