5 Best Self-Tanners For Covering Stretch Marks
If you want stretch marks to disappear under a tan, reach for a buildable self-tanning mousse and go slowly with it. The pale lines take color differently than the skin around them, so one heavy coat of a dark instant bronzer usually makes them more obvious rather than less.
Stretch marks turn up after weight changes, growth spurts, hormone shifts and pregnancy, and once they’re there, they’re there for life. Self-tanner doesn’t change that, and I’d be suspicious of any product that says it can. What it does is stain the dead skin on the surface, pale lines included, so the contrast drops far enough that you stop noticing them.
I’ll start by showing you the self-tanning products I think work really well for covering stretch marks, and then I’ll walk you through exactly how to use these products to cover and minimize the appearance of stretch marks.
Let’s jump right in.
The Best Self-Tanners For Stretch Marks
Most of us have stretch marks somewhere on our bodies. These are the best self-tanners to cover them up!
1. Bondi Sands 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam
This is the express foam I reach for first when stretch marks are the problem. You leave it on an hour for a light result or three for a dark one, and that control is the whole point when you’re working over pale lines.
The foam goes on tinted, so you can see exactly where it has landed. That matters here. Miss a patch and you end up with a hard edge right where you were trying to blur one.
It’s also fragrance free, which is rarer in this category than it should be.
Build it in thin coats instead of one heavy pass. That’s the same advice I’d give anyone evening out discoloration from vitiligo. Go slow and let the color stack.
One bottle has lasted me most of a summer of touch-ups.
2. St. Tropez Classic Self Tanner
St. Tropez is one of the leading self-tanners on the market, and for good reason. I like this mousse formula the best, but there are also lotion options available.
The classic formula can be left on anywhere between 4 and 8 hours after application.
When applied in a circular motion, it is streak-free and amazing at covering up discoloration, including stretch marks (and even vitiligo).
It’s a great option for any skin tone, even fair complexions. For fair-skinned beauties,
I recommend starting with the 4-hour application first. You can apply this self-tanner daily until you achieve the desired results.
It is a great self-tanner for layering, allowing you to reapply in areas where you want more coverage. Just be sure to blend well.
3. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs
For most of us, stretch marks appear on the upper thighs and the backside.
With the Sally Hansen tanning airbrush, the product is designed to give you airbrushed, perfect-looking legs.
The tan gives great coverage to freckles, veins, bruises, and stretch marks. With proper application, you will be left with a streak-free tan that is water and transfer-resistant.
The product itself is really lightweight, making it comfortable to use and wear. It is enriched with added Palmaria Extract, which helps cover stretch marks.
There are different intensity tans to choose from, allowing you to match your skin type and achieve the desired tan, along with flawless, evenly tanned legs.
4. Skinerals Self-Tanner Sunless Bronzer
The Skinerals Self-Tanner Sunless Bronzer is a safe and effective way to achieve a self-tan.
It is safe for use all over the body, including the face, giving your skin a natural and consistent tan.
All ingredients are cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, and vegan. It is incredibly gentle on your skin.
The resultant tan lasts for up to 7 days, giving you enough time to enjoy your sun-kissed glow, without setting foot in the sun!
Thanks to its natural and gentle formulation, it is wonderful to use over stretch marks, causing no harm but instead soothing and hydrating the skin as the tan develops, and for days after.
It uses natural ingredients whenever possible, opting for organic ones over non-organic ones. This is the safest option for a beautiful, sunless tan that gives your skin a rejuvenated look.
5. b.tan Self Tanner
The b.tan Self Tanner is another express option for covering stretch marks quickly. This 1-hour tan mousse is vegan, 100% natural DHA, and paraben-free.
This is their most mellow tan, meaning that darker formulas are also available. I chose to include the ‘Get Tanned‘ formula on this list because it’s perfect for beginners or those who want a sun-kissed look.
Tanning gurus can check out all of b.tan’s color options.
You really have to make sure you blend this formula, especially over your stretch marks.
This is a more finicky self-tanner and can accent your stretch marks if not applied correctly. Since stretch marks can vary in color (from lighter to darker), I recommend this self-tanner for dark stretch marks.
If your stretch marks are silvery-white, then I think the St. Tropez Express Mousse is your best option, built up slowly.
How Self-Tanner Covers Stretch Marks
Self-tanner will not permanently cover or cause stretch marks to disappear, but it can help lessen their appearance for a short while.
DHA is an active ingredient in self-tanner. The DHA works by reacting with the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin, the epidermis.
Over a period of a few hours, the DHA causes the skin to darken, resulting in a sunless tan.
This process helps cover the appearance of stretch marks, but it needs to be done carefully.
Applying too much self-tanner over stretch marks, and not over the rest of the body, will result in them being more pronounced.
The trick is to cover the areas evenly and then touch up the smaller areas later on if needed.
How To Use Self-Tanner to Reduce the Appearance of Stretch Marks
Applying self-tanner to cover stretch marks is relatively easy. You need the right tools and the right self-tanning product.
Be patient with the process, it might take a few tries to get it perfect. Each person’s skin reacts differently to self-tanner, especially when applying it over scar tissue.
What you need
- Makeup brush
- Moisturizer
- Face cloth
- Towel
- Self-tanner
- Cotton rounds
1. Using warm water, lightly dampen the face cloth. Use a wet face cloth to rub your skin in small circular motions gently.
This will gently exfoliate your skin, removing any dead skin cells or product buildup. This will create a clean canvas for applying self-tanner evenly to your skin.
2. Apply the self-tanner to your skin, starting with your feet and legs. Work your way up in circular motions.
Starting at your legs prevents you from bending over to finish your bottom half with self-tanner still wet on your stomach, which can cause streaks.
When applying self-tanner to areas with stretch marks, be sure to apply it evenly to the entire skin. Just applying self-tanner to the stretch marks might make them stand out even more.
3. When applying to your feet, extend the self-tanner from your ankles to your feet, and for your hands, extend the self-tanner from your wrists to your hands. This allows it to blend in evenly.
4. Put some self-tanner on a cotton round and use it to lightly cover stretch marks, especially if the stretch marks are white or very light.
If you can still see the stretch marks after the self-tanner has dried, you can try applying a little more in the same way.
5. With a wet face cloth, gently wipe your knees, ankles, and elbows. These areas tend to darken and absorb more color than the rest of the body due to being dry and having a buildup of dead skin cells.
6. Let the self-tanner dry for the right amount of time before getting dressed. Avoid strenuous activity for the next couple of hours, as it may cause you to sweat and interfere with your tan.
Depending on the self-tanning lotion you have used, you will need to reapply your tan in a week or so to maintain your summer glow.
Some people opt for a gradual tanning lotion, which allows them to maintain their sunless tan by applying a moisturizing bronzer daily.
This helps you avoid the need to reapply every couple of weeks and is a great way to achieve the exact intensity of tan you want.
It is essential to exfoliate before applying self-tanning products, as a build-up of dead skin cells can cause certain areas to tan darker or appear streaky – something none of us wants!
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to go to extremes to cover up your stretch marks. Forget plastic surgery and invasive products, instead, use a trusted and gentle self-tanning lotion to cover up your stretch marks.
Not only will it give you the confidence of having flawless skin, but you will have an incredible summer tan, without having to spend any time in the sun further damaging your skin. It is a win-win!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does self-tanner permanently cover stretch marks?
No. Self-tanner won’t permanently cover stretch marks or make them disappear, but it does lessen how visible they are for a while. The DHA in the tanner reacts with the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin, and over a few hours that layer darkens into a sunless tan.
Why do my stretch marks look worse after self-tanning?
Usually because the tanner went onto the marks and not onto everything around them. Too much product on the stretch marks and not enough on the rest of your body leaves them more pronounced than before. Cover the whole area evenly, then touch up the smaller spots later if you still need to.
Do I need to exfoliate first?
Yes. Dampen a face cloth with warm water and rub your skin in small circular motions first. That lifts dead skin cells and product buildup and leaves you a clean canvas. Skip it and the built-up areas grab more color, so you get patches that tan darker or go streaky.
Where should I start applying self-tanner?
Start at your feet and legs, then work your way up in circular motions. Starting low keeps you from bending over to finish your bottom half while there’s still wet tanner on your stomach, which is exactly how streaks happen. Extend the tanner from your ankles onto your feet and from your wrists onto your hands so nothing stops in a hard line.
How often do I have to reapply?
About once a week for most self-tanning lotions. The other route is a gradual tanning lotion, where you apply a moisturizing bronzer daily and top the color up as you go. It saves you the reapplication every couple of weeks and lets you land on the exact depth of tan you want.
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