The tanning season is very much awaited by the people who want to get a beautiful, glowing, natural tan. Usually, you need help with that from the best tanning oil on the market. That’s exactly what we’re going to look for in the following. There are a lot of tanning oil options on the market right now, so many that choosing the perfect one for your skin can prove a daunting task.
You need to find the best oil for tanning that offers hydration and moisturizing, keeps the skin healthy, and also helps you achieve that much craved-for summer glow. Moreover, some SPF protection against the damaging UV rays does not sound bad either. We know how important it is to keep your skin protected, avoid any kind of sunburn. That should come as a priority. Never go too wild with tanning! Anyways, let’s get down to business! The top tanning oils and our reviews are in the following.
Table of Contents
Comparison of 7 Best Tanning Oils in 2020
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Australian Gold Bronzing Intensifier |
| Check Price |
 | Maui Babe Tanning & Browning Lotion |
| Check Price |
 | Fractionated Coconut Oil by Sky Organics |
| Check Price |
 | Sun Bum Moisturizing Tanning Oil |
| Check Price |
 | Banana Boat Deep Tanning Dry Oil |
| Check Price |
 | Panama Jack Amplifier Suntan Oil |
| Check Price |
 | Isabella’s Clearly GOLD |
| Check Price |
Top 7 Best Tanning Oil Reviews in 2020
In our best tanning oil reviews, we’ve taken into consideration a couple of important features. First and foremost, the ingredients. They are very important. The more natural a tanning oil is, the better. Usually, parabens and other synthetic components are to be avoided.
Secondly, do not forget about UV protection! Although a tanning oil’s purpose is to help you get that beautiful tan color, it is also important that it protects your skin from the dangerous UV rays. Moreover, the moisturizing and hydration features are also anice-to-have for any tanning oil. Let’s see!
1. Australian Gold Bronzing Intensifier Dry Oil Spray
This Australian Gold Bronzing Intensifier might be on everyone’s lips if you ask them about the best outdoor tanning oil on the market at the moment. It advertises an instant bronzing effect, and that might not be that far away from the truth.
It contains effective antioxidants thanks to its tea tree oil extracts, moisturizing ingredients like Aloe Vera and some melanin, caramel, walnut shell and carrot seed oil for that natural-looking tanning effect that we’re all after in the summer, right? Moreover, this best tanning oil is also packed with essential vitamins to help your skin keep its healthy, luminous glow.
The overall mix of ingredients it contains makes it good for almost all skin types. However, as with any oil applied to the skin, it is better to test it first on a little spot on your hand and see how your skin reacts to it. The smell is an interesting blend of vanilla, orange, and coconut, and the fact that it comes as a spray is also very convenient.
- It has antioxidant properties
- Quick tanning effect
- By the look of it, it should smell amazing
- It might feel a little bit too greasy and oily
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2. Maui Babe Tanning and Browning Lotion
If you do not tan easily, and you’re looking for the best oil for tanning out there, then this Maui Baber Tanning and Browning Lotion might do the trick for you. It can maintain your natural moisture balance of the skin, while also making sure your tan is even and luminous.
It’s work well for all skin types and tones; it can soothe even the most sensitive and fairest of skin. Still, do not throw caution to the wind and test it first!
They say this lotion is made using a mysterious Hawaiian formula that contains Kona coffee plant extract, and Aloe Vera, for a natural dark tan. It is said to work wonders for people who usually don’t tan too easily. So, if you’re on the other side of the tanning spectrum, and you don’t have troubles tanning, you might want to consider using it to a minimum.
- It gives a nice natural glow to your skin
- It works very well on all types of skin, even the fairest, translucent types
- Quick, and effective
- It is not a SPF sunscreen (Sun protection factor – the measure of how well a sunscreen will protect your skin from UVB rays)
3. Fractionated Coconut Oil by Sky Organics
This Fractioned Coconut Oil from Sky Organics has some of the best tanning oil reviews out there. However, its strong point is not exactly tanning, but mostly hydration. It’s known for revitalizing the skin. It contains natural ingredients that protect and repair the skin from too much exposure to the sun rays.
It has lauric acid in its composition, which is a powerful coconut oil extract acting as a very efficient antimicrobial agent able to fight off all sorts of dangerous pathogens, such as fungus or bacteria.
You can use this Sky Organics product both as tanning oil, and as a mask for your skin, and even as a hair conditioner. So, it’s a multi-purpose hydration lotion for the summertime. This is probably one of the main reasons why it’s got such good overall reviews.
- Can be used both as a tanning oil and massage oil
- It is surprisingly non-greasy
- It boasts 100% natural ingredients
- It might not prove as effective as the other tanning oils on the list
4. Sun Bum Moisturizing Tanning Oil
Moving on to the best-rated tanning oil you could try in the summer, we’ve got this Sun Bum Moisturizing Tanning lotion which promises the best tanning experience at the beach.
It features a fair SPF 15-grade protection, which might not prove enough for the people with the most sensitive skin out there. However, the lotion has got good nourishing properties, and they say it can suit even the pale skin types. This best tanning oil is water-resistant.
You can bathe for 80 minutes in the water, and it will still protect you and help you tan effectively. It is dermatologist-tested, and they advertise it as chemicals-free. As for ingredients, it contains Aloe Vera, green tea extract, argan, avocado, and marula essential oils. Not bad. Not bad at all.
- It protects the skin from burns, while also offering an effective tan
- It smells nice
- Comes in the form of a spray, which makes it easy to apply
- Hypoallergenic
- No parabens or other synthetics
- There have been accounts of drying the skin
- It could be too greasy for some
- They say the choke easily and it can get annoyingly difficult to use
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5. Banana Boat Deep Tanning Dry Oil
We continue our list of top best tanning oils with this Banana Boat Sunscreen. It is not a sunscreen oil you can rely on at all times, though. It is perfect for those early mornings at the beach when the sun is not too strong. The low SPF 4 value can manage that, but don’t push it.
It is recommended you apply the oil 15 minutes before you go out into the sun. One good advantage of this product is its impermeability. It means you can have fun in the water without worrying that the tan oil might get washed away.
It’s not named Banana Boat for no reason. It contains banana extracts, alongside coconut, carrot and grapeseed oil that help moisturize and nourish the skin. It can also help the skin recover from sun damage. (but it’s better if there’s not any) The fragrance is quite pleasant, with notes of coconut and grapeseed oil.
- Very good for dry skin
- Effective and quick
- It leaves your skin moist, and not dry
- Doesn’t attack the color on the fabric of your clothing
- It might not be too good for sensitive skin
6. Panama Jack Amplifier Suntan Oil
Another important oil for sun tanning on our list is this product by Panama Jack. It is a quite light formula oil, which does not have any SPF protection. However, it ensures your skin will get a nice, natural glowing tan.
It contains nut extracts and a nice tropical fragrance which will make you feel like you’re on a beach, in paradise, surrounded by palm trees and margaritas, even though you’re hanging out at the pool. However, if you are going to stay outside for prolonged hours, you might need to apply it more than once.
It does not offer SPF protection against the damaging UV rays, so, be cautious! The oil also contains Aloe Vera for better moisturizing of the skin, helping you build up a healthy tan. The pump makes it easy to spray it all over the body. They all say the fragrance is amazing, and that overall, this is a light, best tanning oil for summer times.
- The sweet tropical smell
- It comes as an easy-to-use spray for even spread
- It does not have SPF protection
7. Isabella’s Clearly GOLD Tanning Oil
If you’re looking for a good dry tanning oil, may we avert your searches to this product, from Isabella’s Clearly? It is advertised as a tanning oil for people who want to avoid applying any sorts of chemicals onto their skin. It’s true, synthetic ingredients in lotions can lead to premature aging of the skin or can simply leave you with dry, less elastic skin.
However, let’s not dwell on these negative, and move forward to Isabella’s Clearly Gold Natural Tanning Oil. This product can absorb into your skin quite fast and does not leave much greasiness behind. It is perfect, especially for people who hate greasy tanning oils. We know you’re there.
Getting oily lotion on your clothes is not nice either. We know that too. Anyways, this tanning oil is manufactured in the United States, contains a blend of grapeseed oil, coconut, and olive oil, together with carrots for soft, healthy skin. So, overall, it looks like a great option of tanning oil.
- It’s natural and handcrafted
- It gives the skin a beautiful, natural glow
- Moisturizes and hydrates the skin
- It does not offer UV protection; no SPF
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do Tanning Oils Work?
Tanning is the result of the melanocytes (skin cells) producing more melanin. TheUVA rays usually penetrate the lower layers of the epidermis and “dictate” to the melanocytes to produce more brown pigment, and voila, we’re tanned. So, proper tanning oil will make this natural process quicker. They attract and focus UV rays onto the skin, helping accelerate the production of melanin.
How Are Tanning Oils Different From Sunscreens?
Tanning oils will help you get a tan quicker and better than those products labeled sunscreens. The tanning oil has a different consistency, their texture is also different, they are a bit greasier and creamier.
They have low to none SPF protection. SPF is a way of measuring how much solar energy can produce sunburn on protected skin relative to the amount necessary to sunburn unprotected skin. It is defined by law, and every sunscreen has got value, usually from 4 to 70 or so.
There are some tanning oils, as you have seen in our reviews, that does not have any SPF protection whatsoever. They might offer a quicker and better tan than all the others, but they also scream “Caution!”. Do not expose your skin too much in the sun wearing a tanning oil with no SPF!
Should I Use Sunscreen Together With Tanning Oil?
For caution reasons, yes, please do! You can lather some sunscreen onto the skin at first. After it dries, you can also add tanning oil. This way you make sure you also have an underlying protective cover on your skin. Tanning is beautiful, but safety should come first. Frequent sunburns are not good in the long-term. So, it’s better to be cautious than burnt.
The Best Tanning Oil Should Be a Combination of Healthy and Glow
Yep, that’s what you should have in mind from the beginning. Our skin is the largest organ in our body and helps us in numerous accounts throughout our lives. It helps us tell when something is cold or hot, it helps regulate our body temperature and protects all our muscles, bones, and internal organs.
I’m not sure if you’ve realized so far, but our skin is the one that protects us the most against any sort of infection or disease. It’s our protective coat, and it needs our utmost attention in this regard. It is only natural to want a glowing, tanned skin.
Yes, but also make sure the products you use are made of natural ingredients, moisturize and hydrate your skin and always keep out of the burning zone, that moment when staying in the sun gets too much for your skin. With the best tanning oil and sunscreen, you’re one step closer to a perfect summer of glow and health. Enjoy!
