The Best Self-Tanning Towels

Buying Guide

Sunless tanning has become a popular alternative to tanning beds and baking in the sun for hours. Consumers are looking for alternative ways to get that sought-after glow at home, including via the use of self-tanning towels.

But sunless tanning isn’t without its risks. Self-tanners typically use a product called dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which reacts to the amino acids on the surface of the skin to darken. But while the FDA sees DHA as safe for use on the skin, there are concerns about exposure to the eyes, mouth and nasal cavities. For that reason, DHA in spray tanning booths can be of concern, considering it’s harder to control those exposures.

Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to get that look you want without using a spray tanning booth or airbrush gun. Self-tanning products for use at home have been available for years. They come in lotions, sprays, mists, sticks, mousses and wipes. Each has its benefits, and the option you choose may simply be a matter of personal preference.

Wipes, also known as self-tanning towels, work similar to baby wipes or the wipes you use to clean and disinfect your hands. The product is on the cloth, and you simply pull it out of the packaging and rub it over your skin. To prevent streaking, it’s best to apply in circular motions.

One downside of self-tanning towels is that you’re limited in the amount. Each cloth will only hold so much product, so it might take more than one cloth to do everything. They might work best for those who only look to tan the areas of the body not covered by clothes.

Often, sunless tanning cloths are formulated using a product that is available in other formats. If you find a tanner you like in lotion or spray form, self-tanning towels could be a way to take your favorite product on vacation, particularly if you choose one that comes in individually wrapped packaging.

• Self-tanners have a distinctive smell. Some try to cover it up by adding scents on top of that, but once the scent wears off, that smell will remain until you shower. For best results, tan on a day where you won’t mind having that self-tanner smell.
• With any self-tanning product, it’s best to use it daily until you reach your desired level of tan. If you want to maintain that look, simply use once or twice a week, adjusting upward and downward as you learn how quickly it fades.
• Although self-tanning towels can be easier to use than lotions and mousses, you can still get stained palms from using them. Wearing gloves while you apply can help prevent that issue.
• To enhance the color, use lotion on your tanned areas after you’ve taken that first shower. Continue to moisturize until you apply self-tanner again.
• Some self-tanners work gradually, starting with light color and darkening as you add more layers over the days. This allows you to build the tan you want over time, then simply maintain the look, but the downside is that you won’t get overnight tanning.
• If you’re concerned about the chemicals in tanners, you can find some that are made using natural sugars that act as the tanning agent.
• Some self-tanners go on dark, and the color will rub off on anything you touch, including your furniture and clothing. Look for one that goes on clear and dries quickly to ensure you won’t have to stand around for hours, avoiding touching anything.
• Tanning towels can be more expensive than other self-tanning solutions. Most come in small sets of individually wrapped packages, so if you apply self tanner every day, you might want to go with a spray, mousse or lotion.