Best outdoor Tanning lotion 2024

Many men and women love to tan their skin so that they can enjoy their summer to the fullest. To help you look good, have glowing skin, and protect you from sun damage, you need the best outdoor tanning lotion.

For some people, it’s easy to get that darkened look quickly, while those with lighter and pale skin seem to get burned each time they step into the sun. No matter your skin type, you can still enjoy the benefits of using tanning products. Everyone has their reason why they get tanned, be it to give you a less pale skin, to flaunt your golden brown skin, or even getting rid of your acne or other skin-related problems. And the only way to fully enjoy the results of your tan is to use the most effective outdoor tanning lotion.

List of the Best Outdoor Tanning Lotion

Coconut kisses golden tanning lotion by Ed Hardy

Coconut kisses is a tanning lotion that will give you incredible results. This lotion promotes super soft skin with a blend of coconut oil and coconut milk that doesn’t leave any stains or streaks. Coconut kisses are known for its intense and unique golden tan because it contains tanning intensifiers. It contains no bronzers or tingles which makes it excellent for establishing a base tan. Without the help of bronzing agents, this lotion will darken your skin in just a few days.

The result will be a perfect tan without using any chemicals that could damage your skin. It will moisturize your skin as you soak up the rays in the sun. It contains a blend of Quad-tyrosine and melanobronze which accelerates your skin’s production of melanin. This lotion also helps to reduce cellulite and increase skin firmness to help you achieve the perfect skin. It also contains ingredients that can help stop the aging signs that come with tanning to ensure that you obtain a healthy and attractive glow.

Pros

• Has a velvety smooth feel
• It absorbs quickly and it’s not greasy
• Gives you a deep, dark tan in a short time
• Contains no added bronzers
• Leaves your skin soft and smooth

Cons

• The smell can be a bit strong
• It doesn’t contain SPF

Verdict

Coconut kisses are specially formulated to give you a deep golden tan while protecting your tattoos from fading or discoloration. It also helps in the natural pigmentation of your body to keep it darker for longer for a longer-lasting deep tan.

Millennium paint it black tanning lotion

Paint it black is formulated with a unique auto-darkening tan technology for a dark bronze tan to give you incredible results in the shortest time possible. It has a good consistency that you can spread evenly and it’s not greasy. This lotion will give you a beautiful bronze color in just a day in the sun which will then get darker as you continue to use it. Some of the ingredients include banana fruit extract, sunflower, camellia oleifera leaf oil, pecan seed oil, and oleracea fruit oil.

It’s formulated to keep your skin hydrated and smooth with an impressive moisturizing effect that lasts up to 24 hours. The ingredients also contain anti-aging properties and the silicone emulsion helps to retain your skin’s firmness and reduce cellulite. This lotion has a fresh and delicate blossom scent that will linger on your skin the whole day that is perfect for the outdoors.

Pros

• Contains the right amount of bronzers for a perfect glow
• Doesn’t stain your hands
• Has no sticky residue
• Helps to accelerate your tan
• Perfect consistency

Cons

• May cause an allergic reaction
• Contains no SPF

Verdict

A great tanning lotion that accelerates your tanning process for a deep dark tan in the shortest time possible. It’s natural nourishing ingredients leave your skin soft and smooth while keeping it well hydrated and firm.

Maui babe browning lotion

Maui babe browning lotion is made from a Hawaiian family formula that will give you a beautiful, dark, natural color. You can combine it with any SPF and it will still work to darken your skin without you getting sunburnt. And the best part is if you have fair and sensitive skin, you can still use this lotion without any worries. It contains kukui nut oil, iodine, antioxidants, aloe, light mineral oil, and Kona coffee extracts.

All these ingredients help to maintain your tan for longer and to keep your skin smooth and hydrated. It doesn’t irritate your skin because it contains no chemicals that could cause problems for your skin. You can use it no matter your skin type. It’s non-greasy and non-oily on your skin and it leaves you smelling like coffee which is a pleasant scent but can be slightly overwhelming for some people. This lotion can clog your pores, so if you’re prone to acne it may cause break-outs.

Pros

• Has a smooth silky texture
• It’s very moisturizing
• Gives you an even tan
• Washes off easily from your hands

Cons

• It can rub off on light clothes
• The smell may be too strong for some users

Verdict

A great browning lotion formulated with natural ingredients to give you a beautiful dark tan while keeping your skin well moisturized. It has a delicious coffee scent, doesn’t irritate sensitive skin, and is good for all skin types.

Neutrogena ultra sheer dry-touch sunscreen lotion

Neutrogena ultra sheer is a great lotion if you consider the fact that it has an SPF of 70. Such a high SPF makes it very powerful when it comes to preventing sun damage on your skin and even skin cancer. The SPF will also help in dealing with and preventing sunburn. This sunscreen lotion is weightless and has an invisible feel after you apply it on your skin which means it quickly absorbs into your skin and doesn’t cause any discomfort.

It uses the Helioplex technology that has broad-spectrum protection on your skin any time you expose yourself to UVB and UVA rays. Also, the dry-touch technology in the lotion guarantees a lightweight and shine-free finish. It’s packed with antioxidants that help to fight damage caused by the environment, it’s waterproof, and it doesn’t irritate sensitive skin. It has a decent scent that isn’t too overwhelming and it doesn’t linger on your skin for too long. You can easily spread it on your skin and it doesn’t leave you oily or greasy.

Pros

• Doesn’t cause irritations or breakouts on your face
• Easy to spread without a greasy feel
• Has a creamy texture
• Has a fairly nice smell

Cons

• It’s not sweat proof
• Can leave a white coat if you apply too much

Verdict

This sunscreen lotion has a very high SPF of 70 and has a unique formula that prevents your skin from sun damage and sunburn. It’s a non-greasy sunscreen that leaves your skin protected and comfortable.

Australian gold cheeky brown accelerator tanning bed lotion

Cheeky brown is a dark tanning accelerator and bronzer that you can use both indoors and outdoors. Its ingredients help you to build a base tan quickly and it works well on people with fair skin. It’s formulated with Australian oils, herbal DNA, and vitamins A and E that help to keep your skin hydrated while the natural bronzers give you a gorgeous golden glow.

It also contains tea tree oil and vitamins that help to prevent premature aging from exposure to UV rays. As you get a beautiful tan, this tanning lotion leaves your skin with a delicious cocoa scent that lingers on your skin for a while.

Pros

• A great outdoor and indoor tanning lotion
• The bronzer and accelerator helps to build a base tan
• Easy to apply and absorbs fast
• Works well on fair skin

Cons

• Some users don’t like the smell

Verdict

A super-hydrating lotion that uses herbal DNA to keep your skin moisturized and the natural bronzers for a quick darker tone. You can use it even on fair skin without worrying about skin irritation.

Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Lotion

Banana boat is a sunscreen lotion that will help you achieve a nice tan and contains a PowerStay technology SPF. It’s non-greasy which makes it feel comfortable when applying it on your skin and it doesn’t run. It’s formulated with a hypoallergenic formula so you don’t have to worry about it causing skin irritation. It’s sweat and water-resistant which means you can still wear it and go about your activities outdoors whether it’s a day on the beach or sports. 

It offers heavy-duty protection so you don’t need to worry about the damage caused by the sun on your skin or exposing yourself to too many rays as the lotion will protect you. Your skin will absorb the lotion quickly to give you a nice tan in the shortest time so you don’t have to be uncomfortable after applying it. It has a patented formula that protects your skin from sunburn and skin damage. It has a thick texture that may require a bit of rubbing and it’s fragrance-free.

Pros

• Effective at protecting your skin from sunburn
• Good for pale and sensitive skin
• Minimal white residue
• It’s not greasy

Cons

• Takes long to rub it on
• Stains your clothes

Verdict

If you’re active in various sports and outdoor activities, then this sunscreen lotion is best for you. It contains a powerful protection formula that will protect your skin from sunburn and skin damage. It’s also not greasy or irritating to the skin. And you don’t need to worry about sweating or touching the water since its sweat and water-resistant.

Australian gold spray gel sunscreen

Australian gold spray gel is a sunscreen that contains instant bronzers that work to give you a rich golden glow. The spray comes in a convenient pump that gives you maximum control as you spray as it quickly absorbs into your skin. It’s an outdoor tanning lotion that is water-resistant so you don’t have to worry about getting your body wet after applying it when you’re out on the beach. It has a bronze enhancement that ensures instant results as it tans your skin slowly.

It contains tea tree oil and Kakadu plum that are powerful antioxidants to protect your skin from free radicals. Olive fruit oil and sunflower seed oil will keep your skin deeply moisturized for a smooth, healthy, and hydrated skin. It has a unique fragrance of coconut, vanilla, and orange that will leave your skin feeling fresh and smelling good.

Pros

• It protects your skin from sunburn
• It works well on fair skin
• Gives you a glowing bronze tan
• Easy to spray

Cons

• The spray nozzle may not work
• May react with some skin types

Verdict

A sunscreen spray that contains SPF to protect your skin from sun damage and sunburn while working to give you a beautiful golden glow. It’s water-resistant so you can wear it and go about your activities without worrying about getting wet.

Hawaiian tropic dark tanning oil

Hawaiian tropic dark tanning oil contains no SPF but its natural ingredients give it the ability to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. It speeds up the tanning process to give you a nice golden brown color as the oil and natural ingredients keep your skin moisturized so that it stays evenly tanned and healthy. With the help of rich oils and a blend of exotic island botanicals, this tanning oil will leave your skin super hydrated with an incredible smell of coconut which smells amazing on your skin.

It’s formulated with rich oils, fruit extracts, passionflower extract, cocoa seed butter, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, and E to fight skin irritation from the sun and promote good skin health. This formula helps to soothe and pamper your skin while the coconut scent gives you a soft and sleek tropical feeling. The oil is silky and quickly absorbs into your skin.

Pros

• Will give you a deep, dark tan
• Your skin feels soft and silky
• Keeps your skin super moisturized

Cons

• The smell is offensive to some users
• Contains no SPF

Verdict

Although this tanning oil doesn’t contain SPF, it can still protect your skin from the sun to produce a nice golden tan that you will love. The blend of rich oils and natural ingredients all work together to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized while it accelerates your tanning process. You end up with a nice tan and an amazing scent on your skin.

Beachlife Coconut-Infused Intensifier Tanning Lotion

Beachlife is an indoor and outdoor tanning lotion that offers great results. It doesn’t contain any bronzing agent, but it will give you a strong, dark tan and still protect your tattoos if you have any from fading. It will keep your skin firm and well hydrated while keeping it nourished with the help of vitamin A so that it remains protected from sun damage.

Its main ingredients are coconut milk and coconut oil that moisturize and soften your skin while you bask in the sun. It also contains seaweed extract that helps to remove toxins from your body for a clean and clear skin after tanning. The hibiscus and passion fruit skin are darkening agents that speed up the tanning process while the BodyFit feature helps to reduce cellulite. The high levels of vitamin A and C ensure that your skin is well protected from free radical damage.

Pros

• Boosts your melanin production for a quick natural tan
• Leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturized
• It has tightening and tattoo color protection
• Doesn’t irritate your skin

Cons

• The scent can be overpowering

Verdict

A plain outdoor tanning lotion that contains no bronzers but still delivers a long-lasting tan while keeping your skin moisturized and soft. It’s also a great lotion if you have tattoos and still want a nice tan as it protects your tattoos from fading.

Hawaiian tropic silk hydration sunscreen

This silk hydration moisturizing sunscreen is a great outdoor tanning lotion if you’re looking to get dark fast. It offers an SPF of 12 and also contains ingredients that keep your skin hydrated. It has shea butter and silk protein that help in providing constant moisture to your skin. It has a broad UVA and UVB spectrum which means you’re fully protected while its lightweight feel ensures you don’t experience any discomfort when applying it.

The antioxidants in this sunscreen helps to darken your skin and remove toxins from your body. So your skin will be well-nourished for radiant and beautiful skin while the exotic botanicals pamper your skin with a nice tropical fragrance that doesn’t irritate.

Pros

• Protects your skin very well
• Has a nice smell
• Not greasy
• Works well on fair skin

Cons

• Can stain your hands and clothes

Verdict

A moisturizing sunscreen that fully protects your skin, gives you a quick dark tan and keeps your skin moisturized all day.

What are Outdoor Tanning Lotions?

Outdoor tanning lotions are products that are designed to enhance your tanning results if you opt to use the sun to tan. They can either be in the form of an oil or a spray, with different purposes like bronzers, accelerators, intensifiers, etc. Most of the lotions are a combination of these different types and depending on your skin type, you can then decide which tanning product best suits you.

An outdoor tanning lotion contains SPF which makes it safer to use when you’re outside basking in the sun. Each tanning lotion has its formula that is meant to work differently, but these lotions contain some common ingredients like melanin, tea tee oil, copper, L-tyrosine, and green tea. Outdoor tanning lotion can help you achieve a tan much faster, but you have to be careful to choose the safest one with a higher SPF.

Why do you Need to use a Tanning Lotion?

If your skin tends to dry out quickly, you need a tanning lotion that will keep your skin properly moisturized throughout the day. If you want to get a glowing tan but you’re worried about getting sunburnt, a tanning lotion will not only protect you from sunburns(if it has SPF)it will also speed up the tanning process. This will help you to achieve a much darker tan in a shorter time so that you don’t have to expose your skin to harmful UV rays. After tanning, your skin may be left dry and flaky which isn’t very appealing. A tanning lotion will prevent dryness and flaking skin to give you a smooth and even finish with a beautiful glow.

Types of outdoor tanning lotions

Accelerators

Accelerators are responsible for stimulating the production of melanin in your skin cells. These lotions contain moisturizers and nutrients to keep your skin healthy which helps to boost it during the tanning process. These are the best lotions to use if you want to achieve a base tan. The more melanin your skin produces, the darker your skin color will be. Don’t forget to use sunscreen when using accelerators because most don’t contain SPF.

Intensifiers

Also called a maximizer, is very similar to an accelerator lotion since they both work the same way during the tanning process. However, an intensifier contains extra ingredients that help to kick your tan into overdrive. You can use these lotions if you have reached a tanning plateau to help boost the color. However, it’s best to use these lotions if you already have a base tan to build on.

Bronzers

Bronzers are very popular and help to darken the color of your skin. There are two types of bronzers in tanning lotion, natural bronzers, and DHA bronzers.

Natural bronzers: These are got from herbal and plant extracts and they don’t contain any chemicals or DHA. Most bronzers are formulated with organic ingredients and other extracts that help to boost melanin production and increase oxygen circulation in the epidermis to assist in the tanning process. They also help to keep your skin moisturized for an evened color that has no streaks or patches. Natural bronzers can last 3-4 days on your skin before you need to reapply.

DHA bronzers: Also called self-tanners, DHA is a carb found in the dead layer of your skin that reacts with amino acids to form brownish melaninoids. This constitutes a fake tan since a normal tan is achieved from the production of melanin in your body. Once you apply a DHA bronzer, it takes 2-4 hours for you to see any results, then your skin may continue to darken even after 72 hours after application. And since DHA will only react with dead skin cells, the fake tan may last for 7-10 days before you need to reapply again.

Benefits of Using the Best Outdoor Tanning Lotion

Supple and soft skin

The best outdoor tanning lotion will soften and moisturize your skin to keep it looking young. Depending on the formula in the lotion, some will even increase your skin’s elasticity and help reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Quick and lasting results

Something else that you will benefit from outdoor tanning lotions is they speed up the tanning process to give you optimum results in the shortest time possible even when you’re using SPF. Even after giving you quick results, you’re assured that the tan will last longer than you expected. This is because the lotion moisturizes your skin to achieve a deeper tan which helps your skin to hold the color for longer.

Hydrated, healthy-looking skin

Tanning usually dries and damages your skin that is why you need a tanning lotion to help replenish lost moisture in your skin to give it a healthy look. This means you won’t need to worry about your skin getting damaged when tanning because it will be well hydrated which also improves its overall health.

Minimal odor

Naturally, some bacteria resides on your skin and when the sun heats your skin during tanning it also heats the bacteria which causes your skin to emit a bad smell. Using an outdoor tanning lotion that contains anti-bacterial properties will help take care of the smell.

SPF component

A tanning lotion that contains SPF will help protect your skin from the harmful UV rays and also prevent damage on your skin caused by too much sun exposure. SPF also helps to reduce your risk of getting sunburnt when you’re outside.

Less greasy and oily

You will love a tanning lotion that doesn’t leave your skin feeling oily or greasy after application. This will make it easier to apply to give you a healthy dark tan with regular use.

How to Choose the Best Outdoor Tanning Lotion

Your skin type

Before anything else, you need you to find out your skin type and this will help you determine the type of outdoor tanning lotion perfect for you. If you have sensitive or pale skin, you need a lotion that has a high SPF and makes sure it contains natural ingredients to avoid damaging and irritating your skin.

Where you’ll be using it

The amount of time you plan to spend in the sun will help you choose the right tanning lotion to wear. Whether you plan on spending the day at the beach or taking a walk in the park, all these are factors that you need to consider to help you determine the perfect product to use.

Preferred results

The level of you want to attain will also be a determining factor in the king of the outdoor tanning lotion you use. You may desire to attain a fair skin while others may want a darker tan within a short time. If you’re going for a quick deep tan, a lotion that will accelerate the tanning process will work best for you.

The price

Another important factor is the price of the lotion. Some people will prefer an affordable product that they can comfortably buy while others just want a lotion that will give them quick results without worrying about how much it costs. It all depends on how much you’re willing to pay to get the best outdoor tanning lotion.

Other benefits

You also need to decide if you want a tanning lotion that will provide your skin with other benefits besides tanning. For example, do you want a lotion that moisturizes and protects your skin or one that repairs damaged skin? The good news is most tanning lotions today offer more than just tanning. Also, look for a tanning lotion that contains natural ingredients to help the lotion blend well with your skin which prevents it from becoming greasy and sticky.

Tips for proper outdoor tanning

Always exfoliate

Exfoliating your skin before tanning is important as it helps to remove dry and dead skin that will block the sun’s rays.

Apply the lotion liberally.

Apply a good amount of the lotion to ensure that you cover everywhere and to give you an even tan.

Protect your eyes

You can wear glasses or goggles during the tanning process to protect your eyes from the bright light from the sun to prevent damaging your eyes.

Set a specific time to be outside

Set a limit to the amount of time you spend outdoors, especially if you’re still new at using tanning lotions. Tan for 10-20 minutes on each side to help you get a base tan without burning your skin, then keep adding more time as the tan gets darker.

Avoid wearing makeup or perfume

You won’t be able to tan evenly if you’re wearing makeup on your face. Your face will end up having a lighter color than the rest of your body. The perfume scent will interfere with the tanning lotion which may attract insects. It also makes your skin sensitive to light which can cause burns, rashes, or spots.

Don’t forget to moisturize

 This point is very important if you don’t want to have dry and flaking skin after tanning. Use a tanning cream to moisturize your skin to improve the appearance of your tan and help it to last longer.

Final thoughts

Getting the best outdoor tanning lotion like Coconut kisses golden tanning lotion by Ed Hardy will ensure that you enjoy your time in the sun without having to worry about sunburns and skin damage.