Why should you use a tanning lotion?
Now that you have your home sunbed, you may be wondering what the best practices are for gaining the deepest tan results and best skin condition. One way is by using a tanning lotion before each home sunbed session.
There are many positives to regularly using a tanning lotion during your home tanning session. Ultimately this can work to help provide the best tan results possible.
What happens when you use a tanning lotion?
Professional tanning lotions have been crammed full of antioxidants, vitamins, natural oils and moisturisers which work to improve skin condition. So, when you apply a tanning lotion before your sunbed session, you will experience:
- An increase in collagen synthesis and skin firmness, which will plump skin and combat the ageing process.
- Increased skin hydration, preventing a dry and dull appearance and promising for longer-lasting tans.
- Counteraction to skin inflammation.
- Overall improved skin condition that feels softer and more supple.
- No tanning odours, as tanning lotions have been designed to leave you feeling and smelling fresh.
- Deeper and longer-lasting tan results at a faster rate.
In fact, studies show that unlike those who tan “dry” (whose tanning process begins three minutes into their tanning session),
Those who use a tanning lotion kickstart their natural tanning process within 30 seconds.
This means you are able to enhance your tanning results by up to 50% with the use of a tanning lotion compared to those who tan “dry”, or without lotion.
What’s more, these benefits don’t include the further improved results from lotions including different bronzing agents and technologies. These help personalise tanning results further. They can offer longer-lasting tan results, or a powerful boost to your glow for event tanners. Bronzers can provide great results for all tanners, and are ideal for those looking for that immediate kiss of colour.
When should you apply tanning lotion?
The best time to apply your tanning lotion is within 10 minutes of your tanning session. This ensures that your skin hasn’t fully absorbed the lotion, and the tanning technologies will work to their full potential.
Although you can apply your tanning lotion prior to this recommendation, this means you will not get the full potential from your product. Instead, your product acts more as a premium moisturiser, rather than to enhance tan results further, as it is absorbed fully into the skin prior to your tanning session. Many tanning lotions contain ingredients such as melanin and tyrosine which rely on UV to enhance your natural tan faster. If the lotion has been absorbed before tanning, these technologies cannot help you tan deeper or faster.
What should you use?
When looking at what the best tanning lotion is, we always recommend Australian Gold UK. This brand ensures that all ingredients are of the best quality and have been a global leader for over 30 years!
Why shouldn’t you use products not designed for tanning?
With the rise in the popularity of TikTok trends and challenges, there has been a rise in the number of people using the wrong products whilst tanning. However we strongly recommend you do not follow these challenges. Unlike tanning lotions, some of the products being recommended do not contain the appropriate skincare ingredients for use on a sunbed.
For example, the use of baby oil, Nivea moisturiser (as popular in May 2021) and Bryl Cream all contain alcohols which can magnify UV rays, and increase your risk of burning. What’s more, these products are not designed for use on a sunbed and can damage your equipment. Many home sunbed users and salons alike have found that the use of baby oil on their equipment causes their sunbed acrylic to cloud up before cracking. This means your home sunbed would be dangerous to use, and the acrylic must be replaced which can be expensive.
In comparison, sunbed tanning lotions have been designed with UV rays, your skin and the wellbeing of your equipment in mind to ensure the best tanning results, and safety for your equipment.
