4 Self-Tanners for Face That Won’t Turn You Orange—I Promise

Whether you’re a self-tanner devotee or just dipping your toes into the bronze life, trust me—the best self-tanners for face are worth a try. As Allure’s resident self-tanning expert, I’ve tested just about every face tanner out there, and I won’t lie—some smell horrendous, others turn you into an Oompa Loompa, and many disappear after a single wash. But not these. The four formulas below? They’re the real deal.

I put each of these facial self-tanners through weeks of testing, following the same self-tanning routine every time: Apply it at night, let the formula work its magic while I sleep (don’t worry, they all apply clear so your pillowcases are safe!), and track how long the glow lasted before fading. Along the way, I paid close attention to the ingredients, scent (because no one wants to smell like self-tanner all day), and overall user experience, including how easy they were to apply, whether they played nice with my skin care, and, most importantly, whether I woke up looking like I just got back from vacation.

Our Top Picks:

• Best Overall: Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, $50
• Best Mist: St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist, $33
• Best Shade Range: Isle of Paradise Face Self-Tanning Glow Drops, $29
• Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Dolce Glow Goccia Di Sole Hydrating Self-Tanning Serum, $50

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it okay to put a self-tanner on my face?
• Will self-tanner clog my pores?
• How do I apply a facial self-tanner?
• What's the difference between self-tanner and bronzing drops?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

Listen, these drops are it if you want a customizable glow that makes you look like you just returned from a Mediterranean getaway. If you’re wondering what makes this one the best, let me explain. The Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops has everything a great facial self-tanner should have: great, skin-loving ingredients, comes in multiple shades, and a fresh scent.

For use, I mix a few drops with my night cream, and by morning, I have a natural-looking warmth—no streaks, no weird orange tint. The formula is packed with raspberry seed oil and vitamin E, so it actually feels like skin care (bonus points for hydration). The smell? Almost non-existent, which is a huge win in the self-tan world. My glow lasted a solid four days, which for me is impressive given I wash my face two times a day.

Type: drops | Key ingredients: Raspberry seed oil, aloe vera, vitamin E | Shades: 2 | Development time: 4-6 hours | Fragrance: minimal, fresh scent | Lasts up to: 4-5 days

Best Mist: St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist

The tropical scent alone makes me feel like I should be sipping a piña colada by the beach, but instead, I’m home just spritzing my St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist. The thing I like most about this product is that it’s so easy to apply, you can consider it foolproof. You just spray it on bare skin and in four to eight hours, you’re tan. It’s as simple as that, no rubbing needed.

Like the rest of the tanners on this list, for testing, I applied it before bed and after my skin-care routine. Come morning, a soft, golden glow had appeared. The lightweight water-based formula is infused with hibiscus extract and green mandarin water, so it feels refreshing and like a tall glass of water for the skin. I can’t lie: Sometimes I just leave this bottle at my desk and if I'm feeling dehydrated and dull, I spritz it on. By the time the work day is done, it looks like I just landed from a Caribbean vacation.

Type: mist | Key ingredients: hibiscus extract, green mandarin water, hyaluronic acid | Shades: 1 | Development time: 4-8 hours | Fragrance: tropical, fruity scent | Lasts up to: 3-4 days

Best Shade Range: Isle of Paradise Face Self-Tanning Glow Drops

Choose your own adventure: You can add some of the Isle of Paradise Mini Self-Tanning Glow Drops into your moisturizer or just apply it directly to the skin—that’s how moisturizing these drops are. To thank for that is the blend of coconut, chia seed, and avocado oils in the formula. The glow this cocktail gives makes it feel like skin care, making the bronzing hue (I use the shade Medium because I have a olive skin tone) it leaves behind seem like a bonus. There is a slight tan smell, but I overlook it because of how beautifully the tan developed overnight.

Type: drops | Key ingredients: coconut oil, chia seed oil, avocado oil | Shades: 3 | Development time: 4-6 hours | Fragrance: light, clean scent | Lasts up to: 5 days

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Dolce Glow Goccia di Sole Hydrating Self-Tanning Serum

The Dolce Glow Goccia Di Sole Hydrating Self-Tanning Serum includes some of my favorite ingredients, including hydrating hyaluronic acid, brightening vitamin C, and my absolute favorite, niacinamide, which is key for me. I always find that when I self-tan my face over any active acne, the blemish spots come out darker than the rest of my skin, the niacinamide helps even it all out so there’s no patchiness. In addition, the scent is subtle and fresh, not overpowering at all, and doesn’t linger as it develops. After applying it at night, the tan lasted about five days before fading evenly, and my skin felt hydrated the entire time.

Type: serum | Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide | Shades: 1 | Development time: 4-8 hours | Fragrance: fresh, subtle scent | Lasts up to: 5 days

Frequently Asked Questions

While there are overlapping ingredients in facial self-tanner and body self-tanner, David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City, advises against using them interchangeably. "I would not use body self-tanner on the face," he tells Allure. "It's much more comedogenic and oily and can often break you out." Plus, facial self-tanners often include ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that specifically benefit your face's skin, so if you use body self-tanner on your kisser, you'd be missing out.

Facial self-tanner goes on easily but, ideally, requires a little prep leading before you uncap the bottle. "Preparation starts with gentle exfoliation the day before ensure skin is smooth and free of dry patches, which can make color uneven," cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos tells Allure. "Cleanse skin to remove makeup and traces of oil just before applying the self-tanner. Pay extra attention to blending around the hairline and avoid the eyes area and lips. Be sure to wash your hands if you're not using some sort of applicator like a mitt," she adds.

Before applying the self-tanner to your face, confirming you've chosen the right shade or planned the right amount of drops for your desired outcome is essential. "The lower the concentration of dihydroxyacetone (DHA), the more gradually you can build color and avoid uneven spots and splotches," says Dobos. "Because the color fades as the top layers of your skin naturally exfoliate, it can be near impossible to quickly correct areas that have gone too dark."

Some self-tanners have the potential to clog your pores, depending on the type and sensitivity of your skin. "I recommend looking for oil-free and 'non-comedogenic' options to make sure they're appropriate for oily acne-prone skin," says Dr. Kim. When a product is non-comedogenic, the formula won't cause pore blockages, also known as comedones or black/whiteheads. Before you add a facial-self tanner to your cart, look at the fine print.

Facial self-tanner and bronzing drops may sound like synonyms, but they aren't. "Bronzing drops contain iron oxides and pearlescent pigments to provide an instant bronze glow. They are basically a form of makeup and can be washed from the skin," says Dobos. "The main difference between the two is that bronzing drops are temporary and rinse down the drain once it's time to wash your face, while tanning drops usually have a semi-permanent pigment. The latter relies on dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a sugar that safely darkens the skin," Dobos concludes. If you're looking for bronzing drops, however, you can't go wrong with the following:

• David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City
• Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about several 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 facial self-tanners, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and board-certified dermatologists and cosmetic chemists 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, skin needs, ease of application, and longevity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

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.

Treat your skin to more Allure-approved essentials:

• 10 Bronzing Drops That'll Make Every Hour Golden Hour
• 11 Best Self-Tanners for a UV-Free Glow All Year Round
• 15 Shea Butter-Spiked Products for Soft, Supple Skin

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