Should You Use Tanning Lotion In A Tanning Bed? 

Last Updated on April 21, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Have you ever stepped into a tanning salon and stared blankly at the wall of tanning lotions, wondering, “Should you really use tanning lotion in a tanning bed?”

Honestly, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense at first. Why would you slather your entire body in lotion just to have a tanning session and go lie down in a machine that’s literally built to tan you? You’re paying for the UV rays, shouldn’t they do all the work? 

Let’s break down the pros and cons, does and don’ts… But first, a little disclaimer:

What Exactly Is A Tanning Bed Lotion?

Tanning bed lotions (also called indoor tanning lotions) are products designed to make you tan faster when you’re exposed to UVA rays in a tanning bed. while sunscreens block UV rays to prevent tanning (and damage), these lotions encourage melanin production (aka: what makes your skin darker) while also keeping your skin hydrated and nourished.

Here are the main ingredients they contain:

1. Melanin-Stimulating Ingredients

These ingredients are designed to accelerate the tanning process by promoting the production of melanin (your body’s natural pigment responsible for skin color and UV protection):

• L-Tyrosine: This is the amino acid your body needs to make melanin (the pigment that makes you tan). Normally your skin gets it from your bloodstream, but some tanning lotions add it on top hoping it gives your skin more raw material to work with. It gets converted into melanin through a chain reaction involving an enzyme called tyrosinase. Is topical tyrosine proven to work? Not really. But it’s biochemically logical, which is why it keeps showing up in formulas.
• Copper Peptides (GHK-Cu): Copper is like the battery that powers tyrosinase, the enzyme that turns tyrosine into pigment. These peptides help deliver copper directly into your skin, which may help your melanin production run more efficiently. Bonus: they also support healing and help calm inflammation, which comes in handy after UV exposure.
• Unipertan®: A mix of tyrosine, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and other helpers that supposedly speeds up tanning by fuelling the whole melanin-making system. The idea is solid, but the data mostly comes from manufacturers, not peer-reviewed studies. Still, it’s common in higher-end lotions for a reason.

Related: Are Copper Peptides Better Than Retinoids?

2. Moisturizers 

UV radiation disrupts the stratum corneum (the outermost skin layer), leading to trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). These ingredients help retain moisture and protect barrier integrity.

• Glycerin: A powerhouse humectant. It grabs water and holds it in your skin, which is key because UV exposure strips moisture fast. Without something like glycerin, you’ll end up flaky, dry, and uneven post-tan. 
• Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5): Once it sinks into your skin, it turns into pantothenic acid, which helps repair the skin barrier and boost hydration. It’s also anti-inflammatory, so it can calm your skin after it’s been blasted with UV light.
• Shea Butter: This is your skin’s armor. It’s loaded with fatty acids that seal in moisture and prevent water loss. Studies show it actually helps strengthen your skin barrier and reduce irritation.
• Hemp Seed Oil: Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, this one helps replenish your skin’s natural lipids and soothe inflammation. Great for anyone whose skin gets red or tight after tanning.
• Aloe Vera: You know this one. Classic after-sun ingredient. But in lotions, it’s not just for cooling. It contains polysaccharides and glycoproteins that help your skin repair itself, reduce redness, and retain moisture.

Related: Can Aloe Vera Treat Sunburns & Acne?

3. Bronzers 

These provide tanning through either staining the skin or chemically reacting with amino acids in the stratum corneum.

• DHA (Dihydroxyacetone): This is the stuff in self-tanners that reacts with dead skin cells (specifically amino acids in the stratum corneum) to create a brown color. It’s called the Maillard reaction, and it works without any UV exposure. The color lasts about 5–7 days. Safe for external use, FDA approved.
• Erythrulose: Slower than DHA, but gives a more natural fade and helps avoid patchy or streaky results. It reacts with your skin in a similar way and is often paired with DHA in better formulas.
• Caramel / Walnut Shell Extract / Henna: These are surface-level colorants. They stain the outer layer of your skin for immediate color. They don’t affect melanin or stick around for long, but they give a quick visual boost while your UV tan develops underneath.

Related: How Do Self-Tanners Work?

4. Tingle Agents

These create a flushing or “tingling” sensation by stimulating blood flow, which may increase oxygen supply to melanocytes.

• Methyl Nicotinate: This opens up blood vessels near the surface of your skin, causing that hot, tingling feeling. More blood flow = more oxygen = theoretically more melanin activity. There’s no strong clinical proof it deepens your tan, but it definitely gives that intense “tingle” effect. Not for sensitive skin.
• Capsaicin: Yep, same stuff that makes chili peppers hot. It activates warmth receptors in your skin and increases circulation. Again, no hard proof it helps tanning, but it sure feels like something’s happening.
• Vanillyl Butyl Ether: A gentler alternative to capsaicin. Warms the skin without the full burn. Same idea: increased blood flow, maybe more melanin activity, but results vary from person to person.

5. Antioxidants 

UV exposure causes oxidative stress, damaging DNA and cellular structures via reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ingredients help mop up that damage.

• Vitamin E (Tocopherol): A fat-soluble antioxidant that protects your skin’s cell membranes from UV damage. It also helps replenish what your skin loses during sun exposure and speeds up recovery. 
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Water-soluble, brightening, and great at fighting free radicals caused by UV light. It boosts collagen production and enhances the effects of vitamin E when used together. L-Ascorbic Acid is the most effective for a Vitamin C, but it breaks down fast. 
• Green Tea Extract (EGCG): Contains potent antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect skin cells from UV-induced damage. Clinical studies show it can reduce redness and even prevent some long-term sun damage.
• Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone): Supports your skin’s mitochondria (the energy producers) and helps repair oxidative damage. It also improves firmness and elasticity over time, which makes it a solid anti-aging add-on.
• Allantoin: Calms irritation, supports cell turnover, and keeps your skin soft after UV exposure. 

Summary Table (For Quick Reference):

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The Benefits Of Using A Tanning Lotion In A Tanning Bed

This is where science meets skin logic. Tanning (indoors or outdoors) dries the heck out of your skin. That’s because UV light (especially UVA, which is mostly what tanning beds emit) penetrates deep into your skin, damaging collagen and dehydrating it from the inside out.

Using a tanning bed without lotion is basically like flat-ironing your hair without heat protectant. Sure, you can, but your hair’s going to end up crispy, dull, and mad at you. Same with your skin.

Here’s what tanning lotion does for you and how it improves your tanning bed experience:

1. Helps Your Skin Tan Better And Faster

Moist skin tans more efficiently. Dry skin reflects UV light, while hydrated skin absorbs it more evenly – meaning you get a more even, longer-lasting, and darker tan. Some lotions also include tyrosine (an amino acid that boosts melanin production), DHA (a sunless tanning agent), or natural bronzers to speed up results.

2. Keeps Your Skin Soft And Prevents Peeling

The #1 reason people’s tans fade fast? Dry, flaky skin. Tanning lotions are packed with moisturizers like shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe to help your skin stay plump, supple, and not peeling two days later.

3. Protects Against Damage (Seriously)

Some lotions contain antioxidants like vitamin E, C, or green tea extract to help fight off free radical damage from UV exposure. That won’t stop the damage completely (UV rays are still UV rays), but it’s like giving your skin a little bit of armor.

Can I Just Use My Regular Body Lotion?

Nope. Here’s why:  Regular lotions usually contain SPF, fragrances, essential oils, or alcohols that aren’t designed for use under UV lights. They can:

• Reflect UV light, making your tan uneven or slower
• Damage the acrylic surface of tanning beds (yes, salons hate this)
• Cause skin irritation when exposed to UV radiation
• Create a weird, greasy film on your skin

So, even if your favorite self-tanning lotion smells like a tropical vacation, save it for after your tanning bed session. What you want is a non-SPF, indoor-specific tanning lotion that’s made to work with the UV rays, not against them.

But Aren’t Tanning Beds Bad For You In General?

Yep. Let’s not sugarcoat it. Tanning beds don’t give you a harmless “glow” – they trigger cellular damage, and your tan is the visible proof of it. Tanning beds use concentrated UVA radiation, which penetrates deeper than natural sunlight and accelerates skin aging, DNA mutations, and the breakdown of your skin’s structure. Here’s what actually happens to your skin in a tanning bed, step by step:

Stage 1: You Lie Down, UVA Hits Hard

The moment the lights turn on, those rays dive straight into the deeper layers of your skin, past the surface, into the part where your collagen, elastin, and blood vessels live. You won’t feel it, but it’s already starting to age your skin from the inside. This is where all those sneaky little free radicals (ROS) get created, the ones that wreck your collagen and mess with your DNA.

Stage 2: Your Skin Goes “Uh Oh” And Starts Making Melanin

Melanin is your body’s built-in shield. It’s what makes you tan, but it’s not there for aesthetics. Your skin’s pumping it out to protect you from more damage. That bronze glow? It’s your skin throwing up defense walls, not showing off how healthy it is.

Stage 3: Your Skin Tries To Toughen Up

Keep tanning often enough and your skin starts to thicken. Literally. The outer layer bulks up to act like armor, which sounds kind of cool until your skin feels rough, dry, and patchy. UV also strips away the oils that keep your skin soft, so without serious hydration, you’re left with that tight, flaky feeling no one wants.

Stage 4: The Long Game Hits

The more you tan, the faster your skin loses elasticity. Think sagging, fine lines, sun spots, uneven tone. Oh, and let’s not forget the big one: all that repeated DNA damage adds up, and so does your risk of skin cancer. And not just one kind – basal cell, squamous, even melanoma if you keep pushing it.

That being said: if you’re already choosing to use a tanning bed (and you’re an adult who can make informed decisions), using a lotion is actually safer than going without. It protects your skin barrier, reduces dryness, and can reduce the oxidative stress on your skin with antioxidants.

It’s NOT protection in the way sunscreen is, but it’s better than nothing.

How to Protect Your Skin (If You’re Tanning Anyway)

f you’re stepping into a tanning bed, here’s how to at least make it less damaging:

• Use a lotion that actually does something: Not just one that smells like piña colada. Look for ingredients like vitamin E, vitamin C, green tea, or CoQ10. These fight off the damage UVA causes while your skin’s busy trying to protect itself.
• Hydrate like you mean it: Dry skin burns, flakes, and fades faster. Use a lotion with stuff like glycerin, panthenol, shea butter, or hemp seed oil to keep your skin soft and your tan from turning patchy.
• Don’t tan every other day like it’s your job: Your skin has a limit. Once melanin production maxes out, more exposure doesn’t give you a deeper tan. It just breaks your skin down faster.
• Wear the damn goggles: Closing your eyes isn’t enough. Tanning without eye protection can mess up your vision permanently – and no tan is worth losing your sight over.
• Moisturize after. No exceptions: Give your skin a few hours to process the tan, then slather on something rich. Bonus points if it has ceramides or panthenol to help repair your barrier and keep your skin from peeling off in sheets.
• Get your skin looked at: If you tan regularly, make it a habit to see a derm once a year. Catching weird moles or skin changes early makes a huge difference – and no, Google can’t diagnose them for you.

What’s The Difference Between A Tingle, Bronzer, And Accelerator?

If you’ve ever picked up a tanning lotion and seen words like “tingle” or “hot action” on the label, here’s the breakdown of the different types:

• Tingle Lotions: These increase blood flow to the skin, which helps boost oxygen and melanin production. That results in a deeper, dark tan faster. But fair warning: they sting. Your skin might turn red and feel warm for a while. Not for beginners.
• Bronzers: These contain DHA (like in self-tanners) or natural colorants that give you instant color before your UV tan even develops. Good for immediate glow, but wash your hands after applying or risk Oompa Loompa palms.
• Accelerators (or intensifiers): These are the beginner-friendly options. They hydrate, nourish, and help you tan faster without any tingling or bronzing. A safe bet for your first few sessions.

What If I’m Pale AF And New To Tanning?

Do not go into a tanning bed. I repeat, do not go into a tanning bed. It’s NOT a good idea. Your skin is way too delicate for it.

And if you won’t listen to reason, at least do this: start slow. Use an accelerator lotion, go for short sessions (like 5–7 minutes), and skip anything with “tingle” until you know how your skin reacts. Also, moisturize like your life depends on it, before and after your sessions.

Pro tip: look for lotions with aloe, coconut oil, or hemp seed oil. These tend to be gentler and better for sensitive or fair skin.

Should I Use Tanning Lotion Every Time I Tan?

Yes. Every. Single. Time. Even if you’re just doing a 5-minute maintenance session, your skin still gets exposed to UV light, which means it still needs hydration and protection. Skipping lotion even once can leave your skin dry, patchy, and more prone to irritation or early fading.

How to Use Tanning Lotion in a Tanning Bed (One Bullet Per Step)

1. Exfoliate earlier in the day: Use a body scrub or mitt to remove dead skin so the lotion can absorb properly and your tan develops evenly. Don’t exfoliate right before tanning – give your skin a few hours to settle, especially if you’re using a tingle or bronzer. Smooth skin = longer-lasting, streak-free results.
2. Start with clean, product-free skin: Skip regular body lotion, deodorant, or perfume. These can block UV rays or mess with how the tanning lotion performs. Your skin should be dry, clean, and ready to absorb the product, not layered with stuff that interferes.
3. Apply your tanning lotion generously and evenly: Cover all areas you want tanned, and take your time blending around tricky spots like elbows, ankles, and knees. If your lotion has bronzers, wash your hands after so you don’t end up with stained palms. Wait 1–2 minutes before getting in the bed so the lotion has time to absorb.
4. Tan with protective goggles and stick to your timing: Once the lotion’s absorbed, put on your eye protection and start your session. Don’t go over the recommended time, especially if you’re new or using a strong lotion. Tanning longer doesn’t mean a better tan; it just means more damage.
5. Skip the shower for a few hours and moisturize later: Give bronzers and melanin boosters at least 2–4 hours to develop before rinsing. After that, moisturize well to keep your skin hydrated and your tan intact. For best results, use a tan extender lotion daily.

Should I Still Moisturize After Using A Tanning Bed?

Absolutely. Tanning doesn’t stop the second you step out of the bed. Your skin keeps reacting to the UV exposure for hours afterward. That means:

• Keep your skin moisturized to lock in the tan and that sun-kissed glow
• Avoid hot showers right after (they dry you out)
• Use a tan extender lotion if you want your perfect tan to last longer

Tan extenders usually have some DHA and extra hydration to keep you looking golden for longer. Just make sure they’re alcohol-free and sulfate-free.

Okay, So Which Lotion Should I Actually Buy?

That depends on your goals and skin type. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

What Are The Best Tanning Bed Lotions?

• Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses (£31.99): This one’s made for anyone who wants a natural-looking tan without relying on bronzers. It’s packed with coconut milk, coconut oil, and cocoa butter to deeply hydrate and protect your skin while tyrosine supports melanin production for gradual, even color. Bonus: it helps keep tattoos looking fresh, making it a great everyday lotion for consistent tanners. Available at Amazon
• Australian Gold Rapid Tanning Intensifier (£23.99): Perfect if you want to build your base tan quickly without using DHA or instant bronzers. It preps your skin with Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, and Tea Tree Oil – ingredients that soothe, hydrate, and keep your skin barrier happy while you tan. A great pick for beginners or anyone who wants color without commitment. Available at Amazon and Superdrug

The Bottom Line: Is It Worth Using Tanning Lotion In A Tanning Bed

If you’re going to tan indoors, tanning lotion is 100% worth it. You’ll get better, deeper, longer-lasting results, your skin will thank you for the hydration, and you’ll reduce some of the oxidative stress caused by UV rays. Just make sure you’re choosing a salon-approved, indoor-specific formula (no outdoor tanning lotions!) – and don’t be tempted by TikTok DIY hacks that involve cooking oil or expired self-tanner. Please. And remember: no matter how much lotion you use, moderation is key. Your skin is with you for life. Treat it like it matters.

Bonus tip: If you’re using a tanning bed regularly, get your skin checked annually by a dermatologist. It’s just smart.