You’ll Crave a Vacay After Using These 6 Top Facial Self-Tanners (They're That Good) (2025)

TL;DR

Our favorite facial self-tanner is the Kopari Gradual Self-Tanning Face Serum. It’s simple and easy to apply, looks natural on the skin, and can be built up depending on how many drops you use. But if you’re looking for an affordable option, we love the Vacation Studio Tone SPF 50 Bronzing Drops. They come with SPF 50 protection and can be layered under makeup to create a sun-kissed, glowy complexion.

Our Top Picks

Format: Drops | Recommended Use: Massage 4-8 drops into the skin | Development Time: 8 hours

This hybrid face self-tanner combines skincare and tanning into one, giving you an overall glowy and hydrated complexion. It’s formulated with natural DHA, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, which all work together to soothe and keep the skin moisturized. Our tester loved how easy it was to layer with her other beauty products, noting that the facial serum “added a nice, healthy glow to my foundation and skin tints.” We also love that the formula contains tiny specks of gold glitter, which add to the natural-looking glow effect.

You’ll also notice a difference in color right away, depending on the number of drops you use. The brand recommends using four drops for a light tan and eight drops for a deeper color. You can also mix it with moisturizer for a subtle glow.

Shauna Beni-Haynes, senior editor: “It hydrates, softens, and adds a natural-looking glow/tan to your skin, and you don't have to worry about overdoing it because it works gradually, meaning the more you build, the deeper the tan gets.”

Format: Drops | Recommended Use: Mix 2-6 drops with moisturizer and apply in the AM | Development Time: 2–8 hours

This product is everything we could ever want in a facial self-tanner, earning it our best overall pick. The lightweight drops are meant to be mixed in with your moisturizer and applied to clean skin in the morning, making for a quick and easy application. You can customize your color by applying fewer drops for a subtle tan or up to six drops for a deep tan. We love that once you apply it, it dries quickly and doesn’t transfer onto your clothing or pillowcases. We noticed that the formula felt totally undetectable on the skin—no stickiness or residue—and we could start to see the color develop after just a few minutes, though the brand says it takes a few hours for it to fully develop. After the initial application, the tan lasted about two days without re-applying. We also appreciate that, unlike a lot of self-tanners, this one doesn’t lean orange on the skin; rather, it creates a subtle bronze glow.

Also nice, the formula is fragrance-free, suitable for all skin types (even sensitive), and contains hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, pomegranate extract, vitamin E, and more. If you’re looking for a super fast and easy self-tanning product that’s customizable and great for all skin types, we highly recommend checking out this one.

Adi Giesey, editor (not shown): “You don't ever need to be scared to use these tanning drops. The color is so buildable, and by monitoring how many drops you use and mixing it with a moisturizer, you can control how you want the color to come through. It's perfect for adding a little color during the winter or prepping for a vacation!”

Format: Drops | Recommended Use: Mix 2-12 drops into moisturizer, oil, or serum | Development Time: 10–12 hours

These facial tanning drops come in at a close second for us—the only thing we wish we could change is that the formula contains synthetic fragrance, which can irritate those with sensitive skin. But aside from that, we were incredibly impressed by how well these drops performed. All you need to do is mix between two and 12 drops with your moisturizer, face oil, or serum and apply to clean skin. The more drops you mix in, the darker your tan will be. Once you apply the mixture, the color takes roughly 10 to 12 hours to fully develop, but it’s worth the wait—the end result is a beautiful neutral bronze hue.

We actually used these drops with a night cream before heading to bed, and to our surprise, they left no marks or staining on our pillowcases. It didn’t feel sticky or oily, and we loved that once the color developed, it lasted for nearly five full days without much noticeable fading. If ease and longevity are what you’re looking for, these drops are a fantastic option for you.

Brian, tester: "I love how I can easily mix it in with my night cream—only a couple of drops—and then wake up with a nice glow! I did not notice any streaks at all."

Format: Drops or Spray | Recommended Use: Mix 1-2 drops in the hand or 3-4 sprays on a face brush | Development Time: 4–24 hours

The first thing that stood out to our tester about Saltyface’s tanning water is the easy application, thanks to the spray nozzle. You just have to spritz the formula onto a face brush, or you can apply it with your hands. Whichever method you choose, be sure to apply the formula across the face, down the neck, and décolleté to ensure your tan is even. The formula is incredibly lightweight and doesn’t leave behind any patchiness.

As for the color, we were really impressed by how natural and long the color lasted—one of our testers said her tan lasted for over a week. The vegan formula adds a nice warmth to the skin without any orange hue, and it’s great for sensitive skin types.

Amanda Rosenthal, writer: “The spray mimics the effects of the real sun—it hits all the high points of your face a bit more—and is never streaky or patchy. It's easy to use and hasn't caused any breakouts like some other products have.”

Format: Drops | Recommended Use: Mix 1-2 layers | Development Time: Results show right away

Vacation’s facial bronzing drops will make you feel like you're on vacation. From the lovely topical beachy smell to the sun-kissed bronzing effect and SPF protection, we can see why our tester fell in love with this product. It’s great for a subtle, temporary glow and is packed with skincare ingredients like cocoa, vitamin E, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid to strengthen and hydrate the skin. You can wear it alone to add a bronzy look to your complexion or under makeup for an overall glowy finish. The formula also includes antioxidants to help promote radiance, and it's been derm-tested and approved for acne-prone skin. Overall, we were incredibly impressed with this product's performance, and considering how accessible and practical it is, it’s easy for us to recommend it.

Eden Stuart, editor:“I'd say the product is situated somewhere between makeup and skincare. On one hand, the drops almost function as makeup bronzing drops since the glow is temporary. On the other, it offers SPF 50 protection, too, making it perfect for throwing in your bag on a beach trip. On my medium-tan skin, the glow looks really natural. Bonus points: This one has that signature, delicious Vacation sunscreen smell.”

Format: Mist | Recommended Use: Spray 5-6 full pumps directly over face, neck, and décolleté | Development Time: 4–8 hours

Tanning mists make for an easy on-the-go application, and this one really impressed us during our testing process. The lightweight formula feels refreshing and nongreasy on the skin, and we like that it contains hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. It couldn’t be easier to use—you simply spray five to six pumps across your face, neck, and chest and let it develop for four to six hours. We adore this application method for those who crave a fast beauty routine, but it is a bit tricky to tell whether or not you’ve applied the product evenly.

This product yielded the most subtle results out of the ones we tested, making it a great self-tanner for fair skin or anyone who’s looking to achieve an understated tan. It didn’t transfer throughout the test, and despite not being able to assess whether or not the application was totally even, we didn’t notice any streaks or patchiness. If you’re looking for a tanning formula in the form of a mist, this one is an excellent choice.

Elizabeth, tester (not shown): "I saw a glowy difference after about four hours (the minimum amount of time listed on the bottle). It wasn't dramatic, but it looked really nice."

FAQ

• How do self-tanners work?

  “The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone. It’s generally considered safe when used topically on the skin but should not be inhaled or applied to mucous membranes,” explains Dr. Hadley King, M.D. “Dihydroxyacetone binds to proteins in the stratum corneum (outermost layer of the skin). This chemical reaction is called a Maillard reaction—non-enzymatic glycation, and it produces orange-brown pigments called melanoidins, which are linked to the proteins of the stratum corneum.” In simpler terms, DHA binds to the proteins in the outermost layer of the skin and causes a reaction that leads to the production of orange-brown pigments.

• How are facial self-tanners different from the ones created for the body?

  “Self-tanners made for the body are less likely to be noncomedogenic, which means that they would be more likely to contribute to clogged pores and breakouts,” says Dr. King. “If a self-tanner product is making you break out, this is likely due to other ingredients in the formulation you’re using, not the dihydroxyacetone.” She explains that it’s important to look for noncomedogenic formulas when using a self-tanner on your face, especially if you have acne-prone skin.

• What is the best self-tanner to use on your face?

  This isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer because it ultimately depends on your skin type and what type of formula you personally enjoy using. If you have acne-prone skin, a formula that’s noncomedogenic is ideal for you. Dr. King also recommends that people who are prone to breakouts use a self-tanner with exfoliating ingredients to help minimize the risk of clogged pores.