Best Face Self Tanners for Acne-Prone Skin: 15 Picks

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Beautiful in bronze A great self tanner can make us feel confident in our skin. But what about the face? The best self tanners for your face and body are often not the same. You’re probably familiar with the fact that you may use a different sunscreen for your face than your body. Separate cleansers and moisturizers. The same goes for self-tanners.

Your skin on the face is likely to be more sensitive than your arms and legs to certain ingredients. If you’re acne-prone, you know the struggle. You want a non-comedogenic sunless tanner that isn’t going to clog your pores and result in whiteheads and/or blackheads. You want something soothing, effective, and calming so that you can glow from head-to-toe.

How we found the best face tanners

The first and most important step is to search specifically for facial tanning products. Anything that was only for the body was immediately eliminated. We also searched for the word “non-comedogenic,” for dermatologist testing and approval and for clean ingredients free of nasties like parabens, sulfates and phthalates. Anything we’d love to see in any acne-friendly products!

We looked for face self tanners with extra benefits too, like gentle exfoliation and anti-aging properties — skincare-like formulations. We also searched for products that could easily be mixed in with your moisturizer and even used over your makeup.

15 of the Best Face Tanners for Acne Prone Skin

1. Bondi Sands PURE Self Tanning Sleep Mask

Enjoy the Sun while you Snooze

This salon-quality, non-comedogenic self tanner enhances your beauty sleep. Apply overnight and wake up with glowing skin. This vegan formula contains skin-loving ingredients, such as hyaluronic acids and vitamins C & E, for extra hydration.

Pros:

• Fragrance-free
• No parabens.

Cons:

• You can’t use any other skincare products once the color is developed.

It’s amazing!

Available at: Ulta, Amazon

2. COOLA Organic Sunless Tan Face Serum Anti-Aging

Ageless Beauty

This streak-free, transfer free tanning serum can easily be integrated into your skincare routine to achieve a gradual tan. It is also known to have anti-aging properties, thanks to its star ingredients, such as argan oil and plant cell cultures. It also smells like piña colada. Yum!

Pros:

• DHA is a natural substance, derived from sugar beet
• 95% of test subjects agree that it creates a natural-looking, even-looking tan

Cons:

• You might not be strong enough to get a stronger tan.

It’s amazing!

Available at: Sephora, Amazon, Ulta, Dermstore

3. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Intense Glow Pad Self-Tanner for Face

The Ultimate Texture Eliminator

Dr. Dennis Gross is synonymous with healthy, clear skin. This is why the brand offers a self-tanner version its famous glow pads. These exfoliating pads are streak-free and can smoothen skin, remove blackheads, tighten pores, and fade sunspots.

Pros:

• Towelettes sachets can be carried easily
• Vitamin D can be taken without the sunburn

Cons:

• It may be more suitable for those with warm skin tones

It’s amazing!

Available at: Sephora and Amazon

4. TAN-LUXE THE FACE Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

Customizable color

You can mix this face tanning concentrate with your moisturizer, serum, or oil. Depending on how dark you want to get, add one to four drops and then apply. Triple Tan Technology, which is free of toxins, gives you natural color and includes raspberry seed oil, aloe verde, and vitamin E to nourish your skin.

Pros:

• Two shades available
• No parabens.

Cons:

It’s amazing!

Available at: Nordstrom.com. Ulta.com. Sephora

5. St. Tropez Self-Tan Purity Bronzing Water Facial Mist

Easy to Use

No blending, massaging or patting — with this water mist, all you do is spray. No rinsing either! It can be applied under or over makeup so don’t worry if it doesn’t get applied properly. Another “easy” aspect of this tanner is that it’s “best for anyone or everyone,” so you don’t have to worry about whether or not it’ll work for you!

Pros:

• No color transfer, therefore.
• Natural tanning active

Cons:

• It takes between four and eight hours to develop. This may make it difficult to achieve super-fast results.

It’s amazing!

Available at: Amazon.com. Ulta. Sephora

6. Undone Beauty Glowed up Foolproof Foaming Facial Tanner

Long-Lasting Results

This tanning foam, which is buildable, claims to last up to a full seven days, so you won’t have to keep applying day after day. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free, as well as paraben-free and gluten-free, making it both animal-friendly and skin-friendly. It is available in two colors!

Pros:

• For flawless application, use the guide color
• Shoppers say it’s “beginner-friendly”
  

Cons:

• Brand recommends using the Seamless Brush, an additional cost

It’s amazing!

Available at: Ulta, Amazon

7. St. Moriz Radiant Glow Face Tanning Mist

A Way to Make Your Favorite Affordable

This clear tanning mist is mess-free and has shoppers “glowing and thriving.” It’s under $20 for over five fluid ounces, and reviewers say it’s “better than the expensive tan mists out there.” It’s also formulated with vitamin E and aloe vera to protect and hydrate the skin!

Pros:

• Dermatologically-tested and salon-tested
• For makeup that is too or too light

Cons:

• Before applying, must remove any tan.

It’s amazing!

Available at Target, Ulta

8. Coco & Eve Bronzing Face Drops

For Dry, Acne-Prone Skin

Alcohol in skincare/makeup products isn’t always bad, but if your skin is on the dry side, it’s great to use alcohol-free products like these face tanning drops. They’re made with hydrating favorite hyaluronic acid and anti-aging botanicals to address fine lines and wrinkles while leaving you “sun-kissed for days”!

Pros:

• Dermatologist-approved and non-comedogenic
• Two shades

Cons:

• The price is small for the small bottle

It’s amazing!

Available at: Ulta, Revolve, Amazon

9. Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi™ Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops

You can wash it off at night for a gorgeous glow

You are looking for something temporary? These bronzing drop are your best bet. Mix them with your morning moisturizer and you’ll get an instant boost of energy. This one is our favorite because it is from one of our top skincare brands. It also contains protective antioxidants that protect skin against environmental pollutants.

Pros:

• Simulates the antioxidant properties of vitamin D
• Fragrance, silicones, essential oils and other fragrances are not allowed

Cons:

• May fade slightly by the end of each day

It’s amazing!

Available at: Sephora and Amazon

10. Frankies Bikinis Vegan Bronzing Facial Self Tanning Serum

So Fresh, So Clean

This beauty product is free from artificial fragrances, gluten, silicones, and phthalates. It also contains hydrating skincare favorites, such as glycerin (green and white tea extract), chamomile extract, and sulfates (phthalates). This will give you a glowing, healthy complexion. You only need a few drops to get the job done.

Pros:

• Non-irritating, clinically-tested, allergy-tested, dermatologist-reviewed
• Buildable color

Cons:

• There are not as many reviews as there used to be

It’s amazing!

Available at: Frankies Bikinis, Anthropologie, Revolve, Amazon

11. Tanologist Self Tanner for Face + Body

Double Duty

Don’t want to use separate products for your face and body? That’s fine too — but make sure you’re using one MadeBoth! These dermatologist-tested, non-comedogenic drops are clear, non-comedogenic and pore-friendly

Pros:

Cons:

• If you use it on your entire body, it may run out quickly

It’s amazing!

Available at: Target. Ulta. Amazon. Revolve

12. Isle of Paradise Day Tan Face Mist Self Tan Face

The Blue Light Blocker

We loved the inclusion of vitamin C in this mist to treat acne-prone skin. But, we were even more excited to see the cocoa seed oil, which is included to protect against blue light. It’s recommended that you apply before makeup in the morning for a dewy glow!

Pros:

• Free from parabens, synthetic sulfates, and phthalates
• Glycerin, hyaluronic Acid and glycerin moisturize the skin

Cons:

• For best results (biphase formulation), shake the bottle well.

It’s amazing!

Available at: Sephora and Amazon

13. Lux Unfiltered  Nº12 Bronzing Face Drops

Luxury Pick

Let’s get a little fancy with Lux Unfiltered! These tanning drops are fragrance-free, cruelty-free and non-toxic, leaving room for all of your skin’s new BFFs: pomegranate extract, coconut water, passionfruit oil, vitamin E and, of course, hyaluronic acid!

Pros:

• Free from parabens and paraffins, silicones, phthalates, silicons, sulfates, sulfates, and phthalates
• Customizable, buildable color

Cons:

It’s amazing!

Available at

14. MineTan Facial Tan mist

Rosy Glow

Knowing our own acne-prone skin, we’re always intrigued seeing rosewater or rosehip seed oil in a facial product. It can be very soothing and calming to red, sensitive skin. This mist is more than a soothing agent. Its goal? To give you a golden glow!

Pros:

• Non-comedogenic
• Transfer-resistant — bronzer and dye-free

Cons:

• To maintain a tan, you may have to use the tanning bed every day

It’s amazing!

Available at

15. Mario Badescu Self Tanning Lotion

Ideal for combination and oily skin

Are you looking for an oil-free formula from a celebrity favorite brand? Mario Badescu’s got you! This lotion is gentle enough to use on the face, but you can also use it all over. It’s a trusted and affordable find for a “natural, healthy glow”!

Pros:

• Cruelty-free
• Simple/short ingredient list

Cons:

• Brand recommend using with a tanning mitt or glove — not included

It’s amazing!

Available at

Other Face Tanners We Love for Acne Prone Skin

Are you looking for ways to improve your beauty routine? You can find more ideas below.