5 Best Indoor Tanning Lotions For Face (2025)
Sometimes, we need a little help to achieve the perfect summer tan.
Tanning beds are a great way to achieve a natural-looking tan without spending hours in the sun. Using a tanning lotion while in a tanning bed will help you attain a darker, bronzed tan in no time.
Tanning accelerators are used on the face to quicken the tanning process and help achieve an even tan that looks absolutely gorgeous.
Not only do tanning lotions help improve your tanning session, but they also keep your skin healthy-looking and smooth, helping to maintain your golden tan for longer.
So, what is the best tanning lotion for your face?
The best tanning lotion is one that gives a long-lasting tan and is free from bronzing agents. Let’s dive into the specifics.
What Are Tanning Lotions?
Also known as tan accelerators, tanning lotions cause your skin to produce more melanin. More melanin in your skin means a darker-looking tan.
This artificial method of melanin production is used when exposed to the sun or in a tanning bed to accelerate the tanning process.
Not only are there tanning lotions, but tan accelerators can also be found in the form of sprays, pills, injections, or even drinks.
Tanning Lotions Vs Fake Tans
Fake tanning products are applied directly to the skin, and through a reaction with the active ingredients and the outer layer of the skin, a dark stain develops.
Tanning accelerators utilise ingredients such as sugarcane or henna to help the skin tan faster. These lotions need to come into contact with UV rays to work, such as those in a tanning bed.
Fake tans can often appear streaky and unnatural if not applied correctly, but they do not require any sunlight to work. Tanning accelerators produce a natural-looking and fairly long-lasting tan; however, you will need exposure to UV rays for the tan to develop properly.
How To Use A Face Tanning Lotion
Using a face tanning lotion to accelerate your tan when using a tanning bed is fairly simple. All you need to do is apply your tanning lotion evenly to your face on the day of your tanning appointment, then relax under the UV rays and wait for your gorgeous tan to develop.
If you want your tan to last longer than normal, you can use a tan extender. This will keep your skin hydrated and deeply moisturised, allowing your skin to hold on to the tan as long as possible.
The 5 Best Face Indoor Tanning Lotions
Below are the best indoor tanning lotions that are safe for your face.
1. Devoted Creations Famous Faces Facial Tanning Lotion
The Devoted Creations Famous Faces Facial Tanning Lotion is the ultimate indoor tanning lotion for the face.
Formulated specifically for sensitive areas like your face and neck, this hypoallergenic indoor tanning lotion is filled with anti-ageing ingredients.
The formula includes Matrixyl, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
I recommend shaking the bottle before applying it to make sure that all the goodness is mixed well so that you get an even coverage on your face.
2. Ed Hardy Coconut Kiss Golden Tanning Lotion
Ed Hardy is a trusted name in the tanning industry, and it is because the brand manages to produce product after product of tanning agents that really just work.
This new Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion helps to intensify a tan, giving a dark, golden result, free from the use of bronzing agents.
Ingredients such as Quad Tyrosine Blend and MelanoBronze help to stimulate and increase melanin production, accelerating the tanning process overall. The Melactiva formulation is a melanin synthesizer, which gives darker, longer-lasting tanning results.
To help the tan look even more incredible, the Coconut Kisses comes included with BodyFit, a formulation which reduces the appearance of lines and cellulite and helps to promote skin firmness.
So not only will the Coconut Kisses Tanning Lotion help you achieve a gorgeous glowing tan, but it will reduce the appearance of fine lines on your face and give you a youthful summer tan that lasts longer than most!
3. Australian Gold Cheeky Brown Accelerator
For a deep, golden glow, the Cheeky Brown Accelerator from Australian Gold is a great option. With added bronzer, you will have a summer glow that is perfectly suited to your natural skin tone, just with a little bit of enhancing!
Formulated with native Australian oils such as Vitamin A and E, the tanning lotion cares for facial skin while helping it tan faster. It can be used for both indoor tanning beds and when outdoors in the sun, and is perfectly fine to be used on the face.
The lotion has a fresh Cocodreams scent and smooths over skin easily. The tanning accelerator has added bronzer, to complete your natural-looking tan with an additional golden glow.
Simply apply the bronzer to your face before the tanning session and see the results accelerated, with smooth, hydrated and radiant skin.
4. Versa Spa Intensifying Primer
This all-in-one tanning accelerator has everything you need to protect and nourish your skin while enhancing the tanning effect under a tanning bed.
The tanning lotion needs to be applied prior to a tanning session to ensure a deep and dark color development that lasts, thanks to the added nourishing ingredients in this tan primer.
The product is a lightweight gel-lotion formula that is easy to apply to the skin, it blends in evenly and dries instantly.
This means it can be applied immediately before a tanning session without any development time. The added amino acids help to accentuate and extend the intensity and lifespan of the tan.
A blend of brown and green marine algae moisturizes and detoxifies the skin, replenishing and rejuvenating the skin to give it the ultimate nourished look.
Not only can this product be used to accelerate a tan in a tanning bed, but it can also be used two hours before a self-tan application, to speed up the process.
Natural ingredients help to soothe, rejuvenate and nourish the skin, helping the tan look incredible and last longer.
5. Natural Tanning Accelerators & Sun Tan Sealer
This is the ultimate kit for anyone looking for a tanning accelerator, as well as products which help to look after the skin and extend the life of a tan.
The elixir lotion included in the kit is intended for daily use as a moisturizer. It boosts melanin production before being exposed to sunlight. This should be used daily for a week before a tanning bed appointment.
The tanning mist spray is used when you are going to use a tanning bed. It rapidly accelerates tanning and helps to protect the skin from any damage.
The Sun Tan Sealer is used after the tanning session. It contains Beta-Carotene and Lycopene, which lock in much-needed moisture and hydration, helping to extend the life of the tan.
The tanning lotion moisturizer will ensure your skin glows with healthy, nourished radiance, as well as from the resulting golden tan. Almond oil, cocoa butter, aloe vera, olive oil, and jojoba work to give the skin all the love it needs and are perfectly suited to be used on the face.
The all-in-one kit is everything you need to develop a dark, golden glow in the tanning bed, while still caring for your skin in the gentlest and most nourishing way.
Related Questions
Can I tan every day in a tanning bed?
To build up a gradual tan without damaging your skin too much in one go, it is recommended to visit a tanning bed for short periods over two days, take a break, and then revisit the tanning bed every other day.
Once the desired tan has developed, you can visit the tanning bed two to three times a week thereafter.
How can I protect my eyes in a tanning bed?
Most tanning salons will offer eye protector goggles that can be worn to protect your eyes during a tanning bed session.
There are many different eye protectors available, and it’s a good idea to carry your own in case the salon doesn’t have any.
Exposing your eyes to UV rays in tanning beds is incredibly harmful, so it is essential to always protect them.
Tanning Lotions For The Face
Gone are the days when you have to spend hours cooking in the sun to try and get a natural tan. Tanning lotions can now be applied to your face, which helps to accelerate the tanning process in a tanning bed.
The best part of it all is that these lotions often offer great moisturizing and nourishing benefits that help care for your skin, allowing your tan to last longer.
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