The best drugstore self-tanners prove you don’t need a luxury price tag to score a believable, streak-free glow—rather, just a smart formula and a few minutes in your bathroom for application. Trust, the pharmacy aisle (or Amazon!) is stacked with self-tanners that deliver exactly that. Whether you want a fast-developing mousse for a last-minute dinner res or a gradual lotion you can slap on after every shower, these wallet-friendly picks rival their prestige counterparts in color payoff, wear time, and hydration.
Our Top Drugstore Self-Tanners
Frequently Asked Questions
Even better: Many of them actually smell good, dry down quickly, and leave skin feeling smoother than when you started. We tested a ton of options to find out which drugstore self-tanners really deliver that just-back-from-vacation radiance without the dreaded orange undertone.
Best Overall: Loving Tan Platinum Express 2 Hour Mousse
Why it’s worth it: It’s no surprise this mousse snagged a 2024 Best of Beauty Award. While it applies super dark (like, can’t-go-outside dark) and can look a bit streaky when applied, it dries quickly and doesn’t transfer onto clothing once it has some time to set. After a two-hour wait—the fastest on this list—and a rinse, it delivers one of the most natural-looking tans our editors have tried. Even if you err on the paler side, even the deepest of the four shades of this tanner reads believable with its olive-toned (not orange!) finish.
The aloe vera base keeps skin hydrated, while added caffeine (a known depuffing ingredient in body care) gives a subtle smoothing effect. The color continues to deepen over 24 hours, but never veers into “too much.” Pro tip: Use a very light layer on the face to avoid looking a little too tan. When we tested this product, we noticed it would typically fade after about five days, which is to be expected for a two-hour development window.
“At first, I was skeptical about how dark this tanner goes on, but it wins major points for drying quickly and never feeling tacky. The fast development is clutch—I can apply it at 5 p.m. and be gorgeously bronzed by 7 p.m., just in time for a dinner res. Even on naturally pale skin, the color turns out a believable golden bronze, so I never stress.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
- Key ingredients: aloe vera, caffeine, pomegranate
- Shades: 4 (Medium, Dark, Ultra Dark, Maximum)
- Development time: 2 hours
- Fragrance: none
- Lasts up to: 5 days
Best Gradual: Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
Why it’s worth it: A perennial Best of Beauty and Readers’ Choice Award winner, the Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer has held onto its drugstore-icon status for good reason. It delivers a soft, believable bronze without any of the usual self-tanner hassle—no marathon dry times, no streaky surprises, and no rinse-off routine. The silky lotion sinks in fast, builds an even glow over a few days (make it a post-shower habit for effortless upkeep), and applies easily with just your hands—no mitt required. Thanks to hydrating glycerin and vitamin E, it doubles as your everyday body lotion, leaving skin so smooth and conditioned that you can skip an extra moisturizer altogether.
“To apply this tanner, I use my hands since it’s more of a lotion and work it into my body (and immediately wash my hands afterward, because the last thing I want is orange palms). Since this is a gradual self-tanner, it’s going to take days of application to see that tan some through—but once it does, trust the glow will have been worth the wait.” —Angela Trakoshis, former shopping market editor
- Key ingredients: vitamin E, elastin, hydrating complex
- Shades: 2 (Fair to Medium, Medium to Tan)
- Development time: gradual build with daily use
- Fragrance: light floral scent
- Lasts up to: use daily for continuous results
Best Mousse: Bondi Sands Ultra Dark Foam
Bondi Sands
Ultra Dark Foam
Why it’s worth it: Bondi Sands Self-Tanning Foam, a favorite of Irvine, California-based spray tan artist Audrey Spina, is a lightweight mousse that applies smoothly and dries down fast without a sticky finish or risking staining your clothing. “For the price, it gives the most even color, and the undertones lean olive and avoid that orange look that cheaper formulas often give,” says Spina, who recommends it to clients who want something reliable without spending too much.
Another pro? The instant tint makes it easy to see where you’ve applied it. Simply add a few pumps to a tanning mitt and use long sweeping motions all over your body, and leave it on for a minimum of six hours. Though it’s meant to develop overnight (usually a risky move for anyone with white sheets), it stays put almost instantly without transferring. Even better: It skips the classic self-tan scent. Instead, you get a soft coconut aroma, paired with soothing aloe and glycerin, so skin feels plush and hydrated while the bronze deepens.
- Key ingredients: aloe vera, glycerin
- Shades: 3 (Light/Medium, Dark, Ultra Dark)
- Development time: up to 8 hours
- Fragrance: coconut
- Lasts up to: 5 days
Best for Beginners: L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Mist
L’Oréal Paris
Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Mist
Why we love it: Sophia Avanzato, the founder of Main Line Spray Tan based in Villanova, Pennsylvania, calls the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Mist “incredibly easy to use.” Its secret? A 360-degree wide-jet applicator that sprays a lightweight, fine mist, offering a smooth, airbrushed effect. It may sound messy, but as long as you do it in the shower, the process is seamless. There’s no rubbing required, and the formula dries almost instantly and develops in as little as two hours. The result is a smooth, polished glow that’s subtle enough for a natural look, with the option to layer for a deeper bronze if you so please.
- Key ingredients: castor oil
- Shades: 2 (Medium Natural Tan, Deep Natural Tan)
- Development time: up to 3 hours
- Fragrance: yes
- Lasts up to: use a few times weekly for continuous results
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make drugstore self-tanner look natural?
A natural-looking result comes down to skin prep, blending, and restraint, says Avanzato. “You want to use less product on dry areas like elbows, knees, hands, and feet—as that’s where at-home tans tend to give themselves away—and always blend these spots with a damp mitt or makeup brush to diffuse the color,” she says. Another tip? Work in light layers instead of one heavy application because “it’s easier to build color than correct it.”
How do you prep for self-tanner?
Spina says prepping to apply a drugstore self-tanner is the same as you would for any other at-home tanner. “Shower and exfoliate the day before, and never the day of,” she says. Once you get out, “skip the heavy lotions—a light moisturizer only on dry spots like elbows and knees is enough.” Once the foam is on, keep your skin cool and dry until rinse time to get an even, streak-free tan.
What makes drugstore self-tanner different than prestige self-tanner?
“The biggest differences between drugstore and prestige formulations typically come down to ingredient quality and added skin-care benefits,” says Avanzato. “Prestige brands may use a higher quality DHA (the active tanning ingredient), and they may include more hydrating or skin-soothing ingredients.”
That said, Avanzato notes that many drugstore formulas perform impressively well and are more accessible for everyday use. “Prestige versions may offer a more luxurious feel, but a well-prepped and well-blended drugstore tan can look just as beautiful.”
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best drugstore self tanners, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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