If you want a golden glow, self-tanner is your best bet — and you don’t need to spend lots on a good formula. “Today’s drugstore formulas are truly competing with high-end brands,” says Mishel Chernyavskiy, celebrity spray tan artist and owner of MSK Studio in New York.
“Whether you’re paying $15 or $50, many self-tanners now include skin-nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamides that help hydrate and nourish the skin while giving you a great tan. At the end of the day, the biggest difference in results usually comes down to how you apply it, not just the product itself,” she says, noting you should exfoliate and shave 24 hours prior, use a mitt or body brush to blend, and take your time to make sure every area is evenly covered.
As for the different formulas, your options are vast. Foams, lotions, waters, and drops all offer slightly different textures, dry times, and intensities. Foams and mousses tend to dry quickly and offer faster results, while gradual lotions build color over time and are nearly foolproof. Clear formulas are great for those who want to avoid staining clothes, but can be tricky to apply evenly since there’s no immediate color to guide you.
For me, a tanner that ticks all the boxes has to have a skin-loving formula, leave you feeling hydrated, and produce a healthy glow without noticeable streaking (if any) – all within an acceptable budget. After weeks of testing, Beauty by Earth’s self tanner did exactly that.
Whatever your preference, there’s a budget-friendly formula that will work for your skin tone, lifestyle, and level of experience. To find the best of the bunch, I tested 15 different formulas over six weeks and narrowed it down to the seven that truly impressed me.
How I tested
To evaluate drugstore self-tanners, I applied each product to clean, freshly exfoliated skin using a tanning mitt (unless the package directions suggested otherwise).
I wore dark, loose-fitting clothing post-application to monitor drying time, color transfer, and overall wear. For formulas that didn’t require a mitt (like gradual lotions or drops), I followed the package instructions and washed my hands thoroughly after application. To give each self-tanner a rating from one to five, I assessed ease of application, scent, drying time, residue, color result and longevity. You can read more about my testing criteria at the end of the article.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Brigitt Earley has 15 years of experience in product reviews, especially beauty products. She has written about everything from the best drugstore makeup for IndyBest to the best spray sunscreens and heat protectant sprays. In fact, Brigitt is an expert on the topic of self-tanner and has tested many face and body formulas over the years.
The best drugstore self-tanners for 2025 are:
- Best overall — Beauty by Earth self tanner: $30.39, Amazon.com
- Best budget buy — St. Moriz professional medium self tanner mousse: $12.99, Amazon.com
- Best gradual — Jergens natural glow self tanner body lotion: $10.47, Amazon.com
- Best tan color — Bondi Sands self tanning foam: $17.96, Walmart.com
- Best for a quick glow — Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs: $14.99, Amazon.com
