You may be asking yourself, what is a tanning oil and more importantly how is it different from a tanning lotion? We take for granted as consumers that the products we purchase will work, but with a little knowledge, you will be able to read the contents of a tanning oil and select one of superior quality.



I. Why Use Tanning Oil In The First Place?

For Magnification

The multiplying of the ultraviolet light that reaches the skin is called magnification. Tanning oil products supply a refractive prism to further intensify the ultraviolet light that reaches the skin therefore strengthening your tan, giving you faster results.

For Moisturization

Tanning oils come in different blends, but all provide skin moisturization before and after tanning. The key to a beautifully tanned skin is a healthy skin. A well moisturized skin retains its tan longer than dry skin which can shed and flake and will peel away your tan in every skin layer.

For Skin Conditioning

Tanning oils are blended with high levels of tanning ingredients such as Natural Butters, Liposomial Tyrosine Complexes, L-Tyrosine, Essential Oils, Natural Botanical Extracts, Vitamins, Riboflavin, Hemp Seed Oil, Copper, to aid in the tanning process.

Tingle For Deep Tanning

When the skin is stimulated by way of tingle, melanin is forced to go up to the skin's surface. Tanning oils are formulated with tingle to give the skin better tanning results. It is best that one should start with a low level of tingle to get the body well accustomed, and work from there to a much higher level.

II. Typical Ingredients For Tanning Oils:

1. Sunflower oil. This has superior moisturizing quality, and when blended with high concentrations of Vitamins A, D and E, it is very effective in treating dry, aged, and weathered damaged skin.

2. Coconut oil. Protects and moisturizes the skin while encouraging a glowing dark tan. It is mild to use for sensitive skin.

3. Lanolin. This is taken from the oil glands in the wool of the sheep, and used in skin formulas to prevent irritation that one could get from other oils. It is an emollient, sealing the skin's moisture in. It is widely used for moisturizing dry and sunburned skin.

4. Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. These are natural minerals taken from clay and beach sand deposits; they are gentle synthetically-produced chemicals. Both chemicals are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in sunscreen use. Zinc oxide is a blocking agent preventing damage to extreme skin sun exposure. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which redirect and spread out both UVA and UVB rays away from the skin, forming a barrier to shield the skin without clogging the pores or irritating the skin.

5. Cocoa butter. Is an excellent cream, that is extracted straight from cocoa beans, and good for chapped areas of the skin and is widely used to prevent or lighten of stretch marks.

6. Green tea extract. This is very effective in lessening sunburn, and is a powerful antioxidant that counteracts free radicals from the UV radiation of the sun.

7. Vitamin C and E. Are antioxidants that help in skin rejuvenation.

8. Sweet almond oil. The oil is derived from the dried kernels of the almond tree. The oil is used in beauty products because of its rejuvenating qualities. It is a great emollient used to improve the condition of chapped hands and inflammation of the skin for its capacity to soothe the skin. Almond oil is very high in mono polyunsaturated fatty acids, and also naturally contains occurring vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and vitamin E.

9. Vitamin E. Gives the skin antioxidant protection, that could reduce cancer risk, slows down cell damage, and offer anticarcinogenic protection. Vitamin E also is a natural preservative.

10. Eucalyptus oil. This has a function of opening the pores naturally. It is an essential oil that is readily absorbed by the skin when combined with other oils. It also helps other oils to also be absorbed, thus supporting in the process of moisturization. It is also known as repellent of insects, particularly mosquitoes.

III. Tanning Tips:

- Choose tanning oil with ingredients that moisturize as well as contain broad spectrum protection.

- To keep your pores clear, use tanning oil that is nonacnegenic.

- Stay away from the sun from ten in the morning to three in the afternoon. It is at these hours when the sun is very harmful.

- Use protective glasses.

- Apply tanning oil liberally all over the body, but never to the face. For the face, a cream made especially for the face is recommended.

- Reapply with tanning oil as frequent as possible.