Best Sunless Tanning

Top-rated creams, lotions and foams

Salon sunless tanning may be convenient, but it doesn't last any longer than home-applied products. Since the tan needs reapplication every four to seven days, the cost of maintenance may be more than some people are willing to pay. At-home preparations are much less expensive. Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel (*Est. $30 for 4.4 ounces) is high on many reviewers' lists. It comes in just one shade, but reviewers of all skin tones are very pleased with the resulting tan color. Most users say that the gel is easy to apply and virtually streak-free. The only consistent complaint in user reviews is the steep price, but a couple of users point out that a little goes a long way.

Clinique Self-Sun Quick Bronze Self Tanner (*Est. $18 for 4.2 ounces) is also a top pick in comparison reviews, but users at MakeupAlley.com have mixed opinions. Most like that it's tinted, which makes for an even application and imparts an immediate natural bronze appearance. It is also a top pick for Paula Begoun, cosmetics expert and author of Don't go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, because it has high quality, water-binding ingredients. Ultimately, we did not choose to include the Clinique self tanner as a top pick because of low user ratings and complaints we read about clogged pores. Only the mousse version of Clinique Self-Sun Quick Bronze Self Tanner is oil-free, but it's not designed for the face. People with acne-prone skin might consider Clinique's Radiant Bronze instead, as it is oil-free and designed for both face and body.

Jergens set the standard for gradual tanners a couple of years ago when it came out with Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer (*Est. $7.50 for 7.5 ounces), but this year the company has introduced a speedier way to tan with Jergens Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer (*est. $7 for 4 ounces). This lotion provides color from the first application and can be reapplied for a deeper tan. Once you have obtained your ideal shade, you can maintain it with Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. Though the product is fairly new, early reviews look promising. Reviewers at Amazon.com say that it imparts a natural-looking tan on the first day and that the smell isn't too bad either.

In general, we found the most complaints from fair-skinned people, who seem to have the greatest hit-or-miss luck with self-tanners. Even with Jergen's Natural Glow, which comes in three different shades, we found mixed results from fair-skinned men and women. Some said that the fair formula did nothing at all or that it was too orange, while others said they got good results. Especially for fair-skinned people, it may take some experimentation to find the right product for your particular skin.

Another common complaint about sunless tanners is that they take a long time to dry and can rub off on clothing if you get dressed too soon. Some reviews say foam formulas are the quickest drying and easiest to apply without streaks. In fact, some reviewers say the St. Tropez Whipped Bronze Mousse (*Est. $37 for 8 ounces) is "goof proof," because not only does it dry fast, but it is tinted with bronzer so that you can see where you have applied it and where you have not. The downside about foam tanners, however, is that they can actually dry too quickly -- so quickly that you don't have enough time to spread the foam evenly.

Many other sunless tanning products are also tinted for ease of application. St. Tropez Tinted Self Tanning Lotion (*Est. $37.50 for 8 ounces) is recommended by articles at InStyle and Elle magazines, which give it kudos for the deepest bronze tan. St. Tropez is also aloe vera based for a non-greasy, quick drying feel. However, St. Tropez self tanning lotion is expensive, and we didn't see it tested in the most rigorous reviews at Consumer Reports, Prevention or Washingtonian magazines.

Sunless tanning misters tend to fall in between foams and lotions, drying more quickly than a lotion, but not as fast as foam. Most mists dry in five minutes or less. Reviewers recommend Neutrogena MicroMist Tanning Sunless Spray (*Est. $10 for 5.3 ounces) in this category. Most say it provides a golden, even tan and dries quickly. In the comparison review at Prevention magazine, one tester said that Neutrogena MicroMist was very easy to use and that, because it's colorless, it didn't stain her bathroom like most sprays. The directions say that it has an easy, no-rub application, but a reviewer at The Washington Post felt that rubbing it in would have given her a more even tan. Most reviewers did complain about the strong smell and suggested that you keep windows open when using it.

Fusion Beauty also makes a sunless tanning spray, Fusion Beauty GlowFusion AirGlow Airbrush Kit (*Est. $175), which includes an air gun and a four-ounce bottle of Micro-Nutrient Natural Protein Tan. This product has been marketed as the best-smelling self tanner, but we found that a lot of reviewers did not agree. Users also reported uneven, blotchy tans with a lot of streaking. One user said that when she added lotion and rubbed it in, though, it resulted in the "perfect tan."

Finally, reviewers say Estee Lauder's Go Tan Sunless Towelettes (*Est. $23 for 10 towelettes) are good for touch-ups or covering tan lines. Just glide one of these sunless tanning wipes over your skin and it will darken within an hour. The tanning wipes are available for both body and face. Some reviewers say it can be hard to control the amount of solution coming out of a towelette, making these a better choice for small areas rather than your entire body.