5 Best Vegan Self-Tanners

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Self-tanners drastically reduce the damage done to your skin by allowing you to avoid sitting out in the sun trying to tan, but some self-tanners contain harmful ingredients that can do their own damage to your skin.

If you are conscious of the chemicals you put on your skin, a vegan and organic self-tanner is your best bet for a healthy, sunless tan.

Fortunately, there are several excellent self-tanners on the market that are certified organic, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free.

Not only do these self-tanners not contain harsh chemicals that can dry out and damage the skin, but they also give a gorgeous summer glow.

The 5 Best Vegan Self-Tanners

I personally checked the listings of every product on this list to ensure that the company promises vegan ingredients and is cruelty-free.

Although I haven’t tried every single product on this list, I always make sure to check:

User reviews
Price
Quality of tan
Quality of ingredients
… and much more.

That way, you know no matter which product you choose, you’ll be getting the absolute best vegan self-tanner for you.

Alright, now to those reviews.

1. Tanceuticals Self-Tanner

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You cannot go wrong with a Tanceuticals product, especially when it comes to the Tanceuticals CC Self-tanning Body Lotion.

With numerous awards under their belt for their tanning lotions, Tanceuticals are a must-try for those seeking a natural-looking summer tan that is both organic and vegan-friendly.

It gives the skin an amazing color and tone, and also has a fresh coconut scent to match your beachy new look.

The lotion applies easily to the skin and will not leave orange blotches or streaks if applied correctly.

It blends in smoothly and dries quickly, allowing you to continue with your other daily activities soon after applying the lotion.

The self-tanner lasts for up to 6–7 days after application, which is long for a sunless tan.

The healthy cosmeceuticals included in the lotion, such as Acai Berry, Vitamin E, and Mango Butter, all keep the skin nourished and looking healthy.

There are no Parabens or harmful ingredients, and the lotion is certified cruelty-free and vegan.

It is one of the better self-tanning lotions on the market; it gives a natural summer glow, is long-lasting, and is as organic as they come.

2. Skin and Tan Body Glow

Skin and Tan Body Glow gradual tanning lotion bottle

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The Skin and Tan Body Glow is a gradual tanner, so your color comes up over six to eight hours rather than all at once.

It doubles as a daily moisturizer. That makes it easy to remember, since you use it the way you’d use any body lotion.

Because the color builds slowly, you decide where to stop. One round gives you a hint of warmth, and a few days of it gets you somewhere much deeper.

The lotion is light and sinks in fast, so you aren’t standing around in a towel waiting to get dressed.

It’s also a sensible way to top up a tan you already have instead of stripping back and starting over.

The formula is vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free, which is why it’s on this list at all.

Gradual tanners forgive mistakes. Miss a patch and you get a slightly paler spot, not a stripe you have to scrub off.

If an instant tanner has gone wrong on you before, this is the gentler way back in.

3. Beauty by Earth Self Tanner

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Beauty by Earth makes its self-tanner in the USA around aloe vera and coconut, and the listing is certified organic, cruelty-free and vegan.

It goes on like a moisturizer and sinks in quickly, which is most of the reason it doesn’t streak.

There’s no fragrance in it, and no biscuity self-tan smell as it develops.

The color holds for about a week before you need to top it up.

It comes in light and medium, so pick the one nearer your natural tone rather than the darkest thing you can find.

With more than 23,000 ratings behind it, this is the most road-tested product on the page.

4. Tanologist Self Tan Water

Tanologist Self Tan Water clear tanning mist bottle

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Tanologist Self Tan Water is a clear mist rather than a mousse, so there’s no guide color to smear across your bathroom.

You spray it on and blend it with a mitt. It develops in four to six hours.

Nothing transfers onto clothes or sheets while it’s working, which is the usual complaint about tinted foams.

It’s non-comedogenic and fine on your face as well as your body.

Vegan, cruelty-free and fragrance-free, and the medium shade lands about where most people want it.

5. B.Tan Self-Tan Mousse

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This 1-hour dark tan mousse will give you the deep, dark bronze you need to achieve without spending all summer in the sun. It provides a dark, yet natural-looking tan that is easy to apply and develops quickly.

The darker you want your tan, the longer you need to leave the lotion on – it is up to you how dark you want to go. The ingredients are gentle and will leave the skin looking nourished and hydrated, enhancing your new bronze tan.

Paraben-free and with 100% natural DHA, the B.Tan Self-Tan Mousse is vegan-friendly.

Who would have thought you could get such a rich, bronze tan with a product that is so friendly to your skin?

Different Types of Self-Tanners

There is a wide range of self-tanning products to choose from. It can be confusing at times to determine what you want and need, but knowing what to look for beforehand can make the process of choosing a self-tanner much easier.

Decide on what you want to achieve with a self-tanner and make your decision based on that.

Instant Tan

An instant tan is a temporary tan that usually lasts around 2 days. This is usually the best option when wanting a tan for a special event.

Instant tans typically have a quick development time, and the color can’t be controlled as precisely as with other tanning options.

Many people choose to use an instant tan as their first self-tanner, as it is non-committal and is a safe way to tell if you like the self-tanned look.

It is also a great option to use as a quick fix to cover up blotches or a fading tan when going out.

Gradual Tan

A gradual tan is a better option if you want to be in control of your color. The lotion, foam, or mist can be applied daily until you have reached your desired tone.

The previous day’s tan does not need to be washed off, as this is what helps develop the color.

By using a gradual tanner, you can maintain that summer glow that would usually fade within a few days with a normal self-tanner.

As you are reapplying the self-tanner daily, it usually lasts longer than other tanners as well.

A gradual self-tanner for the face can actually replace your daily moisturizer, providing continuous color day and night.

To learn all the differences between instant and gradual self-tanners, check out this post.

Classic Self-Tan

A once-off self-tanner can give you a bronze tone for about a week. Once the tan starts to fade, you will need to thoroughly exfoliate your skin before reapplying.

You only need to apply the self-tanner once to achieve a summer tone, and you do not have to worry about reapplying it daily to maintain the color.

This is probably the most popular type of self-tanner, as the weekly application makes it more time-efficient for many people who are too busy to reapply the lotion daily.