If a subtle, barely-there glow is your objective, tanning expert Jordan Cook says it's best to use a gradual tanner. "There is such minimal room for error with a gradual tanner," Cook explains. "You're in control of development time, so you can use it for a few days in a row to build a tan, and then stop when you've reached your desired level of darkness. You're not going to get overnight results, but working in incremental layers means you're avoiding a big potential fail."
Ahead, find the best gradual — and natural, and buildable — sunless tanners to grab before bare-legs season is upon us.
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St. Moriz Professional Gradual Tanning Lotion
Cook, who works with sunless tanning brand St. Moriz, says she's "obsessed" with the gradual tanning lotion. "The fragrance instantly takes you to the Maldives," she says. "I apply it almost every other day and find that, because it has aloe vera and vitamin E, my skin stays super hydrated —which is the key to keeping your tan."
St. Moriz Professional Gradual Tanning Lotion, $, available at Ulta
Tan-Luxe The Gradual Illuminating Gradual Tan Lotion
If your complexion is fair and your skin tends to be on the drier side, you want a lightweight lotion. This one from Tan Luxe is so sheer that it won't cling to dry patches and instead will leave your arms, legs, and décolletage with a believable glow.
Tan-Luxe The Gradual Illuminating Gradual Tan Lotion, $, available at Sephora
M-61 Hydraboost Body Butter Gradual Tan
This body butter is a bit heavier in texture, but the tint it leaves behind is super light. You can rub it all over your skin after your shower like you would any body lotion and get moisture and a hint of color, too.
m-61 Hydraboost Body Butter Gradual Tan, $, available at Bluemercury
St. Tropez Gradual Tan Watermelon Infusion Body Lotion
Unlike the classic St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse, which is famously fast and effective, this lotion is very light and designed to be buildable. You won't get spray tan-caliber results overnight, but with this new watermelon-infused formula, you're not going to get that funky dihydroxyacetone (DHA) smell either.
St. Tropez Gradual Tan Watermelon Infusion Body Lotion, $, available at Sephora
Vita Liberata Self-Tanning Gradual Lotion
This self-tanning lotion has over 1,000 five-star reviews from Amazon shoppers who say it gives skin a light tan in one application and fades naturally (i.e. not in weird patches).
Vita Liberata Advanced Organics Fabulous Self-Tanning Gradual Lotion, $, available at Amazon
Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Lotion
A drugstore win, you can't go wrong with Jergens Natural Glow. Not only is it cheap and housed in a nice big tube, but the formulation still reigns supreme as one of the most foolproof self-tanners on the market.
Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Lotion - 7.5 oz, $, available at Target
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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