Choosing the Best Self Tanner for Summer

Short answer: For summer, mousse is the fastest way to a deep, natural bronze, and our Ultra Dark and Ultra Plus formulas are built specifically for that dramatic, sun-soaked color. Ultra Dark has a violet base, Ultra Plus leans more red, both avoid the orange most heavy-DHA formulas produce. If you're newer to self tanning, start lighter and build up instead of going straight to the deepest shade.

Tanning season is here. Whether you want a subtle warmth for everyday wear or a deep bronze for vacation, the right self tanner makes all the difference. This guide breaks down the best self tanners for summer by skin goal, skin tone, and lifestyle, so you can skip the guesswork and go straight to the glow.

Every MAKAI formula uses DHA to react with your skin for a natural, streak-free result that lasts 7 to 10 days. No UV exposure, no orange tones, no salon appointment, just consistent, buildable color on your schedule.

In This Guide

• Why Self Tanner for Summer
• Toni's Own Summer Routine
• Best for Deep Summer Color: Ultra Dark and Ultra Plus
• Best for First-Timers
• Best for Everyday Glow
• Best for Maintenance
• Best for Face
• Best for Men
• How to Choose Your Shade
• Summer Tanning Tips
• FAQs

Why Self Tanner for Summer

Summer means more skin on show, and more reasons to want a consistent, even glow. But the sun is also at its most damaging during these months, with UVB radiation at its annual peak. Self tanner gives you everything a beach tan offers, warmth, definition, confidence, without the sunburn, premature aging, or skin cancer risk that comes with UV exposure.

At around $4 per full body application, it also costs a fraction of a spray tan session. You get more control, more flexibility, and better results when you know how to use it.

Toni's Own Summer Routine

Toni tans year-round, so summer doesn't really change her baseline routine. The one thing that does change is frequency. If she knows she's got a pool day or beach day coming up, she'll tan twice in close succession instead of once, something like Thursday night, then again Saturday morning after the gym, before heading out for the day.

Once MAKAI is fully dry, it holds solid, it isn't going anywhere from normal pool or beach activity. Her only real habit before swimming is a quick rinse before putting on a swimsuit, more out of routine than necessity. If you want the full breakdown of how often to reapply depending on your goals, our guide on how often you should self tan covers it in more depth.

Best for Deep Summer Color: Ultra Dark and Ultra Plus

Our two deepest formulas, and the ones most people reach for once they know they love a dramatic, sun-soaked color.

The difference between the two comes down to undertone. Ultra Dark has a violet base, which a lot of people prefer because it reads as more natural. Ultra Plus leans more red and is our darkest option overall, built for anyone who wants to go as deep as possible without tipping into an artificial-looking color. If you're already comfortable with a strong tan and know you want maximum color this summer, these two are where to start.

Best for First-Timers

If you have never self-tanned before, a medium mousse is where to start rather than jumping straight to Ultra Dark or Ultra Plus. It develops into a soft, natural bronze that looks like you spent a weekend outdoors rather than applied anything at all, and it's more forgiving on technique while you're still learning. If fair skin is your starting point, our full guide to the best self tanner for pale skin goes much deeper on shade, prep, and what to expect.

Best for Everyday Glow

For most people, a standard dark mousse is the everyday sweet spot, a rich, natural-looking bronze that builds well over one or two coats without going as intense as the Ultra tier. It's the format most customers land on for regular summer maintenance once they're past the first-timer stage. Not sure which format actually fits your routine? Our Mousse vs. Lotion vs. Cream guide breaks it down.

Best for Maintenance

A gradual tanning lotion is the easiest way to maintain your summer color without a full application every week. It doubles as a daily moisturizer, which matters more in summer since heat and sweat dry skin out faster and cause patchier fading. It's also a good follow-up after a full mousse application to stretch your color a few extra days.

Best for Face

Summer is when a lot of people want to wear less makeup, which is exactly where a self tanning face mist earns its place. A few spritzes gives you a natural, sun-kissed flush without the need for bronzer or heavy foundation. We go into the full technique, including how much product to use and how to blend it evenly, in our guide to the best self tanner for face.

Best for Men

More men are using self tanner than ever, and summer is the most popular time to start. A formula built for men's thicker skin and body hair, with undertones calibrated to avoid the orange result generic formulas can produce, makes the biggest difference. Our full guide on the best self tanner for men covers technique, shade selection, and common mistakes.

How to Choose Your Shade for Summer

The right shade depends on your natural skin tone and how deep you want to go. A quick rule: start one shade lighter than you think you need. You can always build darker with a second application, you cannot undo going too dark on the first try.

• Fair to light skin: start with a light to medium shade for soft, natural warmth.
• Light to medium skin: a standard dark mousse gives a rich, noticeable bronze without looking overdone.
• Olive to dark skin: Ultra Dark or Ultra Plus deliver deep, dramatic color that works with your natural undertones.

Summer Self Tanning Tips

Summer skin needs a little extra care to hold color well. Heat, sweating, swimming, and more frequent showers all accelerate fading. Here is how to keep your glow lasting through the season:

• Always exfoliate 24 hours before applying, summer heat causes more dead skin buildup, which leads to patchier fading
• Moisturize morning and night with an oil-free lotion to extend the life of your tan
• Rinse with fresh water before swimming and reapply a gradual tanner after a pool day to restore color
• Apply in the evening so your tan develops overnight without being disrupted by sweat or sun
• Keep a body mist on hand for quick touch-ups between full applications, perfect for summer travel or busy weeks
• Pat skin dry after every shower, never rub, to preserve color through the hottest months

FAQs

What's the difference between Ultra Dark and Ultra Plus?

Undertone. Ultra Dark has a violet base, which many people find reads as more natural. Ultra Plus leans more red and is our darkest overall option.

Should I start with Ultra Dark or Ultra Plus if I'm new to self tanning?

No, start with a medium shade instead. The Ultra tier is built for people already comfortable with a strong tan.

Will self tanner come off in the pool?

Not once it's fully dry. It holds solid through normal swimming and beach activity, a quick rinse beforehand is more habit than necessity.

How often should I reapply during summer?

It depends on your goal, but tanning twice in close succession, like a weeknight and then a weekend morning, is a common approach before a pool or beach day.

Why does self tanner sometimes look orange?

It usually comes down to formula and undertone, not the person's skin. Both Ultra Dark and Ultra Plus are formulated specifically to avoid that orange cast at high color depth.

What should I do before swimming to protect my tan?

Make sure it's fully developed and dry first. A quick rinse before putting on a swimsuit helps, but a properly developed MAKAI tan holds up well on its own.

Shop Ultra Dark or Ultra Plus.