TL;DR
Our favorite facial self-tanner is the Lux Unfiltered N°12 Bronzing Face Drops. It’s simple and easy, it looks natural on the skin, and it can be built up depending on how many drops you use. We were incredibly impressed by it and didn’t have any cons, which is why it earned our top spot. But if you’re looking for an affordable option that you can pick up at the drugstore, we love the Sol by Jergens Deeper By The Drop.
We’ll breeze past the lecture about why you should opt for aself-tanning productover spending hours baking in the sun to achieve your desired level of bronze—it’s crucial,butwe trust that you know this by now. However, you might not know that tons of self-tanning products created for the face have hit the market in recent years. In years past, we’d have to use the same self-tanner on our faces as we did on our legs, which wasn’t ideal considering that the skin in these areas is very different. Now, the options are plentiful, and we decided it was time to figure out which ones outperform their competition.
So, wetesteddozens of self-tanners in our lab facility in NYC and at home over two weeks. We evaluated each based on ease of application, transfer resistance, tan longevity, consistency, and overall results. Below, we’re sharing which products impressed us the most.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Overall, Runner-Up:
Best Drugstore:
Best Overall
Lux Unfiltered N°12 Bronzing Face Drops
What We Like
Easy and seamless application
Customizable depending on how many drops you use
Tan looks natural
Fragrance-free
Fast-absorbingformula
Doesn’t transfer
Contains hydrating ingredients
Format: Drops | Recommended Use: Mix 2-6 drops with moisturizer and apply in the AM | Development Time: 2–8 hours
This product is everything we could ever want in a facial self-tanner, earning it our best overall pick. The lightweight drops are meant to be mixed in with your moisturizer and applied to clean skin in the morning, making for a quick and easy application. You can customize your color by applying fewer drops for a subtle tan, or up to six drops for a deep tan. We love that once you apply it, it dries quickly and doesn’t transfer onto your clothing or pillowcases. We noticed that the formula felt totally undetectable on the skin—no stickiness or residue—and we could start to see the color develop after just a few minutes, though the brand says it takes a few hours for it to fully develop. After the initial application, the tan lasted about two days without re-applying. We also appreciate that, unlike a lot of self-tanners, this one doesn’t lean orange on the skin, rather it creates a subtle, bronze glow.
Also nice, the formula is fragrance-free, suitable for all skin types (even sensitive), and contains hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, pomegranate extract, vitamin E, and more. If you’re looking for a super fast and easy self-tanning product that’s customizable and great for all skin types, we highly recommend checking out this one.
What We Like
Easy to apply
Customizable depending on how many drops you use
Color looks natural on the skin
Lightweight, nongreasy consistency
Doesn’t transfer
Long-lasting color
What to Consider
Contains fragrance
Format: Drops | Recommended Use: Mix 2-12 drops into moisturizer, oil, or serum | Development Time: 10–12 hours
These facial tanning drops come in at a close second for us—the only thing we wish we could change is that the formula contains synthetic fragrance, which can be irritating for those with sensitive skin. But aside from that, we were incredibly impressed by how well these drops performed. All you need to do is mix between two and 12 drops in with your moisturizer, face oil, or serum and apply to clean skin. The more drops you mix in, the darker your tan will be. Once you apply the mixture, the color takes roughly 10 to 12 hours to fully develop, but it’s worth the wait—the end result is a beautiful neutral bronze hue.
We actually used these drops with a night cream before heading to bed, and to our surprise, they left no marks or staining on our pillowcases. They didn’t feel sticky or oily, and we loved that once the color developed, it lasted for nearly five full days without much noticeable fading. If ease and longevity are what you’re looking for, these drops are a fantastic option for you.
What We Like
Easy to apply
Dries fast
Looks natural
Doesn’t transfer
What to Consider
Feels a bit sticky on the skin
Contains fragrance
Format: Mist | Recommended Use: Spray onto a cotton pad and apply to face | Development Time: 8–10 hours to fully develop
If you like conveniently applying skincare with a cotton pad, this self-tanning mist could be the perfect product to help you achieve a sunkissed glow. You just spritz the formula onto a cotton pad and sweep it across your face, and then spray the mist a few times about eight inches from your neck and décolleté to ensure your tan is even. The formula is incredibly lightweight, and while we did find it a bit sticky when we first applied it, this feeling dissipated relatively quickly, and luckily, the stickiness didn’t translate to the product transferring.
As for the color, we were really impressed by how natural and not orange-looking it appeared—one of our testers even received multiple compliments about how tan and radiant he looked. While it does contain synthetic fragrance which we don’t love, it doesn’t have an overpowering scent and it was tested for all skin types. It’s an excellent option and an affordable price, making it easy for our team to recommend.
What We Like
Customizable depending on how many drops you use
Fast and easy to use
Doesn’t transfer
Long-lastingserum
Colorlooks natural
What to Consider
Contains fragrance
Format: Drops | Recommended Use: Mix 3–15 drops with moisturizer | Development Time: 4–24 hours
If you’re looking for easy-to-use facial self-tanning drops from the drugstore, these are the ones for you. Aside from their super simple and fast application, we appreciate that you can customize your color depending on the number of drops you mix into your moisturizer. The tan it creates looks authentic, and we were impressed that it didn’t transfer onto our hands or pillowcases throughout the application and development process. Though you can start to see the color develop after just four hours, the full intensity of the tan comes through after 24 hours—and we loved that it lasted really well without fading for around five days. While we wish it didn’t contain synthetic fragrance, the scent isn’t overpowering, so it’s not a dealbreaker. Overall, we were incredibly impressed with the performance of this product, and considering how accessible and relatively affordable it is, it’s easy for us to recommend it.
What We Like
Easy application
Feels lightweight and nongreasy
Doesn’t transfer
Creates a subtle, natural glow
What to Consider
Contains fragrance
A bit tricky to assess whether or not you applied it evenly
Format: Mist | Recommended Use: Spray 5-6 full pumps directly over face, neck, and décolleté | Development Time: 4–8 hours
Tanning mists make for an easy on-the-go application, and this one really impressed us during our testing process. The lightweight formula feels refreshing and nongreasy on the skin, and we like that it contains hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid glycerin. It couldn’t be easier to use—you simply spray five to six pumps across your face, neck, and chest and let it develop for four to six hours. We adore this application method for those who crave a fast beauty routine, but it is a bit tricky to tell whether or not you’ve applied the product evenly.
This product yielded the most subtle results out of the ones we tested, making it a great self-tanner for fair skin or anyone who’s looking to achieve an understated tan. It didn’t transfer throughout the test, and despite not being able to assess whether or not the application was totally even, we didn’t notice any streaks or patchiness. If you’re looking for a tanning formula in the form of a mist, this one is an excellent choice.
What We Like
Easy application
Fast-absorbingformula
Nongreasy
Lightweight
Buildable
Doesn’t transfer
What to Consider
Can be slightly patchy around skin texture
Contains fragrance
Format: Gel/lotion | Recommended Use: Apply an even layer to clean skin and build up more layers as desired | Development Time: 2–10 hours
Along with drops, mists, and wipes, facial self-tanners come in lotion or gel formats, like this one, that can be easily applied just like you would apply a moisturizer. The gel-like texture absorbs quickly into the skin leaving it feeling balanced—neither too dry and taut nor too greasy. One layer creates a subtle glow, while additional layers build up to create a more noticeable bronze tan—this buildability allows for customization which is one of the things we love the most about it.
We noticed very minor patchiness around dry spots and texture near the hairline, so we recommend gently exfoliating before applying it. After it sets and develops, it looks natural on the skin and lasts well for up to four days without needing to reapply. It’s a fantastic option for you if you’re looking for a facial self-tanner that you can apply like a moisturizer and customize your color with.
Best Exfoliating
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pad Intense Glow
What We Like
Multipurpose
Easy application
Dries fast
Nongreasy
Doesn’t transfer
Fragrance-free
Subtle, natural looking results
What to Consider
Need to use it a few days in a row to build up color
Format: Wipes | Recommended Use: Apply to face, neck and décolleté in circular motions | Development Time: 3–4 hours
If you’re a self-tanning aficionado, then you know that one of the fastest ways to remove your faux glow is to exfoliate your skin—so the idea of a product that both exfoliates and provides a tan in one seems a bit strange at first. However, this one does both via a solution-soaked pad that contains AHA’s to exfoliate, as well as encapsulated DHA, the active ingredient that creates the tan. You just evenly sweep one wipe across your face, next, and chest, and let the product work its magic—it first lifts away dead skin cells and then works to create a gradual tan.
We loved how easy it was to use, how quickly it dried, how comfortable it felt on the skin, and the fact that the tan started out really subtle. Due to the subtly, we did need to apply it daily for three days to yield our desired results, but this could actually be a great thing for anyone whose goal is to achieve an understated color. Once we built it up to our desired color, it lasted well for three days without needing to touch up with another wipe. Plus, we appreciate that it doesn’t transfer, it’s fragrance-free, and the formula also contains lactic acid for hydration.
What to Look for in a Facial Self-Tanner
- Format: Just like self-tanners made for the body, facial self-tanners come in a variety of different formats, like lotions, drops, mists, and tanning wipes or towelettes. While it ultimately doesn’t matter which format you choose (they all work just fine), you want to find one that’s easy to use and fits well into your beauty routine. If you want to combine tanning and moisturizing into one simple step, we recommend opting for drops. If you prefer something that takes the guesswork out of figuring out how much to use, pre-soaked wipes.
- Ingredients: Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is the active ingredient in self-tanners that leads to tanned results, but it’s also wise to consider what other ingredients are in the product you choose. For example, if you have dry skin, opting for a formula that contains hydrating ingredients is the way to go. If you want a product that also works to exfoliate and smooth your skin, choose something that contains exfoliating acids.
FAQ
How do self-tanners work?
“The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone. It’s generally considered safe when used topically on the skin, but should not be inhaled or applied to mucous membranes,” explains Dr. Hadley King, MD. “Dihydroxyacetone binds to proteins in the stratum corneum (outermost layer of the skin). This chemical reaction is called a Maillard reaction—non-enzymatic glycation, and it produces orange-brown pigments called melanoidins, which are linked to the proteins of the stratum corneum.” In simpler terms, DHA binds to the proteins in the outermost layer of the skin and causes a reaction that leads to the production of orange-brown pigments.
How are facial self-tanners different from the ones created for the body?
“Self-tanners made for the body are less likely to be noncomedogenic, which means that they would be more likely to contribute to clogged pores and breakouts,” says Dr. King. “If a self-tanner product is making you break out, this is likely due to other ingredients in the formulation you’re using, not the dihydroxyacetone.” She explains that it’s important to look for noncomedogenic formulas when using a self-tanner on your face, especially if you have acne-prone skin.
What is the best self-tanner to use on your face?
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer because it ultimately depends on your skin type and what type of formula you personally enjoy using. If you have acne-prone skin, a formula that’s noncomedogenic is ideal for you. Dr. King also recommends that people who are prone to breakouts use a self-tanner with exfoliating ingredients to help minimize the risk of clogged pores.
Why Trust Byrdie
Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry as well as fashion business marketing. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.
Alyssa also consulted with an expert to learn more about what to keep in mind when shopping for facial self-tanners:
- Dr. Hadley King, MD, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology, to learn more about what to keep in mind when shopping for facial self-tanners.