Best Self-Tanning Products Under $20 for an Easier Tan

What Makes a Good Budget Self-Tanning Product?

You don't need to spend a lot of money to get a great self tan. In fact, some of the most useful products in your tanning routine aren't necessarily the tanning products themselves.

When Toni and I think about affordable self-tanning products, our philosophy is simple. The product should actually make the tanning process easier. That might mean helping you apply your mousse more evenly, keeping tanner from getting where you don't want it, or giving you an easy way to maintain your color while you're traveling.

MAKAI currently offers three affordable products that fit into that philosophy: our self-tanning mitts, our travel-size self-tanning mousse, and our back applicator. But there are also inexpensive products from other brands that can be incredibly useful additions to your tanning routine.

Price isn't the only thing to consider when you're shopping for self-tanning products under $20.

In my opinion, the better question is: Does this product actually help me tan?

You don't need to spend $50 on an accessory just because it's marketed as a luxury tanning product. A simple hair tie, hair net, wristband, exfoliating mitt, or bottle of unscented lotion can sometimes make a bigger difference in your tanning routine than an expensive accessory.

When I'm deciding whether an inexpensive tanning product is worth recommending, I look for things that make the process easier, cleaner, or more consistent.

• Does it make application easier?
• Does it help prevent tanner from getting where it shouldn't?
• Does it help you reach difficult areas?
• Does it make maintaining your tan easier?
• Is it something you'll actually use?
• Does it improve the overall tanning process?

MAKAI Self-Tanning Mitt

A good tanning mitt is one of the simplest things you can add to your routine, and it's one of the products we always recommend using with a self-tanning mousse.

When you're applying self tanner, you want an even application without staining your palms. Our self-tanning applicator mitt gives you a barrier between your hands and the tanning formula while helping distribute the product across your skin.

For Toni, the mitt and the travel-size mousse are two products that naturally go together.

If you're traveling, you have your travel-size mousse. But you still need a reliable way to apply it. That's where your mitt comes in.

You don't need an expensive applicator to get a good result. You need one that makes applying your self tanner easier and more consistent.

Why a Mitt Is Worth Having

• Helps distribute mousse evenly.
• Helps prevent stained palms.
• Makes full-body application easier.
• Pairs naturally with mousse formulas.
• Can be reused as part of your regular tanning routine.

MAKAI Travel-Size Self-Tanning Mousse

If you travel frequently, a travel-size self-tanning mousse is one of the most useful tanning products you can own.

Toni regularly travels, and she likes having a smaller version of her usual self-tanning formula available so she doesn't have to go without her tan while she's away. We cover this in more detail in self-tanning on vacation.

A travel-size mousse is especially useful for vacations because you can use it to refresh your color a few days into your trip after swimming, sweating, or being more active than usual.

It also makes it easier to maintain your tan without packing a full-size bottle.

The other advantage is that you're using a formula you already know and trust. When you're traveling, the last thing you want is to experiment with a completely new self tanner right before a vacation.

Why a Travel-Size Mousse Is Worth Having

• Easy to pack.
• Great for vacations and travel.
• Useful for refreshing your tan during a trip.
• Allows you to continue using a formula you already know.
• Pairs perfectly with a tanning mitt.

MAKAI Back Applicator

Your back is one of the hardest areas of your body to self tan on your own.

That's why a back applicator can be one of the most useful inexpensive additions to your tanning routine.

Instead of trying to twist your body into impossible positions or asking someone else to apply your self tanner, a back applicator gives you a way to reach an area that your hands simply can't cover easily.

For anyone who regularly self tans, being able to apply your product evenly across your entire body is important. There's not much point in getting a beautiful tan on your arms, legs, and torso if you completely skip your back.

Exfoliating Gloves

An exfoliating glove is another inexpensive product that can make a major difference in your self-tanning routine.

We don't currently sell an exfoliating glove, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't recommend one.

Toni has found exfoliating gloves that cost around $8 to $10 that she genuinely likes using. The important part isn't the brand or the price. It's whether the glove actually helps her properly prepare her skin.

Exfoliation is an important part of getting an even self tan because you're starting with a cleaner, smoother surface for your tanner to develop on. For a full walkthrough of doing this properly, see our guide on how to exfoliate before self-tanning.

What to Look for in an Exfoliating Glove

• A texture that provides effective exfoliation without being overly harsh.
• A comfortable fit that allows you to exfoliate your entire body.
• A product that you can easily rinse and reuse.
• A price that makes sense for how often you'll use it.

You don't need a $30 exfoliating tool to prepare your skin properly. If an $8 or $10 glove works for you, that's perfectly fine.

Unscented Lotion

A small bottle of unscented lotion is another inexpensive product that can be surprisingly useful for self tanning.

For example, you may want to apply a small amount of lotion to certain areas before applying self tanner, or use it to help moisturize areas that tend to absorb tanning product differently. Our skincare routine with self-tanner guide goes deeper into how to time this properly.

Hands, elbows, knees, ankles, and other dry areas can require a little extra attention during application.

You don't need a specialty tanning lotion for every situation. A basic, unscented moisturizer can be an inexpensive tool to keep in your tanning kit.

Hair Ties and Hair Nets

Some of the best tanning accessories aren't tanning products at all.

A simple hair tie or hair net can help keep your hair away from your face and neck while you're applying self tanner. This can make the application process cleaner and help prevent getting tanning product in your hair.

These are inexpensive items that most people already have around the house.

That's exactly the point.

Your tanning routine doesn't have to become expensive just because the beauty industry creates a product for every possible step.

Wristbands and Other Simple Accessories

Another inexpensive accessory that can make tanning easier is a wristband or similar barrier that helps keep product from traveling down your arms and onto your hands.

Small details like this can make the application process less messy and give you more control over where the product goes.

Again, the goal isn't to buy more things. It's to identify the things that actually solve a problem in your tanning routine.

Why We Don't Believe Cheaper Always Means Better

There's an important distinction between inexpensive and cheaply made.

When we were first developing MAKAI, we experimented with different formulations, including some less expensive approaches to see whether we could make the product more budget friendly.

What we learned was that cutting costs on ingredients isn't always worth it.

Some of the less expensive formulations simply didn't perform the way we wanted. They didn't apply as smoothly, and some felt stickier and less comfortable on the skin.

We didn't want to put a product like that in front of our customers simply to save money or maximize profit.

Our goal has always been to create a natural-looking tan that makes people feel confident while still being budget friendly.

Why MAKAI Can Be Budget Friendly Without Feeling Cheap

One of the things we care about with MAKAI is the actual cost per tan, not just the price printed on the bottle.

When you properly prep your skin and apply the right amount of product, a bottle can provide multiple applications. That means the cost of each individual tan can become very competitive compared with getting regular professional spray tans.

So when you're comparing self-tanning products, don't look only at the sticker price.

Think about how much product you actually need per application and how many tans you can get from the product.

How to Build a Self-Tanning Kit for Under $20

You don't need a huge collection of products to have an effective tanning routine.

A simple budget-friendly tanning kit can include:

• A self-tanning mitt.
• An exfoliating glove.
• A small bottle of unscented lotion.
• A hair tie or hair net.
• Wristbands or another simple barrier to help keep product contained.

These inexpensive products can address most of the practical problems people encounter while applying self tanner.

Then, when you're traveling, add a travel-size mousse to your kit so you can maintain your color while you're away.

The Best Self-Tanning Products Under $20 Aren't Always the Products You Expect

When someone searches for the best self-tanning products under $20, they're probably expecting a list of inexpensive self-tanners.

But Toni's experience has taught us that the best budget products aren't necessarily the ones that give you more color. Sometimes they're the products that make your existing self-tanning routine work better.

A good mitt can improve your application. An exfoliating glove can improve your preparation. An inexpensive lotion can help you manage dry areas. A hair net can keep product out of your hair. A travel-size mousse can make maintaining your tan while traveling much easier.

None of those things need to cost a fortune.

What to Look for Before Buying Any Self-Tanning Product

Before spending money on another tanning accessory, Toni recommends asking yourself one question:

Does this actually make my tan easier?

If the answer is yes, it may be worth adding to your routine.

If the answer is no, you probably don't need it just because it's marketed as a tanning essential.

The best tanning routine is the one you can actually maintain. You don't need dozens of products. You need the right products for the way you tan.

The Bottom Line on Affordable Self-Tanning Products

You absolutely can build an effective self-tanning routine without spending a lot of money.

Our three current tanning essentials, the self-tanning mitts, back applicator, and travel-size self-tanning mousse, are designed around making the process easier. And there are plenty of inexpensive products outside of our collection that can serve a useful purpose too.

Don't confuse expensive with effective, and don't confuse inexpensive with cheaply made.

Look for products that genuinely help you prepare, apply,