Indoor Tanning Lotion | Self Tanning Products

Some of the self tanning products I’ve been looking at, as we get ready for summertime here in South Africa, are the indoor tanning lotion, the tan accelerator and the self tanning lotion.

We hear such a lot nowadays about being careful in the sun, so as not to get skin cancer. Yet, we all need the sun for the Vitamin D.  So how can we be balanced so that we get just the right amount so that we don’t get skin cancer and at the same time we get the Vitamin D that we need?

You might ask - why do we need Vitamin D? Well if you recall at school [and for some like me that was a long time ago] we learnt in health or hygiene – I’m not sure what they call it nowadays (maybe Biology) - that we need it for the absorption of calcium into our bodies so that we can have healthy bones. For most of us it’s easier to go to the chemist and buy some calcium supplement which we hope does the trick.  But if you think about it – all we need is about twenty to thirty minutes of good old sunshine on our bodies about twice or three times a week – and wait for it – WITHOUT sunscreen!  They say too that if we take our glasses off or take our contact lenses out, close our eyes and at the same time as the warm rays of the sun are infusing Vitamin D into our bodies, they can rejuvenate our poor old eyes too!  Mmmm, sounds good to me… and it’s free…

On the other hand, as mentioned at the outset if we want more than Vitamin D to build healthy bones – perhaps a lovely all over tan so that we can unselfconsciously bare our scantily clad bodies to all in summer – then we definitely need more than thirty minutes of careful sunning twice a week!

What we need are self tanning products such as a self tanning lotion or a tan accelerator.  A self tanning lotion is any one of the many creams and lotions available which gives a glowing golden tan in just twenty minutes – no sun required!  My experience with self tanning lotions and sunless tanning many years ago was that they smelt awful and made my legs look orange.  Well self tanning products and tan accelerators have come a long way, and this summer I’m definitely going to give it another try.

Of course, it’s not enough to just wear your self tanner.  You have to still apply sunscreen lotion when you go out into the sun because the self tanner on its own has none or very little SPF (sun protection factor).  

There’s just one small problem – self tanning products are usually so expensive.  However I heard on the radio the other day, that if you shop at the sidewalk craft tables you’ll find sunscreens and self tanners at hugely reduced prices – and they’re OK.  

So I’ll investigate that option and do all the necessary preparation before actually applying the sunless tanning lotion to my legs – maybe this time I’ll be successful, who knows?

Indoor Tanning Lotion

An increasing amount of people (especially women) are looking at, or are using an indoor tanning lotion for a way to get a tan.  Tanning indoors holds an appeal because people want to tan without the risk of being exposed to damaging sunlight that can cause burning and even skin cancer.

Indoor tanning lotions are different to suntan lotions or sunblock.  They have no sun protection factor (SPF).  It is up to those who use these tanning lotions to decide if they want to use these lotions when outside and exposed to sunlight.  The fact is that instead of providing protection to the skin from UV (ultraviolet) rays, indoor tanning lotions actually increase the effect of ultraviolet light rather than blocking it, and are meant to be used indoors, as their name suggests, on properly timed tanning beds.  Spending long periods of time outside after application can cause uncontrolled exposure and damage the skin.

As well as using them for self tanning, many people use these lotions to combat the dehydration of their skin, and so the moisturising effects that they contain enable many people who tan often, to use these lotions and as an effective moisturiser after tanning.

Some of these indoor tanning lotions produce a slight tingling sensation on the skin once they have been applied.  This is caused by chemicals within the lotion that stimulate blood flow to the applied area.  The blood flows to the skin faster than is usual and this increase in blood flow brings about an increase in melanin (the chemical which provides your skin’s colour).  The more melanin that is exposed to the sunbed UV the more of a tan one gets.  Different people have different reactions to the tingle with some reporting no tingle at all.

For those who do not enjoy the tingle or are worried and uncomfortable with it, there are those lotions that actually contain melanin and do not cause the tingling effect.  Other additives in are natural oils such as primrose oil, which help with the moisture retention of the skin.  This aids with preventing dehydration.  The chemical DHA (dihydroxyacetone) is also found in most lotions and is one ingredient that enables the indoor tanning lotion to give your skin that wonderful tanned, bronze look.