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Ask Julia: What is the best self tanner?

June 19, 2024
Chris Loves Julia | Julia poolside holding a plate of snacks

White Jeans | Tan Tee | Straw Hat (Similar) | Apple Watch Band | Gold Oura Ring | Melamine Plate | Striped Pool Towels | Backyard Sources

Few things can boost my self-confidence quicker than freshly applied self-tanner. There's something about giving my skin a bit of a glow that gives me a pep in my step, especially when it comes to going on vacation! Long gone are the tanning bed days (anybody else shaking their head at their younger self?), so I lather up on sunscreen and rely on self-tanner for that sun-kissed look. We're headed to Mexico soon, and I've always wanted to conduct a test to find the best self-tanner, so I figured there's no time like the present!

Finding the best self-tanner

I've been experimenting with self-tanners for years! I'm a sucker for buying a product, loving it, using it all up, and then wondering if there's something even better out there. Then I buy something else, and the process continues. Maybe this means I'm afraid of commitment? Or it could be that I'm incredibly committed to finding the best of the best because I need my self-tanner to work overtime!

Chris Loves Julia | Self-tanner bottle flatlay

Shop Self-Tanners

So we had some fun in the office testing seven of the most-used foaming tanners that I've used over the years. I give my full review of each tanner below, but we also wanted to illustrate how the colors compare side-by-side. Personally, I'm all about the tanning mousse. The application is so smooth, and it seems to develop more evenly than any lotion I've tried. So everything that we tested is a tanning mousse!

Self-Tanners Immediately After Application

Chris Loves Julia | Arm with sample streaks of different self-tanning lotions

We were all SHOCKED to see the variation between each tanner during application. The coloring varied so much, and all of us office girls had our favorites picked out. But what we were really interested in seeing is how each one developed overnight.

Self-Tanners Developed Overnight (Including a Shower)

Chris Loves Julia | Arm with sample streaks of different self-tanning lotions next day

What's crazy is that although the colors were wildly different upon application, they all looked really similar after having time to develop fully. Obviously, some have warmer or pinker undertones, but color-wise, I think they're all really similar, and it comes down to personal preference! Here are some of my thoughts.

Honestly, Coco & Eve is a tough one to beat. I keep trying other newer tanning mousse products, and I always come back to my tried and true. It smells delicious, applies evenly, hydrates my skin, and lasts for days! I prefer the dark, but you can see in the first picture that the coloring leans really green upon application. As it develops, it warms up but still has a bit of an olive undertone.

Seeing the overnight results of "ultra-dark" makes me question everything because, compared to the others, it might actually be the lightest shade.

I used this for years and years. As you can see from the pictures, the color is really, really brown and actually leans toward a reddish brown color, but this was definitely a team favorite!

The reason I stopped using it was that it wasn't very hydrating and sort of dried me out. But I also tend to have pretty dry skin, so it could be the one for you!

St. Tropez was my OG tanning mousse. The reason I ended up switching is that it has more orange undertones. I also remember it being a bit splotchy after a couple of days.

From the test, it also looks a bit lighter and warmer than the other ones, which isn't a bad thing!

I totally swiped up on this per another influencer's recommendation. First of all, A+ for the beautiful packaging. The scent is "blood orange," which smells interesting, but the color is my very favorite one. It's very comparable to Coco & Eve but less green.

My only critique is that it comes off pretty easily. It looks incredible on days one and two, but by day three, you're practically back to square one. In some ways, it's also a good thing because you're not left with weird splotchy areas that are too stubborn to rinse off.

Where are my Love Islanders at? I fell in love with Molly Mae on that show, and so when she released her own self-tanner, I had to give it a try!

The undertones are a bit more yellow upon application, and I did end up liking this one, but not as much as Coco & Eve.

We all gasped when we pumped this onto the applicator brush because it was greeeeeen. You can barely even tell it's there when you apply, but it actually develops into a really lovely warm tan! Kind of shocking.

When I was using Red Aspen, I loved how nourishing and hydrating it was. I stopped because I missed my darker Coco & Eve, and this one only came in one shade.

The real winner might be this Bondi Sands! It's practically identical to Coco & Eve, for a fraction of the cost. I grabbed this at a convenience store in London when I ran out of my tried and true and fell in love with it.

I really wished it didn't dry out my skin; otherwise, this would be such a good option for me!

I continue to love Coco & Eve, but seeing this side-by-side comparison is honestly making me rethink trying out Loving Tan again! I also really love Lux Unfiltered, but maybe I just need to embrace a more frequent application because the color is so good.

Even More Self-Tanning Reviews...

But wait there's more! After we did this test, I started hearing about Beauty by Earth — a brand we didn't test. This self-tanner goes on clear, so it doesn't stain your sheets or your clothes. I got it and immediately joined the Beauty by Earth bandwagon for, like, four months. I tried all their stuff. I was recommending it to all of my friends. “It’s natural. It doesn’t have any dyes in it. And it builds up really nicely.” I was using the lotion and the mousse. Both felt like I had a great tan, and I continued layering/building on it.

Chris Loves Julia | Coco & Even Sunny Honey self-tanner

And one day, I thought “I’m just going to try Coco & Eve again just to compare…” (because it was my favorite self-tanner, the one to beat). Oh, it was like coming home! Most of all, I liked that there wasn't guesswork about where I put the tanner: The Beauty by Earth one went on clear, and I was always wondering, “Did I do it right?”

My new self tanner was good when it was good. But when it was time to exfoliate, my skin was like the desert — it was just cracked. Also, the tan only built upon itself to an extent — then it just... flaked off.

In this experimental phase, I wanted to try the new Loving Tan Platinum Mousse — because everyone seems to love it. Oh my goodness. In my alternate reality, that is the warm, tan color of my skin. It has more reddish, violet undertones that really complement my dark features. I wore this one for about a month. But again, I felt like it dried me out. I would put lotion on every day and still felt like I was dry all the time.

I went back to Coco & Eve, my tried and true. I apply "Dark," and it's moisturizing, the color is nice, and it’s foolproof. I just love it. I used it before my recent Bora Bora trip, and it was perfection. While I was there though, I started breaking out a little on my face, so I switched to using a light mist from Tan-Luxe called The Water. I mist it on at night so when I wake up, my face has just a little bit of color. It's really buildable — in my opinion there isn't a huge difference between the light/medium and the medium/dark.

How to Remove Self-Tanner

The tricky thing about self-tanner is the removal part. Even after a good exfoliation, it doesn't always come off, so we actually tested this Bondi Sands Tan Eraser for the first time on all of the swatches. The right half of the arm where we applied definitely decreased by about 50%. It kind of looks like the light is catching it, but it's been wiped off.

So it definitely works! The directions say to apply it after the tan has been on for 3-5 days, and this was applied the next day. But I'm definitely adding this to my tanning regimen so I can fully remove it before reapplying.

If you're wanting a step-by-step look at my tanning routine, check out this post, where I go into more detail on my exact regimen.

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  1. My skin also used to get really dried out with self tanners until I tried the Pure self tanning foam from Bondi Sands. It's like putting on a moisturizer, it also comes out clear so NO transfer (my least favorite thing about self tanning), and it doesn't smell bad. All while giving you that great Bondi Sands dark color.

  2. I totally agree about Coco and Eve, but recently bought the Loving Tan in Platinum. Now I do two pumps of Coco and Eve and one pump of Loving Tan Platinum... Sort of squish it together apply and it's perfection!! Lasts longer, doesn't dry out my skin and the color is the best ever.

  3. Well, here is what I think. I love a self tanner and used one for years. Recently I was diagnosed with cancer and I regret every single time I slathered that on my body. I have done a deep dive into toxicity. Unfortunately, there are so many things we cannot control in our world, but this one I can. I wish someone would have told me, so I am sharing this warning. Be safe.

  4. I’m a first time self tanner user and just tried Bondi Sands for a recent vacation. Loved the tan it gave and ease of application! I was hesitant to apply to my face though. Do you apply self tanner to your face or do you change up your makeup to match? Would love your advice!

    1. I switched to using a light mist on my face — it's called The Water from Tan-Luxe. I mist it on at night so when I wake up, my face has just a little bit of color. It's buildable so I can layer on more if I want to!

  5. Great options and review! I SO wish you would’ve included tanceuticals though!! I feel like it’s more hydrating vs the other options you shared, doesn’t stink or stain, and lasts a long time! Maybe on your next one?!

  6. Thank You for This!!
    Finally an honest and direct review on self tanners! So often I've skimmed over magazine reviews and found them to be an advertisement, not an actual first person tested review. Thanks again for taking the time to post this.

  7. Julia, after my self tanner is set in , is it ok to wear a sunscreen on top of it?
    Also, Im going to try your recommended tanners, but wondered if you have tried Tan Physics ? I have not and am pretty new to self tanners, but my doctor has banned me from the sun. I appreciate any advise or suggestions. Thank you for this helpful post.

    1. Have you ever tried the Bronze Boss Après Spray. You spray it on after your self tan routine to minimize the after tan odor, and hydrate your tan. It will help it to last a lot longer. I use it daily to help with hydration and so my tan doesn’t immediately come off from working out or swimming etc. it’s the best.

  8. Hopelessly devoted to all Lux Self Tanning products. I’ve used this mousse with their “the Gradual” in between days to extend and hydrate and they are a great combo! They also DO NOT stain my sheets. I recently tried their newest facial self tanning serum with SPF. Nice color and convenient. Lux has also converted me from St. Tropez which I used for years & Coco & Eve which I’ve fabled with too. Love that they have a suite of formulas - don’t always love their pricing but I try to catch specials and sales!

  9. Ooh I wish you had tried PetaJane Beauty. I started using that last summer and I really love it. I’m very fair and after one shower it’s perfect for me in the Light shade.

  10. I used St Tropez a long time ago before I started looking for cleaner ingredient products all around - I tried Isle of Paradise next ( I would say it's decent), and then have used Beauty by Earth for a while (I find their lotion shows up better than their mousse). My latest one to try is BeetTan and it is beautiful! I've been very pleased with their mousse.

  11. You got me hooked on coco & eve after some unsuccessful tanning attempts and I will never go back. It fades like a real tan and blends so beautifully!

  12. So helpful as always! Thank you to the volunteer who didn’t mind having all those stripes on their arms. I love my coco and Eve but am always wondering if there is a better one as well.

  13. Have you ever found one that is fragrance free? Fragrance irritated my skin, so i have not had good success with self tanners! I want to find one that works so bad!

  14. Have you tried gradual tanners? Isle of Paradise is my fav! And doesn’t leave weird splotchy spots, it just fades away again- magic!

  15. Just wondering if you ever get concerned about the possible toxicity of any of the items you are applying to the largest organ of your body. It can't be harmless, can it?

    1. Agree! Especially for someone who is so concerned about her health - but Julia also wears an inordinate amount of make up and uses a myriad or other excessive products on her skin and hair ,and alters her appearance in a lot of ways, so not really a surprise.

      1. Passive aggressive rude behavior & fake concern is not an attractive color on anyone.

      2. Not sure if you meant to come off a bit rude, but as you mentioned it seems like Julia is someone who prioritizes her health so she has likely considered this. She and her team kindly shared their time with us in making this post, if you’re not into the “unhealthy” products showcased here maybe skip reading posts like these! Definitely skip commenting on people’s health and the number of products they use :)

      3. This is such a ridiculous and rude comment to make. It's one thing to wonder about the toxicity of self-tanner, it's another to snark at Julia for wearing an "inordinate" amount of make up and to accuse her of "altering" her appearance in a lot of ways. Shaming someone for using make up or self-tanner to feel good in their skin is mean. Maybe take a kinder approach...or say nothing. I'm sure Julia's make up, skin care, tanning preferences have no impact on your personal life. So why do you care?

      4. Hey Suzanne, do you say rude things like this to all the women in your life or just the ones you don’t have to look in the eye?

      5. Remember, Julia is a real person with real feelings - you could’ve got your point across (because it’s a valid question to wonder about about the toxicity) but worded it much differently without sounding EXTREMELY judgmental 🥴

      6. Here to say keep doing you, Julia! You’re beautiful on the inside and out. And to remind you that if they don’t know you as a person to not take it personally. Easier said than done. We know it takes a lot out of you to come on every day and share you life. I’m grateful for it and so are the vast majority of us here!

    2. Certain ingredients in most self tanners actually cause oxidation in the body which speeds up the aging process. Yikes!! The moment I learned this I called it quits!

    3. I have suffered from various health and auto-immune issues and I think I have had negative reactions to self-tanners. It's impossible to really tell because many things can be a trigger and symptoms of auto-immune conditions tend to generalized and hard to pin down, but I have worked with my doctor to try to pinpoint specific triggers and this is something that appears to be one for me. Which is a major bummer because I love the look of bronzed skin. And for most people, I think their bodies can handle it. Unfortunately, mine can't :(

    4. I hear you on that..I used a product that was acetone based spray and applied it with a foam paint brush and bought it by the case. The absolutely best color and everyone thought it was real! It disappeared probably cuz it was toxic!

    1. This is also always a reservation of line. And the smell! I know you mentioned some of them smelled nice, but the ones I have tried ALWAYS have that signature sickly sweet fake tan smell underneath. Do these still have that as well?

    2. I can only speak for St Tropez but it definitely transfers to sheets. I’ve seen a clear one on tiktok called Salty Face. It’s kind of pricey though.

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