Best Outdoor Tanning Lotions: 2021 Best Tanning Lotion Reviews

Our customers often prefer the following products when searching for outdoor tanning lotion

We are constantly told that we need to avoid damage to our skin from the sun, so it might seem odd to opt to tan outdoors. The truth is that there are benefits and risks that come with outdoor tanning, much like there are with most things in life. Some benefits to outdoor tanning include:

Because of these benefits, many people partake in outdoor tanning whenever possible.

Outdoor tanning lotion is a lotion you massage into the skin before you head outside to catch some rays if you are wanting to get a base tan or deepen your tan quickly. The idea behind using them is to accelerate the tanning process while keeping the skin moisturized and healthy. Each product has its own formula and works in different ways. Some common ingredients used in outdoor tanning lotions include:

Could you just use an indoor tanning lotion while tanning outdoors? Some indoor tanning lotions are okay to use outside, while others can significantly damage your skin. For example, indoor tingle lotions should never be used outdoors as they will be exposed to UV rays much longer outdoors than they are indoors, which can cause a chemical burn on the skin. However, indoor tanning lotions usually do not offer SPF protection, which means you will need to mix it with sunscreen to be protected while outdoors. This ultimately is more trouble than it is worth, making it ideal to purchase an outdoor tanning lotion when tanning outside.

If you are going to be tanning outdoors, it is important that you do use a product with sunscreen in it. However, just using sunscreen will not help you speed up your tan. In fact, sunscreen will slow down the process of getting a tan. Despite that fact, it is vital to wear some, so most outdoor tanning lotions will include some level of SPF to protect the skin while also including ingredients that accelerate the tan, providing the balance you need to tan safetly outdoors.

It is important to note that you can have a bad reaction to outdoor tanning lotion. As such, you should always spot test it 24 hours in advance of tanning with it to ensure you are not going to have a reaction. Keep in mind that since different lotions have different formulas, you can have a reaction if you switch to a new lotion, so test every time you purchase.

We have mentioned several times that different lotions have different formulas. But what is it that makes them different? While the exact ingredients vary widely, most outdoor tanning lotions fall into a few categories.

• Accelerators: Accelerators can be used by those who are new to tanning or who have the tan they desire and want to maintain it. Their intention is to develop a base tan that you can build on with more time in the sun.
• Maximizers: Maximizers are the next level up in tanning lotion. These lotions are meant to be used by those who already have a base tan but want to take that tan deeper. The goal with using a maximizer lotion is to get your deepest possible tan.
• Bronzers: Bronzer outdoor tanning lotions are combined with either accelerators or maximizers. The bronzer refers to self-tanning lotion—or fake bake—that is mixed with the other ingredients to help you look darker immediately, getting you the color you want while your skin darkens underneath it.
• Anti-Aging: Anti-aging outdoor tanning lotions are lotions that contain vitamins designed to fight signs of aging, especially those that result from sun damage. They can be accelerators or maximizers and can also be combined with bronzers.
• Tattoo Protection: Tattoo protection is not something that is offered by many outdoor tanning lotions, but if you have tattoos, you will want to find a lotion that offers this protection. UV rays can fade and damage tattoos, and protecting them will allow them to remain vibrant for longer.

Most of these types of outdoor tanning lotions are the same as indoor tanning lotions. This means that you can use indoor lotions outdoors if you also use sunscreen with them. However, there are two types of indoor tanning lotions you must avoid when outdoors: tingle lotions and body blush lotions. Both of these types of lotions contain chemicals that increase blood flow to the surface of the skin, allowing the skin to repair faster and tan faster. However, the increased blood flow at the surface of the skin makes it more prone to burning, and you can even end up with a chemical burn. Because of this, anything marked tingle or body blush should be avoided when tanning outside.

How to Use Outdoor Tanning Lotion

Getting the best results when tanning outdoors means taking the right steps. And the most important step is applying your tanning lotion properly. To achieve the best results, you should use your outdoor tanning lotion with two other lotions in the following order:

• When you wake up, apply a pre-tanning lotion. These lotions are designed to exfoliate, smooth, and moisturize the skin. This essentially preps the skin to absorb the tanning lotion well and to tan evenly. Allow this at least an hour to absorb.
• At the pool, beach, or wherever you are tanning, apply your outdoor tanning lotion. Be certain you apply this as evenly as possible, using lotion applicators to reach all spots on your back. Follow the instructions on the bottle to achieve the best possible results. If it contains no SPF, mix with a sunscreen with the SPF level of your choosing.
• After you are done tanning, use an after-tanning lotion. This lotion is all about hydration, ensuring that your time in the sun does not dry out or damage your skin. This will also serve to keep your tan even and healthy looking. You can look for those with aloe to help pull the heat out of your skin when done.

What Is Your Skin Type for Tanning?

How you go about tanning outdoors will be determined by your skin type. While skin type for other applications often means oily, dry, or combination, when it comes to tanning, there are six different skin types. Based on the skin type, you can determine how often you should tan and how long you can tan for each time you do. Some skin types cannot tan at all while others tan very easily. To discover which type of skin you have, check out our explanation from our previous article.

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Tips for Getting a Stellar Outdoor Tan

Now that you know how to use an outdoor tanning lotion and your skin type, you can get started with tanning. The first thing you need to do is determine your tanning schedule. If you are just getting started, you should stick to 10-20 minutes per side, depending on your skin type. As you develop a base tan, you can then increase your time in the sun by about five minutes per side, doing so steadily until you reach a maximum you feel comfortable with. If ever your skin hurts after tanning, even if there is no visible burn, reduce your time.

While it may be tempting to tan every day, your skin needs to time to rest and to heal. As such, you should never tan more than once every other day, or no more than one time in a 48-hour period. However, you should be certain to tan at least once every 72 hours to maintain or increase your tan.

Think carefully about your tan lines. While it is expected that you will have some when tanning outdoors, some lines are better off prevented. Take off all jewelry to prevent awkward tan lines, as well as burning from heated metal. Consider using indoor tanning eye protection rather than sunglasses, and take your shoes off.

Do not use eyeglasses or contact lenses without eye protection. In addition to the odd tan lines caused by glasses, both glasses and contacts can be damaged when in direct contact with UV rays. Instead, opt for sunglasses or, as noted above, indoor tanning goggles.

Avoid wearing makeup and perfume. Makeup can interfere with the tanning process, causing your face to be a lighter color than the rest of your body. Perfume is problematic because it can interfere with the outdoor tanning lotion you use and can also attract insects. Both can also make your skin more sensitive to light, which can result in burns, rashes, blotches, and uneven tanning.

Exfoliating your skin is vital. A light exfoliant should be used every day to remove dead skin cells, bringing your healthy skin to the top and allowing the sun to tan it. This results in a tan that lasts a long time and looks more even.

Be mindful of how you are positioning yourself when tanning. In addition to flipping over halfway through your session, you should keep your arms and legs spread enough to tan all the skin and should prevent your chin from touching your chest to avoid a white spot underneath. And even tan always looks best.

Does Outdoor Tanning Cause Cancer?

This is a question many people have, so it is important that we answer it and answer it honestly. And the truth is that outdoor tanning can lead to cancer, but this is generally in cases where the person tanning suffers sunburns. With the right approach to outdoor tanning, burns should be avoided, significantly reducing the chance of skin cancer developing.

It is important to note that this is a risk that comes with any exposure to UV rays. For example, if you are outside but not trying to tan, yet end up exposed to the sun for too long, you can burn, and that burn can become skin cancer. This can also occur with indoor tanning. The best approach to take is to be careful about how you tan, keeping in mind that those under the age of 18 should never tan and should always wear SPF while in the sun.

What if You Can’t Tan?

If you have type one skin, tanning isn’t a possibility. Well, at least not a natural tan from the sun. This can also be the case for some people with type two skin. If you fall into this category but wish you had a tan glow, you can still achieve one using self-tanners, also known as bronzers and fake bakes, or if you have type two skin, light accelerators. Below are some of the products we recommend for those with fair or sensitive type one and type two skin.

Self-Tanning for Type One and Type Two Skin

• Beauty by Earth Self-Tanner: This self-tanner is well-liked because of its smooth results, lack of DHA, and exfoliating properties.
• Fake Bake Flawless: While it does have DHA, it provides a streak-free look that does not come off on clothing or with exercise.
• Tropez Bronzing Mousse: For a lasting tan, this is the right choice. It also comes in a kit with all the items you need for application.

Gentle Tanning Lotions for Type Two Skin

• New Sunshine Designed Skin Belle: As an accelerator, this lotion is meant to establish a base tan. If you have type two skin, this is all the tan you need.
• Australian Gold CHEEKY BROWN: This is another accelerator for establishing a base tan, and you already saw this one on our list above because it is great for all skin types.
• Australian Gold DARK TANNING ACCELERATOR: Out of these three choices, this one gets the most radical results for those with type two skin.

Tanning Accessories You Need to Have

While having the best outdoor tanning lotion is important, there are other things you need to tan safely and comfortably. Outdoor tanning accessories help to protect you and just improve the experience overall. While you might be tempted to skip them to save money, we promise you that these are items you should have on hand.

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Exfoliators: You want the sun to reach your healthiest skin, which means exfoliating dead skin away. This can be done with special scrubs, brushes, or even just your usual shower loofa. Our pick for the perfect skin scrub is, Skinfood Black Sugar Strawberry Mask, a combination scrub and mask that smells incredible.

Towels: If you are tanning outdoors, you will want to have a big fluffy towel to lay on, dry off with, and even warm up with when needed. Kaufman Sales Terry Beach Towel – 4 Pc Pack is a great purchase, getting you lots of fun towels for your outdoor tanning sessions.

Eye Protection: The rays of the sun can be very harsh on your eyes. While sunglasses are great, they do leave some pretty strange tan lines. Instead, opt for goggles that are used with indoor tanning to stay safe while also preventing ugly lines. We recommend EVO FLEX Sunnies Flexible Tanning Bed Goggles.

Lotion Applicators: If you want your outdoor tanning lotion to give you the best results, you need to make sure you apply it everywhere. Lotion applicators allow you to access spots on your back that are otherwise unreachable without needing help. The Remedy Roll a Lotion Applicator will evenly apply your lotion while also feeling like a massage.

Chapstick: Because the skin on your lips is thin, it damages easily. This can lead to premature aging around the mouth. To ward this off, use chapstick with SPF protection. Banana Boat Spf#50 Sport Lip Balm is a great choice.

Final Words

For a tan that comes on quickly and lasts a long time, you need to use a best outdoor tanning lotion. However, not all are created equal, so you must take care to purchase the one that is the right choice for you. Weigh your options carefully, and always use them according to the directions on the bottle.