Why we love it: Lazy people, unite. Express self-tanners rarely actually reach their full color potential in only a few hours. But Dolce Glow genuinely only takes two. Just buff it into your skin in circular motions with a mitt, let it sit for two hours (ideally, wear loose-fitting clothes), then shower off. It leaves skin looking glowy and sun-kissed and never with streaks.
| Format | Mousse |
| Key ingredients | Glycerin, avocado oil |
| Shades | Ultra dark |
One Cosmo editor says: “I completely fooled my friends into thinking I spent a weekend in Tulum when I showed up to happy hour with a bronzy tan. Nope! I just spent two hours basking in this natural-looking self-tanner.” —BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
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Why we love it: A green self-tanner seems scary, but it’s shockingly natural-looking once you rinse it off. Winner of “best self-tanning mousse or water” in our 2026 Holy Grail Beauty Awards, this Nuda foam evenly coats your body for a skin-like glow that’s not even remotely orange (thanks to the green tint casting away any orange hues). And it lasts, even through sweat and swimming.
| Format | Mousse |
| Key ingredients | Niacinamide, bakuchiol, ceramides |
| Shades | One (you can customize your shade by how long you leave it on) |
One Cosmo editor says: “I walked into the office this morning and my coworker immediately stopped me and said "look at that TAN!" Little did she know that my skin hasn't seen the sun since last summer. I owe it all to Nuda's Tonefoam in Olive. This tanner (a 2026 Holy Grail winner!!) takes a bit of work to blend in and applies as a deep green/orange, which keeps me from missing any spots and gets me an even tan every time. It also dries beautifully, and no matter how much I may sweat after I've applied it, it doesn't budge!”—JAYNE LEMIRE, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
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Why we love it: Loving Tan has long been a team Cosmo favorite for a natural tan that’s just a notch above “subtle.” So much so, a few of our team members are constantly fighting over any samples that show up in the closet. Why are we all so obsessed? Well, this formula never, ever, ever gets streaky or splotchy, no matter how much you put on (and this mousse can be layered if you want a deep tan). It also fades really well—almost like a real tan.
| Format | Mousse |
| Key ingredients | Witch hazel, aloe vera |
| Shades | Medium, dark, ultra-dark |
One Cosmo editor says: “The hardest part about moving to NYC from Florida was the lack of sunshine, and, therefore, a decent tan. That’s when I really locked in on sunless tanning options, and Loving Tan delivers the best results on my fair skin. It gives off a natural color, and as someone who hates sitting for hours to marinate in a self-tanning mousse, their 2-hour express option is my favorite. When I have more time, I like to apply two layers with 20 minutes in between and leave it on for up to 4 hours for deeper results.”—SAMANTHA OLSON, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
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Why we love it: Hate heavy, sticky products on your skin? Self-tanners previously probably weren’t for you. But Cyklar’s Self-Tanning Milky Essence feels hydrating and silky on skin with zero residue and leaves behind a soft wash of color. Apply it with your hands—no mitt required—then let it develop for 8 to 12 hours. Best of all, there’s no rinse-off required.
| Format | Serum |
| Key ingredients | Ceramides, squalane, allantoin |
| Shades | Light medium and medium dark |
One Cosmo editor says: “I’m extremely adamant about not getting any sort of ‘real tan’ these days—a huge departure from my teens, which I fear I’ll be making up for well into my 50s. So I really love having some type of self-tanner on at all times... but I’m mega lazy, unfortunately, and won’t spend a ton of time rubbing something in and waiting to wash it off. That’s why I’ve been obsessed with this milky essence for the last few months. It’s no fuss, really. I don’t have to pull out a mitt to apply it, and I love skipping the wash-off step too, which always makes figuring out when to apply a ~whole thing~ for me. I also love the gentle color. It’s soft and natural, never orange.”—BG
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Why we love it: I’m all for self-tanners that pull double duty as skincare, and this ultra-rich body butter does exactly that. It drenches skin in moisture while adding a soft bronze tint at the same time. One application gives you just a hint of color, but after two or three days, it builds into a believable tan that stays natural-looking—not orange—even on pale skin.
One Cosmo editor says: “Moisturizing and tanning at the same time usually isn’t a thing, but this body butter makes my skin feel so soft while imparting a soft bronzy look in a few days. And it doesn’t have the usual chemical-y tanner smell.”—BG
| Format | Cream |
| Key ingredients | Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, cocoa butter |
| Shades | Only one |
Why we love it: Saltyface is one of the rare self-tanner brands creating formulas specifically for acne-prone, sensitive skin. Its facial tanning water gives skin a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow in just a few spritzes—so good, it earned a Cosmo 2026 Holy Grail Beauty Award.
| Format | Liquid spray |
| Key ingredients | aloe vera, cucumber extract |
| Shades | Light to medium and medium to dark |
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One Cosmo editor says: “I have never found such a natural-looking self-tanner as Saltyface, and it’s a major bonus that it doesn’t break me out (an issue I have with practically every other formula, even those designed for face). It’s also so damn easy to apply. I don’t even have to blend it out. Just spray and go.”—BG
Why we love it: Many self-tanners fall in a sweet spot of being a bit too deep for fair skin but never dark enough for anyone in the medium category or above. But this self-tanner is one of the darkest I’ve ever tried without turning terracotta or splotchy. The shade has a purple base that helps counteract yellow tones (think of it like a color corrector) for a neutral bronze finish. Obviously, it’s not going to add much color if you already have deep skin, but it can help even things out and add a soft glow to your skin.
One Cosmo editor says: “I’ve used up many bottles of this over the years (a feat considering I’ve tested so many). But it really gives my olive skin the most natural-looking tan ever, mimicking the undertones my skin takes when I actually spend time in the sun. Last spring, I went on a trip with a handful of beauty editors to Tulum, and everyone was asking how I got so tan before we even made it to the beach. It was all this.”—BG
| Format | Mousse |
| Key ingredients | Glycerin, jojoba esters |
| Shades | Just one (supreme violet) |
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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