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If you must have a golden glow year-round, self-tanner is the safest and best way to get it. However, when it comes to choosing the optimal tanner, there are endless options from which to choose.
Below we have done some of the legwork and rounded up some of the best self-tanner mousses around. The mousse formula might be one of the fast and easiest to apply as they tend to be water-based formulas that are lightweight, fast-absorbing, and may actually give you a deeper tan color than many other tanner varieties.
As with any self-tanner, preparation and precise application is key and our picks are all streak and blotch-free to ensure an easy experience. We have also included an all-natural formula, tanners with and without guide colors depending on your preference, and specialty scented options so good, you will feel like you are on a permanent vacation.
Comparing the Top Best Self Tanner Mousse
Coco & Eve Self Tanner Mousse — Best Overall
Made from 100% natural DHA, this self-tanning body treatment will transform your skin into an inner golden goddess, safely. This lightweight formula delivers an instant bronze glow that is fast drying and develops into a long-lasting tan in just two hours. This tanner also uses unique technology enriched with natural antioxidants to improve the signs of aging.
Pros
- This formula will blur pigmentation and stretch marks to perfect the skin
Cons
- An applicator mitt is not included
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam — Runner Up
This lightweight foam is simple to apply for a flawless finish every single time. This tanner is enriched with aloe vera and coconut to help ensure an even, streak-free tan. For the smoothest application, it is recommended to clean and exfoliate skin prior to use, make sure skin is free of any moisturizers, and use an application mitt to keep streaks to a minimum.
Pros
- This is a salon-quality formula
Cons
- This tanner may be slightly sticky after application which will come off in the shower
St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse — Honorable Mention
From one of the most famous and award-winning tanning companies comes this iconic, foolproof, and natural-looking tan. This is a tinted tanning mousse that is super easy to apply, streak-free, and will adapt to your skin tone for the most authentic, not too orange, bronze glow. This mousse is also long-lasting, lightweight, and provides 24 hours of hydration.
Pros
- This product is great for beginner tanners
Cons
- There may be a slight learning curve
Existing Beauty Self Tanning Mousse — Excellent Quality
If you are looking for a fast-developing tan, this bronze tan mousse will give off a medium-tone bronze in just 30-60 minutes. For any self-tanner newbies out there, this mousse has a greenish/gray color guide after application to ensure a smooth and even blending that will completely wash off in the shower. This mousse is also formulated with only the highest quality natural ingredients and will leave your skin feeling hydrated, not dry and aged.
Pros
- After application this tan will last about 5-7 days
Cons
- The recommended applicator or tanning brush are sold separately
L'Oreal Paris Self-Tanning Mousse — Easy Application
This is another instant formula that will provide a natural-looking tan with a sunkissed glow. This formula is an ultra-lightweight water mousse that will disappear into the skin for an easy-to-apply, streak-free, quick-drying tan. This formula is also transfer-resistant and, for a longer-lasting tan, it is recommended to apply three times over the initial 12 to 24 hours.
Pros
- Coconut water and vitamin E have been added to provide hydration for softer, smoother skin
Cons
- Color development may take slightly longer
SOL By Jergens Sunless Water Mousse — Contender
Derived from natural sugars, this sunless tanning mousse provides a sun-inspired tan in just a few hours. This formula works with your unique skin tone to imitate an authentic tan that will last for days while its translucent formula dispenses an airy foam that spreads evenly for the smoothest application.
Pros
- This tanner is dye-free
Cons
- There is no color guide
Naturena Ultra Self Tanner Mousse — All Natural
If you prefer an all-natural option, this self-tanner mousse is a great find. This formula has an advanced color complex in an ultra-lightweight mousse formula that works with the skin’s natural tone to mimic results from the sun. This tanner is also streak and blotch-free and will not turn the skin orange.
Pros
- The formula is tinted so you can where you’ve applied it
Cons
- Hands should be washed immediately after application
Buying Guide: Best Self Tanner Mousse
Why bother staying out in the sun when you can give yourself a tan using skin products? This quick guide will cover the basics concerning self-tanner mousses.
What Is Self Tanner Mousse?
Tanning your skin is a process that, traditionally, involves exposing your skin to the sun’s rays. This exposure darkens your skin, resulting in what is known as a “tan”. People like getting tans as it prevents them from looking too pale. However, tanning can be dangerous, with the worst of possible scenarios leading to skin cancer. That’s probably not worth the risk if you just want your skin to look like it has a little more color.
Fortunately, you don’t need to rely on the sun to get a tan. There are machines that can tan your skin, and as you’ll see in this article, there are products that help give your skin a tan when applied, too. The “mousse” in the term “self-tanner mousse” refers to the consistency of the product’s formula - it’s foamy and easy to spread, the perfect type of consistency for a skin product.
Why Do You Need a Self-Tanner Mousse?
You don’t need the sun to get a tan
Tanning the old-fashioned way is not as easy as, say, brushing your teeth. For one, you’ll need to wait for the sun to come up, and you can’t just get a tan early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The best time to tan in the traditional sense would be around noon when the sun is at its brightest and most powerful. And time’s not the only factor that you need to consider when getting a tan - the location is important too, as getting a tan can be difficult in your apartment or at a park compared to by the pool or beach.
With a self-tanner mousse, you can basically give yourself a tan wherever and whenever you want. You can apply the mousse after a shower, before going out, or at any other ideal time. It has no conditions required for use other than clean skin, so as long as you’ve cleaned up properly, you should be able to use the tanner mousse with no problems.
It’s easier to get a tan this way
Tanning isn’t as simple of a process as some may think. Sure, you’re just lying in the middle of the sun, slowly cooking up your skin, but it does also require a bit of planning. The clothes you wear, the position where you’re sitting in, and much more can affect the result of a tan, and these extra variables just make traditional tanning a lot more complicated than it needs to be.
Tans are super easy with a self-tanner mousse. It’s just a matter of applying the mousse to your skin, and you’re done.
It’s safer than other ways of tanning
Tanning has always been associated with risks, and technically, there is no such thing as a safe tan. You see, the tanning process requires that you damage your skin, so while your skin may look better, it’s actually pretty damaged. This can lead to multiple complications down the line, the worst of which is skin cancer.
For something so dangerous as skin cancer, traditional tanning doesn’t seem like it’s worth the risk. So if you really want a tan but would rather not harm your skin, self-tanning mousses are one of the best options out there. They keep your skin safe as they aren’t harmful when applied.
Things to Consider When Buying a Self Tanner Mousse
Tone/shade
Self-tanner mousses can be compared to the likes of makeup. Since you’re bronzing your skin in a particular color, you may want to have control over what type of color you’re bronzing it into. There are light mousses, dark mousses, and all sorts of mousses in-between. The tone or shade you pick is dependent on what kind of tan you’re looking to get.
If a light tan is what you’re aiming for, then go for light bronzing mousses. You won’t darken your skin a whole lot with them. On the other hand, if you want to get a really dark tan, then there are also dark mousses that can serve as an option if need be.
Formula
While bronzing mousses have a fairly similar consistency to one another, some of them are a little different from others due to the use of various ingredients. For example, some mousses are made with a water-based formula, which makes them dye-free. There are also other mousses that have formulas with tints, and others are made blotch-free to prevent orange spots when applying the mousse. All of the mousses will give you a tan, but you may want to consider these small yet helpful perks, too.
