Gradual tanners The Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion was a close runner-up to our pick in this category. Testers liked its smell and lightweight feel. But they said the results weren’t as natural-looking as those of the Jergens Natural Glow + Brighten Daily Moisturizer.Several staffers said they’d tried Beauty By Earth Self Tanner Body Lotion and liked it. But during testing, this one felt stickier than others we used, and it failed to provide a noticeable tan after three days. Our testers really liked the Loving Tan 8 HR Deluxe Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion’s smooth application and the warm fawn shade of its guide color, but it transferred onto some people’s clothes and linens.The Vita Liberata Gradual Build Luxury Tan Lotion developed faster than our testers had anticipated, so it was more akin to a traditional tanner than to a gradual one. During application, it gave off a chemical smell, which intensified as testers sweated throughout the day. The Tan-Luxe Gradual Illuminating Tanning Lotion has a thin, wet consistency, which makes application messy and extends the drying time significantly. This one also made one of our testers break out in a rash.Traditional self-tanners Of the products we tried, the Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam had the thinnest consistency, which made application messy, and it dried too quickly to blend efficiently. Also, the guide color left streaks, and the streaks became more apparent as the tan developed. The Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam smelled sickeningly sweet. And it dried so quickly that we didn’t have enough time to properly blend it, resulting in streaks. Two testers said it left them feeling like they looked more dirty than bronzed. The Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Body Mousse’s pump mechanism dispensed inconsistent amounts of product, and that made application difficult. Streaks and patches formed immediately upon application, and testers really disliked the smell. Our testers liked the St.Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse almost as much as they did our top pick. It provided a consistent toasted-brown color, applied nicely, and smelled inoffensive. But the foam was a little drippy, so this one was messier to apply.Express tanners Our testers found the instructions for the B.tan Self Tan Mousse vague. And, more crucially, the tanner was too light on dark skin tones and too brown on light skin tones.Bali Body Clear 1 Hour Express Tan has a luxurious, whipped texture, but because there’s no guide color, it’s hard to tell how much of the product you’re applying and where. This tanner also has a shimmer that didn’t budge, even after multiple showers. The Bondi Sands Aero Aerated Self Tanning Foam 1 HR Express’s thin consistency made application messy. Keeping it all contained to the mitt was a task in itself. One tester reported that the guide color immediately emphasized a crease that a sock had left on her ankle skin.We also ruled out a number of other self-tanners in various formats from B.tan, Bali Body, Beauty By Earth, Body Drench, Bondi Sands, Bro Glo, Dolce Glow, E.L.F. Cosmetics, Fake Bake, Iconic London, Isle of Paradise, L’Oréal Paris, Loving Tan, Luna Bronze, Lux Unfiltered, Peta Jane, Saltyface, St. Tropez, Sugared & Bronzed, Sunnee Bae Skin, Tan-Luxe, Tanologist, The Sicilian, St. Moriz, and Ulta Beauty Collection. We chose not to test them for a variety of reasons, including insufficient or unfavorable reviews, messy formats, or concerns related to value.This article was edited by Nicola Dall’Asen and Jennifer G. Sullivan.
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