Bronze and Nourish: Our Favourite Self Tanners For A Streak-Free Finish
Francesca is the Beauty Editor at Adore Beauty. With a background in glossy mags and bylines in publications like Marie Claire, ELLE and BODY+SOUL, Francesca has turned her love of beauty into a career. Whether she's decoding buzzy ingredients or road testing lip glosses (so. many. glosses.), her approach to beauty is equal parts glamour and highly-considered.
Fake tanning has come a long way since the days of Cheeto-orange hues, streaky formulas and that tell-tale scent.
Nowadays, self-tanners are just as elevated, inclusive and considered as the rest of your beauty routine. The shift embraces faux tanners' ability to protect skin (no UV damage here) and boost confidence.
Formulas are brimming with skin-nourishing ingredients that hydrate, protect, and enhance your natural glow. Whether you're looking to build a gradual tan or want an instant bronze boost, the latest formulas double as skincare.
With that in mind, we enlist the tanning aficionado's of Adore Beauty (you'll never catch them pale or streaky) to reveal their favourite formulas. Read on for their reviews below!
How to Apply Fake Tan Like a Pro
The key to a seamless, streak-free application lies in the prep work.
Start the day before by exfoliating skin with a physical scrub or mitt. This will remove previous fake tan, product build up and dead skin. Follow in with a moisturiser, with attention to those dryer areas such as knees and elbows, to create a smooth, hydrated base. This will be a gamechanger for longevity and avoiding a patchy finish.
The day of: Ensure skin is clean and dry. Avoid products such as perfume, deodorant and moisturiser. These create a sticky layer on the skin’s surface and prevent the tan from adhering.
How Long Should You Leave Fake Tan On?
The golden rule? Always follow your product’s instructions. But as a guide - express formulas can be rinsed off in as little as one to three hours for a sun-kissed glow, while traditional tans need a solid six to eight hours to fully develop. More time doesn’t always mean deeper colour and can often lead to uneven fading.
Can You Apply Fake Tan To Your Face?
Contrary to popular belief, self tanners can and should be used on your face.
Face-specific self-tanners are key here! Typically lightweight and non-comedogenic, they're dosed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide to hydrate and brighten as they bronze.
For the most natural results, apply to clean, exfoliated skin and blend carefully around delicate areas like the hairline, brows, and jaw. Tanning drops are a popular option because they mix seamlessly into your existing skincare from moisturisers and serums to SPF or even foundation.
Pro tip: Skip strong actives like AHAs, BHAs, and retinol on tanning days to avoid patchiness or irritation. Alternate them in your routine to maintain both glow and skin clarity.
What's the difference between Synthetic and Natural DHAs?
The main active ingredient in self tanners that’s responsible for colour development is Dihydroxyacetone (also known as DHA).
Products will typically use either a synthetic or natural form of DHA. Synthetic DHAs result in faster developed colour, but do so by weakening the skin’s surface so that the product can be absorbed quickly. Not only is this drying, but it increases your exposure to nasties.
We recommend looking to self-tanners that are formulated with natural DHA. Often derived from plants such as wheat and rapeseed, these are less drying and much kinder on skin.
Loving Tan 2 HR Express Face Tanning Serum Review
- Achieve a natural-looking tan in just 2 hours.
- Infused with skincare benefits for a nourishing, hydrated finish.
- Ultra-lightweight and fast-absorbing for an effortless application.
- Gradual development for up to 24 hours, delivering a long-lasting glow.
- Vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist tested for all skin types.
This is the fake tan I entrusted when I had the all-important task of attending a Beyonce concert (yes, I will never stop talking about it).
It was a last-minute (is there any other way?!) same-day ordeal. I had 3 hours before the concert for a 2 hour express formula to turn my dull dead-of-winter complexion into a flawless, Beyonce-worthy bronze. Not only did I want to look a little darker - I wanted a finish that was radiant and glow-getting.
Enter: Loving Tan 2 HR Express Face Tanning Serum.
Australian-made, this serum formula is a designed for use on face, neck, and décolletage. I was cheeky and slathered it across my arms too - it worked well. I did use half of the bottle in the one session though, so maybe not the most cost effective choice.
Texture-wise the serum was silky, lightweight (as much as a self-tan product can be) and fast-absorbing. It was dry-to-touch within 20 mins of application and didn't leave behind any staining.
The formula contains naturally derived DHA, and is bolstered with nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and chamomile extract to leave skin fresh and moisturised.
I washed the serum off after 1hr 50mins (I was running late at that point) and was really happy with the shade and finish. I used the Medium - which is suitable for Light to Medium skin tones - and found the shade to be natural and sun kissed. It was about 3 shades darker than my complexion before.
Beyond the gorgeous colour it deposited, the finish added a healthy sheen and lustre to skin. I felt confident and Beyonce-ready. 5 stars!
Eco Tan Face Water Review
- Non-comedogenic formula is safe for all skin types and won’t clog pores.
- Formulated with natural and organic ingredients; free of harmful, harsh chemicals.
- Antioxidant-rich formula stimulates collagen production and protects skin’s collagen reserves from free radical damage.
- Gradual formula allows you to build up to the perfect tan.
Tested by Lucia Xindaras
"Eco Tan Face Water has genuinely been a game changer for me. As someone with European background, I’ve always loved having a bit of a tan (even on my face).
Over the years, that meant some inevitable sun damage, which I’m now working to reverse with daily SPF.
But ever since I discovered this product five years ago, it’s made that journey so much easier so I can it match the summer glow on my body to my face. In winter I use it just down my neck and on my hands — seriously such a confidence boost when you're skin is looking dull .
The best part is that it is nothing like the pore or fragrant blocking typical tanners. The ingredients are clean, and it somehow clears my breakouts rather than causing them - obsessed."
Three Warriors Gradual Tan Review
- Buildable colour for flawless finish that gently fades
- Easy to apply
- No fake tan scent
- Enriched with nourishing Aloe Vera, Avocado Oil and Chamomile extract
Tested by Anika Uhlig
"As an avid tanner who's tested countless products over the years, I can confidently say this is hands down one of the best.
The nourishing formula, enriched with organic ingredients like Tasmanian olive oil and aloe vera, leaves my skin feeling hydrated and radiant.
It's perfect for maintaining an always-on glow or for extending my current tan between applications. The colour is natural-looking and streak-free, and the subtle lime and vanilla scent is such a nice touch.
Plus, knowing it's vegan, cruelty-free, and free from harsh chemicals makes me love it even more!"
Bali Body Self Tan Body Serum Review
- Fast drying, tinted body serum
- Enriched with 85% skincare ingredients: ceramides, niacinamide and 4 cascading levels of hyaluronic acid for a premium tanning experience
- Develops in 4-6 hours
- No rinsing needed with results last up to 7 days
- Made with naturally derived DHA, Vegan and Cruelty free
Another skin-tan hybrid, the airy serum (feels part serum, part mousse) is imbued with 4 levels of hyaluronic acid (skincare-grade and impressive!) niacinamide and ceramides.
Unlike most self tanners, the serum is a leave-on (no wash off needed!) and develops within 4-6 hours. I applied this one before bed and woke to skin that gave all the golden hour vibes I was craving. I was pleasantly surprised with just how dark the shade was (almost 4 shades darker) and really liked the olive undertone. It was dark without being overly orange or unnatural looking.
When using a mitt to apply the finish was even and streak-free. When applying with fingers I did experience a little bit of patching, particularly around my knees. It wasn't a big concern - but worth noting. Likely user-error.
The tan lasted for a week without fading and maintained the glowy bronzed finish throughout. Really loved this one.
Loving Tan Platinum 2HR Express Mousse Review
- Achieve a natural-looking tan in just 2 hours.
- Infused with skincare benefits for a nourishing, hydrated finish.
- Ultra-lightweight and fast-absorbing for an effortless application.
- Gradual development for up to 24 hours, delivering a long-lasting glow.
- Streak-free and easy to blend for a flawless, even tan.
- Vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist tested for all skin types.
Tested by Elena Pavlou
"My toxic trait is that I cannot deal with the smell of fake tan. So sleeping in it? Absolutely not. I’ve had to wash my sheets more times than I care to admit because of that lingering scent.
That’s why I’m completely obsessed with the Loving Tan Platinum 2HR Express Mousse.
It gives me that rich, golden, just-got-back-from-the-Amalfi-Coast glow without the overnight commitment (or the smell). I pop it on, wait two hours, shower, and I’m bronzed and radiant.
It’s my go-to tan for when I want to look—and feel—my absolute best. Total game-changer."
Coco & Eve Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist Review
- Packed with antioxidants to protect the skin against free radicals
- Infused with Guava, Passionfruit Extract and Hyaluronic Acid to plump and hydrate the skin, resulting in a minimised appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Micromist formula
- Encourages a youthful, radiant, sunkissed faux-glow
- Sulphate, Paraben and Mineral-oil free
I'm a little bit sceptical when it comes to mist tanning formulas. I was scorned by those first few water-tans (circa 2010s) that left my skin with visible here's-exactly-where-you-sprayed-it stains. Not ideal.
But tanning tech and packaging has come a long way since then - as evidenced by this beauty.
Spritzing an ultra-fine mist (it's almost weightless), the application is fool proof and layered well with my usual skincare lineup. I even tried spraying this one atop of makeup and was pleasantly surprised with how even the finish looked. Smooth and seamless.
It's dosed with glow-boosting ingredients like hyaluronic acid and antioxidant fruit extracts (hello brightening) which made the formula feel more skincare adjacent than a self-tan. I found the mist application to be refreshing and hydrating too.
I will say, the effects here weren’t instant, but after a couple of days my complexion had that subtly warm, just-back-from-a-mini-break look. No traces of splotchiness. My skin also felt plumper and softer too - consider me converted.
Want more helpful self tan tips and recommendations? Check out these stories from the Adore Beauty team below.
