9 Best Self Tanners for Mature Skin
Get your glow without the sun!
Warm weather is at our finger tips, and having some color when summer it arrives can make you feel fabulous. Unfortunately, laying out in the sun in your swimsuit or baking in a UV-light bed isn’t the safest for your skin. That’s why we rounded up the best self tanners including oils, mists, lotions, towels, and liquids that will deliver a stunning, sunny glow you can rock safely all summer long.
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What are the best self tanners for mature skin?
Here are the best self-tanners for women over 50 (keep scrolling for detailed reviews of each!).
- Best self-tanning oil for mature skin : COOLA Organic Sunless Tanner Spray, Self Tan Oil Mist
- Best self-tanner for sensitive skin : Vita Liberata Fabulous Self-Tanning Gradual Lotion
- Best moisturizing self-tanner for mature skin : Josie Maran Argan Liquid Gold Self-Tanning Oil
- Best organic self-tanner for mature skin : Beauty by Earth Self Tanner
- Best tanning mousse for mature skin : St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse
- Best self-tanner for face : COOLA Organic Sunless Tanner Serum
- Best self-tanner for fair skin : Flawless Self-Tanning Liquid & Professional Mitt
- Best drugstore self tanner : Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
- Best tanning mitt : Versa Spa Sunless Applicator
With the rates of melanoma at an all-time high and the risk of diagnosis increasing as you age, avoiding direct exposure to sun’s harmful rays is more important than ever. If it’s the sun’s warmth that makes you happy, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply it every two hours, or immediately after drying off if you’ve been in water. If it’s the bronze color you want, there are easy ways to develop a tan that will keep your skin youthful and free of damage.
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COOLA Organic Sunless Tanner Spray, Self Tan Oil Mist
Best Self-Tanning Oil for mature skin
Why we like it:
- Natural-looking tan that lasts for up to three days
- Silky-soft dry oil application
- Fast-absorbing, streak-free and transfer-resistant
COOLA’s Sunless Tan Dry Body Oil Mist masks any unpleasant odors with its delightful pineapple-coconut aroma, so you smell like you’re fresh from the tropics. The consistency of this dry body oil leaves your skin feeling soft and supple once you’ve finished applying it. A handful of potent antioxidants as well as vitamin C are loaded into this mist, so you can feel satisfied that your self-tanner is working against the aging process.
Promising review: “I was always skeptical about self tanning because thought I would get blotchy. Not only did I not get blotchy in one single spot but it was so easy to apply and dried in two hours and looked AMAZING. A natural tan. Not overdone! Love love love! Worth every penny.”
Vita Liberata Fabulous Self-Tanning Gradual Lotion
Best Self-Tanner for Sensitive Skin
Why we like it:
- Odor-free
- Gentle and hydrating enough for dry, sensitive and mature skin
- Starts working in 4-8 hours
With aging, we often lose hydration. So when you’re looking for the best self-tanner, one with moisturizing properties will not only make your tan look smoother, it will also help with your anti-aging routine. A lack of moisture creates fine lines and wrinkles, so boosting your skin’s water levels can leave it looking plump and youthful. Vita Liberata Fabulous Self-Tanning Gradual Lotion is an ultra-hydrating formula with nourishing organic botanical ingredients. It’s made with certified organic extracts, which help sensitive, dry skin heal.
Promising review: “I have found that regular use of other self-tanner brands make me break out in an uncomfortable, bumpy, itchy rash. I tried this product based on some of the reviews that say it’s good for sensitive skin. It’s great! It gives my skin a nice, natural color, and no rash! I apply it 2-3 times per week. I just apply with my hands, and have no issues with streaking. I do use a baby wipe to dab my ankles, backs of knees, etc to prevent any smudge spots. Love this stuff!”
Josie Maran Argan Liquid Gold Self-Tanning Oil
Best Moisturizing Self-Tanner for mature skin
Why we like it:
- Nourishes skin with 100 percent pure argan oil
- Works in 4-8 hours
- Vegan and gluten-free
Josie Maran’s Argan Liquid Gold Self-Tanning Oil is moisturizing and smells delicious. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a common ingredient found in self-tanners, helps the skin get a golden brown tone instead of the infamous orange hue. The Liquid Gold oil contains a natural, plant-based DHA, which offers a healthier, vegan way to build your glow. Aloe juice, argan oil, and coconut water are blended together to nourish and soothe your skin while giving you a safe tan.
Promising review: “The best! I love this tanning oil it is very easy to use and goes on easily and evenly. It leaves your skin feeling and looking firm and I am 60+! I will definitely buy again and again!“
Beauty by Earth Self Tanner
Best Organic Self-Tanner for mature skin
Why we like it:
- Amazon best-seller
- Made with organic, natural ingredients
- Won’t turn your skin orange
Beauty by Earth’s Self Tanner is composed of organic ingredients, and its results are just as good as any other sunless tanning lotion. Smoothing this creamy lotion on your skin will help revive it with organic shea butter and coconut oil, banishing dry patches and a dehydrated epidermis. The color is easily buildable, and you’ll have a natural-looking bronzed complexion after a few uses.
Promising review: “I am 60 plus years old with thinning, aging skin with several areas of spider veins. And I think my legs just look better with a little bit of color on them… With the Beauty by Earth it was so easy to get an even look and I love the way it smells! This product also seems to stay on longer without having to reapply. I have already told several friends about this product!“
St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse
Best Tanning Mousse for mature skin
Why we like it:
- Easy-to-apply, streak-free and adapts to your skin tone
- Up to 10 day wear
- Lightweight, fragrance-free, non-sticky, and infused with hydrating Jojoba
St. Tropez’s quick-drying and moisturizing Self Tan Bronzing Mousse will feel like silk gliding onto your skin. Its DHA-based formula gives you a deeper brown tone that makes it look like you just got back from Bora Bora, not the tanning booth. St. Tropez looks great on any skin tone whether you’re fair-skinned or have a darker complexion.
Promising review: “This is by far the best self tanner I’ve ever used. I used the mitt for the first time, and it makes it so much easier and quicker to apply. The mousse is a funky looking green color but it glides on the skin in a beautiful bronze. It also dries quickly, but common sense tells you not to put on white or light colored clothes, or sleep on light colored sheets until after you’ve showered a few hours later. What little odor this product has is not unpleasant at all. I’m 56 years old, and have dry skin. My natural skin color is fair but not white. This product is perfect, and it’s the only product I’m using from now on. Well worth the money!“
COOLA Organic Sunless Tanner Serum
Best Self-Tanner for Face
Why we like it:
- Plant Stem Cell Cultures help reduce signs of premature skin aging
- Builds a tan gradually over several days
- Streak-free and transfer-resistant
Finding a self-tanner for your body is simple, but it’s not always so easy finding one that works well for your face, especially if you have sensitive or breakout-prone skin. COOLA Suncare’s Organic Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum works wonders and is made with moisturizing hyaluronic acid and argan oil. Don’t be fearful if you have sun or age spots, as this product won’t darken or draw more attention to them. All you’ll be emphasizing now is your new, sun-kissed face.
Promising review: I can’t say enough good things about this face tanner. It’s beneficial while it tans and has all-natural, safe ingredients. I love the way it looks giving my face a very subtle nice tan. I’m ordering my 4th bottle today this is one of those products that I don’t ever want to be without.“
Flawless Self-Tanning Liquid & Professional Mitt
Best Self-Tanner for Fair Skin
Why we like it:
- Fast drying, fast absorbing formula
- Works for all skin tones and skin types
- Professional mitt included
Flawless by Fake Bake’s Self-Tanning Liquid Solution gives a pretty glow that isn’t unrealistically dark for snow white skin, and it doesn’t give off an orange tint either. This quick-drying formula has a pleasant tropical scent and is made up of DHA, DMI, and erythrulose to help you achieve a natural, long-lasting tone. One Amazon buyer said, “I am absolutely obsessed with this self tanner!!! No streaks, I DO NOT look orange or any other funky color! I look like I tanned in a bed, for weeks!”
Promising review: “I’m extremely pale, like almost translucent. In the winter I don’t really care but in the summer I stick out like a sore thumb! I can’t go to the beach or on a boat without someone telling me how pale I am. I’ve tried self tanners before but they looked terrible, but since we’re in quarantine I thought I’d try this one out because of the reviews. it’s the best tanner I’ve tried, no streaking and it didn’t collect on my hands, knees, or feet. I have a nice subtle glow and I’m excited to try it out for summer and go out without feeling self conscious about being pale OR having a gross looking tan. If you feel exhausted by self tanners, give this one a try.“
Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
Best Drugstore Self Tanner
Why we like it:
- 1,800+ 5-star reviews on Amazon
- Moisturizes while enhancing your natural skin tone
- Can use daily for natural-looking, streak free tan
Jergens has been in the sunless tanner business for a long time and for good reason. The Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer easily makes self-tanning fit into your everyday routine. Replace your go-to body lotion with it and over the course of a few days you’ll begin developing a gorgeous, natural tan. It’s loaded with antioxidants like vitamin E and has plenty of hydration for your skin.
Promising review: “I really didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg on a tanning package this winter, as well as the drive time there and back home. So I looked for other options, and came across this lotion! WOW I am so happy I found it! Super affordable! And it stands on my night stand and I apply it with a rubber glove before bed. I feel like the rubber glove really helps get all the lotion in every crack and bump and leaves no streaks at all! I wake up looking like I just layed in the sun for an hour or so. Love this product so much!! Highly recommend it. It has no nasty smell and doesn’t feel sticky.“
Versa Spa Sunless Applicator
Best Tanning Mitt
Why we like it:
- Super soft, lightweight mitt
- Creates an airbrushed finish to the skin
- Machine washable
The secret to a flawless tan is using a mitt — promise! Using your hands can leave streaks, patches, and turn your palms and knuckles orange. This Versa Spa Sunless Applicator is easy to use. Even better, you can toss it in the wash to clean, unlike the disposable ones that you have to replace after several uses. Put your sunless tanning lotion or foam directly on the mitt and rub in circles, being mindful of blending any lines. If you’re using an oil or spray, we recommend spraying it on the skin rather than the mitt and blending from there. Use any leftover residue to lightly run over your fingers and toes to avoid a stark contrast. Some self-tanners can be used on both body and face, but you should stick to products made specifically for your face if you have sensitive skin.
Promising review: “The best mitt for self tanning hands down. I’ve used this for years. I worked at a tanning salon and we sold these and I have never been able to use the cheap ones from the store. The fact that they’re machine washable is a huge money saver and incredibly convenient!
