If you have fair skin, you understand how difficult it can be to get a nice tan. Taking your skin from pale to a gorgeous golden color is a lot of work, and often feels like an impossible feat. Finding the best tanning bed lotions for fair skin can make all the difference in the world. We’ve rounded up a list of some of our favorite lotions that you may want to try to step up your tanning game for your fair skin.
Table of Contents
- Best Tanning Bed Lotions for Fair Skin: Which Tanning Lotion Is Best for Fair Skin?
- Does Tanning Lotion Work on Pale Skin?
- How to Tan Pale Skin in a Tanning Bed
- Best Tanning Bed Lotions for Fair Skin: Choosing the Best Tanning Lotion for Pale Skin
- FAQs
Best Tanning Bed Lotions for Fair Skin: Which Tanning Lotion Is Best for Fair Skin?
Let’s jump right in! Our favorite tanning bed lotions for individuals with fair skin are featured below! Which do you think will be right for you?
- Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion
- Devoted Creations #TANLIFE Hydrating Tanning Butter
- Millennium Paint it Black 50X Tanning Lotion
- Hempz Hypoallergenic Dark Tan Maximizer
- Black Hawaiian Honey Bronzer
- Australian Gold Bronzing Accelerator Dark Tanning Lotion
- Maui Island Secret Browning Formula
- Devoted Creations Somewhere on a Beach Tanning Lotion
- St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse
- Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Tanning Lotion
Editor’s Pick – Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- Bronzer-free tanning intensifier
- Stimulates production of melanin
- Protects tattoos against fading
- Coconut vanilla fragrance
If you want to help your tan skin get darker quickly, give the Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion from Ed Hardy a try. This bronzer-free lotion is formulated with a quad tyrosine blend that works to increase the natural production of melanin by the skin, helping you get darker than you would without using the lotion. We think you’ll also love that the tan color you achieve looks more natural.
Why This is the Best Tanning Lotion
We selected Ed Hardy’s Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion as our editor’s pick because we think you’ll be impressed with how well it helps you darken your pale skin. The lotion is formulated with tyrosine which helps stimulate the production of melanin, allowing your skin to get darker and tan more quickly than it otherwise would. We also find the sweet coconut and vanilla scent to be quite pleasant.
What Users Love
This tanning lotion is a fan favorite. Users with pale skin have shared how it helps them get darker, without causing them to burn. Individuals have also shared that their skin feels smooth and nourished after using the tanning lotion. However, some users don’t think it helps them get tan enough since the lotion doesn’t contain any bronzers.
Devoted Creations #TANLIFE Hydrating Tanning Butter
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- Formulated with shea butter for sensitive skin
- Helps provide a natural glow
- Firms skin
- Reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Protects tattoos against fading
The Devoted Creations #TANLIFE Hydrating Tanning Butter should be a top contender for any individual with fair skin looking to achieve a gorgeous, golden tan. This tanning lotion includes shea butter, which also makes it a good choice for individuals with sensitive skin. In addition to helping you achieve a darker tan, this lotion will also help firm skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
What Users Love
Users will tell you that there is something unique and special about this tanning lotion that makes it better than others they have used. They love how well it works to darken their skin and find that the lotion has a pleasant scent. Unfortunately, a few individuals shared that they developed a rash after using the tanning lotion, even though it is labeled as friendly for those with sensitive skin.
Millennium Paint it Black 50X Tanning Lotion
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- 50X Auto Darkening Tan Technology
- Smooths and softens skin
- Firms skin
- Cotton blossom fragrance
If you’re pale and want to get really dark, try the Millennium Paint it Black 50X Tanning Lotion. This tanning lotion with bronzer uses Auto Darkening Tan Technology to help get your skin nice and dark. Plus, it is formulated with an extreme silicone emulsion blend to keep skin feeling smooth and silky.
What Users Love
Individuals, even those with pale skin who normally find it difficult to get a nice tan, have shared that this is their favorite tanning lotion. They love how quickly their skin goes from pale to golden brown after applying the lotion and sitting in the sun or laying in a tanning bed. However, some individuals were not pleased with the lotion and didn’t think it was all that effective.
Hempz Hypoallergenic Dark Tan Maximizer
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- Fast-absorbing
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Formulated with oatmeal and other calming agents
- THC-free
- No parabens, nuts, or gluten
- vegan-friendly
Looking for the best indoor tanning lotion for sensitive skin? Take a look at the Hempz Hypoallergenic Dark Tan Maximizer. The formula contains oatmeal and other calming agents to soothe irritated skin, as well as mango seed butter to keep skin well hydrated. We think you’ll like that the tanning lotion is not greasy and has a very lightweight formula that is absorbed quickly by the skin.
What Users Love
People who have tried this tanning bed lotion love that they can use it without irritating their sensitive skin. They also have found that it works very well at helping them get darker and like that it doesn’t have an overpowering scent.
Black Hawaiian Honey Bronzer
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- 200X black bronzers
- Conditions skin
- Formulated with activated charcoal
- Tropical rainforest scent
Darken that pale skin quickly with the Black Hawaiian Honey Bronzer. This tanning lotion is formulated with 200X black bronzers that work to help users achieve the crisp, golden tan they’ve been desiring. Additionally, this lotion features honey butters to condition the skin and activated charcoal to keep skin looking absolutely radiant.
What Users Love
Many users swear by this tanning lotion. They’ll tell you that it performs better than others they have tried and has a really pleasant scent that isn’t overpowering. Customers also love that this tanning lotion helps them achieve an even, streak-free tan. Unfortunately, some users shared that while they initially got a nice tan after using this tanning lotion, a lot of it seemed to wash off when they showered a few days after tanning.
Australian Gold Bronzing Accelerator Dark Tanning Lotion
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- Absorbs quickly and accelerates the tanning process
- Cleanses skin and keeps free radicals away
- Formulated with biosine complex to help tan last long
- Hydrates skin
- Cocoa dreams scent
Take your tan to the next level with the Australian Gold Bronzing Accelerator Dark Tanning Lotion. This lotion is formulated with a biosine complex that helps get the skin ready for tanning and helps the color last longer. We think you’ll love how dark the bronzer in this tan gets you, as well as how evenly the lotion blends with your skin. The lotion is also infused with vitamin E and other oils that help leave the skin feeling moisturized and smooth.
What Users Love
Individuals who have tried this tanning bed lotion love how soft and smooth their skin feels after using it. They have also shared that it does a nice job helping them achieve a deep and dark tan. Some users felt that the lotion gave their skin too much of an orange tint.
Maui Island Secret Browning Formula
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- Works quickly
- Creates a deep and dark tan
- Formulated with local and natural ingredients from Maui
Get that Hawaiian island tan look with the Maui Island Secret Browning Formula. This tanning lotion is formulated with ingredients local to the island, such as Kukui nut oil, vitamins A, E, and C, passion flower oil, green tea extract, Maui coffee bean extract, and macadamia nut oil, that work to help users tan quickly. In addition to helping you tan quickly, this tanning lotion can also help get your skin to be a deep, golden brown color.
What Users Love
One user called this her “voodoo magic sauce” due to the impressive results she achieved with this tanning lotion. Other users have also expressed their love of the lotion and the results they have seen with using it. However, some users with fair skin said the lotion didn’t really get them tan and just made more freckles come out.
Devoted Creations Somewhere on a Beach Tanning Lotion
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- Free of bronzers and DHA
- Even, streak-free results
- Doesn’t stain
- Reduces appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- Softens skin with coconut oil and walnut oil
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
The Devoted Creations Somewhere on a Beach Tanning Lotion is a bronzer-free option for individuals with pale skin to consider. This tanning lotion will help you get a streak-free and even tan and won’t stain your hands or clothing, unlike lotions with bronzer. It is also formulated with advanced matrixyl synthe 6, an anti-aging peptide. This peptide works to give your skin a more youthful appearance by minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, the lotion is also very hydrating for the skin. Both coconut oil and walnut oil are found in the formula to leave skin feeling silky smooth.
What Users Love
“Wow,” is what many users have said after trying this tanning lotion. They are both surprised and impressed with how well it helped to get their skin dark so quickly. Users also like that they can use the lotion both for indoor tanning on a tanning bed or when tanning out in the sun.
St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- Self-tanning mousse
- Easy application
- Streak-free tan
- Adapts to skin tone
- Lasts for up to 10 days
- Hydrates skin
- No unpleasant odor
As an alternative to tanning in a tanning bed, you can also consider trying a self tanner such as the St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Browning Mousse. This self tanner is simple to apply and allows you to achieve a gorgeous, streak-free tan. The exact color adapts to your skin tone for a more natural look. Plus, the color is long-lasting and can remain up to 10 days. The tanning lotion also doesn’t leave behind an unpleasant odor that you’ll find with many other self tanners. You only need to wait 60 seconds after applying the tanning mousse before getting dressed.
What Users Love
Most users are extremely happy with the results they’ve seen after trying this self-tanning mousse. They also like that the mousse is very easy to apply and dries much quicker than other self tanners they’ve tried. According to users, the color also doesn’t transfer to their clothing, which makes them even happier. Unfortunately, a few users weren’t as happy with how their tan turned out. Some with dry skin said their skin looked too splotchy.
Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Tanning Lotion
Tanning Bed Lotion Highlights
- No orange tint
- Fair to medium tone designed for users with fair skin
- Formulated with clean ingredients
- Safe for use on the face
- Moisturizing
Another self tanning lotion individuals with fair skin may want to consider is the Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Tanning Lotion. This lotion is available in two different tones: fair to medium and medium to dark. The fair to medium is specifically designed for those with a pale or fair skin tone. The Beauty by Earth Self Tanner is formulated with clean ingredients that are good for your skin. Some of these ingredients include organic aloe vera, shea butter, and other hydrating botanical extracts. You can even use this self tanner on your face.
What Users Love
Individuals who have tried this tanning lotion are very happy to have found it. They like that it is made using natural ingredients that are good for their skin. Individuals have also shared that they like the more natural-looking color this tanning lotion provides compared with others they have tried. Another positive, according to users, is that the lotion doesn’t stain their sheets or clothing.
However, a few users didn’t enjoy using this lotion. Some said it didn’t get them dark enough, and a few others shared that they had an allergic reaction to the lotion.
Does Tanning Lotion Work on Pale Skin?
Yes, some tanning lotions work well on pale skin. However, remember that pale skin is more likely to burn or develop skin cancer than other skin types, so be sure to limit your time in the sun or in a tanning bed.
How to Tan Pale Skin in a Tanning Bed
Learning how to tan with pale skin while staying safe is essential. Remember, if you have pale skin, you have a greater risk of developing cancer. This is especially true for individuals who have red hair, freckly skin, moles, skin that tends to burn more easily, are under 18 years old, or are on medications that make them more sensitive to UV light.
If you have pale skin and want to carry on with using a tanning bed, follow the tips below to stay as safe as possible when tanning:
- Only tan for a few minutes at a time for your first few sessions
- Slowly lengthen your sessions over the course of 3 to 4 weeks
- Don’t tan two days in a row
- Stop tanning and give your skin a break if you see any burns or redness
How Long Does It Take Fair Skin to Tan in Tanning Bed?
Everyone’s skin is different, so there isn’t necessarily a set amount of time that it takes to get a good tan. However, generally speaking, you shouldn’t expect to see a truly deep tan until you’ve had at least 10 sessions in the tanning bed.
Can People With Fair Skin Use Tanning Beds?
How do you tan in a tanning bed if you are pale? Using a tanning bed may not be the best idea for individuals with fair skin. If you have fair skin, it is more likely you’ll burn in a tanning bed. Also, keep in mind that there are many facts about tanning beds that may surprise you, such as the fact that they are not any safer than the sun and can even make your skin age more quickly.
If you’re a beginner and haven’t used a tanning bed before, but really want to give it a try, remember to take precautions to keep yourself from getting burned. But, again, it may be best to just skip the tanning bed if you have pale skin.
Best Tanning Bed Lotions for Fair Skin: Choosing the Best Tanning Lotion for Pale Skin
Remember, if you have fair skin, you’re more likely to get skin damage from tanning. Being safe in the sun or when tanning on a tanning bed is essential. Keep this in mind as you select and use one of the tanning lotions recommended above. Which tanning bed lotion are you excited to try on your fair skin?
Check out these related articles on our blog:
- Best Tanning Lotion for Sensitive Skin
- How to Get Tan Fast in a Tanning Bed
- Why Won’t My Legs Tan
- Should You Shower After Tanning
- Rashes After Tanning
- Does Sunscreen Prevent Tanning
- Can You Get Tan When It’s Cloudy Outside
- Tanning Bed Tips For Beginners
- Shaving After Tanning Bed
- How Long Does It Take to Tan Naturally
- Best Indoor Tanning Lotions Review
FAQs
Does tanning lotion work on pale skin?
Yes, some tanning lotions work well on pale skin. However, remember that pale skin is more likely to burn or develop skin cancer than other skin types, so be sure to limit your time in the sun or in a tanning bed.
