Our Favorite Self-Tanners That Don’t Smell Gross

May 09, 2022

By: Samantha Holender | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

My complexion is fair as can be, and I refuse to leave the confines of my apartment without a heavy (I repeat: heavy) layer of SPF. Given that and my skin’s tendency to burn, self-tanner is my summertime BFF. It wasn’t always the case though — I had a serious aversion to self-tanning for years. The chemical-like smell and residual odor grossed me out. But with super fair skin and a desire to be bronzed to perfection in the summer months, I set out to try as many self-tanners as possible. Ahead, I’m sharing my all-time favorite, non-smelly self-tanners that you (and your nose) will love applying.

L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tan Drops

1 / 5

Best Tanning Drops

L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tan Drops

Mix these clear, fragrance-free facial drops with your daily moisturizer for a non-streaky, natural-looking tan. It’s easy to build your glow with these — add five to seven drops to a dollop of moisturizer for a subtle tan, and eight to ten drops for a deeper bronze.

L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Hydrating Self-Tanning Water Mousse

2 / 5

Best Tanning Mousse

L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Hydrating Self-Tanning Water Mousse

This vitamin E- and coconut water-infused mousse gives your skin a healthy dose of hydration along with a natural-looking tan. It doesn’t smell plasticky like some self-tanners either; instead, this lightweight foam smells sweet and coconutty.

St. Tropez Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist

3 / 5

Best Tanning Mist

St. Tropez Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist

Spritz on this tropical-smelling face spray for a buildable tan that develops over four to eight hours. It dries down quickly, layers easily with your makeup and lasts for days at a time.

COOLA Organic Sunless Tan Luminizing Body Serum

4 / 5

Best Tanning Serum

COOLA Organic Sunless Tan Luminizing Body Serum

If you’re looking for an instant tan, reach for this shimmering golden serum. It’s infused with mica to make your skin glow and delivers an even tan for up to three days. Bonus: It smells fresh and fruity, like a piña colada.

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam

5 / 5

Best Tanning Foam

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam

Available in three shades suitable for fair to dark skin tones, this quick-drying foam develops in just two hours. It contains botanical oils to nourish and soften the skin, and the mango-guava scent reminds us of a tropical fruit smoothie.

Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn