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With summer (and social events) coming up soon, I’ve been wanting a bit more color, but the days of baking in the sun like I used to as a teenager are long gone. Nowadays I’m all about protecting my skin from UV damage (as warned by my mom and everyone else). While I’ve always been curious about self tanning, the common mousse and mitt application seemed intimidating for me as a beginner.
Now enter gradual tanning lotions. The idea of getting a sunless glow from simply applying lotion was appealing to me. It sounded much easier and lower maintenance, so I picked up some of the most popular ones with “glowing” reviews (ha, get it?) to see which was best.
Test Method
To compare them, each product was used as instructed, then I observed how they held up and faded. Before applying, you have to thoroughly exfoliate and sometimes moisturize, especially around the knees, ankles, and elbows to avoid patchiness. Fake tans tend to collect at those areas a lot more.
What I’m looking out for:
- Ease of application
- Smell (fake tans are notorious for smelling bad)
- Transfer to clothing
- Natural looking color
- Even fading
Budget Gradual Tanning Lotions
Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer comes off just like a typical drugstore lotion. It has a light texture and a very mild fragrance. After my colleague applied it, it absorbed right away and left a dry touch on the skin. She said she was able to put on her pajamas with very little downtime, and it didn’t transfer.
Tester before self-tanner (left); tester after using Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer (right). Photo taken in natural indirect lighting outside.
The tan itself developed very subtly but seems to lean more yellow. However, it took two days of daily application to achieve a (barely) noticeable difference. That being said, it would be great for someone who doesn’t like being out in the sun and wants the tiniest, lightest “tan” possible.
Other Budget Gradual Tanning Lotions
Luxe Gradual Tanning Lotions
Lux Unfiltered Summer Skin Gradual Self-Tanning Body Cream
The +Lux Unfiltered Body Cream definitely felt fancy. The formula was thick and super moisturizing, like a body butter that sank into my skin well. It comes in a few fragrances: Vanilla Caviar, Santal, Rosewood, and Sandstone. I got Vanilla Caviar, and it smelled like a lived in perfume, not too overpowering. However, the scent stayed on my pajamas even after I let the lotion absorb. That doesn’t necessarily bother me, though. At least it didn’t stain my clothes or bed sheets.
Me before self-tanner (left); me after using +Lux Unfiltered Gradual Self-Tanning Body Cream (right). Photo taken in natural indirect lighting outside.
As you can see, the tan came out pretty nice and even. The color is more orangey than my natural tan shade, but it doesn’t look strange or out of place. Fading was natural and not patchy at all, it took about five days for it to fully fade away for me.
If you want to treat your skin to something nicer than average, this is the way to go, in my opinion. I can understand why it’s an Allure Best of Beauty winner.
Other Luxe Gradual Tanning Lotions
Eco/Health Conscious Gradual Tanning Lotions
Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Tanning Lotion
My colleague tested the Beauty by Earth Tanning Lotion and said it’s lightweight and easy to spread. It blends out very easily with no thick or sticky feeling on the skin. One of her favorite things is the “soft, creamy vanilla scent” that was fresh and natural, unlike the strong smells many tanning products may have. She didn’t notice any staining or transfer to clothing or sheets, but was careful to let it fully dry on the skin before putting on clothes.
The color developed gradually into a light tan shade that she said “evened out my skin tone” and gave her a healthy appearance that wasn’t orange.
Other Eco/Health Conscious Gradual Tanning Lotions
Gradual Tanning Lotions from Top Brands
Tanning Water or Mist
Similar to lotion, tanning water can give a natural effect without the a heavy or greasy feeling. For the droplet type, you can adjust the amount and add it into any lotion, making it a more customizable way to apply. Some come as sprays that you simply mist on the face or body.
Classic Foam or Mousse
These days, self tanners usually come in a foam or mousse that you apply with a mitt. While this is the most popular way to get an instant sunless tan, it looks pretty intimidating and more time consuming for me as a beginner.
A little history lesson on tanning lotions
Interestingly, tanning lotions are one of the oldest forms of self tanner. Early sunless tanning products from the 1960s were mostly lotions and creams, but they had a bad reputation for being orange, streaky, and smelling funky.
The active tanning ingredient used is DHA (dihydroxyacetone), which is still what is used today, but over time, better formulas were developed.
Later on in the 2000s, the mousse and foam formula became popular because they acted fast, had a deeper color, and performed better overall. This became the new standard up until even today.
Now, tanning lotions seem to be making a comeback in a different way. Most modern formulas are made with a focus on skincare benefits with a side of tanning for a more subtle effect. The mousse/foams aren’t going anywhere, but the gradual tanning lotions have definitely come a long way from the formulas of the past.
