The Best Self Tanners for Dark Skin
I’ve long been a spray tan and self-tanner advocate, and I always try to get my brown and black friends on board with the idea of sunless tanning. Self-tanners aren’t necessarily marketed towards dark-skinned folks, but even if you have dark skin, sunless tanners can help to even out your skin tone, blur your imperfections, and give you a luminous glow! Unlike exposure to UV rays and tanning beds, which can damage your skin, self-tanners can help you achieve your desired look without risking your skin’s health.
It can be tough to nail a faux glow, so here some tips that have saved me from common self-tanner mistakes:
Always exfoliate and shave before you apply self-tanner to avoid it sticking to dry patches of skin.
Wear gloves or immediately wash your hands after you apply to avoid stained palms.
Apply extra lotion to areas of your body that tend to be drier, like your knees and elbows.
Use a dense blending brush, like the Sigma Beauty F82 Round Kabuki Brush ($25), to buff the product into your hands and feet.
If you have a complexion similar to mine, you’ll want to go for self-tanners that are dark or extra dark. Try different formulas to see what works best for you!
Ready to glow? Here are three self-tanners I’ll have on rotation all Hot Girl Summer!
It can feel scary to slather self-tanner on your face, especially if you’re acne-prone like me, but the Tan-Luxe The Face Drops ($49) don’t break me out and are super easy to use. I mix a few drops of the serum into my moisturizer at night and I wake up with the a beautiful, natural glow.
If I could recommend one beauty product you absolutely need this summer, it would be the Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Body Butter ($25). I love the bronze, rich color it gives my skin and it has a bit of shimmer that looks gorgeous when it catches the sun. The moisturizing formula applies like regular body lotion and develops in four to eight hours. Another cool thing about this self-tanner is it also color corrects – the green tint will help to neutralize any redness in your skin.
Meet your real-life Instagram filter. In my opinion, the L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion ($11) is one of the best self-tanners you can find at the drugstore! It helps even out your skin tone and has a subtle shimmer that gives you an airbrushed finish. I found out about this product on TikTok, so pick it up before it goes viral and sells out!
If you’re curious to learn more about spray tans for dark skin, check out this episode of Terrell Tries on Mixed Makeup.
Have you tried any self-tanners? Comment below!
