This article was inspired by a recent comment I received on the article Sun Safety: 5 Essential Facts About Tanning:

“Great tips–but what are some of the best self tanners? I get really tan easily in the summer, but in the winter, i am white as a ghost. I tried using dove, but it left streaks! I was wondering how you know when to stop using the tanners? Are you suppose to continue use one you get the desired shade? Or is that what causes streaks? Please write an article about this.”

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Self tanners are a lifesaver for pale or medium-skinned ladies who want a pretty summer glow without ruining their skin by tanning the old fashioned way. I think we can all agree – long-term wrinkles and possible cancer aren’t worth a temporary tan!

The problem with self tanners is that they’re a little more involved than typical tanning – you have to find the right formula, get your body ready for the tanning process, make sure you apply it right, and use it on a pretty regular basis.

All of the above can get really confusing – how is a girl to know what to do, which ones to use, and how to use them?

Never fear – I have your answer! I’ve experienced the ins and outs of the sunless experience, and have learned which products are best for a natural glow, and how to apply them for the best looking tan. Read on to see my tips and learn how to sunless tan yourself.

Table of Contents

CF’s Picks For the Best Self Tanners

1. TanTowel Plus

This brand makes my favorite self-tanner, hands down. I really love TanTowel Plus!

While they are a little bit harder to find and pricier than your drugstore variety, it’s well worth it if you can get your hands on some of these.

My favorite type of Tan Towel is the “Plus” kind, also known as the “Deeper Darker” variety. While I’m pretty pale normally, (I wear the 3rd lightest shade in most foundations in summer), these worked great on my skin and didn’t make me orange or give me a fake-looking tan. I wasn’t too dark, but I was noticeably bronzed.