Do you wish to increase the production of dark pigmentation or melanin in your skin? Tanning oils are your solution. Using tanning oils can help to speed up the production of melanin which gives you glowing skin. Tanning oils attract more UV rays into your skin while at the same time reducing their intensity while giving you the golden glow and the tanning effect you need. UV rays stimulate melanocytes, a pigment that produces melanin and gives you that beautiful sun-kissed effect. When you apply tanning oil, dihydroxyacetone chemical reacts with your dead skin cells. This darkens your skin temporally and stimulates tanning. Here is a list of some of the best tanning oils in the market now. Read on.
Contents
- Editor’s Choices
- 10 Best Tanning Oils In 2024
- 1. Sun Bum Moisturizing Tanning Oil (Best Gluten Free)
- 2. Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil (Best For Softens Skin)
- 3. Australian Gold Dark Tanning Exotic Oil Spray (Best Natural Bronzed)
- 4. Maui Babe Tanning and Browning Lotion (Best For Light Skin)
- 5. Banana Boat Tanning Spray and Dry oils (Best For Dry Skin)
- 6. Isabella’s Clearly Best Natural Bronzing Tanning Oil (Best For Oily Skin)
- 7. Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion (Best Ultra Darkening)
- 8. Dr. Mercola Natural Tanning Oil (Best For Sensitive Skin)
- 9. Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen Protective Tanning Dry Oil (Best Lightweight)
- 10. Panama Jack Amplifier Suntan Oil (Best Light Formula)
- How To Choose The Right Tanning Oil?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Editor’s Choices
10 Best Tanning Oils In 2024
1. Sun Bum Moisturizing Tanning Oil (Best Gluten Free)
If you are looking for tanning oil for the beach, Sun Bum Moisturizing Tanning Oil is all you need. It contains high-hydrating and moisturizing ingredients such as aloe vera, green tea butter, avocado oil, and coconut. This dark tanning oil gives you a golden-brown effect with silky-smooth skin. It also nourishes and protects your skin from sunburns and harmful UV rays. The oil is water-resistant and it is great for all skin types. This tanning oil is dermatologist-tested and it is free from harmful chemicals and thus suitable for people with sensitive skin.
Key Features
- Easy to apply
- Has a pleasant fragrance
- Tans easily
- Free from harmful chemicals
Benefits
- Silky smooth, and protected
- Paraben Free
- Sun-kissed glow
- Gluten-Free
- Ideal for all skin types
- Moisturizing
- Hypoallergenic
Negatives
- Not water-resistant
2. Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil (Best For Softens Skin)
The beauty of tanning oils is that they not only give you a tan but also hydrate your skin. Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil does all that for you. It is a nature-rich tanning oil enriched with ingredients that moisturize and soften your skin like cocoa butter and aloe vera. It also has papaya ingredients that cleanse your pores and ensure no dirt is clogged on your skin surface. Additional ingredients include nut extracts and antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E all of which hydrate your skin while promoting a deep dark tan.
- Key Features
- Hydrates your skin
- Smells nice and pleasant
- Long-lasting tanning effect
- Soothes the skin
Benefits
- Formulated with natural ingredients
- Moisturizing
- Climate Pledge friendly
- Best for all skin
- Protects from UV rays
- Easy to use
- Lightweight
Negatives
- None
3. Australian Gold Dark Tanning Exotic Oil Spray (Best Natural Bronzed)
Australian Gold Dark Tanning Exotic Oil Spray is one of the best sun tanning oils as it is non-greasy and provides an instant bronzing effect. This water-resistant formula has antioxidant properties with ingredients such as acacia extracts and tea tree oil. It also has moisturizing agents like aloe vera that make it easily absorbed into your skin thus providing a quicker tanning effect. It has natural bronzing ingredients like caramel, carrot seed oil, melanin, and a walnut shell that quickens the bronzing effect. It also has a richer color since it is developed from a banana extract that nourishes the skin.
Key Features
- It is a color boost maximizer formula
- Suitable for all skin types
- Water-resistant for up to 80 minutes
- Quicker tanning effect
Benefits
- Carrot extract formula
- Smoothening
- Hydrating
- Fragrance-Free
- Antioxidant
- Nourishing
- Suits for all skin types
Negatives
- No SPF
4. Maui Babe Tanning and Browning Lotion (Best For Light Skin)
If you are looking for a beautiful natural tan in the shortest time possible, Maui Babe Tanning and Browning Lotion is the product to use. This is a browning formula that increases the tanning process while boosting your skin’s natural moisture and softness. It is the best tanning oil for fair skin. It is made with natural ingredients like Kona coffee plant extract, aloe, and antioxidants vitamins E, C, and A. The result is a faster dark tan that is natural-looking. It is suitable for all skin types and yields a beautiful natural tan.
Key Features
- Best tanning oil for fair skin
- Gives a beautiful natural glow
- Suitable for all skin types
- Quick and effective
Benefits
- Made from a secret formula
- Long-lasting
- Safe for all skin types
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
Negatives
- No SPF
5. Banana Boat Tanning Spray and Dry oils (Best For Dry Skin)
If you desire to have a sun-kissed glow, Banana Boat Tanning Spray and Dry oils will give you that. It is a sheer lightweight formula that enhances quick coverage and offers a deep dark beautiful tan. This water-resistant formula protects your skin from harmful sun rays leaving it feeling silky smooth. It smells pleasant due to its combined extracts from banana, coconut, and carrot oil, which moisturize and nourish your skin. It has a low SPF value making it suitable to use in the early mornings when the sun intensity is less.
Key Features
- Quick tanning effect
- Suitable for dry skins
- Sheer, lightweight formula
- Quick and easy coverage
Benefits
- Provides fast and even coverage
- Smoothening
- Lightweight
- Improved formula
- Made without oxybenzone
- Sun-kissed glow
Negatives
- Could have higher SPF
6. Isabella’s Clearly Best Natural Bronzing Tanning Oil (Best For Oily Skin)
Isabella’s Clearly Best Natural Bronzing Tanning Oil is a natural organic oil that provides moisture to shield and protect your skin. The formula is rich with beta carotene and vitamins A and E which not only leave you with a natural-looking bronzed glow but also helps hydrate, heal, and repair damaged skin. Its gold form stimulates the skin to tan faster and balances the skin moisture. It contains anti-aging antioxidants and hydrating squalene that promote skin cell regeneration, remove dead skin cells, and minimize the effects of wrinkles and chapped skin and repair skin damage caused by sun exposure.
Key features
- Contains antioxidants
- The moisturizing and hydrating effect
- 100% natural and chemical-free
- Vitamin-rich for skin rejuvenation
Benefits
- Healthy bronze glow
- Moisturizing
- Softening
- Hydrating
- Natural plant-based
- Balance skin moisture
Negatives
- None
7. Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion (Best Ultra Darkening)
Without the use of bronzing agents, Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion can help you achieve dark golden results. This is an ultra-darkening skin hydrating intensifier formula that leaves your skin soft and hydrated. It contains coconut milk, coconut oil, and cocoa butter that moisturizes and hydrates your skin. It helps in stimulating and increasing melanin formation which stimulates the tanning process. It is also a tattoo fade-protecting formula that increases the radiance of your tattoo and helps to prolong its life. Its smell is great with a coconut paradise fragrance that leaves you smelling great all day.
Key features
- Smells great
- Dark-golden results
- Tattoo fade protecting formula
- Stimulates melanin formation
Benefits
- Tattoo fade protecting formula
- Softening
- Long-lasting
- Coconut paradise fragrance
- Quad tyrosine blend
- Best for dry skin
- Fragrance-free
Negatives
- None
8. Dr. Mercola Natural Tanning Oil (Best For Sensitive Skin)
Dr. Mercola Natural Tanning Oil is your to-go product if you are looking for a more eco and skin-friendly solution. Its formula is completely chemical-free and has no artificial fragrance. It is a great blend of nine powerful organic ingredients that gives you a dark healthy tan in a short period while keeping your skin nourished and moisturized. Some of the organic ingredients include; coconut oil, lanolin, sweet almond oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and sunflower seed oil. Since it is free from toxins and artificial fragrances, it is suitable for all skin types.
Key Features
- Chemical-free formula
- Artificial fragrance-free
- Dark healthy tan
- Suitable for people sensitive to strong scents
- Completely hypoallergenic and vegan formula
Benefits
- NO artificial fragrances
- Hypoallergenic
- Suits for sensitive skin
- No potentially toxic ingredients
- Lightweight
- Easy to apply
Negatives
- No SPF
9. Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen Protective Tanning Dry Oil (Best Lightweight)
If you love to spend time in the sun, protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen Protective Tanning Dry Oil contains a rare blend of nature’s rich oils that protect your skin from sunburns and make it look radiant. This formula is enriched with coconut butter and aloe vera that moisturizes your skin while protecting it from sun rays. It is a lightweight formula with nourishing antioxidants that will pamper and radiate your skin. The tanning oil soothes the skin and has a classic coconut fragrance.
Key Features
- Lightweight formula
- Pleasant coconut fragrance
- Long-lasting tanning effect
- Nourishing antioxidants
Benefits
- Formulated with natural ingredients
- Nourishing antioxidants
- Blend of nature’s rich oils
- Protects from UV rays
- Affordable
- Moisturizing
Negatives
- No SPF
10. Panama Jack Amplifier Suntan Oil (Best Light Formula)
Panama Jack Amplifier Suntan Oil is a combination of fruit and nut extracts together with exotic oils. It is a gentle and light formula that amplifies your tan while protecting your skin. The nut extracts and oils give it a beautiful tropical fragrance that ensures that you have a great day on the beach. This tanning oil has no sunscreen meaning it will not protect you from harmful UV rays (link). While using it, always ensure that your skin is protected properly. However, it contains aloe vera that ensures that your skin stays hydrated.
Key Features
- Sweet tropical smell
- Long-lasting tanning effect
- Easy to use and apply
- Best for boosting a base tan
Benefits
- Light formula
- Fruit and nut extracts
- Multi-functional
- Sun Protection
- Easy to use
- Lightweight
Negatives
- None
How To Choose The Right Tanning Oil?
With so many different products available in the market, choosing the best tanning oil can be a daunting task. Whether you are an expert or a novice tanner, remember that tanning oils are not all created equal. Here is what to consider when choosing a tanning oil.
Ingredients
Tanning oils are made with all kinds of ingredients. Some will claim to use natural ingredients. It is very good to look at the list of ingredients used to make sure you are not allergic to any. See the video details.
Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
Unlike sunscreen, tanning oils have a lower SPF value. However, it is good to buy a tanning oil that has a good SPF value. This will protect you from harmful UV rays. If you are going out early morning hours, a tanning oil with a low SPF value will work best since the sun intensity is low.
Skin Type
Knowing your skin type will help you choose the most suitable tanning oil. If you have oily skin, a tanning oil with less oil will be good. If you have dry skin, a tanning oil with more hydration and oil will protect your skin.
Moisturizing Effect
For your skin not to be dull and with no moisture, you need a tanning oil with a moisturizing and hydration effect.
Usage
Tanning oils can be used both indoors and outdoors. A tanning oil formulated for indoor usage may not be effective when used outdoors. Choose a tanning oil based on where you want to use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does tanning oil work?
Yes. Tanning oil works by attracting and focusing UV rays into your skin. This speeds up the production of melanin in the skin, and the result is that the skin gets a darker hue.
How long does it take to get a tan?
Mostly, most people will get a tan in one to two hours in the sun.
What are the benefits of tanning oil?
Tanning oil will help keep your skin moisturized, speed up the tanning process, and protect your skin against aging.
How do you use tanning oil?
Pour a generous amount of your tanning oil on your hand, spread it, and rub the tanning oil on all the areas of your body you want to get tanned.
Can sunscreen and tanning oil be used together?
Yes. Sunscreen and tanning oil can be used together. All you need is a time gap between applying sunscreen and tanning oil.
Conclusion
Whether you are indoors or outdoors, you can get the tan you want. Using the best tanning oil will give you a dark, natural-looking tan and moisturized nourished skin. A tanning oil keeps your skin hydrated and helps in locking in moisture on your skin. If you want to increase the pigmentation in your skin, tanning oil is all you need. With many tanning oils in the market, we highly recommend the Sun Bum Moisturizing Tanning Oil it is easy to apply, has a nice pleasant smell, and does not contain any harmful chemicals. It also tans easily and nourishes and protects your skin.
References:
1 Get the Best Tanning Oil in Australia – https://www.photoskin.com.au/products/sun-tanning-oil
2 13 Best Tanning Oils In 2023, Reviewed By Skin Therapist – https://www.momjunction.com/articles/best-tanning-oils_00594811/
About Author (Susan R. Orrell)
Susan R. Orrell is a well-respected skin care expert and blogger. She has extensive knowledge of skin care products and routines and is dedicated to helping others achieve healthy, radiant skin. Her blog, "The Apex Beauty," is a go-to resource for skincare information, and readers around the world trust her advice. Whether you're looking for tips on how to treat acne, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, or maintain healthy skin, the blog has something for everyone.
