You no longer have to worry about tan lines when tanning out in the sun, and no, we don’t mean that you can only accomplish this by going to a nude beach.
There are now tan-through swimwear options that allow you to sit out in the sun with your swimwear while developing a tan all over. These help you tan without tan lines or pale spots, and you can still look great in your swimwear!
These work through a revolutionized fabric which allows UV rays to pass through it, almost as if the material wasn’t there.
So, what is the best tan-through swimwear? The best tan-through swimwear will give you the coverage that you want when out at the beach or by the pool, but they will still allow you to tan without causing tan lines.
You might not have heard of tan-through swimwear before, so get ready for it to change your tanning game! Keep reading to find out all you need to know on tan-through swimwear, how to choose the right one for you, and the best options on the market right now!
How To Choose The Best Tan-Through Swimwear
You need to put some thought into choosing the right tan-through swimwear, to make sure that it is the best option for you!
Here are the things you need to consider when picking out the best tan-through swimwear:
Type Of Swimwear
Tan-through swimwear comes in various types, whether you want a bikini, swim pants, or a full-cover costume.
The type of swimwear you choose will be completely up to you, and the type shouldn’t affect the tan you develop, as the swimwear should be tan-through in all areas.
You can cover up as much as you like or wear a minimal bikini to show off your developing tan at the beach!
Coverage
Tan-through swimwear works by being made from a fabric that allows UV light to pass through. This fabric is made up of tiny holes all over, which allow the sun to reach your skin. These holes can be revealing on their own, but the swimwear has a clever way of hiding this.
Using intricate and confusing patterns, your skin underneath the costume is left covered and private. The holes still allow UV rays to pass through, but because the patterns confuse the eye, you are left looking as though you are completely covered up!
Some patterns work much better than others, so check that you are happy with the coverage that the swimwear offers. If you are tanning in your own backyard, you might not need complete coverage as you would if you were tanning at the beach or a public pool.
Size
You will obviously need to choose a swimwear piece that is your size. If you choose one which is too big or too small, it could end up having an effect on how you actually tan.
You need to pay close attention to sizing, and read reviews on how the swimwear fits, to ensure you choose the size which is best for you, so you can achieve your best tan.
Tan-Through Coverage
Make sure that all of the swimwear is tan-through. If there are ties or elastic found in the design, they could act as UV blockers, and you would be left with tan lines anyways.
Look for tan-through swimwear that is completely tan-through in the areas you want it to be, so that you are given an even tan all over.
However, there are some sensitive areas that you might want to protect, and there are many tan-through swimwear options that cover these, so keep this in mind when looking for the right swimwear too.
How Tan-Through Swimwear Works
There isn’t any secret magic behind tan-through swimwear – it is all in the fabric used to make the swimwear. The fabric contains tiny holes throughout, which allow UV rays to pass through and reach the skin.
There are enough holes found in the fabric to give an even tan-through the swimwear, but small enough to give you coverage with the fabric on your skin.
To prevent these holes from showing the skin underneath, the swimwear is often made with darker colors or intricate patterns, which do not show anything underneath. This means you can benefit from having the sun reach your skin, while still covering up and not showing anything off.
While you would want to use tan-through swimwear to develop a tan all over, you still need to apply sunscreen to your skin before tanning. A light sunscreen such as an SPF 15 or SPF 20 is ideal to offer protection from burning, but it still allows you to tan.
Remember that the skin underneath the tan-through swimwear would not have been exposed to the sun as much as the rest of your skin, so it will burn easily. Make sure to use a light sunscreen to prevent it from burning, and to develop a tan instead.
The Best Tan-Through Swimwear
Here are the top tan-through swimwear options on the market at the moment, which will give you an even tan, free from tan lines and pale spots!
We have included a wide range of top-quality options that cater to different needs!
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tan-Through Cropkini Bikini Top | Super quick-drying, cropkini design offers support |
| 2. | Sherrylo Sheer Bikini | Tan-through mesh, available in different colors |
| 3. | Amalfi Tan-Through Tankini Top | Halterneck top, good coverage, colorful design |
| 4. | Lifestyles Direct Tan-Through Swimsuit | Soft and comfortable, micromesh fabric, available in plus sizes |
| 5. | Storm Tan-Through Leggings | Full coverage, great for yoga, elasticated waist, and ankle cuffs |
| 6. | Men's Havana Tan-Through Swim Micro Brief | Micro brief for full tan, lightweight, and fast-drying |
| 7. | Oneheekini Women See Through Mini Micro Bikini Set | 100% cotton, stretchy and comfortable, micro bikini |
| 8. | Storm Tan-Through Knee Length Kaftan Cover Up | More material to cover up with, stylish, crease-resistant |
| 9. | Men's Mykonos Tan-Through Swim Shorts | Stretchy, breathable and comfortable |
| 10. | Iefiel Women's See Through Micro Bikini | High-quality fabric, minimal cover |
| 11. | Santorini Tan-Through High Waisted Bikini Brief | Good coverage, darker pattern and colors, fast-drying |
1. Tan-Through Cropkini Bikini Top
This bikini top from Kiniki is perfect for tanning outdoors, when you want a more modest bikini top, or even when you are wanting a top to work out in while soaking in the sun!
The patented Transol Tan-Through Fabric allows UV rays to penetrate through and reach your skin, giving you the same tan all over, whether you have the swimwear on or not.
The fun and colorful pattern hides anything from showing beneath the cropkini top, giving you full coverage while you are sun tanning.
The fabric is also super quick to dry, drying up to 3 times faster than normal swimwear, so it is never compromised and see-through.
This is also the ideal swimwear to use for traveling, as it is crease-resistant and lightweight, and nobody will be able to tell that you are tanning beneath it all!
Being a cropkini, this top also offers better support than a normal bikini top, and you can enjoy active outdoor activities in it without worrying about it slipping off or having a wardrobe malfunction!
2. Sherrylo Sheer Bikini
The Sherrylo Sheer Bikini is absolutely perfect for when you want a full-coverage tan from the comfort of your backyard, but you don’t want to have to worry about your neighbors peeking over the fence!
This bikini set is made with sheer material, but because it is a dark color, it hides most of your skin underneath. You can choose it in a wide range of colors, depending on the color coverage that you are after.
The bikini features string ties at the back, which offers better support for the tube-style front. It gives you good coverage in the front, fully covering you up while still allowing you to tan.
The micro bikini bottom is in a mini-Brazilian thong style, which gives medium coverage in the front.
There are string ties on either side which can help the bottoms fit you better. Made from mesh as well, you can tan-through the bottoms as well as the tube top.
Made with high-quality stretch mesh, a blend of nylon and spandex, the bikini is comfortable to wear when lying outdoors tanning, or in a tanning bed, and is soft on the skin. It is also stylish enough to be worn as a statement piece if you aren’t too worried about showing some skin!
3. Amalfi Tan-Through Tankini Top
The Amalfi Tan-Through Tankini Top is a halterneck-style swimsuit top that provides both support and coverage in one go.
You can mix and match this top with one of the matching bikini bottoms, to create your own swimsuit style!
Made from Transol Tan-Through Fabric, this tankini top is breathable and lightweight, and gives your skin good coverage while still allowing UV rays to penetrate your skin, to develop an even tan all over.
You won’t develop any tan lines with this tankini top, even though it gives good privacy.
The pattern and colors on the tankini top give it even less transparency and are a fun and colorful addition to the beach or poolside too – making it a wonderful top to take on vacation too!
It covers you well in the front, but still leaves your upper back completely open to show off your developing tan.
4. Lifestyles Direct Tan-Through Swimsuit
The Lifestyles Direct Tan-Through Swimsuit is a gorgeous swimsuit that anyone would love to wear – but it comes with the added benefit of being a tan-through swimsuit too!
It is made from 73% nylon and 27% elastane, which gives good support, and which makes the swimsuit stretchy and comfortable, but which still allows UV rays to pass through to tan your skin.
It is a skin-friendly swimsuit that will not cause chafe or discomfort, especially when laying in the sun or when being active outdoors. The straps are constructed well and will stay in place no matter what you are doing outdoors – giving you peace of mind.
The unique micromesh fabric is fast drying, so you are kept dry and cool all day long, as your skin works to develop a darker tan.
Lifestyles Direct guarantees that the swimsuit will not be see-through, whether dry or wet, so you can enjoy your modesty while outdoors, but avoid any tan lines and pale patches. The swimsuit also comes in plus sizes, suiting all body types.
5. Storm Tan-Through Leggins
You might not want to just lay in the sun while tanning, and if you are wanting to be a little more active when out in the sun, but still develop a tan, then the Storm Tan-Through Leggings are ideal!
They are the perfect summer accessory, whether you wear them to a beach yoga session or when out for a walk.
The specialized fabric allows UV rays to penetrate through and reach your skin, so your legs will not be left pale while the rest of your body tans.
The bright, fashionable colors pair beautifully with the matching top options, and there are many to choose from, whether you want a tank top or a smaller bikini to match.
These give you great coverage, while still being really effective at helping you develop a tan. The elasticated waistband and ankle cuffs make them super comfortable to wear too.
6. Men’s Havana Tan-Through Swim Micro Brief
The Men’s Havana Tan-Through Swim Micro Brief is best suited for when you want the best, full tan possible, but without having to spend your time naked in the sun!
Made from patented tan-through the fabric, these micro briefs cover you up and provide you with some privacy, while still being transparent to UV rays, and being small enough in design to help you tan all over with no tan lines or pale spots.
The fabric pattern and design give the micro brief a darker coverage to stop anything from peeking through and give off a beachy vibe too.
The material is lightweight and fast-drying, so it is perfect to wear when spending some time on the beach or next to the pool when you want to take a dip in the water to cool off every now and then.
7. Oneheekini Women’s See Through Mini Micro Bikini Set
The Oneheekini Women’s See Through Mini Micro Bikini Set is a great option for when tanning in a tanning bed or in your backyard when you just need a tiny amount of coverage, but still want to develop a full tan.
Made with 100% high-quality cotton, the micro bikini is comfortable to wear, being soft and stretchy.
The top is see-through and allows UV rays to penetrate through, and it is adjustable to suit your bust size too.
The G-string bottom has a small fabric covering, so you can enjoy the fullest tan possible.
The swimwear is available in a range of different colors, so you can pick the one that you enjoy best and one which suits the coverage that you are looking for.
8. Storm Tan-Through Knee Length Kaftan Cover-Up
If your tan-through swimwear is not providing you enough cover from the elements, and if the wind has a little chill to it, this tan-through knee-length cover-up is just what you need!
The kaftan offers a whole lot more privacy and covering, while still being made of the same material that allows you to tan while wearing it. It is also crease-resistant and lightweight, so it can be traveled with easily.
If you are moving from the poolside to the cocktail bar or lunch table, this works as the perfect accessory, and you do not have to miss out on any tanning time while wearing it.
It perfectly minimizes tan lines and pale spots but still gives you more material to cover up with.
The beautiful blue design with pops of color is also the best choice for summertime, and it matches well with other tan-through swimwear options in the range!
9. Men’s Mykonos Tan-Through Swim Shorts
The Men’s Mykonos Tan-Through Swim Shorts will soon become your go-to for every time you are out at the pool or spending time at the beach.
The patented Transol Tan-Through fabric allows UV rays to reach your skin, so you can tan all over.
The funky swim shorts are supportive and flexible, so you can enjoy all the different beach and poolside activities without worrying about the shorts failing you or showing off some parts that you would rather stay hidden!
Being extremely breathable and fast-drying, you will not experience chafe or discomfort when wearing these shorts.
They are longer than micro shorts to provide more coverage but are still short enough to be stylish and not restrictive.
The pattern and color goes well with the vests available in the range, so you can have a complete tanning outfit!
10. Iefiel Women’s See Through Micro Bikini
Made with a blend of elastic, polyester, spandex, and mesh, you can tan in this micro bikini set without leaving too much to be seen!
The bikini set is fairly stretchy and is a good fit for most body types. Made from high-quality fabric, the mesh allows the sun’s rays to reach your skin, giving you a tan without tan lines.
The spaghetti straps can be adjusted to suit your size, both with the top and the bottoms.
This set is a little more see-through than the other options, so it is best for when tanning at home or in a private place. The darker colors do offer more coverage, so pick the one that you think would give you the best privacy!
11. Santorini Tan-Through High Waisted Bikini Brief
The Santorini Tan-Through High Waisted Bikini Brief is a super cute bikini bottom that gives you full coverage, a little more than a normal bikini bottom by being high waisted, but you will still tan all over thanks to the special tan-through fabric.
The comfortable brief is made with darker colors and patterns, which means that nothing will show from underneath. It gives you complete privacy, just like normal bikini bottoms would.
It dries almost 3 times quicker than normal swimwear, making it a comfortable choice to wear during the day, especially when you are planning on swimming and being active.
Match this with one of the bikini tops in the range, and even accessories such as a kaftan cover-up, to complete your beach look and still tan fully without any tan lines!
Related Questions
Can you tan-through mesh fabric?
You can tan-through mesh fabric, as the small holes allow UV rays to pass through and reach the skin, instead of the fabric acting as a barrier to the sun’s rays.
Does tan-through swimwear offer protection?
Tan-through swimwear does not offer protection from the sun, so you still need to give your skin some protection with sunscreen and only spend a short amount of time tanning. Too much tanning and not enough protection can lead to sunburn and peeling.
What color clothes should I wear to avoid tanning?
Lighter color clothes can help avoid tanning, as lighter colors reflect sunlight away from the body. Lighter color clothes will also allow your skin to breathe more, helping you feel cooler in the sun. You should still wear sunscreen under your clothes if spending time in the sun.
