I've Tested Countless Self-Tanners—These Select 10 Don't Leave My Skin Orange or Patchy

Though I grew up bronzing under the summer sun quite easily (can thank my Italian genes for that), I noticed a gradual decrease in my ability to develop and keep a good tan as I reached my late teens and early 20s. Perhaps it was due to my frequent sunscreen use as my beauty routine became more skin-focused, but because I missed my naturally bronzed skin, I started reaching for self-tanners to compensate for my paleness. From drugstore buys in college to pricey mousses I’d put on my Christmas list, I tried everything I could to find the perfect faux glow—and just when I thought I’d got it right, another curveball was thrown my way.

A recent visit to a celebrity makeup artist revealed that I have fair skin with two different undertones (olive for my body, peach for my face)—and while this changed everything when it comes to makeup, I realized that I’d need to tweak my taste in tanners, too. Facing my ever-growing pile of self-tanning drops, mousses, mists, and bronzing waters (yes, I’m a bit tan-obsessed), I decided to edit my collection down to the formulas that fit my specific skin tone(s) and test a few new ones.

“Fair skin requires a self-tanner that provides a natural, even glow without looking too orange or overpowering. I always recommend starting with a formula that is buildable and easy to control,” says celebrity tan artist and brand founder Isabel Alysa Vita. “The key is to always start gradual and build up your tan, especially if you’ve never self-tanned before. This way, you can avoid any surprises and ensure the most natural-looking result.”

One thing you should know about me is that I’m incredibly picky when it comes to tanning products—they can’t streak, smudge, or get patchy in the testing process without getting tossed. Since I don’t gatekeep, I’m sharing my findings below to save you the work (and give you the year-round gift of a believable bronze).

Best Overall: Tan-Luxe The Water Hydrating Self-Tan Water

Best Tanning Drops: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops

Best Shade Match: Bondi Sands Technocolor Self-Tanning Foam

Best Express: St.Tropez Self-Tan Express Mousse

Best Bronzing Drops: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops

Best Bronzing Water: St.Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse

Best for Contouring: Dolce Glow Contour Self-Tanning Sculpt + Glow

Best Mist: St.Tropez Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist

Best Lotion: +Lux Unfiltered N°32 Hydrating Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion

Best Tanning Wipes: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pads

What to Look For in Self-Tanners for Fair Skin

Undertone

One of the first steps is to identify the undertones of your skin. Most skin tones fall somewhere between cool and warm undertones, with blue, olive, and peach being some of the most prominent. Celebrity makeup artist and brand founder Danessa Myricks previously told Who What Wear that the vein test is a common way to determine your undertone.

“Under good lighting, review the veins in your wrist and inside of the arm. If your veins appear greener or olive, you have a warm undertone. If your veins appear more blue or purple, you are probably cool,” Myricks explains. “If you find it hard to determine whether your veins are blueish or greenish, you are likely neutral."

Formula

Though formula is merely a mode of transportation for your self-tanner, there are certain idiosyncrasies to keep in mind when choosing which kind of tanner is right for you. The most common formulas include self-tanning mousse, water, serum drops, lotions, and mists, with some imparting more color than the others.

Traditionally, you can achieve a deeper tan when you use a mousse due to its concentrated levels of DHA (dihydroxyacetone, the sugar-based active ingredient that reacts with your skin and creates a “tan”) versus a mist, which is ushered through a nozzle and applied in a much sheerer manner than direct contact. Your desired level of glow is largely determined by the shade you choose and how long you leave the self-tanner on before showering, but its formula can also affect these results.

Color Development

When I’m picking up a new self-tanner, one of the first things I look at is how long the leave-on time is versus the color development. I don’t like sitting around in self-tan for long periods of time (or worse, going to sleep in it), so I tend to gravitate toward one-hour express formulas, which you can wash off after 60 minutes to achieve a sun-kissed glow or wear for up to three hours to achieve the results that would normally be from an eight-hour ordeal with a normal self-tanner.

However, if you prefer the deeper bronze imparted by overnight wear (or use a formula that requires a longer wear time to achieve noticeable results, such as the +Lux Unfiltered Self-Tanning Lotion or the sculpting wand from Dolce Glow), you can simply head to bed in dark, loose-fitting pajamas and do a quick rinse in the morning to reveal your developing tan.

Pro Tip: Remember that if you feel like your tan looks light when you shower after the full waiting period, you’ve only erased the color guard—aka the greenish-brown pigment that washes off in the shower—and your tan will continue to develop over the next few hours. Give it time!

How to Use Self-Tanner on Fair Skin

How can I fake-tan if I'm really pale?

When it comes to fair skin, Vita advises users to take a gradual approach. “I recommend starting with a lightweight tanning water or mist that allows for buildable color. You can apply one layer, let it develop, and if you want more depth, go in with a second layer the next day.”

However, tanning your face is a different ball game, and not all formulas are meant to be used on both your body and face. Vita recommends using a self-tanning mist for a natural bronze or mixing bronzing drops with your favorite moisturizer to achieve the most believable results.

How can I avoid my knees turning orange when I self-tan?

One of the most essential parts of self-tanning well is to exfoliate, shave, and moisturize with an oil-free moisturizer the night before your self-tanning session, or the morning before if you’re doing so at night. This will prevent any excess hair or dead skin cells from picking up excess product.

But while prep is half the battle, your application process is just as important. “Don’t forget to blend around tricky areas like hands, feet, and knees—these can grab onto too much product and end up looking darker than the rest of your tan," says Vita.

How can I prevent strawberry legs when I use self-tanner?

“Strawberry legs happen when self-tanner settles into open pores or hair follicles, creating a speckled effect,” says Vita. “To prevent this, proper prep is everything!”

The tan artist recommends using an exfoliating mitt the day before tanning and shaving at least 12 to 24 hours before using your self-tanner to allow time for your pores to close. “After showering, rinse your legs with cold water to help tighten pores, and apply a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer to any dry areas,” she advises.

Take it a step further by altering your application tactics. “When applying self-tanner, use a mitt and blend in circular motions rather than rubbing up and down. If you’re extra prone to strawberry legs, go with a self-tanner with added hydration to keep the skin smooth and minimize the appearance of pores,” Vita explains.

How We Chose Self-Tanners for Fair Skin

We at Who What Wear take tried-and-true recommendations very seriously, so while former beauty editor Katie Behron made her selections earlier, associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia corroborated her picks and made the rest—putting together this comprehensive guide to self-tanners for fair skin for you. Keeping in mind the different kinds of skin texture and undertones present in people with fair skin, Behron and Brascia tested and researched the above products to find the best that work for a variety of skin types.

We took the extra step by getting expert opinion on how to properly self-tan fair skin, picking celebrity tan artist Isabel Vita’s brain for her tips and tricks on product selection, application, and proper prep.

Who's Who

• Isabel Alysa Vita is a celebrity tan artist and the founder of self-tan brands Dolce Glow and Sunnee Bae. Her past high-profile clientele include Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian, to name a few.
• Alyssa Brascia is an associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Brascia has been testing self-tanners since she was 17 years old, bronzing her skin before dance competitions and when her sunscreen was doing too much.
• Katie Behron is a former beauty editor at Who What Wear with years of self-tanning experience.

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.