Summer Glow: A Guide To The Best Tanning Lotion
Contents
- Top 10 Best Tanning Lotions
- Overview of the Top 5 Tanning Lotions
- Millennium Tanning Solid Black
- Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses
- Millennium Tanning Paint It Black
- Designer Skin Luminary Bronzer
- Australian Gold Cheeky Brown Dark Tanning Accelerator
- The Next 5 Tanning Lotions
- Supre Smoke Black Bronzer
- SunGodz Artemis/Apollo Bronzer
- Swedish Beauty Shea You Love Me
- Designer Skin Juicy Gossip
- Australian Gold Jwoww Black Bronzer
- Buying Guide
- Accelerators
- Tinglers
- Bronzers
- Conclusion
- Sources
No matter what time of year it is, it’s always nice to have healthy looking, summer skin.
Many get that sun-kissed look from the sun itself, depending on its rays to get a glow, but the sun’s rays can be very harsh.
Some people turn to sunbeds instead, thinking a timer makes them safer. It doesn’t.
There is no safe tanning bed. UV rays from the sun and tanning equipment are classified as known carcinogens, and indoor tanning can more than double your risk of melanoma, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. A sunless self-tanner is the only way to get a tan look without UV damage.
If you do use a tanning bed, indoor tanning lotions are designed for it.
They moisturize the skin and many add bronzers for extra color. None of them contain sunscreen.
Top 10 Best Tanning Lotions
It’s possible to use a tanning bed without any lotion, but your skin may dry out. A lotion doesn’t protect you from burning either way.
Tanning lotions moisturize the outer skin layers, which many tanners say helps give a more even, longer lasting tan.
If you’re wanting to see what a tanning lotion can do for you, where do you start?
There are hundreds on the market. You want to make sure you got the best one for your skin that gives you that tanning boost you’re after.
Our guide will go through the best tanning lotion for a wide range of skin types, helping you find one that’s suitable for your tanning needs.
Overview of the Top 5 Tanning Lotions
Millennium Tanning Solid Black
Millennium Tanning is a popular brand of tanning lotions.
It has several that are highly rated, the best one being Solid Black.
This tanning lotion is “luxury meets technology” with its amazing formula with 100x ultra advanced silicone bronzers.
Needless to say, this is a very advanced, dark tanning lotion!
It also comes with a lovely orchid scent. This is a great lotion for an experience tanner who has maybe hit a plateau.
The 100x bronzers will help you get over that. Users have noticed a difference after only a couple of uses.
If you have lighter skin, keep in mind that fair skin burns easily; a self-tanner is the safer way to get color.
Although this is a good tanning lotion for indoor use, many have also used it outdoors and have noticed a difference, however not as big of one as in a tanning bed.
Just beware!
Although it won’t leave any streaks on your body, you ‘ll need to wipe off your hands and bottom of your feet to avoid that orange look there, but this is just due to the strength of the bronzers.
For the end result, this gets our vote for the best indoor tanning lotion.
Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses
Ed Hardy may be known as an iconic fashion brand, but they’re also into making your skin fashionable, thanks to their line of tanning lotions.
Coconut Kisses is one of the top rated amongst them, made with coconut milk and coconut oil, which we already know to be great for your skin for moisturizing.
Needless to say, this tanning lotion smells amazing!
It doesn’t have any bronzing agents like some others on the market, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get an accelerated tan.
The brand says its tyrosine blend and melanobronze help your skin tan more evenly while hydrating it.
It’s also marketed to improve cellulite, a claim to take with a grain of salt.
It includes a tattoo fade protector, but UV light from a tanning bed can still fade tattoo ink, according to the AAD.
Tanning lotion reviews are full of people raving about this product, particularly about the scent, hydrated skin, and the way it gives a nice tan.
Millennium Tanning Paint It Black
Millennium Tanning have made another highly regarded tanning lotion.
This formula has 50x bronzers, accelerating that tan.
It has an extreme silicone emulsion blend that leaves your skin feeling very smooth to touch and moisturizers that leave it hydrated all day.
This is something users have specified as what they love bout the product, stating that it makes skin feel “baby smooth.”
The brand also says it firms skin. The scent is of fresh clean cotton!
The brand says it works indoors or outdoors, though it contains no sunscreen. If you have fair skin, read our notes on safer options first.
It gives a good, even tan in no time at all. Many have said they even saw results after a single tanning session and without even needing to go the maximum time on the tanning bed.
Patch test it first if you have sensitive skin; our good tanning lotion guide has more tips.
Designer Skin Luminary Bronzer
Designer Skin are popular amongst serious tanners.
The Luminary Bronzer is a specialized formula that’ll help you get to your highest tanning point.
This is a 25x bronzer, black label private reserve formula that comes in a gorgeous blue glitter bottle.
They boast an LED complex (Light Engaged Defiance) which Designer Skin claims harnesses the power of the rays to restore the skin. UV rays don’t restore skin; they damage it.
The brand also says it fights free radicals and improves skin tone and elasticity.
There’s also a “magical solar silicone emulsion” blend which Designer Skin say will prolong your tan and keep skin hydrated.
There are a few reviews by those who claim to not usually tan well, but this product has helped them get there.
Plus, it makes your skin shimmer, great for those sunny day outings, when you can literally sparkle in the sun!
Australian Gold Cheeky Brown Dark Tanning Accelerator
Australian Gold is a very well-known name in tanning.
The brand is widely available and is probably best known for outdoor tanning lotion products, but this is one that can be used indoors as well.
It even has bronzers in it. It also has natural oils and vitamins A and E for moisture.
The scent is “cocoadreams”, which has been described as a tropical fruit scent. Although it has a lot of natural oils in it, it’s not a greasy formula and won’t come off on your clothes.
Instead, it keeps the skin moisturized while building a beautiful golden brown tan quite rapidly.
As mentioned before, many don’t realize how great Australian Gold can be for indoor tanning.
This product is packed full of good things as well as a bronzer. You’d be pleasantly surprised about how well it works.
The Next 5 Tanning Lotions
Supre Smoke Black Bronzer
Supre says Smoke Black Bronzer has antioxidant trace minerals to help with the look of fine lines. Keep in mind that UV exposure itself causes wrinkles.
When it comes to the actual tanning, you’ll see results in just a couple of sessions.
It’s recommended for those who already have a base tan.
Just be sure to wash your hands after applying as it can make your hands orange.
SunGodz Artemis/Apollo Bronzer
SunGodz Artemis/Apollo ultimate tanning lotion is a shower-proof formula with bronzer.
It’ll allow your tan to keep developing even through water and sweat.
The brand says it has anti-fade properties for tattoos and helps your tan last longer.
Keep your skin ultra-moisturized and silky smooth.
It’s good for indoor and outdoor use with a neutral scent for both men and women to enjoy.
Swedish Beauty Shea You Love Me
Swedish Beauty have a wonderful tanning lotion with Shea You Love Me.
It has vitamins A and E and of course, shea butter.
It also has colloidal oatmeal for dry skin. If you have eczema, talk to a dermatologist first, since UV and heat can trigger flares.
This is a very gentle formula that lets pale skin go to darker and radiant.
It doesn’t have bronzers, but instead develops a nice gradual natural looking tan that lasts.
Designer Skin Juicy Gossip
Designer Skin have made our tanning lotion reviews guide again, this time with Juicy Gossip and its vitaplus blend.
It’s full of peptide and tyrosine intensifiers to bring out the very best tan you can.
This formula is passion fruit juice-based (yes, really!) and will leave you looking and smelling amazing.
Australian Gold Jwoww Black Bronzer
This tanning lotion was made by Australian Gold for Jwoww from Jersey Shore’s brand.
This blend is unique.
Hemp seed and blackcurrant oils prepare the skin for exquisitely dark tanning.
Carmel and walnut shell extract give the skin its dark tones.
Kukui and sunflower oils condition and moisturize, leaving super soft golden skin!
Buying Guide
There are three main types of tanning lotions to consider when picking out what’s right for you, your skin, and your tanning goals.
Make sure you don’t jump into anything too soon thinking you’ll get a tan faster. Every tanning session adds UV damage and skin aging.
Use our buying guide to find what’s best for you.
Accelerators
This is the most common type found in most salons. They basically enhance the tanning and prolong it.
These are best for beginners especially as most don’t contain bronzers or anything extra.
They’re meant to moisturize and take care of the skin while you build a tan. From there, if you choose to, you can move onto other products.
Tinglers
Tinglers will obviously make your skin “tingle,” but that is due to the ingredients that become active with heat.
They warm and redden the skin. This isn’t something everybody likes and it isn’t recommended for beginners.
When you go to use one, always test it out first on a small patch of skin to make sure you don’t have any bad reactions or discomfort.
Bronzers
Bronzers give a wonderfully deep looking tan thanks to add color agents.
They’re made with the same main ingredient as a self-tanner (DHA) and do have added color, but aren’t designed for self-tanning use.
Still, don’t forget to wash your hands after applying!
You’ll get results even after one tanning session but it also continues to develop afterwards.
Conclusion
Whether you’re new to tanning or already have a tan, our guide to the best tanning lotion will have something for you.
Accelerators are a common starting point, mainly adding moisture.
Bronzers are perfect for those more seasoned tanners looking to reach their darker skin tone goals.
Lots of bronzers can also help those who seem to have hit a speedbump with their tanning. They’re perfect for maintaining a tan, making sure it won’t fade.
No matter what you pick, the lotions on our guide are all designed to enhance your tanning experience. None of them make UV tanning safe.
If you want that glow without the skin cancer risk, a sunless self-tanner is the safer choice. Keep wearing SPF 30+ sunscreen outdoors either way.
Sources
- 10 surprising facts about indoor tanning, American Academy of Dermatology
- Indoor tanning, American Academy of Dermatology
- Caring for tattooed skin, American Academy of Dermatology
