The Best Pregnancy-Safe Self-Tanners for a Babymoon Glow, According to Experts
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For many of us, spring and summer present an opportunity to soak in as much sunshine as possible. But if you’re pregnant, doctors say you should try to stay out of the direct sun as much as possible, particularly in the first trimester, as too much sun can decrease the amount of the crucial pregnancy nutrient folic acid, according to Northwestern Medicine.
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But the good news is you don’t have to give up your sunkissed glow just because you’re expecting. In addition to applying a great pregnancy-safe SPF from head to toe every day, make a pregnancy-safe self-tanner or tinted moisturizer your go-to product for getting bronzy, no sun required. Spoiler alert: not all self-tanners are safe to use during pregnancy, though. We asked a dermatologist and an OB/GYN to give us some pointers.
Best (and Safest) Self Tanners for Pregnancy, at a Glance
Best Foam: b.tan Love at First Tan, $10 (originally $15)
Best Mousse: Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Moisturizer + Bronzer, $13
Best Body Lotion: Alba Botanica Sunless Tanner, $7
Best Serum: Whind Marrakech Sun Instant Glow Tanning Water, $35
Best Face Moisturizer: Coola Organic Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer, $48
Best Towelette: Tan Towel Self Tan Towelette, $26 (originally $30)
Best for a Dark Tan: Beauty By Earth Self Tanner Tanning Lotion, $35
Best Buildable: Vita Liberata Fabulous Gradual Tanning Lotion, $20
Best Skin-Tone Corrector: St. Tropez Tan Tonic Glow Drops, $32
Best Free Radical Fighter: Skinerals Californium Sunless Tanning Mousse, $27
Is Self-Tanner Safe During Pregnancy?
Many self-tanners are safe to use during pregnancy, but not all. Two factors will determine whether a self-tanner passes the pregnancy test: its packaging and the ingredients on the label. “I do not recommend using any aerosol versions of self-tanners,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian to SheKnows. “Stick to the lotions, creams and drops. Aerosolized versions can leave droplets of these ingredients in the air that are irritating and potentially toxic to lung tissue.”
It’s important to read the ingredients on the label. The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products that enhances the pigment by dying the surface layer of the skin is dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, which, thankfully, is minimally toxic. “The concentration of this active ingredient ranges depending on the product,” says Nazarian. “Typically, this ingredient can range from between 1 to 15 percent in self tanners, and thankfully studies have been done that have shown that systemic absorption of this ingredient is minimal. It stains the top layers of skin cells, and doesn’t have significant penetration into deeper layers of skin or [the bloodstream].”
“While there are no studies to prove the safety of DHA in pregnancy, DHA has been used in cosmetics since the 1960s with no reported problems,” confirms Dr. Kelly Culwell, MD, Board Certified OB/GYN, also known as ‘Dr. Lady Doctor.’ “When used topically (on the skin), minimal DHA is absorbed and likely even less (if any) could make it through the placenta.” Of course, it’s totally up to you how safe you want to play it: If you’re still uncomfy with the idea of using products with DHA, skip it.
What Ingredients to Avoid in Self-Tanner When Pregnant, According to Experts
So what should you avoid in a pregnancy-safe self-tanner? It’s okay if the product contains DHA, but it is smart to look for plant-based or organic products, because those should have fewer chemical additives — you should always try to avoid chemicals including parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde during pregnancy to cut back on your risk of birth defects or preterm birth. Just make sure the label says “paraben-free” or “pregnancy-safe” before you buy a self-tanner. And the shorter the list of ingredients, the better!
“Other ingredients to avoid in pregnancy include formaldehyde and oxybenzone, which either don’t have enough information to prove that they’re safe, or have some evidence to suggest they are harmful during pregnancy (hormones disrupters),” says Dr. Nazarian.
Taking all of that into consideration, you’re left with have plenty of options for sunless tanners that are pregnancy-safe: Some lather on like a lotion, while others can be applied in a thicker foam or drops on the skin. Remember to exfoliate and moisturize before using any self-tanner to ensure even coverage.
Check out our top picks below. Happy bronzing!
b.tan Love At First Tan
$10 $15 33% off
Amazon’s number-one best-selling self-tanner is this 100 percent vegan formulation cutely called Love at First Tan. It’s suitable for all skin types and develops into a medium-to-dark tan with no orange tones. It’s even cruelty-free. For best results, let this tanner soak in for four hours or more. ” I started using it when I was pregnant and never stopped. It spreads easily. Color develops right away and it looks like a real tan. I get a lot of compliments with this brand,” wrote a fan.
Product type: Foam
Key ingredient: Water
Fragrance: None
Pros:
Vegan
Cruelty-free
No fake tan smell
Doesn’t streak
Produces a dark tan
Cons:
Some say it fades quickly
Some did not feel the tan was dark enough
Some say it has a weird smell
Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Moisturizer + Bronzer
$13
This Jergens self-tanner is infused with all-natural emollients like vitamin E and coconut oil to nourish your skin as it bronzes it. And instead of smelling like chemicals, it smells like the beach. “Fav tanning lotion ever. Goes on like lotion, smells good, has a beautiful dark color and stays for a couple days,” one shopper wrote.
Product type: Mousse
Key ingredients:
Water
Vitamin E
Coconut oil
DHA
Fragrance: Coconut
Pros:
Paraben-free
Cruelty-free
No streaking
Not sticky
Cons:
Some say it has too much of an orange hue
Some don’t like the smell
Alba Botanica Sunless Tanner
$7
This self-tanner is “powered by botanicals” so you know it’s pregnancy-safe. As you’d expect, it has no parabens, pthalates or synthetic fragrances — just plant-derived ingredients designed to infuse your skin with moisture and hydration while making you look like you baked in the sun. Apply this one for three hours for best results. One shopper called it “the best self tanner I have EVER used, including when I got professional spray tans.”
Product type: Lotion
Key ingredients:
Shea butter
Sweet almond oil
Safflower oil
DHA
Fragrance: Tropical
Pros:
Plant-based
Paraben-, sulfate- and phthalate-free
Synthetic fragrance-free
Cruelty-free
Dye-free
Cons:
Some say they didn’t tan deeply enough
Some say it doesn’t last long enough
Beauty By Earth Self Tanner Lotion
$35 $42 17% off
Beauty By Earth notes right on the packaging that this self-tanner is pregnancy safe, vegan, and suitable for sensitive skin. It also is great for getting even coverage for stretch marks, if there are any that you choose to cover up, and is made with plant-based ingredients so you don’t have to worry.
Product type: Lotion
Key ingredients:
DHA
Shea butter
Witch Hazel
Coconut oil
Aloe
Fragrance: Coconut
Pros:
Vegan
Hydrating and moisturizing
Gentle on sensitive skin
Pleasant smell
No orange tone
Cons:
Some say the smell is too strong
Some say it’s too dark for fair skin
Whind Marrakech Sun Instant Glow Tanning Water
$35
Like the idea of tanning drops better to get a more gradual tan? Whind’s “tinting water” contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin while you get that glow. It’s made from erythrulose, a plant-based DHA alternative that produces color on the skin by reacting to skin proteins. Note: You may need to apply a few layers to match or deepen your skin tone.
Product type: Serum
Key ingredients:
Erythrulose (alternative to DHA)
Hyaluronic Acid
Glycerin
Fragrance: Sweet
Pros:
Lightweight
Buildable
Vegan
Cruelty-free
Cons:
Pricey
Some say the glow doesn’t last long
Coola Organic Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer
$48
If you like products that do double duty, this is the one for you. A daily moisturizer and sunless tanner in one, Coola Organic’s self-tanner has anti-aging properties built-in. It’s completely clean and organic and even uses DHA derived from beets.
Key ingredients:
DHA
Hyaluronic Acid
Squalane
Aloe Vera
Green Tea Extract
Fragrance: Pina colada
Pros:
Vegan and clean
Cruelty-free
Reef-safe
Deeply moisturizing
Multi-tasking
Anti-aging
Sustainable packaging
Cons:
Pricey
Some say it made them break out
Some did not like the smell
Tan Towel Self Tan Towelette
$26 $30 13% off
Tan Towel towelettes give you the opportunity to self-tan on tho. Each individually wrapped wipe is infused with paraben-free, dye-free liquid that takes two to four hours to show up and lasts a full week. Best of all, Tan Towel exfoliates, moisturizes and tans your skin all at once, so pop one or two of these in your purse and no one will know you spent all day under your umbrella at the beach!
Product type: Towelette
Key ingredients:
Water
DHA
Aloe Vera
Pro-Vitamin B5
Pentavitin
Fragrance: Citrus
Pros:
Paraben-free
Dye-free
Streak-free
Fast-acting
Portable
Moisturizes and exfoliates
Cons:
Some don’t like the smell
Some find towelettes hard to apply
Some say it does streak
St. Tropez Tan Tonic Glow Drops
$32
If you’re looking exclusive for a face a bronzer, then look to this potent self-tanning serum by St. Tropez. The vegan formula gently but powerfully tans your skin while nourishing ingredients keep your complexion hydrated and happy. It even contains niacinamide, which helps even your skin tone and your overall glow.
Product type: Serum
Key ingredients:
Niacinamide
Vitamin E
Echinacea
Hyaluronic Acid
Fragrance: Floral
Pros:
Vegan
Hydrating
Anti-aging properties
Recyclable packaging
Cons:
Pricey
Some don’t like the smell
Some say they didn’t tan dark enough
Skinerals Californium Sunless Tanning Mousse
$27
This Skinerals self-tanner has a different texture: a fluffy mousse that can help even the skin tone, thanks to antioxidant-packed ingredients like acai berry and fig extract. You can apply the mousse to both your face and body. It’s best to lather it on at night and then shower in the morning to give it plenty of time to set (yet, it won’t transfer on your pajamas or sheets).
Product type: Mousse
Key ingredients:
Water
DHA
Lavender oil
Orange peel oil
Vanilla bean extract
Shea butter
Fragrance: Fruity
Pros:
Vegan
Cruelty-free
Good for all skin types
Streak-free
Fast-acting and long-lasting
Cons:
Some don’t like the smell
Some say the results are too subtle
Vita Liberata Fabulous Gradual Tanning Lotion
$20
Designed for all skin tones, Vita Liberata’s Gradual Tanning Lotion is buildable on your face or body and can be used daily, as it tans you gradually. The lotion itself is not tinted, so it won’t stain your clothes or bedding (always a win with a tanning product!). Its ingredients include skin soothing shea butter, hyaluronic acid, cucumber extract, and aloe vera for a smooth application and hydrated skin.
Product type: Lotion
Key ingredients:
DHA
Shea butter
Hyaluronic acid
Cucumber extract
Aloe vera
Fragrance: Cocoa butter
Pros:
Tans gradually
Moisturizing
Hydrating
Cons:
Some say it feels sticky
Some say the results are too subtle
Experts in This Article
Dr. Rachel Nazarian: New York-based board-certified dermatologist
Dr. Kelly Culwell, MD: Board Certified OB/GYN, also known as ‘Dr. Lady Doctor’
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