The 5 Best Tingle Tanning Lotions (2025)
You can find a variety of self-tanners on the market. Some products work for some people, and others don’t.
One type of self-tanning lotion that is gaining popularity is tingle tanning lotion.
These tanning lotions cause a tingling feeling when applied to the skin. Some are stronger than others, with a “low tingle” or “high tingle” rating usually found on the bottle.
These tingle lotions offer a unique experience compared to other self-tanners on the market.
How Do Tingle Tanning Lotions Work?
Tingling lotion is used to bring the blood to the surface. This oxygenates the skin’s melanin, which in turn darkens the skin.
This then boosts the effects of UV rays when in the sun, leaving you with a darker, fuller tan.
Tingle lotions contain ingredients called Methyl Nicotinate or Benzyl. These chemicals increase blood flow and circulation in your skin, bringing more oxygen to the surface.
These lotions are not intended to be painful. They are supposed to encourage your skin to become darker when exposed to the sun.
Some people find that the tingling sensation is too strong for them and actually causes pain and discomfort.
Rather, conduct a test beforehand on a small area of skin to ensure you are comfortable with the sensation it gives your skin.
Tingle lotions do contain moisturizing ingredients. These help keep the skin hydrated, allowing UV rays to penetrate more easily and prolong the tan’s duration.
Moisturized skin holds bronze tans much longer than dry and brittle skin, so it is really important that tingle lotions contain moisturizing ingredients such as essential oils and white tea extract.
One of the biggest selling points of tingle lotions is that they work from the inside out. This means that you actually tan from the inside, not just on the outer layer of your skin.
This helps avoid any streaky or patchy areas that can occur when using other self-tanning lotions or sprays.
Precautions to Take
Just as you would when applying any chemical to your skin, it is important to take precautions to ensure a safe and pain-free application.
Those with sensitive skin should either avoid using tingle lotions or proceed with caution. If you have sensitive skin, consider purchasing a “low tingle” lotion to try first.
If you feel okay with the sensation, you can progress to a stronger tingle over time.
The tingle lotion also increases the skin’s receptiveness to UV rays, so those with sensitive or pale skin should introduce the sun slowly to their skin.
Spending too much time under UV rays after using tingle lotion might cause your skin to burn, leaving it damaged and painful.
Avoid using tingle lotion around children. Sometimes accidents happen, and you wouldn’t want some of the lotion to transfer onto a young child’s skin.
Their skin is much more sensitive to chemicals, and the tingle lotion can end up burning them, potentially making their skin too sensitive to the sun’s rays.
Do not apply tingle lotion to your face or sensitive regions of your body. It could cause a burning that is difficult to diffuse.
Keep it away from your eyes, especially, and wash out with water immediately if some does come into contact with your eyes.
While this all sounds scary and serious, tingle lotions are safe to use if done properly.
By following the necessary precautions, you will be protecting yourself from any mishaps or accidents.
When done properly, there should be no pain experienced from using tingle lotion.
The 5 Best Tingle Self-Tanning Lotions
I’ve tried several tanning lotions, and I absolutely love them.
For this guide, I tried various lotions, researched them, and compiled everything I knew to create what I believe is the absolute best list of tingle tanning lotions on the market.
I took a bunch of things into account when ranking these lotions, including:
- Quality
- Safety
- How Natural
- Customer Reviews
- Price
And so much more. Alright, now let’s get to those lotions.
1. Ed Hardy Obnoxious Extreme Bronzer Tingle Tanning Lotion
If you are looking for a tingle lotion to elevate your tanning experience, this is the product for you.
The bronzer, moisturizer, and tingle lotion work extremely well. It produces an intense sensation that stimulates blood flow in the skin.
Serious tanners will love the bronze, dark look this lotion helps to achieve.
While it is one of the more extreme tingle lotions on the market, it still carefully moisturizes and softens the skin. It contains antioxidants that actually help slow down the aging process.
Once you have applied the lotion to your skin, you will notice an immediate reddening. You will notice the difference it makes to your skin’s circulation.
Vitamins C and E help to repair dry and damaged skin, especially damage caused by the sun’s harsh rays.
2. 
Devoted Creations White 2 Black, Tingle, Ultra-Fast, Darkening Lotion
This Devoted Creations tingle lotion can temporarily darken your skin up to three shades. It is an ultra-fast tanner that reduces time spent in the sun, thereby minimizing skin damage.
It is formulated with accelerators that target melanin production, helping to achieve a deep, dark bronze tan.
The lotion itself is bronzer-free, so all your coloring will be natural. It simply aids in the absorption of UV rays by the skin.
It is easy to apply and offers an intense tingling sensation. This is a great option for serious tanners who want to achieve a rich, bronzed glow.
A rain-kissed leaf fragrance will leave you feeling refreshed and smelling as beautiful as your skin looks.
3. Millennium Mega Tingle Dark Tanning Lotion
The Millennium Mega Tingle Dark Tanning Lotion is formulated for individuals with medium to deep skin tones seeking an ultra-dark tan.
The Mega Tingle formula makes your skin feel warm and tingly as if you’ve been soaking up the sun. It gives your skin a noticeable sheen that makes you look like a glowing, bronzed goddess.
It’s designed to be non-fading and can be used indoors or outdoors for an accelerated tanning experience.
The smell is decent, definitely not as good as the Devoted Creations rain-kissed leaf scent, but if you are looking for the darkest tan possible, then this is it.
4. Devoted Creations Ignite Noir Hot Tingle Bronzer
This is one of Devoted Creation’s highest DHA tanning lotions, which means a super dark tan.
The tingle is pretty intense, hence the name “hot tingle.” Whenever you see the word “hot” advertised on tingle tanning lotion, you can expect lots of tingling.
It gives your skin a decent blush, and the tingles are spicy, to say the least. It’s not a great choice for beginners, but pros will appreciate the intensity.
The fragrance is Starfruit and Aloe. To me, the scent is like fruity hard candy, like Jolly Ranchers.
5. Devoted Creations Avant Dark Tingle Tanni
ng Lotion
This tingle lotion utilizes microcirculation to help produce an incredibly dark tan that does not use bronzers or added DHAs.
The refreshing pomegranate scent will make using this lotion an absolute pleasure and an all-around enjoyable experience.
This tanning lotion does not contain any bronzers or DHA’s so all of your new bronze colors will be straight from UV rays.
You will notice a red color in your skin immediately after use, due to the increased blood circulation in your skin caused by the tingling. This then helps your skin absorb the UV rays, resulting in a dark, natural-looking tan.
Avoid spending hours in the sun and instead use the product, with as little as half an hour in the sun, to obtain the dark tan that you have been after.
I think this might be one of the absolute best tingle tan optimizers on the market, and it’s perfect if you’re going to spend just a short amount of time outside.
Tingle Lotions vs Self-Tanners
Many people are opting to use tingle lotions as an alternative to self-tanning products.
They find that because the lotion works from the inside out, and your skin is actually tanned by the sun, they end up with a more evenly toned and natural-looking tan.
If you can handle the tingling sensation, it is a great product to try, as you can still spend some time outside enjoying the warm sun and swimming in the ocean or pool, without worrying about whether your self-tan will wash off or fade in the sun.
Use the tingle lotion sparingly to avoid overstimulating your skin’s circulation, and limit your sun exposure while wearing the lotion.
Otherwise, it is a relatively safe option for those seeking a darker tan, and you can control the darkness by adjusting the time spent in the sun.
Enjoy a unique tingling sensation all over your body, accompanied by some warm sun, while achieving a sun-kissed, bronzed, and beautiful natural tan.
It is a lotion to keep ready in your cupboard for those warm summer days when the sun is calling your name.
Related Articles
5 Best Indoor Tanning Lotions For Face (2025)
