It’s officially vacation season, which means many of us will be seeing more and more out-of-office replies and feeling insanely envious of our co-workers who booked it to Mexico or Hawaii. It also means many of us may want to give our skin a bit of a post-winter glow-up, either to prep for our tropical getaways, or fake one: That’s where the best fake tanners come in. Using a fake tanner instead of a tanning bed (or tanning IRL) is far safer and skin-friendly, so that’s the route we’ll always recommend if you’re looking for some all-over bronzing. Lucky for you, Walmart has some really good, very affordable fake tanners.
You’re a couple clicks away from a very convincing fake take. Hot tip: You can make it even easier on yourself if you join Walmart Plus to take advantage of free shipping (even on single purchases!).
Best Self-Tanners at Walmart, at a Glance:
Best Gel: B.Tan Glow Your Own Way, $13
Best Daily Moisturizer with Tanner: Jergens Natural Glow Sunless Tanning Daily Body Lotion, $10
Best Tanning Towelettes: L’Oreal Sublime Sunless Tanning Towelettes, $28
Best Mousse: Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse, $13
Best Bundle: Botanic Tree Self Tanner & Mitt Bundle, $30
Best for Keeping on Your Countertop: Shiseido Brilliant Bronze Quick Self Tanning Gel, $22
Best Tanning Water: Isle of Paradise Hello Golden Glow Self Tanning Water, $27
1.b.tan Glow Your Own Way Tan Gel
b.tan Glow Your Own Way Tan Gel
This tanning gel goes on clear and turns into an instant glow-y tan. According to the brand, all you need is one or two pumps of product and you’re good to go. Many reviewers state that it’s beginner-proof, meaning you don’t need to be a seasoned fake tanner to apply this successfully. “So this was my first time trying out self tan because I was nervous about staining my clothes. However this gel tanner absorbs into your skin very nicely like a moisturizer but also giving your skin a a soft subtle glowy bronze. Also it smells amazing like coconuts and it also had hyloronic acid which helps give your skin a slight tightening and reduce wrinkles,” one customers says.
Pros
- Packed with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E
- Transfer-resistant
- No scent
Cons
- Does not contain SPF
2.Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Tanning Mousse
Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse, Deep Bronze
This Jergens mousse dries in 60 seconds and you’re good to go about your day. Over the next six hours, your tan will develop. This one is another pick that’s beginner-friendly and delivers a very natural tan: “I love it. It gave me a beautiful natural looking tan. This was my first time ever self tanning so i was worried at first because i looked orange after putting it on. I waited 4 hours then showered, all the orange came off and left me with a natural looking tan! I definitely recommend,” a shopper says.
Pros
- Quick-drying
- Buildable
Cons
- No skincare ingredients
L’Oreal Paris Skincare Sublime Bronze Sunless Tanning Towelettes
Planning a trip and don’t know what your tan status is going to be? Throw these travel-friendly tanning towelettes into your bag in case you don’t get a chance to soak up the sun in an ample amount of time. Or just, you know, if you’re trying to be safe and avoid the sun all together! They’re a cult-classic for a reason (many reasons, actually), and some say they’re a dupe for Dr. Dennis Gross’ Alpha Beta Glow Pads. “These are great. Color was natural and developed as stated. Easy to use. Towels were very moist and size generous. Tan lasted almost a week. I think these are better than the more expensive brands I’ve tried. I’m very pale and these have a medium brown golden hue. My favorite,” a customer states.
Pros
- Portable
- Travel-friendly
Cons
- Single-use wipes
4.Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Water
Isle of Paradise Hello Golden Glow Self Tanning Water
This stuff blew up on TikTok a few years ago (*before* TikTok became oversaturated with commission-based content spewing out the same five products—sorry not sorry!)—influencers were raving about how seamless it was to use this formula, and how real the tan looked. Just spray this tanning water on your skin and blend in with a mitt for a near-instant glow. This formula is packed with ingredients like coconut oil, eucalyptus oil, and avocado oil for a boost of hydration so your skin never looks dry and flaky, but always sun-kissed and glow-y.
Pros
- Works on face and body
- Made with color-correcting actives
Cons
- One reviewer noted it fades quickly but great for touch-ups
5.Shiseido Brilliant Bronze Self Tanning Gel
Shiseido Brilliant Bronze Quick Self Tanning Gel
What’s better than applying self-tanner? Applying a little bit of tanner daily and gradually so you never have to make it a whole *thing.* This bottle comes with a pump that makes it super simple to reach for any time of any day. One reviewer wrote, “This is genuinely the best self tanner I have ever tried! Unlike the mousse tanners that go on streaky and dark, this gel dries quickly and you have control over how it is evenly applied, giving a natural finish even on the lightest of skin tones! Genuinely a game changer!”
Pros
- Pump bottle design for ease of use
Cons
- Ingredients not listed on website
6.Botanic Tree Self Tanner & Mitt Bundle
Botanic Tree Self Tanner & Mitt Bundle
If you need to start your tanning journey from the beginning, pick up this bundle that includes self-tanner and a mitt. The tanner is buildable and dries quickly, and many shoppers claim it’s a great option if you have more sensitive skin. One shopper says, “Blends well, is a nice shade, as long as you don’t overdo it and apply for several days in a row, it smells nice and has the bonus of not irritating my sensitive skin. I’ve used high end salon products as well as pharmacy brands, but this one performs more similar to a salon brand I would say. It seems to last a long time; I use it on my face primarily. Naturally my skin tone is a medium olive complexion with a normal moisture pattern.”
Pros
- Mitt included
- 100% organic ingredients
Cons
- Higher price point
7.Jergens Natural Glow Sunless Tanning Daily Body Lotion
Jergens Natural Glow Sunless Tanning Daily Body Lotion
Need just a bit of sunless tanner every day without having to schlep through the entire full-body mitt tanning process? This is the perfect product for you. It moisturizes skin just like a daily lotion and has the perfect amount of glow mixed inside. This is also the self-tanner that senior commerce director Gina Vaynshteyn swears by. “I’m very pale and really scared of tanning in general, but this stuff has never done me dirty. In two-to-three days I can get a very convincing tan going with this lotion, and as long as you’re careful and don’t miss any spots (and wash your hands after!), you can get an easy, even application all over. I use it every summer and end up getting a few bottles,” she says.
