When self-tanning, you need to make sure the colour of your face matches that of your body. Now, while you can do this with your foundation or bronzer, this sometimes results in an uneven hairline where you can see a border of makeup.

For a truly seamless and flawless finish, it’s always best to use a self tanner for the face and achieve a light golden glow. That way, you will also need to use less makeup, which is better and healthier for the skin.

We have selected our edit of the best self tanners for the face that will leave you looking like a bronzed goddess. Discover them below.

Which are the best self tanners for the face?

Although some self tanning formulas are made for both face and body, if it doesn’t state face on the packaging, it shouldn’t be applied onto it.

The skin on your face is different to that on your body, and using the wrong formula can lead to breakouts and dehydration. Therefore we have selected 11 of our favourite self tanners for the face that will leave you gorgeous and glowing.

11 of the best self tanners for the face 2019

1. ESPA Gradual Tan Face Concentrate

Infused with natural essential oils like rose, sweet orange and neroli, the ESPA Gradual Tan Face Concentrate is perfect for those wishing to go golden without the use of harsh chemicals.

The formula can either be used on its own, or mixed with your favourite moisturiser to develop a healthy bronze glow customised to your natural skin tone.

2. Manuka Doctor Apibronze Facial Bronzing Gel

Manuka Doctor’s Apibronze Facial Bronzing Gel has been developed to deliver a natural golden glow suitable for all skin types.

Formulated with manuka honey and Purified Bee Venom, the gel melts into the skin to leave a natural tan behind, all while ensuring the skin stays hydrated and plumped-up.

*no bees are harmed during the making of any Manuka Doctor skincare products.

3. UTAN & Tone Nourishing Night Creme

Want to tan as you sleep? Then you will love UTAN & Tone’s Nourishing Night Creme. It contains a cocktail of vitamins to support skin repair as you sleep, alongside an organic tanner to give a golden glow overnight.

You can use it on consecutive nights to build up to your desired colour and shade, while the cream will replace your normal night cream to ensure your skin stays healthy, hydrated and plumped-up.

4. Face by Skinny Tan Moisturising Oil Drops

If you are a spritz-and-go kind of girl, you will love Skinny Tan’s Coconut Water Tanning Mist.

Suitable for both face and body, the lightweight mist contains a naturally-derived tanning agent and nourishing oils to hydrate the skin. It has no visible guide colour, so we would recommend spritzing and then patting into the face to make sure it is evenly applied.

5. Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk for Face

Perfect if you have combination or blemish-prone skin, the Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk for Face is both oil-free and non-comedogenic.

It contains nourishing aloe vera, cocoa butter and Vitamin E to moisturise the skin without blocking pores, all while building up an even and customisable golden glow.

6. ELEMIS Total Glow Bronzing Moisturiser

If you don’t like the feel of a traditional tanning agent, you will love ELEMIS’s Total Glow Bronzing Moisturiser.

Packed with antioxidant-rich green tea, which helps to hydrate and shield against environmental aggressors, the lightweight cream melts into the skin to build up a gradual golden glow.

7. James Read Coconut Melting Tanning Balm

Anyone with severely dry skin take note: this is the best self tanner for you. The James Read Coconut Melting Tanning Balm is made with 100% organic coconut oil to deeply moisturise and hydrate.

Made with the brand’s unique and innovative “Tantone” technology, the balm creates a tan customised to your natural skin tone for flawless results.

8. St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Face Mist

St. Tropez’s Purity tan range is undoubtedly one of the best on the market thanks to its lightly-scented and no-stain formula. For the complexion, we love their Purity Face Mist, which is enriched with a blend of nourishing botanicals and 100% natural tanning actives to help hydrate the skin and reduce the chance of breakouts from the tanning process.

You don’t need to rub or blend in, just spritz and go!

9. OSKIA Tan Drops

OSKIA’s Adaptive Tan Drops are made from a 100% natural formulation. Featuring the brand’s own unique (and natural) encapsulated DHA, the drops also contain natural melanin boosters to increase your skin’s chance of tanning naturally.

They have been designed to be added to any moisturiser or serum of your choice, and let you wake up with a truly beautiful and lightweight golden glow. They are without a doubt, one of our favourite self tanners for the face.

10. St. Tropez Express Sheet Mask

If you’re in a little rush and need a tan quickly and evenly, you will love the St. Tropez Express Sheet Mask.

Fortified with hyaluronic acid to hydrate, the tanning mask reveals a light golden glow once removed, alongside a dewy and plumped-up complexion. This is a great product to use if you’re jumping in the bath and want to multi-task; just pop on while you’re relaxing and let the mask work its golden magic.

11. Vita Liberata Beauty Blur in Sunless Glow

One of the newest product launches from Vita Liberata is the Sunless Glow Beauty Blur, and it’s a super exciting one for summer 2019.

Free from all the common chemical nasties that Vita Liberata ban in their products, it works as a HD primer, even-ing out the skin tone and imparting a gorgeous radiance. Plus, it delivers a beautiful-looking tan if you have forgotten to actually tan and need a quick fix.

Enjoy this? Try our best gradual tan or best fake tan for pale skin guides.