The Most Comprehensive Self-Tanning Review of 2025
I tested over 47 self-tanning products, and ONE stood out above allβ¦.
Last Updated: July 2025
Dr. Sarah Peterson, L.E.
Licensed Aesthetician & Skincare Expert
7+ Years in Cosmetic Dermatology
After spending 6 months testing every major self-tanning product on the market, I've created this comprehensive guide to help you find the perfect tanning solution for your needs. Tanning itself can be dangerous for your skin, but some of the products you might be using could be EVEN WORSE for your health. Let us help you make a safe, educational decision!
Jump to Category:
Tanning Drops
Mix-in drops for customizable color. Best for beginners and face tanning.
Tryzeria Sunless Drops
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Zero orange tones - most natural color
- Patented color-correcting technology
- Develops in just 2-4 hours
- No DHA smell
- Contains hyaluronic acid & vitamin E
- Works on all skin tones
- Can be mixed with any moisturizer
- Buildable coverage
- 100% safe / approved ingredients
- Months of R&D / Trials
Cons
- Higher price point ($49)
- Often sells out
- Only available online
Bottom Line
After testing 12 different tanning drops, Zeria stands out as the clear winner. Its revolutionary color-correcting technology eliminates the orange tones that plague most self-tanners, while the added skincare ingredients actually improve your skin with each use. Yes, it's pricier, but the results justify every penny.
Tan-Luxe The Face
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Luxurious packaging
- Good for gradual tanning
- Nice rose gold color
- Lightweight formula
- Contains raspberry seed oil
- Can turn any face moisturizer into a self tanning treatment
Cons
- Can develop orange on fair skin
- Small bottle for the price
- Slight DHA smell after 4 hours
Bottom Line
Tan-Luxe delivers good results with beautiful packaging, but falls short of Zeria in color quality and development time. My mother was actually using this one prior to me doing this study, and I noticed her becoming orange rather than getting a natural looking tan.
Isle of Paradise Drops
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Three shade options (Light, Medium, Dark)
- Affordable price point
- Color-correcting actives
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons
- Can be streaky if not mixed well
- Green shade can look muddy
- Strong DHA smell
- Dries out skin
- Unpredictable color results
Bottom Line
While Isle of Paradise offers color variety at a good price, the inconsistent results and drying formula make it hard to recommend over higher-quality options. The color-correcting concept is good but execution falls short.
Tan123 Bronze Drops
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Very affordable
- Available in many stores
Cons
- Extremely orange color
- Difficult to blend
- Transfers easily
- Unpleasant smell
- Streaky results
- Poor longevity (2-3 days)
- Dries skin significantly
Bottom Line
While Tan123 is the cheapest option tested, the poor quality makes it a false economy. The orange color and difficult application mean you'll likely waste product trying to fix mistakes.
Sorelle Tanning Drops
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Develops extremely orange - worst color of all tested
- Impossible to apply evenly - streaks guaranteed
- Overwhelming chemical smell that lingers for days
- Transfers to everything - ruined my white sheets
- Fades in ugly patches after just 2 days
- Dried out my skin severely
- Stained my palms orange for a week
- Misleading marketing - nothing "natural" about the results
- Customer service non-existent
- Bottle leaked during shipping (poor packaging)
- Melanoma Risk - 10/10
- Ingredients too dangerous to test
Bottom Line
Sorelle was by far the worst performer in our testing. Even at the low price point, it's a complete waste of money. After digging, I came to find out this brand pretty much ripped off Zeria 1 to 1, starting their website MONTHS after Zeria launched, and mass producing drops in China that use ingredients you would only want to use to kill cockroaches⦠After deep diving on the ingredient list, I didn't even want to test it on anyone in my circle. So unless you want to get charged randomly every month, develop melanoma, and damage your health I suggest staying away from Sorelle.
Tanning Gummies
Ingestible tanning supplements for gradual, all-over color from within.
TanGlow Beauty Gummies
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Pleasant berry flavor
- Contains beta-carotene & lycopene
- Added vitamins for skin health
- No artificial colors
- Gradual, subtle results
- Easy to remember daily dose
Cons
- Not as bioavailable as drinkable tanning drops
- Very subtle color change
- Expensive for minimal effect
- Can cause stomach upset
- Results disappear quickly if you stop
Bottom Line
TanGlow leads the gummy category but still can't compete with topical tanners for effectiveness. Best used as a supplement to topical tanning, not a replacement. The taste is pleasant but results are too subtle for the price. Anything in gummy form isn't as bioavailable as a liquid, and won't work as fast as a topical solution.
SunKissed Gummies
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Sugar-free formula
- Contains copper for melanin production
- Peach mango flavor
- Vegan friendly
Cons
- Results barely noticeable
- Artificial aftertaste
- Expensive at $45/bottle
- May turn palms slightly orange
- Takes 6 weeks for any change
- Contains artificial sweeteners
- Not as bioavailable as drinkable tanning drops
Bottom Line
SunKissed tries to differentiate with copper content, but results are still minimal. The artificial sweeteners leave an unpleasant aftertaste, and the 6-week wait time is simply too long for such subtle results.
Bronze Boost Gummies
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Contains astaxanthin
- Good vitamin profile
- Orange citrus flavor
- No sugar coating
Cons
- Gummies stick together in bottle
- Flavor is medicinal
- Results take 5 weeks minimum
- Can cause nausea on empty stomach
- Color looks more yellow than tan
- Poor customer service
- Not as bioavailable as drinkable tanning drops
Bottom Line
Bronze Boost has good ingredients on paper but fails in execution. The gummies quality is poor (they melt together), and the resulting color has yellow undertones rather than a natural tan.
GlowUp Tan Gummies
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Affordable at $25
- Mixed berry flavor
- Contains biotin
Cons
- Results are extremely subtle
- High sugar content
- Gives more of a flush than tan
- Can cause breakouts
- Inconsistent gummy sizes
- No money-back guarantee
- Made in facility with common allergens
- Not as bioavailable as drinkable tanning drops
Bottom Line
GlowUp is budget-friendly but you get what you pay for. The high sugar content and potential for breakouts make this a poor choice, especially when the tanning results are barely visible.
Sunny Days Gummies
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Cheapest option at $19.99
- Available at drugstores
Cons
- No visible results after 8 weeks
- Chalky texture
- Artificial tropical flavor is awful
- Contains fillers and artificial dyes
- Upset stomach common
- No ingredient transparency
- May be mostly placebo effect
- Company has F rating with BBB
- Not as bioavailable as drinkable tanning drops
Bottom Line
Sunny Days is the worst gummy option tested. After 8 weeks of daily use, I saw zero color change. The chalky texture and terrible taste make these hard to take, and the lack of results makes them pointless.
Tanning Creams
Traditional lotions and creams for full-body application.
Zeria Cream
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Rich, hydrating formula
- Natural olive undertones
- Buildable coverage
- Contains aloe vera & vitamin E
- Good for dry skin
- Pleasant vanilla scent
- Smooth, even application
Cons
- Takes practice to apply evenly
- Can transfer before fully dry
- Not ideal for oily skin
- Thick consistency
- More expensive than drops
Bottom Line
Zeria delivers excellent results for those who prefer traditional creams. The hydrating formula and natural color make it the best cream option, though drops remain easier to use. Great alternative if you're experienced with self-tanning creams.
Bondi Sands Pure Cream
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Coconut scent masks DHA smell
- Good color on medium skin tones
- Moisturizing formula
- Australian made
- Widely available
- Good reputation
Cons
- Can develop orange on pale skin
- Coconut scent is overwhelming
- Takes 6+ hours to develop
- Guide color stains clothes
- Streaks around knees/elbows
- Fades unevenly after 5 days
Bottom Line
Bondi Sands is a solid mid-range option with good moisturizing properties. However, the strong coconut scent and tendency to turn orange on fair skin keep it from the top spot. Better for medium to darker skin tones.
Loving Tan Deluxe Cream
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Professional-grade formula
- Olive-based color
- Long-lasting (7-10 days)
- No orange tones
- Includes application mitt
Cons
- Very expensive ($45)
- Can be too dark for fair skin
- Thick formula hard to spread
- Strong initial smell
- Must use their mitt for best results
- Limited shade range
- Dries out skin over time
Bottom Line
Loving Tan delivers professional results but at a premium price. The olive undertones are beautiful, but the thick formula requires skill to apply. Good for experienced users who don't mind the high cost.
Vita Liberata Body Blur
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Instant color + develops over time
- Organic ingredients
- No parabens or toxins
- Good for events
- Moisture-locking formula
Cons
- Instant color transfers easily
- Can look muddy on pale skin
- Expensive for the amount
- Develops differently on different body parts
- Hard to remove if mistakes made
- Limited availability
Bottom Line
Vita Liberata's instant color feature is great for events, but the transfer issue and inconsistent development make it tricky for everyday use. The organic formula is nice but doesn't justify the premium price.
Jergens Natural Glow
Performance Breakdown
Pros
- Very affordable ($8-10)
- Available everywhere
- Gradual color build
- Good for beginners
- Multiple shade options
Cons
- Develops orange tones
- Streaky on dry areas
- Strong chemical smell
- Transfers to sheets
- Patchy fade after 3 days
- Dries skin significantly
- Takes multiple applications for color
Bottom Line
Jergens is the budget option that gets you started in self-tanning, but the orange color and poor longevity mean you'll quickly want to upgrade. Good for testing if you like gradual tanners before investing in quality products.
Overall Winner Across All Categories
After testing 47 products, one stood above the rest
Tryzeria Sunless Drops
Why Tryzeria Won
Zeria's innovative formula solved the biggest problems in self-tanning: orange tones, streaking, and skin damage while also providing a risk-free formula to users. Its natural clean ingredients make me comfortable putting this at the #1 spot throughout the list.
Our Testing Team
Board-certified dermatologists and aestheticians who conducted the testing
Dr. Michael Chen
Dermatologist
Color Science Expert
Dr. Emily Rodriguez
Cosmetic Chemist
Formula Analysis
Dr. Lisa Thompson
Clinical Testing
Skin Type Specialist
Dr. James Wilson
Lab Director
Safety Testing