What Is Tanning Lotion?

by Skin Care

There is a very distinct difference between tanning lotion and the usual sunscreens. Sunscreens are meant to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun and are used outdoors, especially on the beach, near water and when skiing. Tanning lotion has no such protection from the sun and actually intensifies the effects of UV radiation. It is also used indoors and in some cases will tan the skin even without the use of a tanning bed; these tanning lotions are called bronzers. The rest of this article will go into more detail about the ingredients, uses and types of tanning lotions available to the self-tanning enthusiast.

Tanning Lotion Ingredients
You will find that ingredients vary widely in tanning lotions, depending on the manufacturer and the intended use of the tanning product. One thing that most do have in common is the use of ingredients that will not harm acrylic surfaces. This is because tanning beds have shields made of 100% acrylic, so this is a practical move by the tanning lotion companies.

Because tanning is caused by the production of melanin in the skin, many of the ingredients in tanning lotions are meant to increase melanin production and some of the lotions actually contain melanin as one of their ingredients. Often times melanin production is increased by increasing blood flow to the skin, many of these tanning lotions are called “tinglers” because of the tingling feeling they give many users.

You will find many tanning lotions containing both melanin and the amino acid L-Tyrosine. The addition of melanin is obvious and the L-Tyrosine is added for its purported effects increasing the bodies production of melanin. Kind of like a 1-2 punch for tanning. In addition you can find various brands add tea tree oil for moisturizing, copper compounds for their bronzing effect, DHA to oxidize the top layer of skin, various antioxidants to renew the skin, evening primrose oil to prevent flaking of the skin as well as others.

All of the higher quality tanning lotions will have at least one and often several ingredients meant solely to moisturize the skin. These moisturizers, such as hemp seed oil and shea butter are meant to help protect the skin and help to keep it hydrated during the intense UV exposure of a tanning session. They will help to maintain the elasticity of the skin as well as preventing flaking and peeling from overly dry skin. It’s well worth paying a few extra dollars to get a tanning lotion with plenty of moisturizing ingredients.

Finally, most tanning lotions add some sort of fragrance and even though there is no benefit in terms of tanning, this is the ingredient that often sells the consumer. Because tanning lotion is used in the close quarters of a tanning bed or booth the aroma can be overpowering. Choosing an aroma that one likes can be vital to actually using the tanning lotion.

Tanning Without UV Rays
One benefit we can get from tanning lotions is that it isn’t always necessary to expose our skin to harmful UV radiation to get a tan. Many products on the market allow for sunless tanning through the use of a compound called dihydroxyacetone or DHA. This chemical that is derived from glycerine actually oxidizes the dead skin cells and causes them to turn a light to dark shade of brown that looks just like a tan. Of course the dead skin cells are constantly being replaced, so tanning with this method generally last a week or less, but it can be ideal if you have some special occasion such as the prom or a wedding to go to. Many tanning lotions will add DHA to products that are meant to be used with tanning beds. This gives a kick start to the tan so the customer gets an immediate tan from the DHA until their own system kicks in and their skin becomes a nice golden color.

Tingling Tanning Lotions
Quite a few of the tanning lotions available are described as “tingle tanning lotions” because of the feeling you get on your skin when using them. These are tanning lotions that are made from a combination of Hexyl Nicotinate, Methyl Nicotinate, and Benzyl Nicotinate and are designed to increase the blood flow to your skin. This increased blood flow allows the body to produce melanin faster as well as repair damaged skin.

The use of these tingling tanning lotions is recommended only for more advanced tanners and only for those who already have a base tan. Whenever trying a new tingle tanning lotion I recommend that you try it out on a small area of skin first or you could be in for a very unpleasant to downright tortuous experience. Each person seems to react to the various chemicals used to create the tingle differently and if you are sensitive to one of the chemicals it could make your skin feel as if it is in fire and being doused in acid at the same time. Fortunately these chemicals are not dangerous and there is no lasting damage if you have a bad reaction, but it is far better to test it out first and avoid an unpleasant experience.

In closing, I have to mention that while tanning lotion is not absolutely essential to get a great indoor tan, they definitely have their purpose. The deep moisturizing, skin conditioning and magnification of the UV rays can actually ensure that you get a deep even tan much more quickly than you would otherwise. This means less time under the tanning lamps and more time for you.

A quality tanning lotion will also ensure that you are adequately protecting your skin from the drying effects of intense UV exposure. Because even a short session in a tanning bed can expose you to an entire days worth of UV radiation it is critical that you maintain the moisture in your skin if you want your tan to look its best and also to avoid longer term issue such as wrinkles and peeling. A tanning lotion is a small expense to ensure that your more expensive tanning sessions bring out the best and don’t go to waste.

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