You should always use tanning lotion whether you’re tanning indoors or outdoors. The two lotion types work differently, but they can help you to get the best possible tan. It’s necessary to use a special type for indoors. Although you can tan naturally outdoors, your skin needs protection from harmful UV rays.
What is Outdoor Tanning Lotion?
Outdoor tanning lotion is a type of protection that you rub into your skin before you expose it to direct sunlight. Each type has a different formulation. Some types contain ingredients that block out a certain amount of the sun’s rays to help prevent damage to the skin through sunburn. These lotions help to keep your skin moisturized and in good health. These lotions also help you to develop a solid base tan so you tan deepens more quickly. Some use an accelerant that promotes faster tanning of the skin. Some ingredients commonly used in outdoor tanning lotions include Green Tea, Tea Tree Oil, Melanin, Copper and L-Tyrosine.
Outdoor Tanning Lotion Reviews
Millenium Tanning New Solid Black Bronzer Tanning Bed Lotion, 100x, 13.5-Ounce
https://amzn.to/2qQ5Do8
Millenium Tanning’s New Solid Black Bronzer is a lotion that is used with a tanning bed or outdoors in the sun. The advanced formula contains an automatic darkening agent. This helps you get a deep base tan in sunlight or with a tanning bed. Luxury ingredients give your skin deep moisturizing to protect it from damage when tanning. Extreme bronzing agents accelerate the speed of your tan.
Pros
- Good moisturizers condition skin
- Skin is supple after use
- Ideal as a pretreatment for bed tanning
- Large size is good for several tanning sessions
Cons
- Some users dislike the strong smell
- This product can cause bumps and rashes on the skin of sensitive people
SunGodz Indoor Tanning Lotion
https://amzn.to/2TfCpMF
This is one of the higher in quality indoor tanning lotions that deeply moisturizes the skin to prepare it for tanning in a tanning bed. It’s a pro tanning lotion that uses luxury bronzing and tan acceleration ingredients. It’s also shower proof so it stays on when your skin gets wet for a more even tan. It’s guaranteed to not turn your skin orange like some other indoor tanning lotions so. This lotion feels soft and silky against your skin and helps to prevent burning under tanning lights.
Pros
- Does not work as well for people with fair skin
- The scent is light and gender neutral
- This lotion is not heavy or greasy on the skin
- Skin is soft after use
- Works well with tanning beds
Cons
- Does not work as well for people with fair skin
Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion, 13.5 oz
https://amzn.to/2Q2yBiZ
Ed Hardy’s Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning lotion has a pleasant and light coconut scent that lavishes hydration onto your skin. It contains melanobronze as a bronzer that stimulates your skin to increase its own natural melanin so you’ll tan faster. It also contains coconut oil, cocoa butter, and coconut milk to deeply moisturize the skin.
Pros
- This lotion doesn’t stain your skin
- It feels light on the skin
- The scent is light and good for men and women
- It makes skin tan faster naturally
Cons
- This lotion tans gradually and some don’t notice results for many weeks
Australian Gold Gelee Dark Tanning Accelerator with Hemp Seed Lotion 250ml
https://amzn.to/2zbqSWn
This lotion lets you tan indoors without the need for sunlight. It goes on clear and clean with sunless body tanning towels. There are no messy creams or lotions to apply. This is one of the best selling products in Europe because it is convenient to use and it absorbs into the skin quickly. Just one towel is enough for an entire body application.
Pros
- The lotion is easy to apply and it absorbs fast without a sticky residue
- It makes skin feel soft and smooth
- It has a gentle and pleasant scent
- It can be used by men and women
Cons
- Doesn’t work as well as some other lotions in tanning beds for some users
Australian Gold Jwoww Black Bronzer Dark Tanning Lotion, 13.5 Ounce
https://amzn.to/2DqYh2i
This tanning lotion is designed to create a deep and dark tan with its unique formulation. It includes kukui and black currant oils which enhance the tanning process of the skin. It is also fortified with vitamins that nourish the skin and hemp seed extract to hydrate your skin and leave it feeling softer.
Pros
- The consistency is thick and creamy for even coverage
- It’s reasonably priced compared to some other brands
- The lotion is light and feels comfortable on the skin
- The lotion smells nice
Cons
- Some users notice no difference in tan with tanning bed while others achieve instant results
Body Nutritive Serum
https://amzn.to/2A00oXw
Body Nutritive Serum is the ultimate in skin care moisturizing. The best way to get a golden tan is to prepare your skin in advance. This formula contains 13 natural ingredients to nourish and hydrate your skin and give it a healthy glow. Body nutritive Serum provides essential ingredients to eliminate flaky and itchy skin for an even and attractive tan.
Pros
- The serum hydrates and improves skin dryness
- Natural ingredients are soothing to the skin
- There are no dyes or stains to discolor the skin
- The smell is pleasant. It’s a good skin conditioner
Cons
- The pump is hard to push down
- The lotion does not absorb into the skin quickly
Panama Jack Tanning Oils Multi-Packs (Pack of 6, SPF 4)
https://amzn.to/2TdznZg
Panama Jack Tanning oils contain SPF 4 sunblock protection in a tropical formula of moisturizers. It keeps your skin moist and hydrated while giving it a layer of protection from sunburn or damage from UV rays. It is dispensed in a handy spray bottle that sprays at all angles for total body coverage. The unique blend of oils give you minimal sun protection so you tan more quickly and deeply.
Pros
- Works quickly for a deep tan
- Makes skin soft and smooth
- It has a nice smell
- The oils promote faster tans
Cons
- Some users have issues with the nozzle malfunctioning
- It feels oily on the skin
Maui Babe Browning Lotion 8 Ounces
https://amzn.to/2Q2zat7
MAUI BABE suntanning lotion is made with natural ingredients from Hawaii. It contains Aloe which is known to condition and helps skin heal quickly from dryness, sunburns or minor irritations. The browning lotion contains natural tanning accelerants that cause your skin to release the natural compounds that lead to fast and dark tanning. You can also use this product with sunscreens and it’s safe for all skin types.
Pros
- This lotion works fast with natural sunlight
- It has a pleasant and faint smell that’s not overpowering
- It’s safe for people with sensitive skin
- Natural ingredients help to improve skin health
Cons
- This lotion feels greasy on the skin and it doesn’t absorb very well
- It’s not waterproof so you have to keep reapplying it after swimming
Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil Original 8 oz
https://amzn.to/2K8eQBh
This is the original Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning oil. It hydrates the skin and nourishes it with antioxidants which aid in skin repair. It also contains SPF for ultra moisturizing to give skin a soft feeling and a natural glow.
Pros
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Natural and healthy ingredients
- SPF gives skin some protection from UV rays
- SPF gives skin some protection from UV rays
Cons
- This lotion provides no protection from the sun. Skin burns quickly in hot sun
Millennium Tanning Paint It Black 50X,13.5 Oz
https://amzn.to/2PzAFzx
Millenium Tanning Paint brings a new technology in auto-skin darkening. It includes a dark bronzing agent that produces stunning results for a dark tan with bronzing and skin firming. The light scent and non-greasy formula are pleasant to wear on the skin as it accelerates the tanning process while moisturizing and hydrating the skin.
Pros
- Very nice light scent
- Skin feels soft and silky after using
- The formula is very gentle, even for sensitive skin
- This lotion works well for adults and kids
Cons
- Doesn’t work as well for people with very fair skin
How Does Outdoor Tanning Work?
Outdoor tanning is a complicated scientific process but it can be explained easily. When the skin is exposed to either direct or indirect sunlight (you can tan on a cloudy day too), the ultraviolet rays cause a chemical reaction in the skin cells. It activates the production of melanin, which is a compound in your body that creates pigment and gives your skin its color. Repeated exposure to sunlight causes the body to create more melanin and it changes the shade of your body’s skin, making it darker. The more sun you get the more tanned you become. Some ultraviolet rays filter through when the sky is cloudy and you can skill get a suntan or even a sunburn. Tanning is your body’s way of protecting itself from the rays of the sun because it’s harder for rays to penetrate the darker skin.
Benefits Of Using Outdoor Tanning Lotion
When you expose your skin to the sun it has a drying effect and if you’re exposed for too long it can cause sunburn. Outdoor tanning lotions offer many benefits for the skin. Some of them are made strictly for moisturizing and condition the skin. When your skin is healthy, you tan quicker and the tan is more even when your skin is smooth and hydrated. Some lotions contain an SPF that helps to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays. Some outdoor tanning lotions contain an accelerant that helps your skin to tan more quickly and deeply for a dark and lasting tan. If you want to have a deep golden tan, you should select a tanning lotion that has a bronzer in it. Some formulas use natural ingredients that help you to achieve a lovely and glowing tan naturally.
Difference Between Indoor And Outdoor Tanning Lotion
Indoor tanning lotions contain different ingredients. Since there is no sunlight to tan the skin naturally, they depend upon dyes, stains, and bronzers that impart a tan that is not natural. Some indoor tanning formulas are made specifically for use with tanning beds. The main difference between an indoor tanning lotion and an outdoor tanning lotion is that the indoor formulas will always have some type of ingredient that is stain, bronze or dye bases. Outdoor lotions don’t impart color in this way.
Advantages Of Using Outdoor Tanning Lotions
Outdoor tanning lotions allow your skin to tan on its own in a more natural way. They do not rely on stains or dyes to impart color to your skin. They are designed to deeply condition, moisturize and hydrate your skin so it is healthy and glowing. They make it easier to get a good base tan. After this, you can continue to use outdoor tanning lotion to achieve the darkness that you prefer.
How to Use Outdoor Tanning Lotion
For the best results with outdoor tanning lotion, you need to use it properly. Start by applying a lotion that prepares your skin called a pre-tanning lotion. a pre-tanning formula helps to exfoliate the skin and remove all dry patches so your skin will be smoother and moisturized. Wait for at least an hour so the pre-tanner will soak into your skin and moisturize it. After at least an hour has gone by and before you go outside, apply your outdoor tanning lotion evenly massaging it into your skin. You can use an applicator to make sure it’s distributed evenly over your back and hard to reach spots. When you’re done tanning, apply an after tan lotion to help protect your skin and keep it in the best possible condition.
Tips for Getting a Stellar Outdoor Tan
Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge of how to use a pre-tanning lotion, outdoor tanning lotion, and a post-tanning lotion, you know everything that you need to start working on your perfect summer tan. When you’re just beginning, you should only spend between 15 to 20 minutes tanning on each side. You should only tan once a day and make sure that it’s no more than every other day because you can overdo it and cause damage to your skin. Sunburns are painful and they can cause blistering and peeling that will ruin a beautiful tan. If you discover that your skin is sensitive after a tanning session, cut back on the amount of time you spend in the sun the next time, whether you see a burn or not.
After you’ve achieved the darkness that you like, you can cut back on the amount of time you spend tanning. If you tan once every three days it should maintain your tan and if you notice it’s increasing the darkness, cut back further.
When it comes to tan lines, think about any clothing or accessories that you wear such as sunglasses, certain hats, rings, watches and so forth. Areas that are covered will not tan like the rest of your body and you will develop tan lines. Shoes or sandals will also cause tan lines so remove all of these items where you don’t want the lines to appear. You can use tanning goggles to replace larger sunglasses for eye protection.
Don’t use makeup under your tanning lotion. This will cause an uneven distribution and you may get a blotchy tan. You should also avoid wearing perfumes because it can interfere with the tanning process also. It can also attract pesky insects.
Remember to use a light exfoliant daily to remove all dead skin cells. This will help you to have a more even and healthy looking tan. Mind the position of your body as you tan so the parts that you want to be tanned are all exposed to the sunlight. If you lie on an arm, this area will not tan evenly. If you do all these things you will have a lovely and healthy tan.
Does Outdoor Tanning Cause Cancer?
This is a common question and a good one to ask. It’s an important question and the answer is that
Yes, outdoor tanning can lead to the development of skin cancer in some people. The greatest danger for skin cancer comes when the skin burns or becomes damaged. This is why it’s so important to keep it nourished and hydrated and tan within the recommended guidelines. When you take the right approach to tan outdoors and avoid burns, you reduce your chances of getting skin cancer. Always wear an SPF to lessen your chances for skin damage.
Conclusion
Outdoor tanning is a more natural way to achieve a deep and lasting tan. When you follow the proper steps and use the right outdoor tanning products for your skin, you are setting the stage for the perfect summer tan. Taking the time to prepare your skin before, during and after the tanning sessions will give you the best possible results. Your skin will be nourished and hydrated and it will glow with radiant health.