Self-tanning wipes are becoming increasingly popular as people recognize 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 2020. Then I’m going to go over in more detail 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, there is a wide variety of selection out there. Although competition breeds better products, it also makes it really hard to know what the best product is.
So in this article, I really want to do my best to inundate you with just the information you really need to know. I took many things into account, and many hours, to create 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 Body And Face
And much more
Ok, now to the list.
1. Tan Towel Self-Tanning Towelette
Get it on Amazon.
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, and completely revolutionized 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 have separate wipes for fair to medium skin, and medium to dark skin.
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, then you should probably get their Tan Towel Plus, which contains both DHA and Erythrulose to help you achieve a naturally darker color.
All of their products can be used for your whole body, including your face which I really love. Be sure when you’re purchasing them that you look at the packaging, as they have both a small and large towelette. The small wipe is intended to only do about 1/3 to 1/2 of your body. The large wipe is intended to do your entire body from head to toe, and this is the option I really like.
Like the Somerville wipe up above, the Tan Towel’s don’t contain any guide color, so you should be safe to just use them right before bed. This way you won’t have to avoid other products and sunscreens for the 4-6 hours that it will take for the tan to fully develop.
Tan Towel makes some of the absolute best self-tanning wipes on the market today, just be sure you get the right ones for you!
2. Somerville 360 Face And Body Self-Tanning Wipes/Towelettes By Kate Somerville
Get it on Amazon.
Kate Somerville is a Hollywood skincare expert that has been taking care of 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 have a very high-quality moisturizing self-tanner that gradually darkens your skin to give it an extremely natural glow.
The self-tanner from these wipes goes on very evenly and slowly develops over the next 2-4 hours. The formula is specifically developed to compliment any skin color, so you don’t need to worry about where you start, you’ll still end up with a beautiful tan.
Some of my favorite things about this self-tanning towelette:
- The DHA (the chemical found in most self-tanners, that 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 color they end up with, as well as how easy the wipes are to use.
If there was one consistent complaint, it was that the color fades faster than lotions or mousses, requiring more applications. However, you’ll realize as we talk more about self-tanner wipes down 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 color 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
Get it on Amazon.
The Comodynes self-tanning wipes are the most popular wipe in Europe, Asia, and South America, and for good reason. They are fairly inexpensive and provide a fantastic natural color.
They have even been endorsed by a wide variety of celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Lindsay Lohan, Christina Applegate, and more.
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 color or skin type, even sensitive skin, and are paraben free. The manufacturer claims that one ever 4 days should maintain the color, however it depends on the individual. You may have to reapply more often than this to maintain a consistent color.
The reviews for the Comodynes self-tanning wipes are incredible as people absolutely fall in love with this product. So although the brand is not quite as popular in the United States just yet, I think this quality self-tanning wipe will continue to rise in popularity with time.
4. L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Body Towelettes
Get them on Amazon.
Alright, now let’s talk about a wipe from one of the big player cosmetic companies, L’Oreal Paris. They have been in the self-tanning wipes market for quite a while, and have developed one of the highest quality wipes on the market (however certainly not the cheapest).
The Sublime Bronze wipes are quite large, so you can do a huge area with a single application. They are non-tinted, so you don’t have to worry about guide color getting on your clothes or sheets, and perhaps best yet, they dry extremely fast.
Just like the rest of the self-tanning towelettes on this guide, although these dry very fast, they are best applied right before bed, that way you wake up with a fantastic tan without having to worry about streaking, blotching, or ruining the tan with products etc.
It is important to note, that although some people use these wipes on their face, they are NOT intended for it. They are designed just to be used for the body. They suggest picking up their sublime bronze serum to use for 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’Oreal Paris are absolutely one of the best on the market.
5. Ibiza Sun Organic Self Tanner, Self Tanning Towelettes
Get it on Amazon.
These self-tanning wipes from Ibiza Sun are one of my favorites because they offer so much at such an affordable price. They are a fantastic option for traveling, 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, uses an organic DHA, and also contains Aloe Vera and Chamomile to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.
The self-tanner is also great for any skin type, and for any gender. Also, unlike some wipes on the market, these can be used for your entire body including your face. The self-tanner is also completely odorless and non-tinted, so your skin isn’t left with a weird smell, and color won’t be left on your sheet or clothes.
The wipes themselves are extremely soft and well moisturized, making application a complete 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 made it through the 5 best self-tanning wipes on the market today, let’s go into a bit more detail about how to use them.
How To Use Self-Tanning Wipes
For the most part, you’re going to want to go through similar steps as you would with any other self-tanner, such as exfoliation, moisturizing, etc. 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 color 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.
So the first thing you want to do is exfoliate with some sort of body scrub, probably 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 color 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 moisturized.
This step is also a great chance to get a shave in if you’d like. Since the self-tanner lives on the outer layer of your skin, shaving after using self-tanner can cause it to fade faster, and unevenly. So if you do plan to shave in the next 3 or 4 days, best to do it before using a self-tanning wipe.
Step 2 – Moisturize
I don’t want to go into too much detail here, as I recently wrote up a whole guide on why moisturizing 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 some other way, you’ll want to quickly use a hydrating moisturizer on your whole body.
Again, pay close attention to the dry areas such as your knees, elbows, wrists, ankles etc. Since these areas tend to be drier, they also tend to absorb more self-tanner and come out looking darker. Moisturizing 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 Moisturizer, however, any quality moisturizer will do the job.
Step 3 – Use Your Self-Tanning Wipe Of Choice
Alright, now to actually applying 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 get squeezed out unevenly.
In small circles, apply the self-tanner to your entire body. (I know, this is getting old) make sure that around the areas we talked about above, that you just quickly wipe over them, as we want to apply slightly less color to these areas to get 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 a bit quicker, 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 afterward, so they don’t absorb too much self-tanner and end up darker than everything else. 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 to fully dry. This allows the coloring to complete evenly, and you won’t end up with any streaks or blotches. If you’re looking for some ways to speed up this process, you can see 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 pajamas so that you won’t rub the tan weirdly, and no color 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 color, you can use another sunless tanning wipe to darken the color a bit. Once you’ve found the perfect shade for you, enjoy it for a few days. 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 other random tips and questions I thought I would answer 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, and Plus is for darker or more olive skin.
- They have both half-body, and full-body sizes. I’ve had some people get the smaller wipe, and use it on their entire body and feel as though it didn’t work. So be sure you look at what size you are ordering!
Other than that, Tan Towels work just the same as any other sunless tanning wipe, so just follow the 5 step instructions I laid out above!
Can You Use L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Wipes On Your Face?
Although some users do use this product on their face, the manufacturer does not recommend this, as they are intended only for the body. L’Oreal 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 with a quality mitt. There isn’t too much you will do different then this process. If you want to end up with a streak, and blotch, free tan after using self-tanning towelettes, closely follow the 5 steps I listed above, as well as the individual instructions on the packaging of your wipe.
This will ensure you end up with the highest quality tan.
Final Thoughts
Self-Tanning Towelettes are one of my favorite products and my go-to for maintaining a beautiful glow while traveling. They are compact, effective, and provide a fantastic tan without a large bottle, or mitt.
They are also quick and easy and great for applying right before a wedding, festival, or any other event.
Just be sure you choose the right self-tanning wipe for your skin type and needs!
