Best Self Tanner? 1,318 Reviews of Bondi Sands, St. Tropez and Coco & Eve
THE BEAUTY READ / FIND YOUR FIT
The decision, simplified.
Which self tanner looks natural? What 1,318 reviews of Bondi Sands, St. Tropez and Coco & Eve say about color, streaks, orange tones and transfer.
Published · Listings checked October 26, 2026
THE BEAUTY READ · REVIEW ANALYSIS
We read 1,318 customer reviews before writing this.
Ulta, Sephora and Target · October 26, 2026
| Retailer | Reviews read | Which ones | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulta · Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam | 291 | every distinct review Ulta's pages served, 291 of 2,770 shown, all shades (Apr 18, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026) | October 26, 2026 |
| Sephora · St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse | 427 | every US English review except 13 marked incentivized or staff (Mar 12, 2016 to Jul 18, 2026) | October 26, 2026 |
| Ulta · St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse | 288 | every distinct review Ulta's pages served, 288 of 1,332 shown (Apr 27, 2022 to Aug 31, 2026); 102 from a free-product wave in June and July 2024 set aside | October 26, 2026 |
| Target · St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse | 23 | the 23 reviews written on Target (Dec 1, 2021 to Jun 18, 2026) | October 26, 2026 |
| Ulta · Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam | 289 | every distinct review Ulta's pages served, 289 of 8,345 shown, all shades (Feb 17, 2024 to Oct 19, 2026) | October 26, 2026 |
Where we read, how many and when
| Retailer | Ulta · Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam | Sephora · St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews read | 291 | 427 |
| Which ones | every distinct review Ulta's pages served, 291 of 2,770 shown, all shades (Apr 18, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026) | every US English review except 13 marked incentivized or staff (Mar 12, 2016 to Jul 18, 2026) |
| Read on | October 26, 2026 | October 26, 2026 |
| Retailer | Ulta · St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse | Target · St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews read | 288 | 23 |
| Which ones | every distinct review Ulta's pages served, 288 of 1,332 shown (Apr 27, 2022 to Aug 31, 2026); 102 from a free-product wave in June and July 2024 set aside | the 23 reviews written on Target (Dec 1, 2021 to Jun 18, 2026) |
| Read on | October 26, 2026 | October 26, 2026 |
| Retailer | Ulta · Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam |
|---|---|
| Reviews read | 289 |
| Which ones | every distinct review Ulta's pages served, 289 of 8,345 shown, all shades (Feb 17, 2024 to Oct 19, 2026) |
| Read on | October 26, 2026 |
How we sorted them: color and result: natural or not orange, even and streak-free, lasted and faded evenly; or orange, streaky, patchy fade, too light; use and comfort: dries fast, easy and quick, smell, transfer to clothes or sheets, irritation or dryness; who and how: fair or deep skin stated, first-time users, rinsed early (express timing), used a mitt, used on the face; one- and two-star share reported for context.
Left out of the count: reviews the retailer marks as incentivized, written by staff, or copied from another site (skipped unread); reviews that say the product was free, a sample or from a review program, and whole months on a page when such a wave dominates; reviews about another product, about shipping only, from someone who had not used it, and reviews with no meaningful text (102 Ulta St. Tropez reviews from a free-product wave in June and July 2024, 8 about another product, 5 said it was free or a sample, 1 about shipping only, 1 repeated on the same page, 1 no meaningful text, 1 had not used it).
Usable reviews per self tanner: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam (282 usable); St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse (629 usable); Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam (288 usable)
WHO SHOULD SKIP IT
- You are worried about turning orange. 27% of Coco & Eve reviewers said it looked orange or the wrong tone, against 8% for Bondi Sands and 8% for St. Tropez.
- You want a deep tan. 17% of St. Tropez Express reviewers said it came out too light, the most of the three.
- You will sleep on light sheets. 18% of Bondi Sands reviewers reported transfer to clothes or sheets, against 6% for Coco & Eve and 4% for St. Tropez.
MOST OFTEN PRAISED
- Natural color, not orange St. Tropez 47%; Coco & Eve 42%; Bondi Sands 36%: a believable tan with a color they liked
- Even, streak-free St. Tropez 27%; Bondi Sands 26%; Coco & Eve 15%: blended easily, no streaks
- Quick and easy St. Tropez 29%; Bondi Sands 14%; Coco & Eve 12%: developed fast, simple routine
- Smell is fine or nice Coco & Eve 29%; Bondi Sands 24%; St. Tropez 13%: no strong self-tan smell
MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS
- Orange or wrong tone Coco & Eve 27%; Bondi Sands 8%; St. Tropez 8%: too orange, too dark or green
- Streaks or patches Coco & Eve 21%; Bondi Sands 9%; St. Tropez 8%: uneven, dark hands or ankles
- Too light or did not develop St. Tropez 17%; Bondi Sands 13%; Coco & Eve 7%: barely any color
- Transfer to clothes or sheets Bondi Sands 18%; Coco & Eve 6%; St. Tropez 4%: stained sheets or clothes
Where reviews split: Fair skin: among reviewers who said they have fair or pale skin, 40 of 56 for Bondi Sands, 96 of 146 for St. Tropez and 27 of 34 for Coco & Eve praised the color; 24 of the St. Tropez group said it came out too light.
Where reviews split: St. Tropez by retailer: natural-color praise came from 51% of 420 Sephora and 38% of 186 Ulta reviewers; too-light complaints from 13% and 25%.
How reviewers used it: 56 Bondi Sands, 146 St. Tropez and 34 Coco & Eve reviewers say they have fair skin; 30, 119 and 20 mention a mitt; 16, 24 and 7 say it was their first self tanner.
Feel, per reviewers: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam (8% said it dried fast); St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse (6% said it dried fast); Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam (6% said it dried fast) · Scent: Bondi Sands lists a coconut scent, Coco & Eve a mango and guava scent, St. Tropez a fragrance. Reviewers who mention scent: 306 (229 liked it, 79 disliked it; 2 said both; liked: Coco & Eve 29%, Bondi Sands 24%, St. Tropez 13%)
SUNCARE · PRODUCT REVIEW
Most natural-color praise: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse (47%; 17% said too light). Even results with the most transfer complaints: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam (26% said even, 18% said it transferred to sheets or clothes). Most scent praise but most orange complaints: Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam (29% liked the smell, 27% said orange).
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam, St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse and Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam | 1,318 customer reviews read on Ulta, Sephora and Target, October 26, 2026 · Listings checked October 26, 2026
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links marked “paid link” go to Amazon and may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Offers and sellers can change.
Choose your starting point
St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse
MOST NATURAL-COLOR PRAISE
Most natural-color praise
You want the one reviewers most often called natural-looking, and you can leave it on long enough.
The trade-off17% said it came out too light.
Sold by Amazon.com at our check
October 26, 2026
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam, Dark, 6.76 fl oz
CLOSE ON EVENNESS, MORE TRANSFER
Close on evenness, most transfer
You want an even body tan and can sleep on dark sheets.
The trade-off18% reported transfer; 15% a fast or patchy fade.
Sold by Bondi Sands USA at our check
October 26, 2026
Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, Medium, 6.7 fl oz
MOST SCENT PRAISE
Most scent praise, most orange complaints
A pleasant smell matters most to you.
The trade-off27% said orange; 21% saw streaks.
Sold by Coco & Eve US at our check
October 26, 2026
Find the fit for your routine.
A quick editorial read before the deeper review: start with your main concern, then check the evidence, routine fit and trade-offs below.
Quick verdict
Most natural-color praise: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse (47%; 17% said too light). Even results with the most transfer complaints: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam (26% said even, 18% said it transferred to sheets or clothes). Most scent praise but most orange complaints: Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam (29% liked the smell, 27% said orange).
Best for
Anyone choosing a self tanner who wants to know which one reviewers say looks natural and goes on evenly, and which one more often turned orange, streaked, transferred or barely showed.
Trade-off
St. Tropez drew the most too-light complaints (17%, and 25% on Ulta). Coco & Eve drew the most orange (27%), streak (21%) and pump or packaging (13%) complaints, and 40% of its reviewers gave one or two stars. Bondi Sands drew the most transfer complaints (18%) and 15% said it faded fast or patchy.
Think twice
You worry about turning orange: 27% of Coco & Eve reviewers said it looked orange or the wrong tone (8% for the other two). You want a deep tan: 17% of St. Tropez Express reviewers said it came out too light. You sleep on light sheets: 18% of Bondi Sands reviewers reported transfer.
Pick by the mistake you most want to avoid. St. Tropez Express is the natural-color pick in these reviews; its listing says 3 hours gives the deepest tan, and 17% of reviewers (25% on Ulta) said it came out too light. Bondi Sands goes on evenly for many reviewers but can transfer overnight. Coco & Eve has the scent people like most, with the most orange and streak complaints of the three.
THE COMPARISON / RESEARCH-LED
Side by side, without the noise.
Compare each option’s role and limitations before deciding what belongs in your routine.
The exact options we link: shade, size and seller
Three self-tanning foams. Details follow the Amazon listings; the review counts are ours.
| Product / Amazon link | Pick it for | Shade · size · seller | Choose it if | Watch out for | Option we link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse View on Amazon · paid link ↗ | Most natural-color praise | Express mousse, rinse after 1 to 3 hours Express Bronzing Mousse · sold by Amazon.com | You want the one reviewers most often called natural-looking, and you can leave it on long enough. | 17% said it came out too light. | This link opens the Express Bronzing Mousse shipped and sold by Amazon.com. Seller at our check: Amazon.com |
| Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam, Dark, 6.76 fl oz View on Amazon · paid link ↗ | Close on evenness, more transfer | Coconut-scented foam, develops over 6 to 8 hours Dark, 6.76 fl oz · sold by Bondi Sands USA | You want an even body tan and can sleep on dark sheets. | 18% reported transfer; 15% a fast or patchy fade. | This link opens the Dark 6.76 fl oz foam sold by Bondi Sands USA and shipped from Amazon. Seller at our check: Bondi Sands USA |
| Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, Medium, 6.7 fl oz View on Amazon · paid link ↗ | Most scent praise | Mango and guava scented foam, develops over 6+ hours Medium, 6.7 fl oz · sold by Coco & Eve US | A pleasant smell matters most to you. | 27% said orange; 21% saw streaks. | This link opens the Medium 6.7 fl oz foam sold by Coco & Eve US and shipped from Amazon. Seller at our check: Coco & Eve US |
Shade, size, seller and the exact Amazon option · Links checked October 26, 2026
| Product / Amazon link | St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse | Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam, Dark, 6.76 fl oz |
|---|---|---|
| Pick it for | Most natural-color praise | Close on evenness, more transfer |
| Shade · size · seller | Express mousse, rinse after 1 to 3 hours Express Bronzing Mousse · sold by Amazon.com | Coconut-scented foam, develops over 6 to 8 hours Dark, 6.76 fl oz · sold by Bondi Sands USA |
| Choose it if | You want the one reviewers most often called natural-looking, and you can leave it on long enough. | You want an even body tan and can sleep on dark sheets. |
| Watch out for | 17% said it came out too light. | 18% reported transfer; 15% a fast or patchy fade. |
| Option we link | This link opens the Express Bronzing Mousse shipped and sold by Amazon.com. Seller at our check: Amazon.com | This link opens the Dark 6.76 fl oz foam sold by Bondi Sands USA and shipped from Amazon. Seller at our check: Bondi Sands USA |
| View on Amazon ↗ (paid link) | View on Amazon ↗ (paid link) |
| Product / Amazon link | Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, Medium, 6.7 fl oz |
|---|---|
| Pick it for | Most scent praise |
| Shade · size · seller | Mango and guava scented foam, develops over 6+ hours Medium, 6.7 fl oz · sold by Coco & Eve US |
| Choose it if | A pleasant smell matters most to you. |
| Watch out for | 27% said orange; 21% saw streaks. |
| Option we link | This link opens the Medium 6.7 fl oz foam sold by Coco & Eve US and shipped from Amazon. Seller at our check: Coco & Eve US |
| View on Amazon ↗ (paid link) |
What changes from one option to the next?
Use this as the fast filter. The full review below explains the evidence, texture, routine fit and trade-offs behind the recommendation.
Anyone choosing a self tanner who wants to know which one reviewers say looks natural and goes on evenly, and which one more often turned orange, streaked, transferred or barely showed.
Three self-tanning foams: a coconut-scented foam that develops over 6 to 8 hours, an express mousse you rinse after 1 to 3 hours, and a tropical-scented foam that develops over 6+ hours
Make sure it fits the routine you already have.
The most useful product is not the one with the loudest ingredient story. It is the one you can use consistently without creating unnecessary overlap.
Review-based guide: we read 1,318 customer reviews on Ulta, Sephora and Target (October 26, 2026) and tallied the patterns ourselves; product facts come from Amazon listings.
St. Tropez drew the most natural-color praise (47%) and the most quick-and-easy praise (29%); Bondi Sands matched it on even application (26% against 27%); Coco & Eve's smell was the most liked (29%).
St. Tropez drew the most too-light complaints (17%, and 25% on Ulta). Coco & Eve drew the most orange (27%), streak (21%) and pump or packaging (13%) complaints, and 40% of its reviewers gave one or two stars. Bondi Sands drew the most transfer complaints (18%) and 15% said it faded fast or patchy.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links marked “paid link” earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions never decide which product we recommend. Offers and sellers change, so check the shade and seller on the product page before you buy.
Review-analysis guide: 1,318 customer reviews read on Ulta, Sephora and Target (October 26, 2026), sorted and counted by us; product details from Amazon listings checked October 26, 2026.
By The Beauty Read · Checked October 26, 2026 · AI-assisted research and editing · Contains Amazon affiliate links
The best self tanner in these reviews depends on the result you want. In 1,199 usable reviews, St. Tropez (paid link) Self Tan Express drew the most natural-color praise (47%) and tied Bondi Sands (paid link) for the fewest orange complaints (8%), but 17% said it came out too light; Coco & Eve (paid link) drew natural-color praise from 42% and the most orange (27%) and streak (21%) complaints; Bondi Sands drew the most transfer complaints (18%).
What 1,318 self tanner reviews say
Looking for the best self tanner? We read 1,318 reviews of three popular self tanning mousse and foam picks at Ulta, Sephora and Target to see how often reviewers say the color looked natural and even, and how often they say it turned orange, streaked, transferred or barely showed: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam, St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse and Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam. None of the three listings claims sun protection (Ulta's Bondi Sands page says it contains no sunscreen), and a self tan does not protect your skin from the sun. [R-ULT-BON] [R-SEP-STT] [R-ULT-STT] [R-TGT-STT] [R-ULT-COE] [A1] [A2] [A3]
St. Tropez Express drew the most natural-color praise (47% of 629 usable reviews) and tied Bondi Sands for the fewest orange complaints (8%), but the most too-light complaints (17%). Coco & Eve drew natural-color praise from 42% of 288 and the most orange (27%) and streak (21%) complaints. Bondi Sands drew even-application praise from 26% of 282, close to St. Tropez (27%), and the most transfer complaints (18%). [R-ULT-BON] [R-SEP-STT] [R-ULT-STT] [R-TGT-STT] [R-ULT-COE]
How we read 1,318 self tanner reviews at Ulta, Sephora and Target
We read every review each retailer served for these three products, with no fixed target, skipping those the site marks as incentivized, written by staff or copied from another site. Ulta's review pages stop after about 300 reviews, so we read the 291 Bondi Sands, 288 St. Tropez and 289 Coco & Eve reviews its pages served (2,770, 1,332 and 8,345 shown). At Sephora we read 427 of 440 St. Tropez reviews in the US English feed, and on Target the 23 written there (508 of 531 were copies from other sites). [R-ULT-BON] [R-SEP-STT] [R-ULT-STT] [R-TGT-STT] [R-ULT-COE]
Of the 1,318 we read, 119 were set aside. In June and July 2024 most St. Tropez reviews on Ulta said the product was free, so we dropped those months (102 reviews). Another 17 were about another product (8), said it was free or a sample (5), or were about shipping, repeated, empty or from someone who had not used it (4). That leaves 1,199 usable reviews: 282 for Bondi Sands (Ulta), 629 for St. Tropez (Sephora 420, Ulta 186, Target 23) and 288 for Coco & Eve (Ulta). [R-ULT-BON] [R-SEP-STT] [R-ULT-STT] [R-TGT-STT] [R-ULT-COE]
Some cautions. Bondi Sands and Coco & Eve come from Ulta only, and Ulta's cap means we read the reviews its pages served, not all of them. St. Tropez reviews go back to 2016, while all Coco & Eve reviews are from 2024 on. Compared on Ulta alone, natural-color praise was 42% for Coco & Eve, 38% for St. Tropez and 36% for Bondi Sands, and in reviews from 2024 on St. Tropez and Coco & Eve tied at 42%. Color results depend on skin tone and the shade picked, and these are what reviewers say they saw. [R-ULT-BON] [R-SEP-STT] [R-ULT-STT] [R-TGT-STT] [R-ULT-COE]
St. Tropez Self Tan Express, the natural-color pick
St. Tropez's listing describes a quick-drying, non-sticky express mousse with a color guide: leave it on 1 hour for a light tan, 2 for medium and 3 for deep, then shower, applying with a mitt. We link the Express Bronzing Mousse shipped and sold by Amazon.com. [A2]
Across 629 usable reviews of the St. Tropez self tanner, 294 (47%) praised a natural color, 183 (29%) called it quick and easy, 168 (27%) said it went on evenly and 107 (17%) said it lasted or faded evenly; 91 (14%) would buy it again. On the other side, 107 (17%) said it came out too light or barely developed, 52 (8%) said orange, 52 (8%) streaks, 48 (8%) sticky or slow to dry and 46 (7%) a fast or patchy fade. [R-SEP-STT] [R-ULT-STT] [R-TGT-STT]
Retailers differed. Natural-color praise came from 51% of 420 Sephora reviewers and 38% of 186 Ulta reviewers, and too-light complaints from 13% and 25%. Of 113 reviewers who said they rinsed early or used the express timing, 68 praised the color and 15 said it was too light. [R-SEP-STT] [R-ULT-STT] [R-TGT-STT]
See St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the Express Bronzing Mousse shipped and sold by Amazon.com.
Bondi Sands self tanner: even, but watch your sheets
Bondi Sands' brand description on Amazon describes a lightweight foam for an even, streak-free tan on the body, with a coconut scent; Ulta's page adds aloe vera, development in 6 to 8 hours and a rinse after 1 hour for a lighter tan. We link the Dark 6.76 fl oz foam sold by Bondi Sands USA and shipped from Amazon. [A1] [R-ULT-BON]
In 282 usable Ulta reviews, 101 (36%) praised a natural color, 72 (26%) said it went on evenly and 67 (24%) liked the smell; 44 (16%) would buy it again. Complaints: 52 (18%) said it transferred to sheets or clothes, the most of the three, 41 (15%) said it faded fast or patchy, 36 (13%) said it was too light, 25 (9%) saw streaks and 22 (8%) said orange. [R-ULT-BON]
Of 56 Bondi Sands reviewers who said they have fair or pale skin, 40 praised the color (Coco & Eve 27 of 34, St. Tropez 96 of 146). [R-ULT-BON]
See Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam, Dark, 6.76 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the Dark 6.76 fl oz foam sold by Bondi Sands USA and shipped from Amazon.
Coco & Eve self tanner, with a liked scent and more orange reports
Coco & Eve's listing describes a foam with a color guide that develops in 6+ hours and lasts up to 7 days, with a mango and guava scent instead of the usual self-tan smell, and says it gives no orange tones; it suggests showering after 2 hours or sleeping in it for a deeper tan. We link the Medium 6.7 fl oz foam sold by Coco & Eve US and shipped from Amazon. [A3]
Among 288 usable Ulta reviews, 120 (42%) praised a natural color and 83 (29%) liked the smell, the most of the three. Yet 79 (27%) said it looked orange or the wrong tone, 61 (21%) saw streaks or patches, 47 (16%) said it faded fast or patchy and 36 (13%) had a pump or packaging problem. 40% gave one or two stars, the most of the three. [R-ULT-COE]
See Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, Medium, 6.7 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the Medium 6.7 fl oz foam sold by Coco & Eve US and shipped from Amazon.
Best self tanner for fair skin, and how to apply self tanner to face
Looking for the best self tanner for fair skin? Among reviewers who said they have fair or pale skin, 40 of 56 praised the Bondi Sands color, 96 of 146 the St. Tropez color and 27 of 34 the Coco & Eve color; 24 of the St. Tropez group said it came out too light. Few reviewers described deep skin (7, 16 and 6), too few to compare. [R-ULT-BON] [R-SEP-STT] [R-ULT-STT] [R-TGT-STT] [R-ULT-COE]
Wondering how to apply self tanner to face? Coco & Eve's listing says to use it sparingly on hands, feet, face and ears. Few reviewers wrote about face use (7, 24 and 7 across the three), so we cannot compare results there. [A3] [R-ULT-BON] [R-SEP-STT] [R-ULT-STT] [R-TGT-STT] [R-ULT-COE]
Keep reading
- Best face sunscreen: Supergoop and Tatcha compared
- Best body scrub: Tree Hut, Naturium and First Aid Beauty
- Best body oil: OSEA, Saltair and Dime
Frequently asked questions
Which self tanner did reviewers most often call natural-looking?
For a natural look, St. Tropez Self Tan Express: 47% of 629 usable reviews praised the color, against 42% for Coco & Eve and 36% for Bondi Sands. St. Tropez and Bondi Sands tied for the fewest orange complaints (8%).
Which self tanner is least likely to turn orange?
In these reviews, St. Tropez and Bondi Sands tied: 8% of reviewers for each said it looked orange or the wrong tone, against 27% for Coco & Eve, even though Coco & Eve's listing says it gives no orange tones. Results depend on your skin tone and the shade you pick.
Is a self tanning mousse better than a lotion?
We only compared three mousse and foam tanners, so reviews here cannot answer that. Among these, reviewers praised even application for St. Tropez (27%) and Bondi Sands (26%) more often than for Coco & Eve (15%).
Does the St. Tropez self tanner work in one hour?
Its listing says 1 hour gives a light tan, 2 a medium and 3 a deep one. Of 113 reviewers who said they rinsed early or used the express timing, 68 praised the color and 15 said it was too light; across all St. Tropez reviews, 17% said too light.
Does self tanner protect you from the sun?
No. Ulta's page for Bondi Sands says it does not contain a sunscreen, and none of the three listings claims sun protection. A tan from a bottle is not a sunscreen, so you still need sun protection on skin you tan this way, including your face.
Is this the right choice for your routine?
Most natural-color praise: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse (47%; 17% said too light). Even results with the most transfer complaints: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam (26% said even, 18% said it transferred to sheets or clothes). Most scent praise but most orange complaints: Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam (29% liked the smell, 27% said orange).
You worry about turning orange: 27% of Coco & Eve reviewers said it looked orange or the wrong tone (8% for the other two). You want a deep tan: 17% of St. Tropez Express reviewers said it came out too light. You sleep on light sheets: 18% of Bondi Sands reviewers reported transfer.
We separate brand claims from customer experiences. We check shopping links and disclose when a purchase may earn us a commission.
OUR SOURCES & HOW WE REVIEW
What we checked.
See where the information comes from and how we reached our take. Brand claims, customer experiences, and our interpretation are identified separately.
- Amazon: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam, Dark, 6.76 fl oz (paid link). Checked October 26, 2026 with a US delivery address: title, product description, shade (Dark), size (6.76 fl oz), seller (Bondi Sands USA, ships from Amazon).
- Amazon: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse (paid link). Checked October 26, 2026 with a US delivery address: title, bullets including how to use, seller (shipped and sold by Amazon.com).
- Amazon: Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bronzing Self Tanner Mousse, Medium, 6.7 fl oz (paid link). Checked October 26, 2026 with a US delivery address: title, bullets, directions, shade (Medium), seller (Coco & Eve US, ships from Amazon).
- Ulta: customer reviews page for Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam. 291 reviews read on October 26, 2026 (every distinct review Ulta's pages served, 291 of 2,770 shown, all shades (Apr 18, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026)). Tallied by THE BEAUTY READ.
- Sephora: customer reviews page for St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse. 427 reviews read on October 26, 2026 (every US English review except 13 marked incentivized or staff (Mar 12, 2016 to Jul 18, 2026)). Tallied by THE BEAUTY READ.
- Ulta: customer reviews page for St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse. 288 reviews read on October 26, 2026 (every distinct review Ulta's pages served, 288 of 1,332 shown (Apr 27, 2022 to Aug 31, 2026); 102 from a free-product wave in June and July 2024 set aside). Tallied by THE BEAUTY READ.
- Target: customer reviews page for St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse. 23 reviews read on October 26, 2026 (the 23 reviews written on Target (Dec 1, 2021 to Jun 18, 2026)). Tallied by THE BEAUTY READ.
- Ulta: customer reviews page for Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam. 289 reviews read on October 26, 2026 (every distinct review Ulta's pages served, 289 of 8,345 shown, all shades (Feb 17, 2024 to Oct 19, 2026)). Tallied by THE BEAUTY READ.
About this guide: we did not test these products ourselves. Shares come from the customer reviews we read, not from every review on each site, and describe other people's experiences; the picks follow those patterns and are not a ranking. No review text is reproduced, and Amazon reviews, ratings and prices are not used.
Retailer prices, review totals and product information can change. This article is not medical advice.
