Without being absolute, most of us (You and I) desire that natural, golden, summer glow, but not at the expense of the skin’s health.
This makes a safe tanning option like sunless tanning a widespread practice amongst many. Irrespective of the season, self-tanning assures you of a natural glow if properly done.
Self-tanners are the major substance that contributes to how efficient a tanning-process is. They come in different formulations, and this guide will be looking into gradual tanning lotions.
What are gradual tanning lotions?
Most individuals are more conversant with instant bronzing formula and tan accelerators, but there are indeed gradual tanning lotions that help you control your glow.
Gradual tanning lotion helps you achieve a darker skin tone over time. The darkness, richness, and life span of such tan depends on your mode of application and frequency of usage.
They’re multipurpose substances that can replace body moisturizers due to their hydrate feature. They contain nourishing ingredients that improve skin health.
Gradual tanning lotions also reduces the risk of uneven tan development; it allows colour to build up, eliminates streaks or transfer, and gives off a more natural effect with no patches.
Factors to consider when choosing a gradual tanning lotion
Choosing a gradual tanning lotion requires the same steps and guidelines you follow to pick your normal sunless tanner. All you need is to ensure that certain boxes tick,and you’re good to go.
We will pretend this is your first time doing a guide and highlights the needed factors briefly considered below. They include:
Ingredients
This factor is vital because it determines other factors like compatibility and functionality. Ensure that any ingredients contained in your choice of gradual tanning lotion pose no threat to your skin’s health.
They should also be enriched with the needed minerals and vitamins to keep the skin nourished, hydrated, smooth, and healthy.
Compatibility
Ascertain that your choice of gradual tanning lotion is suitable for your skin tone and type. It’s advisable to take a patch test, to ensure that the formula won’t have any adverse effect on your skin.
Functionality
Another vital factor to be on the lookout for is the benefits your preferred formula offers.
Beyond giving you the golden tan skin tone you crave, it should be able to perform loads of other functions.
Your choice of gradual lotion should be able to hydrate, soothe, nourish, and improve the skin’s health.
Review
Online guides & reviews like ours, have always come in handy when it comes to choosing the best beauty products. It’s no different for gradual tanning lotion also.
Our guide contains some of the best gradual tanning lotions suitable for you, with the needed information about them. You’ll find it highly beneficial in your course of choosing a gradual tanning lotion for yourself.
Best Gradual Tanning Lotion in 2024
Below are the top gradual tanning lotions that made our pick:
Bahama Tan Control Your Glow Gradual Self-tanner
This is an all-natural and organic, gradual sunless tanner. It is suitable for body and face tanning and leaves no streak or orange tint on the skin.
The cruelty-free and vegan formula contains a naturally-derived, Eco-cert approved DHA from sugar cane. This compound helps it enhance skin pigmentation, thereby giving you an even and flawless golden tan on the long-run.
The non-comedogenic formula is suitable for all skin types. It features a blend of natural preservatives and contains no artificial additives or irritants. It is also free of harsh chemicals, making it soothing and safe on the skin.
This gradual tanning lotion leaves your skin with a beautiful, natural-looking sunless tan, without exposure to harmful UV radiations.
It is an excellent choice of gradual tanning lotion, and it lasts longer once tan fully develops.
Vita Liberata Fabulous Gradual Self-tanning lotion
The Vita Liberata self-tanning lotion is formulated with organic extracts and natural ingredients. These ingredients help repair, condition, moisturize and soothe your skin.
The skin-friendly formula provides you with a natural-looking tan that fades even after 4-7 days. It is suitable for individuals with dry, sensitive, and mature skin type.
The fast-absorbing formula is non-GMO, fragrance-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free, toxin-free, and also free of Triclosan.
It contains Aloe vera, licorice, lychee, amongst other ingredients. These ingredients enable it to hydrate and firm the skin excellently.
They also give it anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, soothing, and moisturizing features.
The white-coloured formula applies clear like a moisturizer on the skin. It gradually develops to an alluring sun-kissed glow that can be deepened with daily use, thereby leaving you with a golden tan.
It is a highly beneficial formula that will surely give you optimum value for your money.
St Tropez Gradual Tan Watermelon Infusion lotion
This gradual tanning formula comes with an ultra-hydrating feature. It is untinted, 100% vegan-friendly, and lightweight. It comes with a refreshing and pleasant watermelon scent which keeps you relaxed.
The watermelon-infused formula also features hyaluronic acid, making it highly hydrating. It leaves the skin moisturized for 72hrs while ensuring it is deeply nourished.
The gradual tanning lotion provides your skin with a sun-kissed glow gradually, within 4-8hrs, and dark tan that keeps building upon application.
It is streak-free, non-sticky, quick-drying, and easy to apply. The all-natural gradual self-tanner is also devoid of harsh chemicals, and it’s cruelty-free. It is gentle and safe on the skin and leaves it smooth, soft, nourished, soothed.
Elemis Total Glow Bronzing Body lotion
This vegan formula is formulated from Green tea and Elderberry, making it highly beneficial to the skin. It is suitable for all skin types and gradually helps brozen the skin, while providing other skin’s health improving benefits.
The body bronzing lotion provides you with gradual tan and instant moisturizing effect on the skin. It is highly hydrating, leaving your skin with smooth, soft, texture and a beautiful golden glow.
It works within 2-3 days, and by the third-day application, your skin would’ve taken the dark tone you desire.
It contains no artificial colour, it is paraben-free and also free of other irritants like Mineral oils, Sls, DEA, amongst others.
This formula provides you with long-lasting hydration, without compromise on gradual tanning effect.
Homemate H Natural Gradual Self Tanning lotion
This gradual sunless tanner is developed from natural ingredients and botanicals. It contains no fillers like artificial colour or fragrance, and it’s also free of toxic chemicals which makes it safe to use for all skin types.
It works perfectly for both the face and the body and provides you with a flawless dark tan over time. The white-coloured lotion contains a powerful amount of DHA and erythrulose, which enables it to achieve this.
It provides the skin with a long-lasting bronzed result and pleasant colour that continues to develop upon application.
It contains oil extracts from coconut, Grapeseed, and sweet almond. This helps it protect the skin from irritation and inflammation, moisturize it, tightens it, and removes impurities, thereby leaving the skin smooth.
It improves the appearance of dry and damaged skin by keeping it moisturizer at all times while reducing flaking. The anti-ageing moisturizer helps replenish, restore, and hydrate the skin.
It provides the skin with a stunning, flawless, and original tan without streaking or transferring. It takes an average of 6-7 days to see it manifest on the skin fully, but it blends easily and dries quickly.
Balance me Gradual Tanning Drops
This streak-free gradual self-tanning drop is suitable to use on the face and body. It is odour-free and contains Vit E, which leaves your skin hydrated.
The Vegan formula is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It is cruelty-free, doesn’t clog pores, all-natural, and can be used both during the day or at night.
The hydrating formula comes with a naturally derived skin darkening compound DHA. This compound is derived from rapeseed oil, and it reacts with amino acids on your skin to gradually provide you with a sun-kissed golden glow.
It leaves no orange tint behind, and it’s buildable enough for you to customize your tan. It also has antioxidants, and some other soothing and cooling ingredients like Aloe vera. It’s an excellent pick.
Ultra Beauty Gradual Glow Self-tanning lotion
If you’re looking to achieve a gradual but long-lasting summer golden glow, this self-tanning lotion is one of the best options for you.
As the name implies, it leaves your skin with ultra beauty, giving you a rich dark tan that shines brightly under the sun rays.
The daily moisturizing formula is suitable for both the body and face. It leaves the body hydrated all day while providing your skin with a healthy glow.
Daily use of this gradual tan lotion will undoubtedly lead to the build-up of medium tan, and eventually a bronzing effect on the skin.
Yuzu & Starfruit Touch of Summer moisturizing gradual self-tan cream
This sunless tanning creme is from Hempz, a brand known for delivering quality and efficiency over the years. It is formulated for medium skin tone and contains SPF 30, making it highly beneficial.
It effectively moisturizes the skin while creating a gradual golden glow. The Vegan formula contains 100% natural hemp oil which enables the self-tanner to nourish, soothe, and smooth your skin.
It is paraben-free, gluten-free, and THC-free, which makes it safe and non-irritating for the skin. The subtle sunless tanning lotion improves the skin’s radiance, glow, and tone.
You can be assured of optimal efficiency, with this self-tanner by Hempz.
YLLANO Gradual Self-tanner lotion with Tanning mitt
This self-tanner lotion helps you build a perfect sun-kissed glow on your skin, and a natural-looking bronzed appearance gradually.
The body bronzer gives you light to medium tan; it is made of natural and organic ingredients perfectly blended to create a rich and dark tan.
It comes with a Mitt set that allows a non-messy, smooth, and stain-free application. It is streak-free and leaves no orange tint on the body.
This gradual self-tanner lasts for almost 7-days and leaves your skin moisturized, nourished, and smooth. It comes with a refreshing coconut scent and contains no artificial additives.
For effective results, exfoliate your body to smooth skin texture before applying the tanning lotion.
Australian Gold Gradual Sunless Lotion
Australian Gold is a household name for tanning formula, and this gradual tanning lotion is just as efficient as their other products.
The efficient tanning formula comes with a fade defy technology; it energizes and softens the skin while leaving you with a natural-looking sunless skin tone you control.
It contains a decadent darkening colour blend, DHA, erythrulose, black walnut, and derma dark bronzers. These substances allow for delayed and more developed colour, thereby leaving a buildable golden tan.
It is streak-free and contains highly beneficial ingredients like Kakadu plum, shea butter, Caffeine, etc. These ingredients help moisturize, protect, repair, tightens, energizes, and deeply nourish the skin.
The Caffeine content in this formula helps intensify the browning effect for a richer tan. This gradual tanner leaves your skin looking young and remains hydrated for a long time.
Neutrogena Build-A-tan Gradual Sunless tanning lotion
Here’s a lightweight gradual tanning formula that provides you with a natural-looking colour that you can control. It comes with a light, fresh scent that leaves you refreshed.
The tanning lotion is quick-drying and easy to apply. It allows you to customize your shade from a healthy glow to a deep tan.
The dermatologist-recommended lotion provides you with a buildable and natural-looking tan. It is streak-free, moisturizing, and soothing. You’ll find it to be a great choice of gradual tanning lotion.
Body Drench Quick Tan Dark Gradual Self-tanning lotion
This formula offers you a year-round solution to achieving a golden summer glow. It contains DHA that enhances skin pigmentation, thereby intensifying the tanning process.
The formula contains moisturizing ingredients that leave the skin hydrated all day. It is ideal for dark skin tone and leaves you with a golden tan that gradually develops throughout the day.
It is safe on the skin and contains no harsh chemicals. This formula leaves the skin smooth and soothed while providing it with an even and flawless tan.
Conclusion
Gradual tanning lotions are excellent for achieving an even, streak-free, and natural-looking glow. If you’re in a hurry to get all tanned-up, these formulas should be your go-to.
Our guide contains the most efficient ones and things to check before making a choice. We hope you find it beneficial.