When you hear the words self-tanner, your mind instantly will take you back to a great or awful experience that happened while applying. If you are anything like me, I used to stay clear from self-tanner because I was scared to become orange. No one likes being that color when you aim to be beautifully bronzed! Growing up, I was either pale or burnt, with no in-betweens, and I despised it! My mom always told me that I could never go into a tanning bed. Therefore, I turned to getting spray tans every month. Once I was grown, and on my own, I realized how much money could be saved if I invested in a self-tanner and did not get spray-tanned multiple times a year at a salon. I do not know about you but being tan is an instant confidence booster. And knowing I can be tan while saving money is a win-win in my book! 

Here are some of my faves!

Best Overall: St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse 

St. Tropez has been my go-to since day one. It is branded as “USA’s go-to self-tanning brand,” and is an OG that you will keep coming back to use. It is a no-brainer to use with its airy and light mousse formula that gives an even and streak-free results when applied with their tanning mitt! A bonus is that there is not a strong self-tanner smell that most give off when first applied! 

Best Organic Formula: Coola 

Branding themselves as the “organic revolution for the industry,” this is your go-to if you love healthy, glowing and clean self-tanner! Coola is vegan, 70% certified organic and 99% ingredients from natural origin; you will feel great when applying this on your skin! Coola has many different formulas: express sculpting mousse, luminizing body serum, anti-aging face serum and gradual sunless tan firming lotion. You will have plenty of options to choose from with what works best for you! 

Best Gradual Tan: Loving Tan 

Loving Tan is my holy grail of self-tanner! I use this one religiously! Loving Tan was made by tan lovers and works best in achieving a natural olive color that lasts up to a week! If you are on the go, like me, their two-hour express mousse is going to be your new best friend! This gradual tan is ready to wash off in two hours or can be kept on for over seven to have a rich, darker tan! The deluxe face tan is also a go-to for a hydrating tan that makes your face look beautifully bronzed and hydrated! This company also has many shades to choose from — from light to ultra-dark, you can decide how dark you want to get! 

Best Drugstore: Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer 

If you are balling on a budget, then this Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer is your go-to! Even though this self-tanner is in drugstores, it has excellent quality! This self-tanner is an award-winning moisturizer with no odor, and being a lotion, it adds vitamin E and antioxidants that nourish the skin! With being dermatologist tested and two different shades to match skin tones, this one is a winner to always keep a hold of!