5 Best Self-Tanners For Covering Stretch Marks
Self-tanner can make stretch marks less noticeable by softening the color contrast, but it cannot remove them or smooth their texture. Start with a light, even application and check the fully developed result before adding more. A darker tan is not always better camouflage.
Stretch marks can appear after growth spurts, pregnancy or changes in body size. They are a type of scar and often fade with time, although the lines can remain visible. Their color and texture vary, so the same self-tanner will not blend them equally well on everyone.
Below are five options for making stretch marks less noticeable, including four self-tanners and one wash-off leg makeup. You’ll also find practical application tips to help you avoid patchy color.
For a last-minute event, wash-off body makeup gives immediate coverage you can adjust as you apply it. A developing self-tanner is more useful if you want color that lasts beyond your next shower.
The Best Self-Tanners For Stretch Marks
The useful features to look for are a visible guide color, an application time that fits your routine and a shade you can control. These picks offer different ways to add color; none treats stretch marks.
1. Bondi Sands 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam
Best for a shorter wait before rinsing. Bondi Sands gives you a choice of rinse times: one hour for a light result, two for medium or three for a deeper tan. That flexibility helps when you want to start subtly.
The tinted foam helps you see where you have applied it. Blend it across the whole area, including the surrounding skin, rather than tracing individual stretch marks.
Bondi Sands describes this formula as having no added fragrance. That may appeal if you prefer to avoid scented tanners, but it still needs a patch test.
For your first application, try the lightest rinse time allowed on the bottle. Let that result develop completely before deciding whether you want more depth. Layering extra foam onto pale lines can leave uneven patches.
The color continues developing for 6 to 8 hours after the guide tint is rinsed away. A one-hour rinse does not mean you are seeing the finished tan one hour after applying it.
2. St. Tropez Classic Self Tanner
Best for a classic tinted mousse. St. Tropez Classic Bronzing Mousse is an option if you prefer to see a guide color while blending and can allow several hours for the tan to develop.
St. Tropez describes a 4 to 8-hour development window for its Classic range. Follow the instructions on your bottle, since this is a different formula from the Express mousse.
Blend evenly with a mitt using the motions recommended on the label. Careful application helps reduce streaks, but it cannot guarantee that stretch marks disappear. For another pigmentation concern, see our guide to self-tanners for vitiligo.
For fair skin or a subtle result, test a small area before committing to a full application. Check whether the developed shade suits both your skin tone and the contrast around your marks.
If your bottle allows a four-hour rinse, that can be a starting point for a lighter result. Do not reapply simply because the guide color looks pale after rinsing; give the tan time to finish developing.
One drawback is that the formula contains fragrance. Check the ingredients if scented products bother your skin, and avoid repeated full applications before you have assessed the first result.
3. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs (Wash-Off Leg Makeup)
Best for immediate coverage on the legs. If you want to soften the look of thigh or leg stretch marks for an occasion, Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs offers a different approach from the developing tanners on this list.
Airbrush Legs is wash-off leg makeup, rather than a DHA self-tanner. Its pigments provide coverage straight away, so you can see and adjust the finish without waiting overnight.
Sally Hansen describes it as water and transfer resistant. That does not mean transfer is impossible, so let it dry fully and check before it comes into contact with light clothing.
For the spray version shown, shake the can and dispense the product into your hand before smoothing it over your legs. Allow at least 60 seconds to dry before dressing, and wash your hands afterward.
Choose a shade close to the skin you want to match. Start with a thin layer and blend the edges well. It can soften color differences, but raised or indented lines may still show, and the coverage needs reapplying after removal.
4. Skinerals Self-Tanner Sunless Bronzer
Best if you can leave the tan to develop overnight. Skinerals Californium Sunless Bronzer is a tinted mousse, so the guide color helps you spot areas you have missed.
The brand lists it for face and body use. If you use a DHA tanner on your face, keep it away from the eye area and lips, and follow the product instructions.
The ingredient list includes fragrance. Natural or plant-based ingredients do not guarantee that a product will suit sensitive skin, so check the formula and patch-test first.
As with other developing self-tanners, the color fades over several days. How long it looks even depends on your skin, washing routine and preparation, rather than whether you have stretch marks.
Skinerals advises waiting at least four hours before showering or sweating, with 8 to 12 hours before getting wet for its preferred result. This makes it less convenient than an express foam when you need to rinse soon.
Use an even coat across the whole area. This mousse can add surface color, but it will not repair stretch marks or fill their texture. Avoid applying it to irritated or broken skin.
5. b.tan Self Tanner
Best for an express mousse option. The b.tan Get Tanned formula is marketed as a one-hour self-tan mousse. Follow the rinse instructions on the bottle rather than assuming all b.tan shades have the same timing.
The Get Tanned formula is one option in the range, and darker formulas are also available. Choose the shade for the overall result you want, rather than buying the darkest version to cover pale lines.
You can compare b.tan’s color options if you prefer a different depth of tan.
Use a mitt and blend across the entire area, including the skin between the marks. Avoid letting product collect in creases or applying extra mousse to each line.
There is no reason to choose this mousse solely because your stretch marks are dark. A self-tanner adds brown color; it does not reliably cancel out red, purple or darker tones. Test the finished shade before a full application.
For silvery-white marks, start with a subtle result from a formula whose timing you can control, such as Bondi Sands Express or St. Tropez Classic. If the contrast increases, more self-tanner may not help; wash-off makeup gives you a more adjustable alternative.
Can Self-Tanner Cover Stretch Marks?
Self-tanner offers temporary camouflage, not permanent coverage. It may make the color difference less noticeable, but the underlying scar and its texture remain.
Dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is the tanning ingredient in many self-tanners. It reacts with amino acids in the outermost layer of dead skin cells, called the stratum corneum, to produce a brown color.
That color develops over several hours and gradually fades as surface skin cells shed. The guide tint in a mousse is separate from this developed color, which is why your tan can look lighter immediately after the first rinse.
Here, covering means softening the appearance of color differences. Self-tanner does not provide opaque coverage like makeup or remove the lines. Moisturizer can help with dryness, but it does not erase stretch marks either.
Stretch marks and the surrounding skin may take up color differently. If the skin between pale marks becomes much darker, the lines can look more obvious. Too much product in one spot can also create uneven color.
The most useful first step is a small-area test. Apply the product across a patch that includes both a mark and nearby skin, then assess it after the full development time. This shows whether the tan actually reduces contrast on you.
How To Use Self-Tanner to Reduce the Appearance of Stretch Marks
Use the steps below for developing DHA self-tanners. If you choose Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs, follow its makeup application directions instead; it does not need the same development or rinse schedule.
Patch-test as directed on the label before a full application. A color test also helps you choose a shade. Do not apply tanner to damaged or inflamed skin, and stop using it if irritation develops.
What you need
- Tanning mitt, plus an optional clean makeup brush for blending edges
- Lightweight moisturizer, if recommended by the tanner
- Soft face cloth
- Clean towel
- Self-tanner in your chosen shade
- Clean cotton rounds for lifting excess product
1. Prepare gently. Dampen a soft face cloth with warm water and use light circular motions to remove surface buildup. You do not need to scrub the stretch marks themselves.
Pat your skin completely dry with a towel. If the label recommends it, apply a small amount of moisturizer to dry areas such as knees, elbows and ankles. Avoid a heavy all-over layer just before tanning unless the product directions call for it.
2. Apply in sections. Start with your legs and work upward, using a tanning mitt to spread an even layer. Follow the product’s recommended blending motion.
Starting at your legs helps you avoid bending over to finish your lower body while the tanner on your stomach is still wet. That can reduce smudges and streaks.
For an area with stretch marks, cover the whole section evenly. Do not paint a stripe of tanner along each mark or leave the skin between the lines untreated.
3. Blend onto hands and feet. Use the small amount left on your mitt to extend color from your wrists and ankles. A lighter application here helps avoid a sharp edge or overly dark knuckles and toes.
4. Check for excess before it dries. If product has pooled in a crease, lightly lift the excess with a clean cotton round and blend the edge. Avoid repeatedly adding more product to pale marks.
Touch-dry is not the same as fully developed. Wait for the complete development time, including any development after rinsing, before judging the color. If marks remain visible, do not assume another spot coat will conceal them.
5. Soften color over joints. If you have applied too much to knees, ankles or elbows, lightly dab with a barely damp cloth to lift the excess. Keep the touch gentle rather than wiping off the surrounding tan.
6. Let it dry and follow the rinse time. Wash your hands after application, especially around the palms and nails. Once the tanner is dry, wear loose clothing and avoid water and sweating during the development period specified on the bottle.
After development and rinsing, moisturize regularly to help keep dry areas comfortable. Top up when the color fades, often around a week later, rather than automatically applying another full coat each day.
A gradual tanning lotion is another option if you prefer small increases in color. Unlike a wash-off bronzer, a DHA gradual tanner develops on the skin. Use it at the frequency recommended on its label.
If the old tan becomes patchy, let it fade and gently remove uneven buildup before starting again. Layering fresh product over dark patches can make the unevenness harder to blend.
Our guide to exfoliating before self-tanning explains preparation in more detail. Keep exfoliation gentle and avoid scrubbing irritated skin; rough treatment will not smooth away stretch marks.
Final Thoughts
If you want to make stretch marks less visible, choose a product that fits your schedule and desired finish. A developing mousse gives longer-lasting surface color, while wash-off leg makeup provides more immediate, adjustable coverage.
Stretch marks are common, and you do not need to cover them. If you prefer to, aim for a softer color contrast rather than completely hidden lines. Gentle skin care can help dryness, but neither lotion nor self-tanner removes the scars.
A self-tan does not replace sun protection. Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin. Trying to hide the marks with sunbathing or tanning beds can make them more noticeable and exposes your skin to UV damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does self-tanner permanently cover stretch marks?
No. A self-tanner may make stretch marks less noticeable for a few days, but it cannot remove the scars or smooth their texture. DHA adds color to the outermost skin layer. Wash-off body makeup offers a different type of coverage and needs reapplying after removal.
Why do my stretch marks look worse after self-tanning?
Stretch marks and nearby skin may take up color differently. If the surrounding skin darkens more, pale lines can stand out. Uneven application or excess product can also leave patches. Let the tan finish developing before judging it, and avoid repeatedly spot-coating the marks.
Do I need to exfoliate first?
Gentle exfoliation can help remove surface buildup before self-tanning. Use a soft cloth without scrubbing the stretch marks, follow the product’s preparation instructions and dry your skin fully. Avoid exfoliating or tanning over broken or irritated skin.
Where should I start applying self-tanner?
Starting with your legs and working upward can reduce smudges from bending over wet tanner. Apply in sections, cover the whole area around the marks and use only leftover product on hands and feet. Wash your hands afterward to avoid stained palms.
How often do I have to reapply?
A developing self-tan fades over several days, so you may want a top-up around a week later. The timing depends on the formula and your routine. Use gradual tanning lotion as its label directs, and reapply wash-off leg makeup after it has been removed.
Related Articles
Does Spray Tan Cover Stretch Marks?
5 Best Self-Tanners To Cover Vitiligo
Can You Still Tan With Self Tanner On?
Skin-care references: American Academy of Dermatology guidance on stretch marks, how to apply self-tanner and FDA guidance on sunless tanners and bronzers. Always follow the directions on your own product for testing, application and rinse times.
