These are the 5 best self-tanners of 2023
I am a tanfish. Yes, I just admit it. A catfish, but when it comes to the color of my skin. My surroundings think that I naturally have a tan all year round as if I just spent three weeks baking on a Caribbean island, but what they don’t know is that I shave, scrub, and moisturize like crazy every week to maintain that ‘natural’ tan. The secret behind my non-seasonal sun-kissed color is simply a good self-tanner.
Now that the weather is finally showing its good side (this week 25 degrees and sun, hooray!), I can’t keep my secrets to myself and this just happens to be a topic I love to talk about. So here are the absolute best self-tanners of 2023, all tested by yours truly.
Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse
My all-time favorite. This self-tanner gives a stunningly beautiful, warm brown shade that lasts for a week. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t stain your bed if you choose to leave it on overnight. This is truly the rockstar among self-tanners.
Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse €35,95, Boozyshop
Scent: A very subtle scent that disappears as soon as it has absorbed. Perfect for sensitive noses (or partners with sensitive noses).
Spreadability factor: This self-tanner dries very quickly, so it’s a case of ‘apply as if your life depends on it’.
How long does it last: One week
How long to leave it on: 6 hours or more
Shades: Medium, Dark
Bondi Sands 1 Hour Express Foam
A lifesaver for when you’re someone who forgets that legs need to be bare or if you’re simply too lazy to apply the night before (I am both of those people). You can rinse this self-tanner off after one hour for a subtle glow and leave it on for up to four hours for a deeper color. Take it from me: you need this.
Bondi Sands 1 Hour Express Foam €20,99, Douglas
Scent: This self-tanner has a typical sunless tan scent that I’m not too fond of, but it disappears quickly after rinsing.
Spreadability factor: Applies easily, but stays wet for a long time. Let yourself air dry before putting on your clothes. Charming is another thing, but it prevents stains.
How long does it last: Five days
How long to leave it on: 1 to 4 hours
Shades: One shade. The longer you leave it on, the darker the color turns out.
Filter by Molly Mae Tanning Mousse
Okay, I have to admit: I was a bit disappointed when I didn’t look as magically beautiful as the stunning queen of Love Island UK after using this self-tanner, but after seeing my complexion, those worries quickly disappeared. ‘Filter’ is supposed to give you a radiant skin and ‘blur’ imperfections, making you look like you’re constantly walking around with an Instagram filter on your face, and although I find that quite an exaggerated description, I am very much impressed with this ‘filter in a bottle’. It smells nice, applies well, and comes in multiple shades (including my favorite Extra Dark). What more could you want?
Filter by Molly Mae Tanning Mousse, €24,95, Filter by Molly Mae
Scent: A fresh scent that I haven’t smelled in other self-tanners before. A must-try if you can’t stand that typical self-tanner smell.
Spreadability factor: Applies easily thanks to all the moisturizing ingredients that also ensure that it doesn’t stain your skin. However, the color fades faster because of this, which is nice if you only need a tan for an event, for example.
How long does it last: 3 to 5 days
How long to leave it on: 4 to 6 hours
Shades: Medium, Dark, and Extra Dark
Coco and Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam
It’s a mouthful, but oh, how I love this self-tanner. It smells wonderful and lasts a very long time, as long as you keep your skin well-hydrated. It does fade a bit patchy, so it’s not a luxury to keep a scrub glove very close by to avoid tiger bread legs.
Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam €34, Coco and Eve
Scent: I love this scent. Maybe it’s because the scent tells me that a sun-kissed glow is waiting for me, but this scent doesn’t even come close to how my other self-tanners smell. According to the bottle, it smells only of mango and guava: absolutely fantastic.
Spreadability factor: I don’t find this very pleasant to apply, but because the mousse absorbs quickly into your skin, your sheets and clothes remain stain-free. So apply quickly, but then you won’t need a workout anymore.
How long does it last: Longer than a week
How long to leave it on: From 2 hours, but the longer, the better
Shades: Medium, Dark, and Ultra Dark
Bali Body Gradual Tan
Your perfect match if you don’t want to fuss with mousse, gloves, stains, and tanning fails. By applying a layer of this gradual tanning lotion every day, you can keep track of how brown you’re getting and avoid the risk of orange code.
Bali Body Gradual Tan €24,95, Bali Body
Scent: Not a fan of this scent, but it doesn’t bother me either. I have nicer lotions in my cabinet, but they don’t give me such a lovely complexion.
Spreadability factor: This self-tanner applies like a dream, and how could it be otherwise with a sunless tan in lotion form? Just make sure to wash your hands well after applying it.
How long does it last: Not very long, at most a few days. It fades beautifully and gradually because of this.
How long to leave it on: Let it sit, you don’t need to rinse off this self-tanner.
Shades: One shade. The more days you apply, the browner you get.
