Choosing the Right Tanning Oil

Choosing a tanning oil can feel pretty challenging considering all the options available! The sunscreen and tanning oil section of your local pharmacy is intimidating – with all the different options available, how can you be sure you're choosing the best tanning oil for your skin's needs?

Sun exposure, tanning, and your skin are important to approach carefully. After all, choosing the wrong products for your needs can lead to serious sunburn and even more serious permanent skin damage. Before settling on a tanning oil, consider the following aspects of tanning oil formulas.

Think About When You're Most Likely to Use the Tanning Oil

The amount of sun exposure you'll be getting depends largely on the time of day you plan to tan outdoors. For example, if you tan earlier in the morning, you'll be less exposed to the sun. If you tan in the middle of the day, you'll be far more exposed to the sun.

Depending on when you plan to tan, you'll need an oil that can also provide some bonus skin protection from the sun's harsh rays. If you plan to be an all-day beach or pool goer, you may need to purchase more than one oil (or at least go for the oil offering the best skin protection). According to Medium, some tanning oils are oil-only while others contain some sun protection ingredients within them.

Consider the Length of Time You Plan to Tan Outdoors

How long will you be tanning? If you plan to spend a long time outside in the sun, opt for a tanning oil that is long-lasting. This will reduce the number of times you'll need to apply the oil throughout the day. These longer-lasting oils mean you'll be using overall less product since you won't be applying multiple times.

As a bonus, oils made for the long haul take into consideration that you're planning to spend a long time outdoors – these often come coupled with some added skin protection so your skin doesn't suffer damage from a long day outside in the sunlight.

Check the Ingredients in Each Tanning Oil You're Considering

Tanning oils are made with a variety of ingredients. As you scan the ingredients list, keep an eye out for anything that isn't a natural ingredient. These chemicals may help your skin tan, but that's where the benefit stops. Often, these chemicals can cause more skin issues than they're worth!

Instead, opt for products that use natural ingredients. For example, some good natural ingredients that help nourish your skin in the tanning process include aloe vera, coconut oil, and shea butter.

Consider Your Skin Type

Tanning oils are often developed with certain skin types in mind. If you have flaky or dry skin, for example, you'll need a thicker tanning oil to provide your skin with the appropriate amount of moisture it needs while also achieving a tan. The extra time in the sun can be harsh on already-dry skin, and you want a tanning oil that will support your need for extra moisturization.

If you have issues with oily skin, opt for a tanning lotion instead of traditional oil. Because the lotion formulas are far less greasy than the traditional oils, your pores are less likely to become irritated and clogged from the presence of your tanning product.

Skin issues are also a legitimate cause for concern when choosing a tanning oil. If you suffer from eczema, for example, you'll need moisture-rich oil to give your skin an extra layer of protection while tanning.

Understand the Difference Between Bronzing Products and Tanning Products

You may have seen some bronzing oils stationed among all the tanning oil products in your local pharmacy. Bronzing oils are simply a type of tanning oil, but they are intended for use on people who already have naturally darker skin.

Bronzing oils contain no SPF. Therefore, if someone with fairer skin uses them, they aren't protecting their skin at all from sun exposure. In fairer skin folks, this is a recipe for skin damage or a bad sunburn; they should stick with tanning oils containing SPFs. However, if you have naturally darker skin, a bronzing oil will help you develop a deeper, richer skin tone.

Resources— Artesian Tan, StyleCraze

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