5 Best Self-Tanning Wipes Of 2025
Self-tanning wipes are becoming increasingly popular as people recognise the benefits of sunless tanning.
These wipes come pre-loaded with a high-quality sunless tanner, making it quick and easy to get a fantastic summer (or winter) glow.
In this article, I’m going to talk about the 5 absolute best self-tanning wipes that you can purchase in 2025.
Then I’ll go over them in more detail, explaining what they are and how you can use them effectively.
Let’s get right to it!
5 Best Self-Tanning Wipes
When it comes to purchasing self-tanning wipes, a wide variety of options are available. Although competition breeds better products, it also makes it difficult to determine which product is the best.
In this article, I aim to provide you with the information you really need to know. I took many things into account and spent many hours creating this list for you. Some, but not all, of the criteria I used were:
- Price
- Quality Of Self-Tanner
- Quality Of Wipe
- Ease Of Application
- Customer Reviews
- Can It Be Used On The Body And Face
And much more
Ok, now to the list.
1. Tan Towel Self-Tanning Towelette
You can’t have a list of the best self-tanner wipes without including Tan Towel.
Tan Towel manufactured and patented the very first self-tanning towelettes, completely revolutionising the sunless tanning industry.
Today, they still make some of the absolute best self-tanning wipes on the market, with these being their flagship product.
One thing I really like about Tan Towel is that they offer separate wipes for fair to medium skin and medium to dark skin tones.
So if you have naturally fairer skin, be sure to get their classic towelettes. Their classic towelettes contain just DHA, which is the most common self-tanning agent.
If you have medium-to-dark or olive skin, you should probably opt for their Tan Towel Plus, which contains both DHA and Erythrulose to help you achieve a naturally darker colour.
All of their products can be used for your entire body, including your face, which I really love. Be sure to look at the packaging when purchasing, as they offer both small and large towelettes.
The small wipe is intended to cover about 1/3 to 1/2 of your body. The large wipe is designed to cover your entire body from head to toe, and this is the option I prefer.
Like the Somerville wipe above, the Tan Towels don’t contain any guide colour, so you should be safe to use them right before bed.
This way, you won’t have to avoid other products and sunscreens for the 4–6 hours it takes for the tan to fully develop.
Tan Towel makes some of the absolute best self-tanning wipes on the market today; just be sure to get the right ones for you.
2. Somerville 360 Face And Body Self-Tanning Wipes/Towelettes By Kate Somerville
Kate Somerville is a renowned Hollywood skincare expert who has been caring for people’s skin for over 25 years. Her products are some of the absolute best on the market, and her tanning wipes are no exception.
The wipes are large, extremely easy to use, and feature a high-quality moisturising self-tanner that gradually darkens your skin to give it a natural-looking glow.
The self-tanner from these wipes applies evenly and gradually develops over the next 2–4 hours. The formula is specifically developed to complement any skin colour, so you don’t need to worry about where you start — you’ll still end up with a beautiful tan.
Some of my favourite things about this self-tanning towelette:
- The DHA (the chemical found in most self-tanners, which I’ve talked about before) is paraben-free
- Can be used on your body and your face (something you can’t do with all self-tanner wipes)
- Contains Vitamin E and cucumber to condition and soothe skin
- Dries quickly
The reviews for the Kate Somerville Self-Tanning wipes are extremely positive, with most people absolutely loving the colour they end up with, as well as how easy the wipes are to use.
If there was one consistent complaint, it was that the colour fades faster than lotions or mousses, requiring more applications.
However, you’ll realise, as we discuss self-tanner wipes further below, that this is very common.
Sunless tanning wipes and towelettes are really suited more for special events (where you’re looking for a consistent, beautiful colour that is easy to apply) or for travel.
Only because it is more cost-effective to get a bottle of a high-quality self-tanner than to use wipes every few days.
3. COMODYNES Self-Tanning Intensive Towels
The Comodynes self-tanning wipes are the most popular wipes in Europe, Asia, and South America, and for good reason. They are fairly inexpensive and provide a fantastic natural colour.
They have even been endorsed by a diverse range of celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Lindsay Lohan, Christina Applegate, and others.
The wipes are 100% natural viscose towelettes that are gentle and safe enough to use around the eyes. These can be used for the face, neck, cleavage, and entire body.
They should develop a deep, dark, streak-free tan within 2–4 hours.
They work for any skin colour or type, including sensitive skin, and are paraben-free.
The manufacturer claims that one application every 4 days should maintain the colour; however, this depends on the individual.
You may need to reapply more often than this to maintain a consistent colour.
The reviews for the Comodynes self-tanning wipes are incredible, as people absolutely fall in love with this product.
Although the brand is not yet as popular in the United States, I believe this quality self-tanning wipe will continue to gain popularity over time.
4. L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Body Towelettes
Alright, now let’s talk about a wipe from one of the major cosmetic companies, L’Oréal Paris.
They have been in the self-tanning wipes market for quite some time and have developed one of the highest-quality wipes on the market (although certainly not the cheapest).
The Sublime Bronze wipes are quite large, allowing you to cover a huge area with a single application.
They are non-tinted, so you don’t have to worry about guide colour getting on your clothes or sheets, and perhaps best yet, they dry extremely fast.
Just like the rest of the self-tanning towelettes in this guide, although these dry very fast, they are best applied right before bed, so that you wake up with a fantastic tan without worrying about streaking, blotching, or ruining the tan with other products.
It is essential to note that although some people use these wipes on their face, they are not intended for this purpose.
They are specifically designed for use on the body. They suggest picking up their sublime bronze serum to use on your face.
Although this combination will leave you with a great all-over tan, it does take away the convenience you achieve with just a wipe.
However, for a great, dark, smooth body tan, these wipes by L’Oréal Paris are absolutely one of the best on the market.
5. Ibiza Sun Organic Self Tanner, Self-Tanning Towelettes
These self-tanning wipes from Ibiza Sun are one of my favourites because they offer so much at such an affordable price.
They are a fantastic option for travelling, or for a quick tan before a festival, wedding, or other events.
They are also one of the most natural and eco-friendly sunless tanning towelettes on the market.
First of all, their self-tanner is extremely gentle on the skin. The formula they use is paraben-free, contains organic DHA, and also features Aloe Vera and Chamomile to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.
The self-tanner is suitable for all skin types and genders. Also, unlike some wipes on the market, these can be used for your entire body, including your face.
The self-tanner is also completely odourless and non-tinted, so your skin isn’t left with a weird smell, and the colour won’t be left on your sheets or clothes.
The wipes themselves are extremely soft and well-moisturised, making application a breeze.
Overall, although Ibiza Sun may not be the largest brand on the market, they make a fantastic self-tanning towelette that is easy for anyone to use.
Alright, now that we’ve reviewed the 5 best self-tanning wipes on the market today, let’s delve into a bit more detail about how to use them.
How To Use Self-Tanning Wipes
For the most part, you’ll want to follow similar steps to those for any other self-tanner, such as exfoliation and moisturising.
However, let’s walk through it step by step so you know just what to do.
Step 1 – Clean And Exfoliate
If you’ve read many of the other advice articles here on goodlookingtan.com, then you’ve probably read about how self-tanner works.
Essentially, though, most self-tanners contain an ingredient called dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which chemically reacts with the amino acids in dead skin cells, causing them to darken in colour and produce a tan.
If your body has excess dead skin cells when you use self-tanner, it can cause the tan to look uneven and blotchy.
The first thing you want to do is exfoliate with a body scrub, preferably in the shower. This will also allow you to get your skin nice and clean.
Be sure to pay close attention to the areas that tend to be rougher, such as your knees, elbows, wrists, and ankles, as these tend to absorb colour faster.
These areas are what give beginners the most trouble, as the nature of the skin can cause them to look a bit off if they are not properly cleansed, exfoliated, and moisturised.
This step is also a great chance to get a shave in if you’d like. Since the self-tanner resides on the outer layer of your skin, shaving after using it can cause the colour to fade faster and unevenly.
So, if you plan to shave in the next 3 or 4 days, it’s best to do it before using a self-tanning wipe.
Step 2 – Moisturise
I don’t want to go into too much detail here, as I recently wrote up a whole guide on why moisturising before using self-tanner is so important. However, I do want to cover the basics.
After you’ve gotten out of the shower or completed your cleansing and exfoliation process, you’ll want to quickly apply a hydrating moisturiser to your whole body.
Again, pay close attention to the dry areas, such as your knees, elbows, wrists, and ankles.
Since these areas tend to be drier, they also tend to absorb more self-tanner, resulting in a darker appearance. Moisturising them thoroughly will help give you an even tan all over.
For these tough areas, especially, I really like to use St. Tropez Tan Enhancing Moisturiser; however, any quality moisturiser will do the job.
Step 3 – Use Your Self-Tanning Wipe Of Choice
Alright, now to actually apply our self-tanner.
Go ahead and take the towelette or wipe out of its pouch, and spread it all the way out. You don’t want to use it bunched up or folded, as this can cause the self-tanner to be applied unevenly.
In small circles, apply the self-tanner to your entire body. (I know, this is getting old) Make sure to quickly wipe over the areas we discussed above, as we want to apply slightly less colour to these areas to achieve an even tan.
Don’t forget about the backs of your hands and feet, as people sometimes forget these areas. However, like your knees and wrists, your hands and feet tend to absorb moisture more quickly, so use the wipe sparingly.
Step 4 – Wash Your Hands!
Skip this step if you used gloves.
It’s really important that you wash your hands right afterwards, so they don’t absorb too much self-tanner and end up darker than the rest of your skin.
Just quickly rinse them with some soap, and you should be good to go.
Step 5 – Let It Dry
It’s really important to let the self-tanner fully dry. This allows the colouring to complete evenly, and you won’t end up with any streaks or blotches. If you’re looking for ways to speed up this process, you can refer to my article on making fake tan dry faster.
After it’s dried completely (probably 10–15 minutes), put on some loose, preferably dark, clothing or pyjamas so that you won’t rub the tan weirdly, and no colour will come off onto your clothes.
Many people choose to use self-tanner right before going to bed to make this process easier.
If you wake up the next morning and you’re not satisfied with the colour, you can use another sunless tanning wipe to darken the colour a bit.
Once you’ve found the perfect shade for you, take a few days to enjoy it. Once it has faded, start the process over!
Self-Tanning Towelette Tips
Self-tanning wipes are a fantastic resource, especially if you’re on the go. Here are a few additional tips and questions I thought I would address to help you out!
How To Use Tan Towels
Tan Towels were the first self-tanner wipes on the market, and are still one of the absolute best. The most important thing to know about Tan Towels is that:
- They have two different shades. Classic is for fairer skin, while Plus is designed for darker or more olive skin tones.
- They offer both half-body and full-body sizes. I’ve had some people order the smaller wipe and use it on their entire body, only to feel as though it didn’t work. Be sure to check the size you are ordering.
Other than that, Tan Towels work just the same as any other sunless tanning wipe, so simply follow the 5-step instructions I outlined above.
Can You Use L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Wipes On Your Face?
Although some users apply this product to their face, the manufacturer does not recommend it, as it is intended only for the body. L’Oréal Paris suggests using their wipes on your body and their Sublime Bronze Serum for your face. This will give you a matching, full-body tan.
How To Apply Self-Tan Towelettes Without Streaks
Think of a self-tanning wipe as you would a self-tanning lotion, but with the added convenience of a quality mitt.
There isn’t too much you will do differently from this process.
To achieve a streak-free, even tan after using self-tanning towelettes, closely follow the 5 steps listed above, as well as the individual instructions on the packaging of your wipes.
This will ensure you end up with the highest quality tan.
Final Thoughts
Self-Tanning Towelettes are one of my favourite products and my go-to for maintaining a beautiful glow while travelling.
They are compact, effective, and provide a fantastic tan without the need for a large bottle or mitt.
They are also quick and easy, making them great for applying right before a wedding, festival, or any other event.
Be sure to choose the right self-tanning wipe for your skin type and needs.
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