Quick answer
They can help, but not in the way some marketing suggests. A good sunbed lotion keeps your skin hydrated, which helps colour look more even and last longer, and lotions with bronzers add visible colour straight away. Claims that ingredients like tyrosine or carrot oil make you tan faster have limited independent evidence. No lotion makes a longer session safe or protects you from UV.
What sunbed lotions actually do
- Hydrate your skin. Dry, flaky skin tends to tan unevenly and shed colour faster. Most sunbed lotions are rich moisturisers designed for use under UV.
- Add instant colour (bronzer lotions). Cosmetic bronzers tint the skin so you see colour after your session, while your tan develops underneath.
- Create a warm, tingling feeling (tingle lotions). See what does a tingle lotion do?
What about "accelerators"?
Many lotions are sold as accelerators and contain ingredients such as tyrosine, carrot oil or beta-carotene, which are said to support your skin's natural tanning. Independent evidence that these speed up tanning is limited, so it's best to judge a lotion on how your skin feels and how even your colour looks over several sessions, rather than on promises of faster results.
What lotions don't do
- They don't protect you from UV or stop you burning.
- They don't make it safe to stay on longer than the salon recommends.
- Most contain no SPF: see do sunbed lotions contain SPF?
Can you tan without lotion?
Yes. Lotion isn't essential, and the risks of UV are the same with or without it. Many tanners use one because their skin feels more comfortable and their colour looks more even.
Choosing one
New to sunbeds? A non-tingle lotion without a strong bronzer is the easiest place to start. Read accelerator vs bronzer vs tingle, then browse our lotions for beginners. For the best results, see how to apply sunbed lotion.
