Depending on how you view it, indoor tanning is either a blessing or the devil in disguise. We prefer to think of it as the fastest way to get bronzed with the least amount of effort. As long as you get the best indoor tanning lotion, you can look great without suffering from sunburn!
At A Glance: Our Top Picks for Indoor Tanning Lotions
The problem is that there is a lot of different tanning lotions to choose from and not all are good quality… So what are the best indoor tanning lotions? That’s what we’ll go over in this buying guide.
Ready? Let’s jump in.
20 Best Indoor Tanning Lotions – Reviews for 2023
Quick Overview: Our Top 10 Picks for Indoor Tanning Lotions
| Image | Brand | |
|---|---|---|
 | EDITOR'S PICK Maui Babe Tanning Salon Formula The ingredients include Kona coffee extract with plenty of caffeine to stimulate blood flow. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
 | Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion Ed Hardy’s Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion stops your tattoos from fading in ultraviolet light. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
 | Australian Gold Dark Tanning Accelerator Lotion It evens skin tone and fills in the texture to make your skin look perfect. But it also bronzes you with erythrulose and DHA. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
 | Australian Gold CHEEKY BROWN Dark Natural Bronzers The best features of this indoor tanning lotion are its instant bronzers and tanning intensifiers. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
 | Hempz HYPOALLERGENIC DARK TAN Maximizer The Hempz Dark Tan Maximizer lotion is hypoallergenic for sensitive skin. It’s also 100% vegan and free of parabens, dyes, and perfumes. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
 | Devoted Creations #TANLIFE Hydrating Tanning Butter It melts into the skin without making it greasy. It helps achieve a base tan without streaking the skin or changing the natural color with bronzers. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
 | Ed Hardy Peace & Harmony Tanning Intensifier Bronzing Lotion It contains ingredients like green tea extract and wheat protein that rejuvenate skin. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
 | Australian Gold Sinfully Black 15x Deep Dark Bronzing Tanning Lotion The Sinfully Black Deep Dark lotion has black currant oil, caramel, and Walnut shell extract which are all instant bronzers. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
 | Ed Hardy Obnoxious Extreme Bronzer Tingle Tanning Lotion The Ed Hardy Obnoxious Extreme Bronzer Tingle Tanning Lotion is rated as feeling hotter than the fabled BombShell lotion. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
 | Ed Hardy Body Shots Double Shot Warning Mega Extreme The extreme hot formula speeds up melanin production while DHA and other bronzers instantly darken your skin. | VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
To help you achieve that sun-kissed look, just apply one of the best indoor tanning lotions listed below. Some that are good for fair skin are also good for sensitive skin because they are hypoallergenic.
Others are made for tattoos to keep them from fading. And of course, you can choose lotions with and without bronzer. Let’s dive into the best indoor tan lotion reviews now.
1. Maui Babe Tanning Salon Formula
Have you heard the story of Maui Babe Browning Lotion? It all started when a fellow named Joe sought out inspiration to save his family from homelessness. He invented this popular formula that instantly bronzes your skin then helps your tan darken naturally.
The ingredients include Kona coffee extract with plenty of caffeine to stimulate blood flow. There’s also Kukui nut oil, a traditional Polynesian remedy for sunburn. Plus, it has Vitamins A, C, and E which are antioxidants to protect against signs of aging. Finally, the salon formula does not contain mineral oil, so it’s safe for tanning beds. (Oils can create a damaging film on the acrylic in tanning beds.)
2. Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion
Ed Hardy’s Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion stops your tattoos from fading in ultraviolet light. And it features tyrosine and melanin to speed up your tanning. These two components continue to work for hours after you’ve left the tanning booth.
Fans of this lotion love its tasty fragrance from coconut oil and cocoa butter. They nourish and soften your skin to prolong your tan. Also, the formula contains a proprietary blend called Body Fit that hides the appearance of cellulite. Salons often recommend this lotion for pale skin because it has tanning intensifiers but no tingling effect.
3. Australian Gold Dark Tanning Accelerator Lotion
Everyone has something they’d like to hide. But whether it’s freckles or cellulite, the Tanning Accelerator lotion from Australian Gold can fix it. It evens skin tone and fills in the texture to make your skin look perfect. But it also bronzes you with erythrulose and DHA so even if you don’t visit the salon, you’ll look as if you did.
4. Australian Gold CHEEKY BROWN Dark Natural Bronzers
On the other hand, if you want a little feeling when you tan, try the Australian Gold Cheeky Brown. It contains tea tree oil for a mild tingling effect. But the best features of this indoor tanning lotion are its instant bronzers and tanning intensifiers. It’s the best indoor tanning lotion for fair skin.
For example, the formula has henna and caramel that instantly grants you a sun-kissed appearance from the moment you apply it. Then it has a Biosine Complex that stimulates pigment production to help you achieve a natural tan as quickly as possible. And to sum up, there’s also aloe, panthenol, and other natural moisturizers to keep your skin healthy.
5. Hempz HYPOALLERGENIC DARK TAN Maximizer
The Hempz Dark Tan Maximizer lotion is hypoallergenic for sensitive skin. It’s also 100% vegan and free of parabens, dyes, and perfumes.
The other benefit is that it’s made from pure hemp seed oil, oatmeal, and mango seed butter. These powerful ingredients soothe and protect your skin from drying out under the light.
6. Devoted Creations #TANLIFE Hydrating Tanning Butter
Customers who’ve fallen in love with the #TANLIFE tanning butter from Devoted Creations say two things about it. The first is that it melts into their skin without making it greasy. And the second is that it helps them achieve a base tan without streaking their skin or changing their natural color with bronzers.
Devoted Creations also points out that this lotion protects tattoos from fading and also contains skin-firming and anti-aging benefits.
7. Ed Hardy Peace & Harmony Tanning Intensifier Bronzing Lotion
If you don’t feel as young as you used to, perhaps you need some Peace & Harmony from Ed Hardy. It contains ingredients like green tea extract and wheat protein that rejuvenate skin. But it also has MelanoBronze dark tanning activators to deepen your tan right from the start. In addition, you won’t walk away smelling like you’ve just been tanning.
8. Australian Gold Sinfully Black 15x Deep Dark Bronzing Tanning Lotion
The Sinfully Black Deep Dark lotion has black currant oil, caramel, and Walnut shell extract which are all instant bronzers. Once you put it on, you almost don’t need to visit the tanning salon. The tasty Temptuous Berry fragrance enchants users while natural oils and aloe to soften the skin.
9. Ed Hardy Obnoxious Extreme Bronzer Tingle Tanning Lotion
Dedicated tanners often prefer tingle tanning lotions. The Ed Hardy Obnoxious Extreme Bronzer Tingle Tanning Lotion is rated as feeling hotter than the fabled BombShell lotion. It’s also packed with skin-firming and deodorizing ingredients.
If you’re not familiar with this type of lotion, you may be asking yourself why someone would want to feel like their skin is on fire as they tan. It’s because the tingling components speed up circulation and intensify your tan. But do take note that if you tan with one of these, don’t plan on embracing an infant or playing with the dog until after you’ve showered. The powerful ingredients will cause their skin to burn, too.
10. Ed Hardy Body Shots Double Shot Warning Mega Extreme
You’ll look like you got a sunburn after you’ve tried the Body Shots Double Shot lotion from Ed Hardy. But the redness will fade into a healthy bronze after only one session at the salon. The extreme hot formula speeds up melanin production while DHA and other bronzers instantly darken your skin.
11. Swedish Beauty Pink Diamond Tanning Lotion
If it sounds like fun to try a different type of lotion, you might want to start with the Swedish Beauty Pink Diamond. Although it’s not exactly for beginning tanners, advanced users say that it’s not extremely hot. They like the fresh citrus fragrance that blocks the typical burned odor. And they say that the lotion makes the skin blush just enough to speed up tanning.
12. Millenium Tanning Black Chai Bronzer Tanning Lotion
Tanning lotions come in good use if you frequently use tanning beds. Millenium black chai bronzer lotion keeps your skin hydrated and moist during the tanning process. It is suitable for all skin types. Millennium’s bronzer keeps your skin feeling tight making it look supple and smooth.
This lotion speeds the darkening process. It uses auto-darkening technology. Once in contact with the skin, the bronzer effect takes place. So apply the lotion carefully as per your requirement only. It has a mild orchid fragrance to it. The bronzer should be used to look tan so don’t overdo it.
13. Millenium Tanning New Solid Black Bronzer Tanning Bed Lotion
The New Solid Black Bronzer lotion from Millenium continues to be a popular product year after year. That’s because it works well when you’re pale and new to tanning. Since it contains instant bronzers, it makes users look good right from the first session.
But experienced tanners enjoy this lotion, too. It’s full of natural moistening ingredients like hemp and sunflower seed oil. The creamy texture goes on smoothly and smells attractive. Plus, it has skin-soothing ingredients like willow bark and chamomile.
14. Millenium Tanning New Paint It Black Lotion, 50X
Paint it Black improves upon the Solid Black lotion with a 50x formula that contains tyrosine, erythrulose, and caramel instant bronzer. The fresh clean cotton blossom fragrance appeals to both women and men. Of course, it has green tea and other natural extracts to fight signs of aging.
15. Australian Gold JWOWW ONE and DONE INTENSIFIER
The JWOWW One and Done tanning intensifier uses tyrosine to speed up skin pigmentation. You should notice a difference after only one session. It also contains vitamins to prevent tattoos from fading. And the combination of raspberry, beeswax, yogurt and shea butter soften the skin to make it look and feel younger.
16. Ocean Potion Dark Tanning Intensifier Lotion
The Ocean Potion intensifier lotion won’t expose you to parabens, gluten, or propylene glycol. Instead, its primary ingredients are aloe, glycerin, and sunflower oil that hydrate and soften your skin. But that’s not all. It’s full of vitamins and other natural ingredients that protect your skin from aging. And it adds a little shimmer, too.
17. Snooki Get Real Tanning Lotion
Snooki’s Get Real also relies on tyrosine to naturally deepen your bronze. It’s not a sunless tanner but a “real” way of deepening your skin tone. Plus, it protects against sun damage with botanical extracts.
18. SupreSnooki Ultra Dark Leg Bronzer W/ Hair Growth Inhibitors
Snooki knows that it’s harder to tan legs. (Why is that anyway?) It’s also a pain to have to remove hair. That’s why this Ultra Dark Leg Bronzer is a best-selling product. It combines three superpowers into one lotion.
The first is that the formula instantly tans your skin so that you’re ready for the beach. Second, it contains hair growth inhibitors. And third, the skin-firming and softening ingredients make your legs look great.
19. Self Tanner with Organic & Natural Ingredients Beauty by Earth
Beauty by earth has released an amazing chemical and paraben-free tanner that makes it look like you have gone on a beach vacation. This tanner is vegan-friendly and has not been tested on animals. Instead of getting toasted in the sun, this is one amazing skin tanner which you can give a shot. The only way you can make this more be more vegan and natural is if you make your tanning oil yourself.
High-quality ingredients like organic green tea extracts, organic shea butter, and organic coconut oil give your skin a beautiful glow. Initially, you should apply just one layer application. If you wish for a darker shade, repeat it the next day. Before applying the skin tanner, exfoliate your skin to remove all the oil and dirt and make your skin clear.
20. New Sunshine Swedish Beauty Bronzer
New Sunshine Swedish Beauty Bronzer is a lotion with extracts of caffeine and allantoin. This leaves your skin looking great. The allantoin and caffeine tones the appearance of your skin and improves your tissue growth. This natural moisture is required to stabilize oily or dry skin.
New Sunshine Swedish Bronzer is suitable for all skin types. It comes in a variety of fragrance like Vanilla, Cherry, Apricot, and Dark Rum, etc. This also keeps your skin feeling great.
Get the Most From Your Indoor Tanning Sessions
When you schedule your first session, prepare ahead of time to get the most from it. Begin by exfoliating the day before you visit the salon. Getting rid of the dead skin on top makes it easier for you to tan and will help your bronze last longer.
Next, begin tanning at least a couple of weeks before you want to look your best. That’s because it takes a while to build a base tan safely. And you’ll want to space sessions at least two days apart to protect your skin from undesirable effects.
Bring an old towel because lotions with bronzers will rub off and stain it. Then don’t stack up errands to run right after your session because you won’t want to shower for at least three hours At least, not if you want the tanning intensifiers to keep working.
While you’re in the bed, lay flat but make small movements to ensure that your whole body is exposed. If beds make you claustrophobic, there are salons with booths where you stand instead.
Finally, a tan won’t last longer than a month but may fade faster than that. To prevent losing your color, apply lotion or tan extender creams every day.
If the tanning bed is not the way you want to go about it. you could consider going the spray tan route, and you can easily do this at home without spending too much. Check out our recommended spray tan machines here.
Tanning Terms
These are some key terms you’ll want to know:
- A self-tanner or sunless tanner, AKA “fake bake” lotion, will darken your skin for up to 5 days
- A tanning accelerator or intensifier stimulates the production of melanin or skin pigment and may contain the amino acid tyrosine
- A bronzer works like a sunless tanner by instantly deepening your color with dyes and then over time with ingredients like DHA and erythrulose
Another thing to know is your skin type. It affects how well you tan. The staff at the salon should be able to help you with this information.
Conclusion
A tan can make you look healthy and feel confident. And one of the best indoor tanning lotions will help you get dark fast. We hope you discovered plenty of enticing possibilities to try.
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