Editor’s note (updated October 2026): we first published this list in 2011. Three of the five are still made. Becca closed in 2021 and NARS no longer makes the South Beach shade of The Multiple, so we have marked both and added how to choose a bronzer and apply self-tan today.
Summer’s currency is glow. Five products that deliver bronze without the orange tax, plus how to pick a bronzer and a self-tan that suit your skin.
The five
- Benefit Hoola. The matte bronzer that defined the category, and still one of the best-known bronzers around. Because it is matte, it reads as warmth rather than shine. Sweep it where the sun naturally hits: temples, the tops of the cheekbones and along the jawline.
- St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse. The self-tan we trust for the body. It goes on tinted, so you can see where you have been, develops over a few hours, and fades evenly.
- Becca Bronze Body Lotion (discontinued). Our everyday tinted lotion that built color gradually. Becca closed in 2021, so look for a gradual-tan body lotion instead: it builds a little color each day and is the most forgiving way into self-tan.
- NARS The Multiple in South Beach (shade discontinued). The cream stick with bronze shimmer that worked on cheeks, eyes and collarbones. South Beach is no longer made, but the idea still works with any sheer, shimmery cream bronzer stick, warmed on the fingertips and tapped on.
- Guerlain Terracotta. The original luxury bronzing powder, launched in the 1980s and still the one others are compared to. The splurge of the five, with the shade range to match.
Bronzer or self-tan: which do you need?
Bronzer is makeup: it adds warmth to the face for the day and washes off at night. Self-tan is a color change in the very top layer of the skin: it develops over a few hours and fades over about a week as that layer renews. Most people do best with one of each, a self-tan or gradual lotion for the body and a bronzer for the face, where you want more control.
How to avoid the orange tax
- Go one or two shades deeper than your skin, no more. The goal is to look like you have been outside, not like a different skin tone.
- Match the undertone. Fair, cool skin suits softer, more neutral bronzers; warmer and deeper skin can take richer, redder tones.
- Matte for the face, shimmer only for highlights. A matte bronzer looks most like a real tan; save shimmer for the tops of the cheekbones.
- Use a big, fluffy brush and build it up. Tap off the excess first. It is easier to add than to take away.
How to apply self-tan without streaks
- Exfoliate, and shave or wax, a day ahead so your skin is smooth and settled.
- Moisturize the dry spots (knees, elbows, ankles and wrists) right before applying so they do not grab extra color.
- Apply with a mitt in long, sweeping strokes, working in sections.
- Blend what is left on the mitt over your hands and feet, then wipe your palms and the sides of your fingers.
- Let it develop fully before you shower, and moisturize daily so it fades evenly.
One more rule: a self-tan is not sun protection. Wear sunscreen as usual.
The verdict
Pick two, one for the face and one for the body, and rotate. Hoola and the St. Tropez mousse are still the easiest place to start; Guerlain Terracotta is the one to treat yourself to.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between bronzer and self-tan?
Bronzer is makeup that adds warmth for the day and washes off at night. Self-tan reacts with the top layer of the skin to create color that develops over a few hours and fades over about a week.
How do you stop bronzer from looking orange?
Choose a shade only one or two shades deeper than your skin, match your undertone, use a matte formula on the face, and build it up slowly with a large, fluffy brush.
Does self-tan protect you from the sun?
No. A self-tan does not give meaningful sun protection, so keep wearing sunscreen as usual.
Is Becca Bronze Body Lotion still available?
No. Becca Cosmetics closed in 2021. A gradual-tan body lotion is the closest substitute: it builds a little color each day and is very forgiving.