5 Best Face Self-Tanners For Acne Prone Skin

The face tanners that behave on acne-prone skin are the oil-free, dermatologist-tested, fragrance-free ones, and the one I reach for is the Coola face serum. A serum or a clear water sits on the skin far more lightly than a cream does, and that is most of the battle.

In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know to choose the best self-tanner for you.

I’ll also explain why some tanners are better for acne-prone skin than others and what to look for and avoid.

There are a ton of self-tanning products on the market today, so it can be hard to know what to look for.

In this article, I’ll review my 5 favorite fake tanners for acne-prone skin.

Then, I’ll go into a bit of a buyer’s guide of what you should be looking for and how to use it. I’ll also go over tips on how to apply it properly.

Ok, let’s get right into it.

The Best Face Tanners For Acne-Prone Skin

Okay, so when we’re considering purchasing a good facial tanner for our skin, there are almost a ridiculous number of products out there.

This can make it really hard to know what to even look for. Do I need a lotion, a mousse, a wipe, etc?

So in this list, I’m going to try to just list out my absolute best recommendations for you. I took a ton of things into account over the many hours I wrote this article.

Some, but not all, of the criteria I used in ranking were:

• Price
• Quality
• Type of Self-Tanner
• Easy To Apply
• How It Affects Acne
• Customer Reviews

Alright, enough boring stuff, let’s get to the list.

1. Coola Suncare Organic Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum

An amazing facial serum that works extremely well for acne-prone skin: the Coola Suncare serum is a gradual self-tanner.

It’s made of 70%+ organic products and is extremely high quality.

Unlike some facial tanners, this is meant to be an everyday, gradual self-tanner.

On top of that, it’s also an anti-aging serum with ingredients like Argan oil, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic acid.

You don’t have to plan when you want the perfect facial tan or worry about how often you need to reapply this product; you can just apply it each day.

It will leave your face looking and feeling amazing. Although the tan can last up to three days, it works great as an everyday application.

Like the Tan-Luxe, this facial self-tanner can be used alone or added to your favorite lotion or moisturizer.

So, if you’ve already found a product that works well for your skin and doesn’t cause you to break out, just add a few drops of this to it for a perfect tan.

Or, if you want to use it by itself, simply cleanse your face and apply it directly to your face and neck in upward strokes.

The bottom line is this is one of the absolute best self-tanners on the market for faces with acne, or that are prone to acne, so go ahead and give it a try and see how well it works for your skin.

2. St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist

St. Tropez retired the Bronzing Face Lotion, so the face product it sells now is this Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist. Same brand that makes my favourite body tanner, which is the point: if you already use that one, this is the matching face version.

A clear water is a better shape than a cream for skin that breaks out. Nothing heavy sits on the surface, and it is formulated with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, so it is hydrating rather than occlusive.

It is at 4.4 stars across more than 9,200 reviews.

3. Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

This is not an inexpensive product, but stay with me for a moment. There is a reason it tops my list.

One problem we face when finding a good self-tanner for our face that won’t cause acne is that many of the lotions available on the market clog our pores.

This only accelerates the problem.

So, not only is this one of the absolute best facial tanners on the market, period, but it’s also unique in the way it works.

Instead of the pre-blended lotion you often find, this is a serum that can be added to your favorite lotion, moisturizer, face serum, or oil.

So, if you’ve already found products that work really well for you and don’t clog your pores, just add a few drops of this for a fantastic and beautiful facial tan that won’t cause acne.

It may take an application or two to get used to this, but I promise it’s incredibly easy to use.

Another great thing? Since it only takes a few drops for each application, this small bottle will last you far longer than your normal bottle of self-tanner.

Also, since you’re only applying it to your face, it can last you an extremely long time.

Many people that have purchased this have also mentioned how beautiful and natural their tan looked.

In fact, some people have had trouble getting their faces to match their bodies with normal full-body tanners.

One reason for this is that many of these products are not specifically designed to tan the face, where the skin acts and reacts much differently than other parts of our body.

If you have acne-prone skin, I strongly believe that this is the best facial self-tanner for you, and I’d really encourage you to give it a try.

Luckily, you can pick it up on Amazon and have it at your door in just a few days.

4. Clarins Self Tanning Face Booster

This stuff is absolutely fantastic.

Clarins has been in the self-tanning game for a long time, and they’ve mastered formulas that give you a subtle, natural glow without messing with your skin.

Worth stating plainly: this one sits at 4.1 stars across 517 reviews. Clarins renamed it from the Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster, so if you bought the old bottle, this is the same drops-in-your-moisturiser product under a new name.

You’re probably seeing a trend that most of these products are serums. Well, this is for good reason.

Serums like these don’t tend to cause breakouts or flare-ups with acne.

On top of that, these self-tanners can be added to your favorite products that you’ve already found to work with your skin. 

So, if you have acne-prone skin, these are the sunless tanning products you want to try.  

A 100% safe formula, Clarins Self Tanning Face Booster contains DHA (we’ll discuss this more below) and Erythrulose to give you a fantastic, natural-looking tan that won’t bother your skin.

This product is a bit more affordable than the other two options on the list, so if you’re interested in trying one of these self-tanners to see how it reacts with your skin, this could be a good one to start with.

5. Tanologist Self Tan Water (Medium)

Tanwise discontinued the face gel, and this is what I would put in its place. Tanologist’s tan water is the same idea and the same kind of price: no colour guide, no thick base, nothing sitting on your skin to clog anything.

You wipe it on with a mitt or a cotton pad and it develops over a few hours. Because it is clear, there is no makeup-style tint on your face while it works.

It is at 4.4 stars across more than 2,200 reviews.

How To Apply Self Tanner To An Acne-Prone Face

When we’re using self-tanner on our body, even if we’re following a great self-tanning routine, there is a little room for error.

When we apply self-tanner to our faces, we want it to look perfect.
If our skin is prone to acne, we need our game to be even more honed.

First of all, it’s really important that you thoroughly clean your face with a sulfate-free cleanser before (and after) you use any sunless tanning product.

This will ensure that our skin has a proper pH balance.
Also, sulfates on our skin can tend to mess with the DHA (the chemical that causes the tan) and cause blotchiness and uneven coloring.

If you need to wash your face within a few hours of applying the self-tanner, try to just use warm water.

I suggest you apply the self-tanner right before you go to bed so it has plenty of time to fully develop the glow it is intended to give you.

Don’t just skip cleansing your face because we really don’t want breakouts to happen!

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a face tanner good for acne-prone skin?

Self-tanners that are oil-free, dermatologist-tested and fragrance-free are the best for acne-prone skin. Some do contain beneficial oils and natural fragrances that will not aggravate acne, so read the ingredient labels carefully rather than going by the front of the bottle.

Should I wash my face before using a self-tanner?

Yes, and after. Clean your face thoroughly with a sulfate-free cleanser before and after you use any sunless tanning product, so your skin has a proper pH balance. Sulfates on the skin interfere with the DHA that creates the tan and cause blotchiness and uneven colour.

When is the best time to apply a face self-tanner?

Right before bed. That gives it plenty of time to fully develop the glow it is meant to give you, with nothing rubbing it off in the meantime.

Can I wash my face after applying self-tanner?

If you need to wash within a few hours of applying, use warm water only and skip the cleanser. Washing properly too soon lifts the product before the DHA has finished reacting.

Why are serums and tan waters better than creams for acne-prone skin?

Serums and clear waters do not tend to cause breakouts or flare-ups the way heavier formulas can, and drop-style tanners can be mixed into products you have already found that work with your skin, so you are not introducing a whole new base.

Related Articles

Does Fake Tan Cause Acne and Breakouts?

The 5 Best Self-Tanners For Dry Skin

The 5 Best Tan Accelerators for Pale Skin

If a cream still feels like too much product for your face, self-tanning drops let you dilute the tanner into a moisturizer you already trust.