The 5 best self-tanners for glow on the red carpet, according to stars

Whether they’re posing for photos in swimsuits or on the red carpet, stars love to show off their glow.

And when it comes to looking sun-kissed – while saying goodbye to harmful UV rays – many stars consider self-tanning sprays, drops and mousses as part of their beauty routine.

Wondering which products earned a gold star, bronzeing some of the biggest names in Hollywood?

Below, we present five self-tanning products tested and approved by celebrities – from Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala brightening elixir to the spray that helped Ryan Gosling transform into Ken on the set of Barbie.

Dolce Glow founder, Isabel Alysa, is the pro behind countless celebrities’ bronze skin. Miley Cyrus invested in the company in early 2023, and the Kardashian-Jenners, Selena Gomez, Lauren Sánchez, Brittany Mahomes and Jennifer Lopez swear by Dolce Glow spray tan during Met Gala appearances, Instagram shoots and more. Sofia Richie even went to Alysa’s to get a tan before her April 2023 wedding.

For those who want to achieve a glowing effect at home, the brand’s tanning mist has a special spray that allows you to turn the can upside down or on its side, which means – as Alysa once told Page Six Style – “if you can use SPF, you can use self-tanner.”

“It dries instantly and is really moisturizing,” added the glow guru, who also recommended prepping the skin with Exfoliating glove ($9) 24 hours in advance and told us “you can go broke [the spray] in just two to six hours, depending on how dark you want your tan to be.”

Page Six Style Review: “Alysa’s signature formula was so comfortable and moisturizing that it felt like I was applying luxurious care all over my skin (plus it didn’t stain my white sheets or clothes),” Page Six trade writer Hannah Southwick wrote after trying the professional spray tan from Alysa. .

Kim Kardashian supposedly abandoned the name St. Tropez on its now-defunct app, and Ashley Graham collaborated with the brand on a special tanning kit.

The last one said Who What Wear in 2021 that after using the mask and balm “[likes] spray it with St. facial mist. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Bronzing Water Face Mist to maintain your tan.”

The brand’s bronzing formulas are also part of her red carpet routine as she prepared for the 2024 Met Gala, using Self Tan Supreme Purple bronzing mousse.

Favorite Bachelor Nation stars and morning show hosts, Tan-Luxe products deliver a camera-ready glow. Kelly Ripa supposedly called the facial formula “amazing” and “literally like applying moisturizer” to the air, while Christine Quinn praised its versatility.

“I love that the drops are customizable and buildable for a subtle glow or a full Barbie brown look,” she told Page Six Style in 2020.

Meanwhile, Hailey Bieber prefers Tan-Luxe The Water moisturizing self-tanning water; IN TikTok while showing off her beauty routine, the model sprayed a small amount of it on and explained that she uses it “because my body gets a lot of tan and I protect my face from the sun,” adding, “I really love it. I spray it, rub it in, wait for him to taste it, and then apply conditioner on top.”

Paris Hilton put her own pink twist on the brand’s formulas in 2024 by collaborating on the project The future collection ($49) with her exclusive Pink Sands fragrance.

Kourtney Kardashian’s favorite self-tanner costs under $20 on Amazon. The Poosh founder included Sol by Jergens drops — which can be customized to achieve your desired color depth — in her signature collection Summer 2022 mail order.

She also addressed the Water Mousse brand, saying, “I love that it’s made with natural sugars and coconut oil.”

Come on, Barbie, let’s go get a spray tan. Ryan Gosling used tanning specialist Kimberley Nkosi for her portrayal of Ken brand’s viral self-tanning spraywhich is designed to create a glow that lasts for about a week.

“For me, using self-tanner isn’t about spraying something and hoping for the best,” Nkosi he wrote on Instagram. “It’s about the feeling, not the look.”

Who makes the best self-tanners?

Looking for more tips before you commit to glitter? While the sun-kissed stars above may serve as inspiration, choosing the perfect product ultimately comes down to personal preference — including how deep you want your tan, whether you’re looking for a face or full-body formula, and whether you prefer a scented or unscented version .

Ultimately, though, you can’t go wrong with the mists, mousses, and serums mentioned above.

“People are really just starting to learn what a spray tan can do,” Dolce Glow’s Isabel Alysa previously told Page Six Style, likening it to a “filter” on the skin that “can help tone, blur imperfections” and even out skin tone.