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A good tan makes me feel like a brand-new woman (IYKYK). So, when Friday rolls around, the best self-tanning mousses hate to see me coming. I’ve been a self-tan lover for years—my mainstays being bronzing drops and body lotions—but I’d never tried a mousse until testing them for this story. Fast forward two months, and they’ve officially stolen my heart. Yes, they’re a bit more labor-intensive—you need a deep exfoliation beforehand and a mitt to apply them—but the payoff is worth it: less streaking, deeper color, longer-lasting glow, and friends asking if I got a spray tan (even though the reality is I was leg-up-on-the-wall in my bathroom shower).
After trying 12 Allure team favorites and bestsellers, I’ve officially become a self-tanning mousse pro. So, let me break down what makes one worthy of a spot on my list: It should last at least five days; offer an even, sunkissed glow, sans orange streaks; give my skin a hydrating boost; and smell like a tropical island (not a chemical experiment).
Top 5 Self Tanning Mousses I Tested
- Best Overall: Dolce Glow Lusso Self-Tanning Mousse, $49
- Best Express: Loving Tan Platinum Express 2 Hour Mousse, $45
- Best Gradual: Lux Unfiltered N°36 Tanning Mousse, $48
- Most Customizable: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Mousse, $46
- Best For Dry Skin: Tan Luxe Hydra Mousse, $49
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- How do I prep my skin for tanning mousses?
- What should you look for in the best tanning mousses?
- How do I get an even, streak-free tan?
- Can I fix mistakes or remove self-tanner from my hands?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
During testing, I patch-tested each mousse on one arm for comparison, then left it on to see how long it developed and how long my tan lasted. After months of trial and error, I’ve rounded up the absolute best mousses for an effortless glow.
Best Overall: Dolce Glow Lusso Self-Tanning Mousse
Dolce Glow
Lusso Self-Tanning Mousse
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Dolce Glow’s Lusso Self-Tanning Mousse was the first one I tried on my testing journey, and it blew me away right out of the gate (I mean, it is a 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner, after all!). Even after testing 11 more formulas, I kept comparing everything back to this one, which is why it ultimately snagged my top spot.
The lightweight formula glides on effortlessly, blending like a dream with zero streaks. It also skips the dreaded tanner stench, replaced by a subtle, fresh scent, so you can easily wear it out of the house while it develops. As the color soaked in, my skin felt soft and nourished—not dry and begging for moisture—thanks to aloe vera, jojoba oil, and Australian macadamia oil. Just keep in mind that the shade continues to deepen for over four hours, so you might look extra bronzy before rinsing.
I tested this mousse twice, leaving it on for six to seven hours each time (per the brand’s rec for a deep tan), and the result was pure island-vacay glow. If you’re after something subtler, you can rinse after two to four hours—this customizability is why the brand offers just one shade.
The real wow moment came after washing it off—it looked exactly like a professional spray tan. No streaks, no patchiness, just an even, airbrushed finish. I even used it on my face (a risky move, I know), and it didn’t cling or turn too dark around my nose and mouth. Instead, my skin looked hydrated, glowy, and bronzed, with zero orange undertones. The color lasted a full seven days on my body (my face wore off faster, since I wash it more often), outperforming nearly every other formula I tested, and faded flawlessly. Although it takes a while to develop, I’ll take it for its week-long staying power.
Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner applying the Dolce Glow Lusso Self-Tanning Mousse
Lily Wohlner
Wohlner before and after applying the Dolce Glow Lusso Self-Tanning Mousse
Lily Wohlner
More to know
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- Key ingredients: aloe vera, jojoba oil, Australian macadamia oil, vitamin E
- Shades: 1
- Development time: 2 to 8 hours for full color
- Fragrance: fresh and light
- Lasts up to: 7 days
Other great tanning mousses to consider:
Best Express: Loving Tan Platinum Express 2 Hour Mousse
Loving Tan
Platinum Express 2 Hour Mousse
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: After testing this mousse, it’s no surprise it snagged a 2024 Best of Beauty award. At first, I was skeptical: It goes on dark (like, can’t-leave-the-house dark) and I’ll admit, a little streaky at first—especially on my face, where I looked like I’d applied a mud mask. However, it dries down fast and doesn’t move once it’s on, so you can fix any harsh spots before it sets. After the easy, two-hour wait and a rinse, it gave me one of the best-looking tans of the mousses I tried (phew!). And, the quick development makes it perfect for last-minute plans.
I tested Maximum Tan, the deepest of the four shades. Even as a naturally pale girl, it didn’t look fake—just perfectly olive-y and bronzed, with zero streaks. My skin felt hydrated, too, thanks to an aloe vera base. And, the formula includes caffeine, which is known to reduce puffiness in body-care products. The color keeps developing over the next 24 hours, so it’s definitely deeper the next day, but not unwearably so. Pro tip: Apply a very light layer to your face to avoid looking a little too dramatically dark.
I noticed the color starting to fade around day five—which makes sense, since I’d only left it on for two hours, so I didn’t expect it to last as long as some of the gradual tanners I tried. It came off a bit patchy on my hands, wrists, and ankles, but everywhere else faded evenly. I’ll take it for the two-hour wait time!
Wohlner applying the Loving Tan Platinum Express 2 Hour Mousse
Lily Wohlner
Wohlner before and after applying the Loving Tan Platinum Express 2 Hour Mousse
Lily Wohlner
More to know
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- Key ingredients: aloe vera, caffeine, pomegranate
- Shades: 4
- Development time: 2 hours
- Fragrance: None
- Lasts up to: 5 days
Best Gradual: Lux Unfiltered N°36 Tanning Mousse
Lux Unfiltered
N°36 Tanning Mousse
Amazon
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: +Lux Unfiltered’s N°36 Supernatural Tanning Mousse may require a full eight hours to achieve your darkest tan, but trust me—it’s worth the wait. It lasts a full week and is packed with skin-loving ingredients like moisturizing sunflower and jojoba seed extracts, brightening vitamin C, antioxidant-rich papaya extract and cocoa seed extract, and hydrating hyaluronic acid, making it one of the richest formulas on this list. Plus, it smells like fresh blood orange, so there’s no classic self-tanner stink while it develops. It also comes in two shades (medium and deep), so it’s a bit more customizable than formulas like Dolce Glow or St. Tropez, which are only available in one shade.
You could let this sit for four hours for a lighter glow, but I like to max it out (can you tell I hate looking pasty?). I usually sleep in it, then rinse it off in the morning for an even, bright, streak-free finish. Since it soaks in for so long, the tan lasts a full seven days. And, when it does fade, it’s smooth and natural, with zero patchiness.
Wohlner applying the Lux Unfiltered N°36 Tanning Mousse
Lily Wohlner
Wohlner before and after applying Lux Unfiltered N°36 Tanning Mousse
Lily Wohlner
More to know
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- Key ingredients: sunflower extract, jojoba seed extract, vitamin C papaya extract, cocoa seed extract, and hyaluronic acid
- Shades: 2
- Development time: up to 8 hours for full color
- Fragrance: citrus
- Lasts up to: 7 days
Most Customizable: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Mousse
St. Tropez
Self Tan Express Mousse
Amazon
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Customize your glow with St. Tropez’s Self Tan Express Mousse, which can be left on from one to three hours. One hour gives you a natural glow and three gives a deep, dark tan, so you get the exact color you want. I love that the max three-hour window is all you need for a rich, island-ready bronze. And speaking of islands, it smells like one, too (hi, coconut, vanilla, and Tahitian gardenia).
This formula glides on like silk without streaks, thanks to hydrating aloe in the formula. Plus, it dried down in seconds and didn’t transfer onto my clothes, which I appreciated. I left this formula on for the full three hours and got a rich, realistic tan that lasted five days before starting to fade. While I wish it had stuck around a bit longer, it faded evenly, so I didn’t have to worry about scrubbing any patchy spots off with a removal mitt.
Wohlner applying the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Mousse
Lily Wohlner
Wohlner before and after applying the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Mousse
Lily Wohlner
More to know
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- Key ingredients: aloe vera, glycerin
- Shades: 1
- Development time: up to 3 hours for full color
- Fragrance: tropical
- Lasts up to: 5 days
Best For Dry Skin: Tan Luxe Hydra Mousse
Tan Luxe
Hydra Mousse
Amazon
Sephora
Bluemercury
Why it’s worth it: Dry skin and self-tanning mousse don't jive, since the color won't stick as smoothly. So if that’s a concern, opt for the most hydrating formula possible—and that is the Tan Luxe Hydra Mousse. Formulated with a nourishing blend of vitamins B, C, and E, plus raspberry oil and the classic aloe vera, this foam not only glides onto your skin like a dream, but feels hydrating while it soaks in, making it an actual enjoyable experience rather than something that feels stripping or drying (trust, I’ve tested my fair share of these that did not make it onto the final list).
As you can see, this mousse is totally clear, so unlike every other formula on this list, you can’t see where you applied it, whether you buy the light/medium or medium/dark shade. One one hand, it’s nice because you can wear it out of the house without worrying like you look like a crazy person out in public, but on the other hand I found it took more time for me to apply, as I had to go over every area of my body to ensure each section was covered since I had no guidelines.
I opted for the medium/dark shade, this tan develops in four to six hours, which I find to be the average for most self tanners. Four hour is a lighter more natural tan, and six gives you a darker color. I did find that the final color wasn’t as dark as other tanners I tried (cue Dolce Glow or St. Tropez), making it a solid option for paler people or those who want something for the chillier months where you don’t want to look too dark. I tested this one during a long beach weekend, so I found that it faded quicker than others I tried due to chlorine and salt water, but I’m confident it would have lasted longer in my usual NYC environment.
Wohlner applying the Tan Luxe Hydra Mousse
Lily Wohlner
Wohlner before and after applying the Tan Luxe Hydra Mousse
Lily Wohlner
More to know
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- Key ingredients: aloe vera
- Shades: 2
- Development time: up to 6 hours for full color
- Fragrance: None
- Lasts up to: 5 days
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prep my skin for tanning mousses?
Before applying any self-tanner, take care of treatments like waxing, shaving, manicures, or hair color touch-ups. "All of those treatments can remove self-tanner," spray tanner Anna Stankiewicz previously told Allure. Once that’s done, it’s time to prep. Self-tanner can sink into dry skin, leaving dark patches behind that look unnatural. Slough away any flakes with a scrub—focusing on rough spots like the knees, elbows, ankles, and heels—or a cleanser with glycolic or salicylic acids to remove dead, dull skin, Stankiewicz says. I also love an exfoliating mitt (a lot of self tanner brands like Dolce Glow and St. Tropez sell them), which removes any leftover tanner, leaving behind a fresh base for your next round.
What should you look for in the best tanning mousses?
When I’m shopping for a self-tanning mousse, I look for skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, or vitamin E to keep my skin hydrated while the tan develops—because who wants dry, stripped skin (even if it is bronzed)? Most self-tanners rely on DHA (dihydroxyacetone), a sugar that reacts with amino acids in the top layer of skin to create a gradual glow. The tricky part? DHA can be hard to stabilize, which is why some tans turn tangerine, cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller told Allure. The best formulas add stabilizing sugars like erythrulose; encapsulation technology to lock in a smooth, streak-free finish; and moisturizing emollients—all of which also neutralize that yeasty self-tanner smell we dread.
How do I get an even, streak-free tan?
Start with exfoliated, completely dry skin (emphasis on dry—oils “could interfere with the binding of DHA to the stratum corneum and cause uneven development,” says NYC-based dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD). Spot-moisturize only the tricky areas—knees, elbows, and ankles—to prevent them from going too dark. If you’re a beginner, stick to lighter formulas to minimize streaks and patchiness, then level up to darker shades once you’re confident. When applying, work from the legs up, using any leftover product on your feet, and finish with your hands. Afterward, give yourself extra drying time. “If the directions say five minutes, wait 10,” Stankiewicz advises. For bonus insurance, dust a talc-free powder all over to prevent transfer, she adds. Then, it’s hands off: no showering or sweating for six to eight hours until it’s time to rinse.
Can I fix mistakes or remove self-tanner from my hands?
Yes! If you notice streaks or patches after the tan has developed, exfoliating mitts on wet skin work wonders for lifting unwanted color away, according to Evans. You can also use a baby wipe to dab away excess or misplaced product as you're self-tanning. To prevent staining your hands, wash them immediately after applying self-tanner, and treat them like you would the rest of your body with an exfoliating mitt if any color lingers.
Meet the experts
- Anna Stankiewicz, a spray tan artist
- Randy Schueller, a cosmetic chemist
- Shari Marchbein, MD, a dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best tanning mousses, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
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