If you have olive skin, finding the best self tanner for your complexion can be difficult. Many products are designed for those with fair skin, so they can leave your skin looking orange or unnatural.
But don’t worry – below is a list of the top five self-tanners for olive skin, so you can find the perfect product to give yourself a tan that looks natural and sun-kissed.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick  | St. Tropez self tan bronzing mousse |
| Check Price |
Best Coverage  | Coco & Eve Sunny Self Tanning Lotion |
| Check Price |
Best Budget  | MineTan Olive Self Tanner Mousse |
| Check Price |
Each of the products on this list is non-streaking, easy to apply, and will give you a tan that lasts about five days.
Keep reading to learn more.
St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse
For the person who wants the perfect, natural-looking tan, without having to spend time in the sun, St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse is the solution.
This lightweight, velvety mousse is easy to apply and delivers streak-free, all-over results in just a few hours. Plus, the 100% natural DHA blend ensures natural-looking results every time.
St. Tropez is known for its instant color and ultra-lightweight feel, and this product won’t disappoint. An added bonus is that St. Tropez offers two different shades for olive skin – light to medium, and medium to dark to accommodate all skin tones.
Before using this self tanner, follow the directions on the box to make sure you get even results.
The next time you’re considering spending an entire day at the beach, try St. Tropez Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse instead. You’ll look like you’ve been on vacation all day, and you’ll be back at home in bed before the sun goes down.
Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Self Tanner Mousse
The Coco & Eve is the perfect solution for getting that bronzed look. This lightweight, fast-drying mousse gives you an instant bronze glow that lasts for up to two days.
This self tanner not only provides you with a lovely golden hue but also moisturizes and smoothes pigmentation while blurring and fading stretch marks.
The key ingredients in this product such as sunflower seed wax and algae, help reduce the appearance of dark spots, scars, and other skin imperfections, leaving you with a smooth, flawless complexion
The perfect solution to getting the tan of your dreams, Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Self Tanner Mousse will leave you looking like Taylor Swift.
For a deeper and longer-lasting tan, you may even choose to sleep in it overnight. And if you’re looking for faux freckles, a fine-tipped brush or stencil can help you achieve the look you desire.
MineTan Self Tanner Mousse
MineTan Self Tanner Mousse is the perfect solution for a quick, easy, and streak-free tan. The non-sticky, lightweight formula is easy to apply by hand in circular motions.
MineTan Self Tanner Mousse is a highly pigmented, rich, and deep brown color.
To achieve a natural-looking, rich, warm tan with no orange or yellow undertones, use a dark brown and violet bronzing combination. This mousse is ideal for olive skin tones and has a subtle strawberry aroma that won’t compete with your perfume.
You get no orange tones with this self tanner mousse, and no fake tan smell – just beautiful, sun-kissed skin.
For the best results, exfoliate before applying to ensure your skin is smooth. Then leave it on for two hours for a dark tan, or overnight for a deep tan.
In addition to being perfect for olive skin tones, MineTan Self Tanner Mousse is also vegan and cruelty-free.
Sicilian 200X Dark Black Bronzer Tanning Lotion
This luxurious lotion is perfect for olive skin tones, and formulated with high levels of DHA, giving you a deep, natural tan. Silicone and other skin-loving ingredients help keep you looking young and radiant.
This rich formula features high levels of DHA, plus skin-loving ingredients like Silicone, CoQ10, Walnut & Macadamia Oils for a soft, healthy glow.
With its innovative odor-blocking properties, you’ll love how this tanning lotion leaves you smelling great without any unpleasant aftertaste.
And with innovative odor-blocking properties, you won’t have any unpleasant post-tanning aroma. Sicilian 200X Dark Black Bronzer Tanning Lotion also contains Vitamin A to help protect you from harmful environmental damage and pollutants, making it a great choice for olive skin.
If you’re usually put off from self-tanners because of the smell, this is the perfect product for you.
Skinerals Onyx Self Tanner Mousse
This green-based solution is perfect for light, medium, or olive skin tones, and uses all-natural and organic ingredients to give you up to 7 days of beautiful tanning without streaks or blotches.
On top of that, Onyx does not contain any harmful UV rays and is the ideal method to acquire a long-lasting and natural-looking glow.
Onyx Self Tanner Mousse absorbs quickly leaving a silky, smooth finish – all while adding an instant hint of color
The gentle formula doesn’t contain any harmful UV rays and gives you a long-lasting, natural-looking glow. Plus, it absorbs quickly, leaving you with a silky smooth finish.
This vegan, cruelty-free, sulfate-free, aerosol-free, and paraben-free skincare solution contains antioxidants like acai berry and fig extracts to help even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of blemishes and stretch marks.
Frequently Asked Questions about Self Tanners
Let’s now have a look at some frequently asked questions about self-tanning.
Q: What is the difference between a bronzer and a self tanner?
A: A bronzer is generally used to add warmth, color, and shimmer to the face – whereas a self tanner is used for your whole body.
Q: How do self tanners work?
A: Self-tanners usually contain Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which reacts with dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, creating a temporary tan.
Q: Can you use a self tanner during pregnancy?
A: Generally, a sunless tanning product should be safe to use during pregnancy after the first trimester. However, you should always consult your doctor before using any self tanning products if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Q: How do I apply a self tanner?
A: Simply exfoliate and then moisturize your skin as usual – before applying the product to all of your desired body areas evenly. Massage in well and wait for it to dry before getting dressed, or else you may end up staining your clothes.
Q: How long do self tanners last?
A: Self tanners can last anywhere from 2-10 days, depending on the product and how much color it contains. However, they usually fade gradually – which can give you more natural results than if they just disappeared overnight after first applying.
Q: How long does self tanning lotion take to work?
A: Depending on the individual, self tanning lotions might take anywhere from 5 to 10 hours. Self-tanners function by causing the DHA, the major tanning component in these lotions, to react with your outermost layer of dead skin cells. Unfortunately, this reaction takes time.
Q: How long does it take for a self tanner to dry?
A: This will depend on the particular product you are using, but most self-tanners need at least half an hour to dry properly. However, you should always avoid getting dressed too soon after applying since this can lead to staining of your clothing.
Q: Does self tanning lotion wash off?
A: Yes, self-tanners will eventually wash off – but this can take a few days or weeks depending on the concentration of DHA in the product you’re using.
Q: What is the best way to apply moisturizer with self tanner?
A: It’s always best to wait at least half an hour after applying self tanner before applying moisturizer since the moisturizer can dilute the concentration of DHA in your skin.
Q: Can you shave with self tanner on?
A: Yes, you can definitely shave while you are using self-tanners. However, make sure to wait at least 6 hours before doing so in order to give the product time to take effect on your skin.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best self tanner for olive skin will often depend on skin and skin type.
If you have an olive skin tone, check for active ingredients in your desired self tanner product, such as erythrulose or bronzers like dihydroxyacetone (DHA) to make sure it will work on your color.
In general, choosing a darker shade of self tanner will often give you a better result than choosing a lighter shade.
Keep in mind that self tanning lotions and sprays can be messy to apply – which is why a mitt or a glove will help to ensure that the product doesn’t end up all over your hands.
