• Why it’s -approved: Tan-Luxe’s tanning water formula is enriched with vitamins B, C, and E, along with raspberry seed oil and aloe vera, providing deep hydration while delivering a natural tan. “It’s packed with vitamin E and raspberry seed oil to nourish while it tans,” Brezavscek says of this skincare-meets-bronzer option. Board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp cosigns it too, adding that the ingredients list boasts deeply hydrating benefits – plus it’s paraben- and sulfate-free.
• Key ingredients: DHA, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, raspberry seed oil, aloe vera
• How to use: Generously mist the tanning water directly onto skin for a hydrated, healthy glow. The fine mist ensures a mess-free application and zero transfer onto clothes and sheets. The brand recommends using it over or under a finished makeup look for hydration and added bronze.

• Why it’s -approved: “Isle of Paradise is a cult favourite. I particularly love the colour-correcting undertones of this tanning water and the tropical scent that makes it feel like vacation in a bottle,” Brezavscek says. Speaking of the colour-correcting actives, users can customise their tan to counteract skin concerns – just pick based on the bottle colour. There’s no need to rinse – it’s a clear, fast-drying formula that develops over four to six hours.
• Key ingredients: Glycerin, hydrogenated castor oil, aloe extract, grapefruit peel oil, coconut oil, Peppermint oil, avocado oil
• : 3 (green to neutralise redness, peach to brighten dull skin, and violet to balance yellow undertones)
• How to use: To get the most even and natural-looking tan, start by exfoliating your skin at least 24 hours before application. Apply a light layer of moisturiser to your face to prevent product buildup. Shake the bottle and mist the tanning water liberally over your skin, holding it about six inches away. Use a kabuki brush to blend the product evenly. Simply avoid water or sweating while the tan develops.

• Why it’s -approved: While we can’t all have the pleasure of Read’s expert spray tanning skills every week, his brand, Self Glow, comes in a close second, combining all his expertise in one bottle. Infused with 87 per cent rosewater, fermented rose petals, and triple-active hyaluronic acid, the formula hydrates and plumps the skin while you sunless tan. The addition of fermented aloe vera soothes and enhances absorption, making it perfect for sensitive skin – and yes, the formula is free from any potential pore-clogging ingredients.
• : “I got my first-ever (and only) spray tan with expert James Read during my Met Gala prep. He eased my fake tan phobia with his featherlight touch that gave me the same bronze I’d get from a day in the sun. With that in mind, I had no hesitation that any products would be high quality, too. The tanning mist also manages to impart a natural, non-orange bronze. Plus, the formula is totally non-comedogenic, so I don’t fear a breakout after I use it.” —C.C.
• Key ingredients: Rosewater, sodium hyaluronate, DHA, rose extract, aloe leaf juice, glycerin, vitamin C
• How to use: Hold the bottle about six inches away from your face. Ensure your skin is clean and product-free. Close your eyes and mist the left and right sides of your face. Finish off by misting the front and back of your neck.

• Why it’s -approved: “Clean, minimal, and incredibly natural-looking, it’s the glow you get after a weekend at the beach – subtle but sculpted,” Brezavscek says. Sugar beet reacts with the amino acids in the top layer of the skin to create a natural glow. Meanwhile, cucumber, marshmallow root, and calendula flower work together to create soothing hydration, thanks to their anti-inflammatory ingredients. Best of all, the formula isn’t packed with comedogenic, oil-based ingredients.
• : “Aside from a fear that tanning products will break me out, I also dread the idea of looking orange. Since I have a more neutral undertone, even my natural tan skews more neutral and toasty than warm. I tried Saltyface thanks to its sensitive-skin-friendly formula – though since it’s heavy on natural extracts, I avoid it when I’m dealing with an active breakout. Best of all, the sun-kissed skin it imparts actually matches my body. I find that it also fades gradually rather than patchy.” —C.C.
• Key ingredients: Organic sugar beet, cucumber, marshmallow root, calendula flower
• How to use: Saltyface offers two application options: Using a mist topper and the brand’s application brush, spritz twice on the brush’s bristles and buff evenly across your face, blending into your neck and chest. To apply with your hands, dispense two dropperfuls, rub the palms of your hands together, and then evenly rub into your face and neck – just don’t forget to wash your hands when you’re done.

Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist

What is tanning water?

“Tanning water is different from foams and mousses – the clear product is typically sprayed onto skin in a fine mist to deliver a subtle bronzing effect,” Dr Camp explains. It can also be applied directly onto skin, whereas “tanning drops are a concentrated formula that need to be diluted with a moisturiser before application for a customisable tan.” It works like this: “The self-tan ingredient [found in many products], DHA (dihydroxyacetone), reacts with our skin, giving the illusion that we’ve been away,” explains celebrity tanning expert and founder of Isle of Paradise, Jules Von Hep.

How to choose the tanning water for you

When it comes to choosing the best self-tanner for you, “the rule I always use is light for light skin tones, medium shades for medium skin tones – think someone who naturally tans in the sun, with an olive skin tone – and dark shades for deeper skin tones,” says Dolce Glow founder Isabel Alysa, a celebrity spray tan artist whose clients include Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, and Kim Kardashian. “Following those guidelines will ensure a brown, natural-looking self tan, and reduce the chance of orange hues.”

How long does it take for tanning waters to work?

“Most tanning waters are designed to develop over six to eight hours, and many are actually no-rinse formulas, meaning you can just apply and go on about your day (or sleep) while your glow gradually builds,” Brezavscek says, noting that, if your product does require rinsing, it’s key to avoid water, sweating, or applying skincare within that window.

How often to use tanning water

Because of skincare routines, makeup, and regular SPF application, our faces tend to be a bit lighter than the rest of our bodies. “Self-tanner on the face fades the quickest, as we tend to wash the face the most, and the skin there is very thin,” Alysa says, adding that a tanning water spray is amazing for face touch-ups. Depending on the product guidelines, experts say you can reapply tanning water every few days or weekly to maintain your glow.

Best practices for tanning water application

Unlike their cream counterparts, tanning water mists require no tools for application.
“Sprays are the easiest of all self-tanners,” Alysa previously told . “Apply the spray in a circular motion at a distance – no blending needed.”

In order to ensure complete coverage, Dr Camp advises completely saturating the skin to avoid uneven or streaky results. “There’s no guide colour with the use of clear tanning water to help indicate where the product has already been used,” he explains.

When it comes to tanning waters in liquid or water-to-foam formulas, you’ll have to get out your kabuki brush or tanning mitt to ensure mess-free application. “When using liquids [and clear foams], always use a mitt and take your time blending,” Alysa says – though she doesn’t recommend applying liquid to the hands and feet, noting that a spray works best in those areas after they’ve been properly moisturised.

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