Can I Use Regular Lotion In A Tanning Bed?
We are all familiar with the recommendation that you should always use a tanning lotion when using a sunbed. These contain ingredients that work to give you an even, glowing tan, while keeping your skin nourished and protected during the tanning process, preventing it from drying out.
Can you use regular lotion in a tanning bed?
No. You should not use regular lotions in your tanning bed session, as these regular lotions, even if they are outdoor tanning lotions, contain ingredients that can cause damage to the tanning beds. If this builds up over time, the beds will start to deteriorate and potentially break.
Most tanning salon owners will not allow you to set foot into a tanning bed if you are using regular tanning lotion.
Avoid Regular Lotion in a Tanning Bed
If you’re new to tanning beds, it might seem like regular tanning lotion would do the trick. While it can help deepen your tan in the sun, it’s not made for tanning beds and might not give you the best results indoors.
There is a wide range of tanning lotions available on the market, but you should only ever use tanning lotions that have been specifically formulated to be used in a tanning bed. These lotions are formulated with ingredients that protect both your skin and the tanning bed from any damage.
Just like regular tanning lotions, sunbed lotions will help your skin develop a dark, golden glow and keep it nourished when exposed to the damaging UV rays.
How To Choose The Right Sun Bed Tanning Lotion
Some salons do keep tanning lotions for clients to use in the sunbeds, but you should rather look into buying your own, to make sure it is the right type for your skin, and to save you some money over time. The tanning lotions the salon has will be more dependent on their choices, and they might not be perfect for your skin.
Tanning bed lotions have less SPF protection compared to regular tanning lotions, as you will want to make the most of your session in the tanning bed. Using a heavy SPF cream will mean your skin will not tan as much as you would want it to.
You will also need to decide what type of tanning bed lotion you want to use. Some are purely moisturizing, containing ingredients that deeply nourish the skin to protect it throughout the drying process of sun tanning, ensuring your tan stays deep and golden, rather than flaky and flat.
Other tanning bed lotions contain bronzers, which give your skin an instant tan, and this develops over a few hours. But this is not permanent and will wash off when you shower.
The bronzing tanning lotions are good if you are planning on going out after your tanning bed session, but they give a false illusion of a tan, and you might be disappointed with the lighter color left on your skin once the bronzer washes off.
You are also able to choose between lotions and sprays, depending on which you find easier to apply to your skin. Both will contain similar ingredients to keep your skin nourished and moisturized, and help your skin make the most of the tanning bed session.
If you’re still having trouble selecting the right tanning lotion for you, I highly recommend watching this video by Hannah Louise on YouTube. She’s an avid tanner and has first-hand knowledge of specific tanning lotions. Enjoy!
How To Use Tanning Bed Lotion Correctly
Once you’ve picked the right tanning bed lotion, it’s good to know how to actually use it. You can’t just slap it on right before hopping into bed, it takes a little prep. That way, you’ll get the best, most even tan possible.
Preparing To Apply The Lotion
1. Shower and exfoliate
Start with a warm shower and exfoliate your skin. This helps remove dead skin, old products, or lotions that could block UV rays and cause patchy tanning.
2. (Optional) Shave
While you’re in the shower, it’s a good idea to shave. Hair follicles can trap lotion and lead to uneven tanning or blotchy spots.
At The Tanning Salon
3. Bring your tanning essentials
Make sure to bring your tanning lotion and wear loose-fitting clothes you don’t mind staining. Many lotions have bronzers that could transfer onto fabric after your session.
4. Tie up your hair
Use an elastic band to keep your hair out of the way while applying lotion. This keeps it neat and avoids lotion sticking to it.
5. Use a tanning mitt or gloves
If your lotion contains bronzer, wear gloves or a tanning mitt during application. Otherwise, your hands might end up way darker than the rest of your body.
6. Keep a towel nearby
A small towel is handy for wiping off lotion from spots you don’t want tanned, like between your toes or the bottoms of your feet.
Start off by applying the tanning bed lotion to your feet, and then work up towards your upper body, adding in more lotion as you go. Don’t go too light on the lotion, but you should also avoid having a white layer of lotion covering your whole body. Make sure it is rubbed in completely.
Once Your Session Has Ended
You have applied your lotion and spent your designated time in the tanning bed, but it isn’t quite over just yet. You will more than likely be spending more than one session in a tanning bed and will need to reapply the lotion each time you go. After a few sessions, you will become familiar with which areas need more or less lotion.
It is recommended that you should only use a tanning bed 2-3 times a week. The tanning bed lotion will help protect your skin as much as possible, but tanning more than this is dangerous, and your skin will not be able to recover after each session.
You will still need to shower and exfoliate before each tanning bed session, repeating the process to ensure your skin is as gorgeous as possible.
Look into purchasing a tan extender to use along with your tanning bed lotion. These are applied after tanning and contain ingredients that help keep your tan dark and glowing for longer. They deliver deep moisturization to the skin, which does help the tan stick around for longer and helps it fade more evenly as well.
Be sure to care for your skin and only spend as much time as necessary in the tanning bed, this is the only way to ensure that the tanning bed lotion will protect and nourish your skin as much as it can.
Related Questions
Can I get a tan in a tanning bed without tanning lotion?
Yes, you can actually get a tan in a tanning bed without lotion, just as you can get a tan in the sun without tanning lotion. Dry skin reflects UV light, and you will not be making the most out of your tanning session.
The tanning lotion will also help keep your skin moisturized and nourished while in the tanning bed, which works to ensure your tan is golden brown, instead of dry and red.
How long before tanning should I apply tanning bed lotion?
It is best to apply the tanning bed lotion at the salon to avoid messing your clothes, but you should give yourself enough time to apply the lotion 20-30 minutes before your tanning bed session.
This allows the lotion to penetrate deep into the skin, giving it the best nourishment and protection possible.
Is tanning in a tanning bed the same as tanning in the sun?
The simple answer is yes. Both are dangerous and expose your skin to UVA and UVB rays, which create a tan, but which do damage the skin.
20 minutes in a tanning bed is the same as around 1-2 hours in the sun on a hot beach. This is why a limited time is needed in a tanning bed.
Only Use Tanning Bed Lotions
It is important to remember that you cannot, and should not, use regular lotions when going into a tanning bed. Not only will the salon owner be upset as the ingredients in regular tanners can damage their machines, but the regular lotions will not offer up the same benefits and protection as tanning bed lotions will.
Find the tanning bed lotion that is right for you, and you will notice the difference during your next tanning bed session.
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