
There is something amazingly appealing about making your skin golden brown by tanning. Most people at one point or another try tanning. Despite its widespread appeal, in the last few years, you have probably heard newscasts and read articles about the dangers of tanning. Tanning has been linked to skin cancer and other health issues.
However, there are many different steps you can take to mitigate the effects of tanning on your skin. One of the most important is what you do after you tan. You should always use a moisturizing lotion after you tan. This can help keep the negative effects of tanning, such as dry skin, discoloration, and fading to a minimum.
If you are new to tanning and want to learn more about after tanning lotions, read on. Here we will provide everything you need to know about tanning and skincare and will give you our top five list of the best after tanning lotions.
To get the most out of your hard-earned tan, you need to take care of your skin. Learn all about this important tool and our picks for the best after tanning lotions and keep your skin looking smooth and healthy.
Contents
- 1 What’s tanning?
- 2 Can Anyone Tan?
- 3 Different types of tanning
- 4 Is tanning bad for your skin?
- 5 How to take care of your skin when tanning?
- 6 What’s an after-tanning lotion?
- 7 What’s to look for in an after tanning lotion?
- 8 Top Five Best After Tanning Lotions 2020 – Comparison Table
- 9 Top Five Best After Tanning Lotions 2020 – Reviews
- 10 When should I apply lotion after tanning?
- 11 How else can I take care of my skin after tanning?
- 12 Can I use other moisturizing lotions after tanning?
- 13 What about sunburns?
- 14 Final Words
What’s tanning?
Before discussing how you can take care of your skin and still tan, we need to establish exactly what tanning is and how it works. Tanning occurs because of our skin’s natural defenses.
When our skin is exposed to UV rays it has one of two responses. The first response is to increase the production of melanin, which can give a little bit of sun protection. Melanin is a pigment and it determines our skin color. People with darker skin have more melanin, while people with lighter skin have less. Only UVB rays produce melanin, but they can damage the DNA in your skin.
However, our skin does not always produce new melanin when we tan. With immediate pigment darkening, we receive a tanned color by the redistribution of the pigment already in our skin. This response happens when our skin is exposed to UVA and/or UVB, and it does not provide any protection from the sun’s UV rays. In fact, the immediate pigment darkening response can increase free radicals in our skin, and cause damage. That is why it is extremely important to use a tanning lotion when receiving this type of tan.
Can Anyone Tan?
One final thing to keep in mind when deciding to tan is your skin type, which determines how well you will tan. You can use the Fitzpatrick Skin type chart to determine your skin type. This will help you know how well you will tan, and how many precautions you need to take.
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Burns always and never tans
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Burns always and rarely tans
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Burns and tans occasionally
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Burns less often and tans easily
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Burns rarely and tans easily
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Never burns and tans darkly
Important Note: Even if you have darker skin that tans well, you need to make sure to protect your skin when in the sun. Sun damage can occur for any skin type.
Different types of tanning
You can get a tan in two different ways: outdoors and indoors. Outdoor tanning occurs exactly the way you might expect, outdoors. When you spend any time in the sun, you have the possibility of getting a tan.
Some people do go outside on sunny days with the express purpose of tanning. And, there are many products on the market that can help with this process. Even if you are planning on tanning outside, you should still wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the most harmful UV radiation.
Indoor tanning means that you will be using a tanning bed to create that golden-brown look. Tanning beds only use UVA rays, which means they will not increase the melanin production in your skin. However, UVB rays tend to be more harmful in the long term, so using a tanning bed may be slightly better for your skin than spending hours outdoors unprotected.
Is tanning bad for your skin?
As mentioned above, tanning can cause some significant damage to your skin if not done properly. Free radical production, DNA damage, and skin cancer can all be caused by tanning.
Not everyone who tans encounters one or all of these problems. But, you need to take special steps when tanning to protect your skin. Using an after-tanning lotion is one of the most important things you can do to protect your skin from UV damage.
Also, tanning less frequently can slow down the negative effects of tanning. If you are hitting the beach or the tanning booth every weekend—or every day—then you run a higher risk of damage to your skin than those people who tan only once or twice a month.
How to take care of your skin when tanning?
The way you prepare your skin for tanning depends largely on the type of tanning you will be doing. If you are using a tanning bed then you will need to use either an accelerator or a tingle cream/bronzer approximately thirty minutes before tanning. Accelerators should be used for your first 3-4 sessions, after which you can use either a tingle cream or bronzer.
Accelerators help to prepare your skin for the UVA rays it will encounter when in the tanning bed. These creams essentially give you a base tan that protects your skin. Tingle creams and bronzers encourage melanin production. They can help make your tan darker and last longer.
When you tan outside you should exfoliate first. This removes dead cells from the surface of your skin. This helps you tanner easier and creates a more even tone. You should also wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect your skin. You can take the shades and hat off when you tan, but make sure not to overexpose your skin to the sun. This is where the damage can occur.
After you tan either outside or inside, you will need to make sure that you use moisturizing tanning lotion. This will help keep your skin from drying out, flaking, and can prevent some of the free radical damage that tanning can cause. It can also help your tan stay around longer, which decreases the frequency with which you need to tan.
What’s an after-tanning lotion?
After tanning lotion is applied to your skin after you tan. You will want to concentrate on applying the lotion to any skin that was exposed to the sun. After tanning lotion prevents dry spots from forming and keeps your skin elastic.
Most of the after tanning lotions you will find contain some type of moisturizer, anti-aging products that reduce the likelihood of wrinkles and lines, and ingredients designed to help your tan last longer. You should use these lotions daily to receive the full benefits of the after-tanning lotion.
What’s to look for in an after tanning lotion?
After you tan, you want to put products with good and helpful ingredients for your skin. Here’s a list of the most important ingredients to watch out for in you after tanning lotion.
Vitamins
There are a lot of vitamins that help your skin stay healthy. If you see a product with Vitamins C, E, and the B complex, then you know that it will help your skin.
Vitamins C and E help counter the effects of sun exposure. Vitamin C can help prevent skin cancer. Vitamin E, on the other hand, has been shown to lower visible photodamage like wrinkles. So, both of these vitamins are extremely important to see as an ingredient in a high-quality after tanning lotion.
Vitamin B complex contains biotin which is a building block of your skin, hair, and nail cells. You can get enough B complex vitamins through your diet. But, an addition of some of these vitamins in a topical cream like after tanning lotions can help soothe itchy and irritated skin.
Oils
Certain oils help to moisturize and soothe tanned skin. Most of the oils listed here will likely be familiar since their skin and hair benefits are well known. These oils pop up in many skincare products. But, they are especially important to use after tanning to keep your skin healthy.
Other Ingredients
There are so many different ingredients that have proven benefits for your skin, that we don’t have time to mention them all here. However, below are the most helpful ingredients for skin that has been recently tanned.
Top Five Best After Tanning Lotions 2020 – Comparison Table
Products | Our rating | Color | Organic | Active | Size |
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#1 | No | No | Sunflower seed oil, Glycerin, Aloe leaf juice, Olive fruit oil, tea tree leaf oil, panthenol, Vitamin E | 16 oz |
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#2 | No | No, but Gluten, Paraben, and THC free. 100% Vegan ingredients | Hemp Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Ginseng, Vitamins A, C, and E, Sunflower Seed Oil, Calendula Flower Extract, Comfrey Leaf Extract, Chamomile Flower Extract, Cucumber Fruit Extract, | 17 oz |
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#3 | No | No | Aloe vera gel, Macadamia nut oil, Vitamins A, C, & E, and Glycerin | 8 oz each |
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Maui Island Secret After Sun Tan Sealer | #4 | No | No | Aloe vera gel, Passion flower oil, Hawaiian Ginger, Rose hip oil, Vitamins A, C & E, Green tea extract, Maui coffee extract | 8 oz |
#5 | Yes | Yes | Aloe vera gel, Argan oil, Olive oil, Jojoba oil, Avocado oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin B2, B5, & B12 | 8 oz |
Top Five Best After Tanning Lotions 2020 – Reviews
1 Australian Gold Moisture Lock Tan Extender Lotion
Australian Gold’s Moisture Lock Tan Extender Lotion performs two functions. First, it hydrates your skin through the use of aloe vera and Vitamin E. Second it conditions your skin to help extend the life of your tan. If you want a product that will keep your skin healthy and smooth, and looking tanned longer, then this after tanning lotion is the one for you.
One final note: this product does have a scent. However, it is actually its citrus scent that is positively commented on by reviewers the most. So, if you don’t mind a moisturizer that smells mildly, then you will enjoy Australian Gold’s product quite a bit.
2 Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer
While Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer is not specific after tanning lotion, it has all of the ingredients needed to calm and smooth your skin. The three important vitamins for skin health (A, C, and E) are all present. As are cooling ingredients like cucumber extract and shea butter. Finally, the 100% Pure Hemp Seed Oil in this product will keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
If you want an after-tanning lotion that will moisturize your skin and help the environment by using 100% Vegan ingredients and never testing on animals, then Hempz Body Moisturizer is for you.
3 Maui Babe Before and After Sun Pack
People new to tanning should consider Maui Babe’s Before and After Sun Pack. Everything you need to protect your skin while tanning comes in this pack. The browning lotion should be used before going into the sun or tanning booth. The after-browning lotion helps to enhance and extend the life of your tan and heal your skin.
This product is also designed for sensitive skin and is made in the United States (it is important from Maui, Hawaii). So, it is guaranteed to be of a high quality and safe for anyone to use.
4 Maui Island Street After Sun Tan Sealer
Not to be confused with the Maui Babe protect in our number three slot, the Maui Island Secret After Tan Sealer uses Hawaiian ingredients to soothe and moisturize tanned skin. You will find most of the ingredients listed above that help to heal tan skin, in addition to many more like passionflower oil, Hawaiian ginger, and Maui coffee extract.
Unlike the other products on our top five list, this after tanning lotion can be used for any elemental damage including dry air, wind, high altitudes, and—of course—sun.
5 Golden Star Beauty Tan Extender Daily Moisturizer
Golden Star Beauty’s Tan Extender Daily Moisturizer has all of the ingredients listed above as beneficial for after tanning lotions. It also includes many other ingredients that are known for their moisturizing and healing properties, such as avocado oil.
The only reason this product appears in fifth place on our top five list is that it is relatively unproven. It does not have many reviews on Amazon; although, it is extremely highly rated and is Amazon’s Choice for after tanning lotions. Only time will tell if the promise of Golden Star Beauty’s product will live up to the hype.
When should I apply lotion after tanning?
You should apply the after tanning lotion immediately after you have finished tanning. If you were tanning outside, at a beach especially, then a shower or bath may be in order to wash off debris or sand. If this is the case, then you should apply moisturizing lotion after your shower or bath.
In order to keep your skin healthy and your tan looking its best, you should reapply the after tanning lotion every day. Most formulas are gentle enough to use on a daily basis, and they can continue to protect your skin even days after you finished tanning.
How else can I take care of my skin after tanning?
After tanning it is extremely important to take proper care of your skin. Using one of the five best after tanning lotions described above is an essential way to help reduce and reverse the damage that comes from tanning. But, there are a few other things that you can do to keep your skin happy and healthy.
Step1:If you take a shower, make sure to use lukewarm water. Some people recommend taking showers right after you tan. But, others recommend staying away from them. If you decide to take a shower after you’ve finished tanning, then make sure to use warm or lukewarm water. Hot water can strip off the naturally occurring oils on your skin, which will leave you more dry and uncomfortable.
Step2:Drink a lot of water. Just as you add moisture to the top of your skin after tanning, you should increase your internal moisture as well. Staying hydrated has a wide range of benefits and keeps your entire body healthy.
Step3:Eating dark chocolate and drinking green tea can help reverse the negative effects of tanning. Dark chocolate—the darker the better—has flavanols which are used in cancer prevention. Green Tea, on the other hand, has polyphenolic compounds that can protect your skin from chemical carcinogenesis and photocarcinogenesis—skin problems that can develop with overexposure to UV rays.
Can I use other moisturizing lotions after tanning?
Yes, you could use lotions not specifically formulated for tanned skin. However, in order to receive the same benefits as the after tanning lotions listed in this article, you should pay careful attention to the ingredient list. Make sure the moisturizer you use in place of the after the tanning lotion has some or all of the beneficial ingredients listed above.
Likewise, you can use all five of the after tanning lotions listed in this article even if you don’t tan. Ingredients like aloe vera, olive oil, jojoba oil, and vitamins B-complex, C, and E are all good for our skin. You don’t need to tan to receive the benefits of these ingredients. And, because most people have some exposure to the sun on a daily basis, moisturizing is a good idea for everyone.
What about sunburns?
No matter how hard you try to protect yourself, sunburns can happen, especially if you have a skin type that burns and doesn’t tan. Sunburns occur when your skin is overexposed to the sun’s UV rays. The most common symptom is redness, pain, —which indicates the first-degree burn—and later peeling. Peeling after a sunburn happens because it is your skin’s way of removing the dead and damaged skin cells from the sunburn.
If you have ever received a sunburn that blisters, then you have had second-degree burns on your skin. This is the same thing that would happen if you accidentally put your hand in boiling water or touched a hot stove. Blisters indicate a lot of damage to your skin and could cause scarring if not treated correctly. If you have a second-degree sunburn, you should seek the help of a medical professional.
If you have sunburn you can take care of your skin in many of the same ways that you do after tanning.
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Drink a lot of water to rehydrate your body.
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Use cool or lukewarm water when taking a shower or bath.
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Use a gel—you will want to stay away from creams—with soothing and moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, cucumber, Japanese alder, algae, and hyaluronic acid.
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Stay out of direct sunlight for a few days to allow your skin time to heal.
Final Words
Tanning can be a fun pastime year-round. You get to enjoy the benefits of golden-brown skin that are the envy of all of your friends. However, because there are serious health concerns with tanning, you should take all the precautions you can to protect your skin. Most importantly, you should use one of our top five picks for the best after tanning lotion to protect and hydrate your skin to keep it glowing.
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