6 Best Tanning Lotions

The lotion tanning industry is a multi-million business, and the market of self-tanning products is expected to touch $5.5 billion by 2026. The search for the perfect tan had led to multiple fashion editorials at the beginning of the 20th century — when tanning as a fashion trend began noticeably. Yet tanning has not always been on the trend.

Indeed, having dark skin wasn’t acceptable within the Aristocracy in the 18th century as pale skin was seen as natural beauty and elegance. Getting a tan got fashionable in the 20s and 30s, as seen in Vogue & Harper’s Bazaar.

Today, with a flourishing business worldwide, hundreds of brands have created the perfect formula for every skin to find its touch of dark. How to choose a tanning lotion, and when do you need to tan? Finally, what advice should you keep in mind as far as tanning is concerned? Let’s explore.

What is tanning lotion?

A tanning lotion designs a cosmetic product that is aimed at enhancing the tanning process of the skin as well as boosting melanin production. Melanin is a pigment naturally produced in the cells of the body that determines our skin color. There are two forms of melanin, eumelanin, and pheomelanin, which produce different shades and hues on the skin.

Some people naturally produce less melanin, resulting in lighter skin. To achieve a long-lasting tan, you may use a tanning lotion — which may come in different forms such as sprays, lotions, mousses, creams, oils, and gels. Tanning lotions can be made for outdoor, indoor, or self-tanning purposes.

Skin tanning attitudes shift

French fashion icons and cosmetics highly helped the promotion and the development of skin tanning lotions in the 20th century. The sun began associated with health in the late 19th century after research from physician Niels Finsen received the Nobel Prize in medicine for uncovering the concept of “Light Therapy” in 1903 to combat certain diseases.

Shortly after, pioneering fashion designer Coco Chanel put the idea of sunbathing as fashionable in the 20s. The iconic French designer appeared tanning on the French Riviera in 1923, which depicted the nicest idea of being exposed under the sun. As tanning became popular, so happened sunburns.

To avoid burns, Jean Patou introduced the tanning oil “Huile de Chaldée” in 1927. Later on, Eugène Schueller at L’Oréal developed the first range of cosmetics that would protect the skin while enhancing the tan. The tanning cream “Ambre Solaire” was born in 1935 as the ultimate creative inspiration to promote tanning and avoid sunburns. Another successful product was Elizabeth Arden’s “Après l’été”.

With the introduction of the “bikini” in 1946, tanning became all-over the place. Soon, sunbathing got linked to a wealthy, artistic, and chic lifestyle. Simultaneously, the first sunless product appeared in 1929 with “Glory of the Sun”.

Four tips to prepare your skin for the sun

Hydrate your skin: whether you wish to drink water or coconut water, ensure you drink enough to keep your body and skin hydrated. If you travel, drink at least 2 liters of water and do not compromise on it. Lacking water in the body will cause your skin to dry and to get more sensitive to sunlight. Consider drinking aloe vera juices if you travel to an exotic country and drink enough mineral water if you reside in large, busy cities.

Nourish your skin: you should apply a body moisturizer or hydrating lotion that contains enough vitamin E and oils. The skin is our largest organ and deserves proper care. Consume enough antioxidants and plant-based food as well as carotenoids — plant pigments that have essential antioxidant functions and deactivates free radicals. Carotenoids also have potent anti-cancer properties. Find them in kale, spinach, and watermelon.

Exfoliate your skin: to remove the dead cells and boost blood circulation, you need to exfoliate your skin on a regular basis. Before any long-term sun exposure, you should exfoliate approximately within three days. Removing dead cells will help the skin absorb better the protection of the suncream.

Take it easy: do not go to the sun straight after — instead alternate shades and rays, so the skin has sufficient time to adapt. If you are at the beach and dig into the water, re-apply enough cream to stay protected. Always apply an after-sun cream to ensure your skin gets the right balance of hydration.

Outdoor tanning lotions

When going to the sea, to the mountain, or to the lake, consider buying an outdoor tanning lotion. You will have to choose the ideal SPF protection to protect your skin against sun aggression. UVA & UVB are detrimental to your skin and can cause cancers or a range of skin problems. The sunlight that may touch and damage your skin is made of UVA — long wave ultraviolet A and UVB — short wave ultraviolet B. While UVB penetrates on the surface of the skin, UVA may reach the deeper layers. It’s important to choose the right protection to fight against UVA and UVB.

Choose your best sun cream according to your skin type, color, and the level of protection desired. For white skin, choose the highest level of protection. For darker skin, choose moderate protection but never underestimate the position and the time of the sun as this can play an important role in the exposure. For example, avoid going under the sun between 11 am and 3 pm where the sun is at the highest position in the sky, and if you leave in a tropical country, consider buying the highest SPF cream no matter your skin type and color.

Indoor tanning lotions

Indoor tanning lotions contain no sun cream and are used for tanning beds or tanning lamps. Such lotions are formulated with different ingredients compared to outdoor lotions. Such lotions help the skin to stay nice and hydrated. Don’t mistake indoor tanning lotions with outdoor ones as they clearly don’t have the same properties. Indoor tanning is also referred to as smart tanning as it maximizes the tanning experience without the side-effects: sunburns, dehydration, and so forth.

You may find several types of indoor tanning lotions such as:

Bronzers: self-tanning bronzers provide an instant tan and are useful if you actually cannot go under the sun or do not wish to use a tanning bed. These bronzers work with the skin’s natural amino acids to darken the skin and increases melanin production while keeping the skin moisturized.

Basic tanning accelerators are good for people looking for a quick, easy tan before getting exposed to natural sunlight. Such accelerators are perfect to prepare for a trip and contain a high-level of moisturizers for your skin. Other benefits include protection of the skin against burns and your color is likely to evolve even after the end of the session.

Hot/ tingle lotions: such lotions contain an active ingredient which is Benzyl nicotinate. This ingredient enables microcirculation and oxygenation of the cells which helps the skin produce deep and darker tanning results. The hot/ tingle lotions provide warming, reddening effect on the skin. Yet such lotions are not recommended for sensitive skin.

Sunless lotions

To fight against skin cancer, sunless lotions have become popular over the last years. Such lotions are safe for obtaining your desired skin color. After a few weeks, the color will naturally wear off. Practical, sunless lotions come in diverse forms such as creams, sprays, foams, or gels. One of the disadvantages of such tanning is the light orange coloring that may stay on the skin.

Essential ingredients for your tanning lotion

When choosing your tanning lotion, look for such ingredients:

• Caffeine is excellent to energize the skin and provides a sufficient amount of antioxidants.
• Beta-carotene — known as vitamin A — helps enhance skin color and pigmentation. Beta-carotene gives a natural boost to the skin.
• Vitamin E is an important vitamin for the skin as it helps revitalize the skin and moisturize it sufficiently.
• Natural oils are crucial to bringing the right vitamins and elements to protect, hydrate, and nourish your skin.
• Hemp seed oils contain fatty acids which help the skin stay balanced and moisturized as it provides powerful hydration.

Important facts about the skin and the sun

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the sun is responsible for 90% of skin cancer as well as skin diseases and aging. Remember that when choosing a sun cream, there’s not 100% protection against the ultraviolet. Therefore, stay away from the sun at peak times or don’t overexpose yourself under the sun.

Up to 20% of the sun rays can reach your skin and damage your cells, even if it’s cloudy. Wear a sun-cream or use — a hat or a cap — to stay protected, always. Lastly, when sea, sun, and sand are a terrible combination for your health if you don’t use sun lotions with caution.

Proper after-sun care

After-sun is as crucial as suncare. Use an after-sun lotion to prevent your skin from aging or dehydration. For maximum effects, use pure aloe vera, which has the highest number of emollients your skin may need in case of sunburns.

Other vital ingredients for after-sun products are tea tree, witch hazel, rosemary, and vitamin E.

Tea tree calms redness and has antimicrobial properties. A popular oil used for its various benefits in cosmetics, tea tree, is known for soothing the skin.

Witch hazel is a well-known medicinal plant known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Containing also antioxidants, witch hazel helps the skin get rid of free radicals.

Rosemary is another traditional medicinal plant with multiple benefits and widely used in cosmetics and after-sun. Nutrient-rich, rosemary protects skin cells from damage.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that reduces UV damage in the skin. Vitamin E also helps the skin to fight against free radicals.

Final Tips

Since tanning is a fashion trend, sunbathing and tanning are commonly sought-after practices that are here to stay. Yet, despite the trend, the sun can really damage your skin, and choosing the right sun lotion is important.

To obtain a natural bronze, eat healthily, and drink well. Carrots, beetroots, and green vegetables can help you boost your skin.

Avoid smoking and going to the sun with no protection. If you leave in Paris, London, or New York, enjoy the multiple benefits of indoor tanning lotions.