In order to help you attain a radiant tan while not compromising the health of your skin, we’ve reviewed 5 of the best tanning lotions for tanning beds. We’ve carefully tested and selected these products based on their effectiveness in providing moisturization and accelerating the tanning process. We believe these products can help you support your beauty.
Tanning became a trend in the late 1920s. Instead of preferring pale skin, people now opt for a glowing tan or deeply bronzed complexions.
Since then, getting tan skin is all the rage. With the help of technology and cosmetics, it is now easier to achieve a healthy glow.
As your go-to beauty gurus, we are here to help you through the maze with tanning and present to you the top 5 best tanning lotions for tanning beds.
We hope that after reading this article, you will become a real tanning expert.
Our mission is to arm you with information, so you can show off a gorgeous tan with our recommended products.
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Quick Overview: Top 5 Best Tanning Lotions for Tanning Beds
OUR TOP #1 PICK - For our top choice, we have selected the Millenium Tanning New Solid Black Bronzer. We like that it makes use of a unique, Auto-Darkening Tan Technology which can provide instant, even results. It also has a pleasant Orchid fragrance.
OUR TOP #2 PICK - Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion is our next choice. It combines Coconut Milk and Coconut Oil to hydrate and moisturize the skin. This tanning lotion also uses another unique blend of Quad Tyrosine and Melanobronze to quicken the tanning process.
OUR TOP #3 PICK - For our third choice, we present the Australian Gold Cheeky Brown Accelerator Tanning Bed Lotion. It boasts a blend of Native Australian Oils and essential Vitamins. These include Vitamins A and E which can hydrate the skin deeply.
OUR TOP #4 PICK - Fourth, we chose the Designer Skin Bombshell 100XX Bronzer. We recommend this kiwi and watermelon-scented tanning lotion for people who already possess a base tan. It can deliver results fast and easy, imparting a mild tingle.
OUR TOP #5 PICK - Supre Smoke Black Bronzer Tanning Lotion is the last tanning lotion that made it to our list. The minimalist, sophisticated black packaging caught our eye. But what won us over is its one-of-a-kind oxygen regenerating tanning system.
What Is the Deal About Tanning?
While there are various theories, the most frequently cited kickstarter of the whole tanning trend is none other than Coco Chanel.
Madame Chanel was said to have spent a lot of time on her yacht while sailing in the French Riviera.
When she returned to America, all tanned and glowing, suddenly it became the rage. That can be seen in magazines, such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar during the years 1927-1929.
As the classic French designer said in the Vogue magazine when she promoted her daring skin complexion, “The 1929 girl must be tan...a golden tan is the index of chic.”
Naturally, the fashion and beauty industry followed suit. Of course, not everyone could afford a trip to the beach then, so women had to get creative.
During the second World War, they used tea bags to achieve a subtle tan.
Years later in 1959, “Man-Tan” became the first commercially-available self-tanner. It used Dihydroxyacetone or DHA which is a chemical extracted from sugar canes.
DHA triggers the amino acids on the surface of our skin which then produces a tanning effect.
DHA was considered safe to use as stated by the FDA. That happened in the 1970s and up to today, you could still find this ingredient in most tanning lotions or products.
Despite the existence of safe tanning practices and products, many people are still falling for dangerous tanning trends that could extremely harm their skin and health.
One of the craze existing today is the use of Coca Cola to produce a tanned skin. Yes, the popular soda that you drink.
How? People lather Coke all over their skin and head outdoors, thinking the soda would work as a tan accelerator.
And while its brown color does give your skin some temporary, subtle brown color, it is more dangerous than it sounds.
Experts have spoken out about the hazards of using Coca-Cola as a self-tanning product.
Because of its high acidity level, it unnecessarily erodes your skin and makes it way more vulnerable to sun damage.
So if you’ve tried this trend and seen instant results, well it’s because of two things: the product’s caramel appearance, and because your skin is now ultra-sensitive to the sun, it tans faster.
If you have tried this, or thinking of testing the trend shortly, then we strongly encourage you not to do it.
Tanning Tips for Beginners
One of the most obvious tips that surprisingly a lot of people fail to remember is: use the goggles.
They are readily provided by tanning salons because you need to shield your eyes from the direct ultraviolet exposure.
Another good tip for beginners is to start slow or small. If it is your first time and you aren’t ready for a deep tan, or you just want a subtle glow, it is best to ask for a short tanning session.
For a more accurate amount of time, the length of your tanning session highly depends on your skin type. The six skin types vary according to the color of your skin.
Types One to Two are fair-skinned, with blue/green eyes, and light hair. The first ones tend to get burned after each sun exposure, and the second ones burn most of the time.
Either are strongly encouraged not to use tanning beds.
If you fall into these two types and you want to attain a tan, you could use self-tanning lotions. These give you a tan without the need to go to a tanning salon.
Types Four to Six are people who burn sometimes. They have brown hair, eyes, and their skin tone will range from brown to dark.
If you fall under these categories, it is best to consult an expert on how long your tanning session should last.
Lastly, maintenance is the key to a good tan. Yes, tans fade.
So if you want to retain your glow for months, then visit your nearest tanning salon with our recommended tanning lotions once a week.
Product Reviews: Our Top Five Picks of the Best Tanning Lotions for Tanning Beds
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Our Rating
Our top choice for the best tanning lotions for tanning beds is the Millenium Tanning New Solid Black Bronzer.
As mentioned, DHA is a common bronzing ingredient which can activate the amino acids located on the skin’s surface to produce a tanning effect.
Meanwhile, walnuts are packed with Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Walnut Seed Oil can help to reduce wrinkles, treat psoriasis, and it can even fight off fungal infections.
Soy Amino Acids are also rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, and Lecithin.
These can help to even out the skin tone and regenerate damaged skin cells because of the high antioxidant content.
The other components also serve to provide even and instant bronzing results. They can also help to moisturize the skin and maintain its health during the tanning process.
When we tested it out, we noticed the results immediately after a week of regular use. It also had no orange tints, but some may be bothered by the smell.
While we had no problem with the scent, others who are more sensitive may not like it. We do recommend that you rub it in diligently to avoid any streaking.
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While our first choice featured a unique tanning technology, Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion boasts a one of a kind blend which can speed up the bronzing.
Quad Tyrosine and Melanobronze serve to boost melanin production which is responsible for the bronzed results.
As the name suggests, its main ingredients are Coconut Milk, Butter, and Oil. They can serve to moisturize and hydrate the skin deeply.
It also contains Melactiva and Nouritan. The first acts as a melanin synthesizer which gives the skin a deeper bronze, while Nouritan boosts the Tyrosine to even out the tan.
Both of these work together to make the tan last long. The unique blend of ingredients can also tighten the skin and target cellulite.
For those who have tattoos on their skin, this lotion can improve their appearance and prevent the color from fading.
We noticed that the lotion has a strong coconut scent which we loved, but others may not like.
The silky formula is not greasy and leaves the skin feeling soft. While we didn’t see instant results, we noticed subtle changes after weeks of consistent use.
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Our third choice for the best tanning lotions for tanning beds is the Australian Gold Cheeky Brown Accelerator Tanning Bed Lotion.
It has a mild, fragrant scent that may not be welcoming for those who prefer odorless products. But for us, the “cocoa dreams” scent was a plus.
Some of the ingredients you could find in this tanning lotion are Olive Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Tea Tree Leaf Oil, Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera Gel, Wheat Sprout Extract, and Vitamins A and E.
We believe that the key to the results this product can give is in its unique blend of Native Australian Oils and bronzing ingredients.
Of course, we had to test it out for ourselves. What we noticed is that the formula was very hydrating. We like that it blend smoothly onto the skin and leave it feeling fresh.
We also noticed that it doesn’t impart a tingling sensation and it gave us a subtle, natural glow. For those who want a darker tan, this product may not be the one for you.
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Our fourth choice is the Designer Skin Bombshell 100XX Bronzer. This tanning lotion is highly recommended for delivering intense dark color but may be too much to handle for beginners.
One of the things that make this tanning lotion different from all the rest is the tingling sensation.
While expert tanners may have been through a few or many tanning products that make their skin tingle, beginners may have trouble with the weird feeling.
Among the ingredients of this lotion, we found White Tea Extract, Soy Extract, and Coenzyme Q-10.
All of these are packed with antioxidants that can safeguard the skin from free radicals.
Furthermore, they can help to keep the skin young and fresh by restoring its youthful glow and reversing the prior damage.
The first thing we noticed when we tested it out was the tingle, but you get used to it after awhile.
We also loved the fast results. After a quick tanning session, we could already see the difference.
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The Supreme Smoke Bronzer Tanning Lotion spots our fifth position.
The first thing that caught our eye with this product is its sophisticated packaging. The next thing you would probably notice, as we did too, is the white color of the lotion.
In the beginning, we were mislead into thinking that we need to apply a lot to achieve the desired shade. However, we like that only a small amount was enough.
Another notable feature of this lotion is its Oxygen Regenerating Tanning System which can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Other than that, the immediate tanning results are also due to its unique technology. But with this tanning lotion, we noticed that you have to be ultra-careful.
The white formula makes it a little difficult to tell where you have placed too much or too little product.
We believe that a wise decision would be to evenly spread the lotion all over your skin and take your time to blend it in to prevent any streaks.
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The Bottom Line
Tanning is tricky. No product is the same and results sometimes differ.
But if you carefully follow the tips we shared we believe, you should be well on your way to a golden tan.
For our ultimate choice for the best tanning lotions for tanning beds, we have selected the Millenium Tanning New Solid Black Bronzer.
One of the reasons it headed our list is that it can be suitable for both beginners and more experienced tanners
Moreover, we were impressed with the mix of oils, such as Walnut Seed Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, and Pecan Seed Oil.
These can help to moisturize the skin during the tanning process while providing essential nutrients.
We are very meticulous when testing and picking, so the rest of the products have gone under thorough evaluation.
We hope they can be of help for you to achieve a stunning sun-kissed skin.
