Picking out the perfect tanning lotion can be tricky on its own, but when you are picking out a tanning lotion for sensitive skin, you may feel a little overwhelmed! You deserve a beautiful, sun-kissed tan, without having to worry about your skin reacting to the product.
What are the best indoor and outdoor tanning lotions for sensitive skin? Indoor and outdoor tanning lotions for sensitive skin should contain natural, organic ingredients in place of harsh chemicals, and they should nourish and soothe your skin. The lotion should help you make the most of the UV rays, but without causing harm to your skin.
If you are looking for beautifully bronzed skin but without any irritation, keep reading to find out how to choose the best tanning lotions for sensitive skin, and our top recommendations!
How To Choose The Best Tanning Lotion For Sensitive Skin
You do have to put some extra time into finding the best tanning lotion for sensitive skin, as you would want to choose a product that is kind to your skin, while still giving you a gorgeous tan. Here is what to look for:
Skin Nourishing
Tanning lotions are applied before spending time in the sun or in a tanning bed, and we all know how UV rays can be harmful to your skin.
This is why it is so important to choose tanning lotions that will not only help you develop a beautiful tan, but which will protect and nourish your skin while doing so. There should be skin-loving ingredients included, such as shea butter and vitamin E, to help skin recover.
Natural Ingredients
You should choose a tanning lotion that contains other natural ingredients too. This includes a gentle bronzer if the tanning lotion includes it.
Look for natural ingredients such as aloe vera, argan oil, shea butter, fruit extracts, and so on. These are all gentle on your skin, but so nourishing and soothing too.
While the tanning lotion is working to develop a darker color on your skin, these ingredients will hydrate and soften your skin, without any irritation that artificial ingredients might cause.
Tint/Color
While you are searching for a tanning lotion that is kind to sensitive skin, you still need to make sure that the resultant tan looks good! You need to consider your skin tone before picking out the tanning lotion.
How dark you tan will depend on your time in the sun, but most tanning lotions have a bronzer included in the formula.
If you have fair skin, you cannot choose the darkest shade possible; it will just look so unnatural. Likewise, you cannot choose a light tanning lotion if your skin is naturally dark.
Indoor/Outdoor Tanning Lotion
You need to know where you will be using the tanning lotion before deciding which one to use. You cannot use outdoor tanning lotions on a sunbed, as the mineral oils will damage the sunbed lining.
Check to see whether the tanning lotion is suited for indoor or outdoor tanning!
SPF Protection
You do not want too much SPF protection when you are trying to develop a tan, but for sensitive skin, a low SPF can help. Look for an SPF 4 or similar, which will prevent your skin from burning, but still help you develop a beautiful tan.
The Best Tanning Lotions For Sensitive Skin
Now that you know what to look for in a tanning lotion for sensitive skin, take a look at our top recommendations!
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Hawaiian Tropic SPF 4 Sunscreen | SPF 4, island-inspired botanicals |
| 2. | Just Nutritive Indoor Tanning Lotion | Indoor tanning, natural skin-loving ingredients |
| 3. | Devoted Creations Famous Faces Tanning Lotion | Hypoallergenic, anti-aging and skin-firming for facial skin |
| 4. | Australian Gold Dark Tanning Accelerator Lotion | Natural ingredients, instant bronzer |
| 5. | Devoted Creations Hydrating Tanning Butter | Sensitive shea butter formula, anti-aging |
| 6. | Millennium Tanning Products Hypoallergenic Tan | 100% pure hemp seed oil, sensitive skin-approved formula |
| 7. | Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion | Skin hydrating formula, develops dark tan |
| 8. | Sun Bum Browning Lotion | Accelerated tanning, sensitive formula |
| 9. | Cocosolis Choco Suntan & Body Oil | Certified organic ingredients, indoor and outdoor formula |
| 10. | Hempz Hydro Max Indoor Tanning Lotion | Natural hemp seed oil, tan enhancers for deeper tan |
| 11. | Pro Tan Hypoallergenic Dark Tanning Accelerator | Hypoallergenic, natural tan enhancers |
1. Hawaiian Tropic SPF 4 Sunscreen (Outdoor)
The Hawaiian Tropic SPF 4 Sunscreen is a tanning lotion and protective sunscreen all in one, making it absolutely perfect for sensitive skin.
The Island Tanning Sunscreen absorbs quickly into the skin, and luxuriously nourishes the skin from deep within, which only helps to enhance your tan. Cocoa butter and shea butter keep skin soft and luminous as it soaks up the sun.
Other island-inspired botanicals are included in the formula, such as mango, papaya, passion fruit and guava, to give the lotion even more skin-loving properties.
As the formula is lightweight and dermatologist-tested, you can be sure that it is gentle and soothing for sensitive skin, adding the extra protection that it needs while building a gorgeous tan.
2. Just Nutritive Tanning Lotion (Indoor)
The Just Nutritive Indoor Tanning Lotion helps to extend the life of the tan you develop using a tanning bed, by providing your skin with the best nourishment possible.
The tanning lotion absorbs quickly, which helps you develop a deep tan in a shorter amount of time. It has been specifically formulated to be used in indoor tanning beds, to make the most of your tanning session.
Exotic oils and shea butter help to cover your skin in healthy nourishment, to protect it from drying out, while tan extending accelerators help to build up your tan faster, working to optimize your color, keeping your tan darker for longer.
To make the tanning lotion suitable for sensitive skin, it is free from chemical fragrances, artificial colors and parabens, so your skin will not experience any irritation.
Aloe vera will help to soothe and calm sun-kissed skin, while coffee extracts contain antioxidants that will fight off free radicals and prevent inflammation. This indoor tanning lotion ticks all the boxes!
3. Devoted Creations Famous Faces Tanning Lotion (Indoor and Outdoor)
If you always have a hard time tanning your facial skin, and find that normal tanning lotions just do not work, then the Devoted Creations Famous Faces Tanning Lotion might be just what you need.
This hypoallergenic lotion has been formulated specifically for use on the face. It nourishes and protects the sensitive skin on your face, and it also features skin-firming and anti-aging benefits too.
It is blended with multiple advanced tanning technologies to help and achieve a bronzed tan on your face but in a gentle, non-irritating way.
Matrixyl works to fill in lines and wrinkles, and included vitamin A gets working on promoting healthy skin. A light palm garden fragrance enhances the experience further!
4. Australian Gold Dark Tanning Accelerator Lotion (Outdoor)
The Australian Gold Dark Tanning Accelerator Lotion will help you achieve a deeper, darker tan, and will have you looking sun-kissed in no time.
The accelerator lotion has an instant bronzer that intensifies your glow and gives you an instant tan while you wait for the real one to develop. The lotion absorbs quickly into the skin, so you can achieve an even tan, indoors or outside.
Australian natural ingredients are used to care for your skin while you tan, such as Kakadu plum extract, tea tree oil, and vitamin C.
These nourish your skin and fight off free radicals, leaving skin youthful-looking and smooth. These natural ingredients are all suitable for sensitive skin.
Biosine complex helps your developed tan last for longer, as skin is left hydrated and moisturized. To top it off, the tanning lotion has a delectable Cocoa Dreams fragrance with notes of orange, vanilla, and coconut!
5. Devoted Creations Hydrating Tanning Butter (Indoor)
The super-soft tanning butter from Devoted Creations is gentle on the skin and nourishes the skin from deep within to ensure it is protected and cared for during the tanning process.
With this tanning lotion, you will be able to build and maintain your skin’s natural glow, while the formula provides anti-aging and skin-firming benefits, making skin appear more youthful and supple.
AcquaCell formulation works to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, further promoting that sun-kissed, even appearance all over.
This lotion is suitable for sensitive skin, made with caring shea butter, and is free from parabens and other harmful ingredients, so you can trust your skin will be left happy!
6. Millennium Tanning Products Hypoallergenic Tan (Indoor)
The Millenium Tanning Products Hypoallergenic Tan is an ultra-hydrating tanning lotion that is suited to be used indoors and outdoors. It is formulated with hemp extracts, argan oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter, for a nourishing, skin-caring experience.
This sensitive skin-approved formula is free from parabens and other harmful chemicals, so it will not cause irritation to your skin. It features a skin-softening maximizer that leaves skin smooth, silky, and beautifully tanned after some time in the sun.
Made with 100% pure hemp seed oil, skin is given the best care from deep within, and even sensitive skin will be left happy and beautifully tanned when using this product.
7. Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion (Indoor)
If you are looking for an ultra-dark tan, then the Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion is just for you! The hydrating and softening formula is perfect for dry skin, and can be used by sensitive skin types too.
It contains soothing ingredients such as coconut milk, coconut oil, and cocoa butter, to improve skin hydration. It then delivers a dark golden tan, free from bronzers.
The tattoo fade protecting formula protects tattoos while the rest of your skin tans, so the colors and radiance are prolonged.
Special tanning ingredients help to stimulate and increase melanin formulation, to accelerate the tanning process.
Helping you enjoy your tanning session even more, the tanning lotion has a Coconut Paradise fragrance, with delightful scents of vanilla.
8. Sun Bum Browning Lotion (Outdoor)
This premium browning lotion from Sun Bum helps you develop a fast, deep tan without spending hours in the sun. The accelerating ingredients help you maximize a short amount of time in the sun, building a dark tan in no time.
The water-resistant tanning lotion is perfect for all skin types but has been formulated to be suitable for sensitive skin too. It cares for skin using aloe vera, marula oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil. All of this is tied together with a coffee scent.
Being hypoallergenic and moisturizing, sensitive skin will benefit from the added nourishing ingredients, and your skin will develop a golden tan in a shorter amount of time!
9. Cocosolis Choco Suntan & Body Oil (Indoor and Outdoor)
The Cocosolis Choco Suntan & Body Oil is made with certified organic ingredients, including cold-pressed oils, natural vitamins, and antioxidants, to help you develop a tan quicker and keep the tan darker for longer.
This tanning lotion is suited to be used for indoor tanning beds, but you can take it outdoors as well. Coconut oil, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, and vitamin E all help to keep skin smooth and hydrated, while antioxidants fight away free radicals.
Enjoy a beautifully sun-kissed tan that this lotion will help you develop, while still providing comfort and nourishment for sensitive skin, both in the sun and after.
10. Hempz Hydro Max Tanning Lotion (Indoor)
The Hempz Hydro Max Tanning Lotion is made to be used in a salon, when relaxing under a tanning bed, to help skin develop a deeper, richer, longer-lasting color.
Made with 100% pure natural hemp seed oil, the formula is suitable for sensitive skin, and it works to hydrate, nourish and condition the skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and moist after a tanning session.
Being rich in antioxidants from the Yangu oil, the lotion fights off free radicals, helping resist damage from the sun.
The non-greasy, lightweight formula absorbs quickly into the skin and helps you maximize your time spent in a tanning bed.
11. Pro Tan Hypoallergenic Dark Tanning Accelerator (Indoor)
The Pro Tan Hypoallergenic Dark Tanning Accelerator combines natural tan enhancers that help prepare your skin for tanning, and which help your skin make the most of the UV rays it is exposed to, developing a dark tan in a shorter time.
Natural calming ingredients are included in the formula to soothe skin. Oatmeal helps to comfort and calm the skin during the tanning process, and rich mango seed butter helps to smooth and hydrate skin.
The formula is non-greasy and lightweight, and being hypoallergenic and free from parabens, it is a great choice for sensitive skin!
Final Thoughts
Take your time to pick out the right tanning lotion for sensitive skin, to ensure your skin is cared for and nourished while developing a dark, rich tan. The product should not contain ingredients that could cause irritation, and your skin should be left healthier than before, just with a beautiful tan!
Above are 11 of the best tanning lotions for sensitive skin on the market, as well as some really handy tips on how to go about choosing the right one for you and your skin!
