Best Sunscreen for Tanning in 2021

It sounds contradictory doesn’t it – applying sunscreen when you’re trying to develop a tan. After all, doesn’t sunscreen create a barrier?

Well, it creates a healthy barrier, and therein lies the difference.

Everyone wants to develop a sun-kissed glow. And everyone wants it fast! But is a quick-fix tan really worth increasing your risk of skin cancer?

The only healthy way to develop a tan is to do so gradually, while remaining protected with sunscreen. This allows you to stay in the sun longer and build your tan through controlled exposure. Without sunscreen, that ‘colour’ you call a ‘tan’ is actually just UV damage!

After extensive research into which products offer adequate protection while allowing you to build a sun-kissed glow, SimplySunSafe can recommend Lancaster Sun Beauty Melting Tanning Milk as the best sunscreen for tanning.

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When you head out in the summer sun, remember to stay protected. Don’t reach for tanning oils (or ditch the sunscreen!) just to get a quick-smart tan!

Read on for a comparison table, detailed buyer’s guide, and in-depth reviews of our top five sunscreens for tanning.

Best Sunscreen for Tanning Comparison

Buyer’s Guide

To be sure that your skin is sufficiently protected against harmful UV rays during your extended time in the sun while tanning, there are a few must-have features that you should look for in your sunscreen:

Broad-spectrum protection

One of the most important features that you should search for when buying sunscreen for any purpose is broad-spectrum protection. This means that the sunscreen you’re buying protects against both UVA and UVB rays. This is essential in fully protecting your skin because each type of ray works differently.

UVB radiation causes your skin to burn or tan by damaging its outer layer. UVA radiation, on the other hand, penetrate your skin’s deepest layer (the dermis) contributing to premature aging.

Exposure to both types of rays increases your risk of skin cancer. Tanning may be a result of UVA rays, but that does not mean that you want to leave your skin unprotected against them just for a golden color!

Since you want to tan your skin, you will be spending large amounts of time with your skin exposed to the sun and its harmful UV rays. You need to be sure that you are always protected with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, in order to minimize the damage to your skin.

How will you know if the sunscreen you’re buying is broad-spectrum?

Check the label and the ingredients list. On many sunscreen bottles, you will find the words ‘broad spectrum’ or ‘UVA/B,’ making it clear that the product provides adequate protection. You can also check the ingredients list for zinc oxide. Sunscreens with zinc oxide protect against the full range of UVA/B rays, and are always a safe option.

The FDA has made broad-spectrum protection a requirement so the majority of sunscreens you see will protect against both UVA/B rays. But it certainly won’t hurt you to double-check the ingredients and label in your search for the best sunscreen for getting a tan!

Best SPF for tanning

Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is one of those things most people think they understand, but when asked, realize they don’t really know much about. Yet it seems like we all turn to the SPF rating to help us decide whether or not we should buy a specific sunscreen. It’s an important feature, and knowing what it really means will help your search for a safe tan!

The SPF rating of any given sunscreen tells you what fraction of the sun’s rays will reach your skin when wearing the product (when properly applied). This means that if you are wearing a sunscreen with SPF 50 then 1/50th of the sun’s rays will reach your skin.

This explains why you are able to spend more time in the sun when you are wearing sunscreen. But do not get overexcited and get confused about the meaning!

A sunscreen with SPF 50 will not protect your skin for 50 times longer in the sun than if you were not wearing sunscreen. A lot of factors come into play when it comes to the effectiveness of SPF. These include things like time of day, the amount of sunscreen, whether it was properly applied, and the reflections from other surfaces like water or sand.

Take a look at this table below to really understand how much protection different SPF ratings provide you with:

SPF Rating	UVB Protection
None	0%
2	50%
15	93%
30	97%
50	98%
100	99%

It’s a bit different than you thought, right? Truthfully, there is little difference between a sunscreen with SPF 100 and one with SPF 30.

SimplySunSafe recommends that you always use a sunscreen with an SPF rating no lower than 30 and no higher than 50. Our recommendation is in line with that of the FDA. That may sound high when you want to get a tan, but remember that you’ll be doing it gradually to protect your skin. So always wear the best SPF for tanning and regularly reapply!

Physical is better than chemical

Sunscreens can be divided into two types – chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the sun’s UV rays as they reach your skin. Physical sunscreens work by reflecting the UV rays before they even reach your skin.

But do these different sunscreen types really matter? Trust me, they do!

There are a few important reasons why SimplySunSafe recommends physical or combination sunscreens over chemical ones. Physical sunscreens:

• Stop more radiation reaching your skin
• Protect against more of the UV spectrum (longer wavelength radiation)
• Work immediately upon application
• Last longer on the skin
• Are less likely to cause irritation
• Have a longer shelf life

There are also a couple of good reasons not to choose chemical sunscreens. The most important of these is that chemical sunscreens contain ingredients that are endocrine disruptors. Can’t recall what you learned in biology? No problem, let me explain.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that mess with your hormones. No bio knowledge needed to understand that you don’t want that! Make sure that you always check a sunscreen’s ingredients for the worst endocrine disruptor, oxybenzone, and avoid it no matter what!

There are some other keywords you can search for when buying a sunscreen. Look for the words ‘physical’ or ‘mineral’ on the label. This gives you a clear indication that you’re buying a physical sunscreen. If you want to be even more certain, you can make sure that the only active ingredients used are zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. These are two safe yet effective ingredients.

Now that you know skipping sunscreen is not an option in your pursuit of tanning, do yourself a favor and seek out a sunscreen of great quality. The best sunscreen for a tan will always be a physical one!

Water-resistant

So now you know you need to wear a strong and effective sunscreen when you are tanning. This will ensure your sunscreen won’t falter in protecting your skin as you push the limits of sun exposure. To help with this, you’ll want a sunscreen that is water-resistant.

If you are going to spend more time in the sun to tan your skin, you are more than likely going to swim, or even more likely, sweat! If your sunscreen is not water-resistant, it will melt right off you, leaving your skin vulnerable to damage from UV radiation.

Sunscreens are sold with water resistance choices of 40 or 80 minutes. The best sunscreen to tan fast will be one that is stronger and works longer. That means you want to choose a sunscreen with water resistance for 80 minutes.

Think about it. You want to tan, that means you want your skin to be under as much sun as possible, which means you will sweat! Make sure your sunscreen will not melt and leave you unprotected while you’re tanning.

Something important to keep in mind is that no sunscreen is ‘waterproof’ or ‘sweatproof’. Don’t be fooled by any misleading labels and assume you’ll be able to tan for hours without reapplying your sunscreen.

Stick with a sunscreen that specifies 80 minutes of water resistance, and be strict about reapplying it at least every two hours (more often if you are swimming or really sweating)!

Rub on lotion not spray

The lighter feel of spray sunscreen may seem like the better option for optimizing your ability to tan, but I do not recommend spray sunscreens. You need a safe and effective sunscreen when exposing your skin to more sun in order to tan. And the safety and effectiveness of spray sunscreens is questionable at best.

Rub on lotion is always a safer option. This is because it is too easy to accidentally inhale the chemicals in spray sunscreens when you’re applying them. And while your skin is able to handle these chemicals, your internal lung tissue is not.

Spray sunscreens are also less effective than rub on lotions. Can you really apply a sufficient and even layer of sunscreen all over your body with a spray sunscreen? It’s unlikely. Rub on lotions provide you with greater control of the sunscreen’s proper application.

When searching for the best sunscreen for a dark tan, you will want one that will provide you with adequate protection. Spray sunscreens will not protect you strongly or evenly enough to be able to spend extended amounts of time in the sun. With a rub-on lotion, you will control the thickness of the layer you apply and its even distribution around your skin.

Suitable for daily use

A healthy tan is built gradually. This means that you will need to be out in the sun each day to create the golden tan you’re seeking. So you want a sunscreen that you can wear every day without issue or irritation.

Sunscreens that will not irritate your skin with daily use while you build up your tan will have physical active ingredients (preferably zinc oxide), be hypoallergenic, and free of things like parabens.

Each of the products recommended in this guide has been chosen based on their respective formulas and their suitability for daily use. These sunscreens will not irritate your skin no matter how many reapplications are necessary during your many hours’ tanning.

5 Best Sunscreens for Tanning

After careful research into the most effective sunscreen for tan skin, which included discussing issues with customers, reviewing customer feedback, examining manufacturer specifications, and participating in skincare forums, SimplySunSafe has chosen the 5 best sunscreens for tanning.

Each product provides broad-spectrum protection, physical protection of SPF 30 or greater, and water resistance. They are all free of oxybenzone, suitable for daily use, and available in rub on lotions.

1. Lancaster Sun Beauty Melting Tanning Milk SPF 15

Last update on 2021-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Lancaster’s Sun Beauty Silky Milk SPF15 for the body is scientifically formulated to give you that lasting, golden tan without all of those harmful UV rays!

In addition, the Lancaster Tanning System combines light from the sun with a complex of tan activators to give you an even, natural-looking bronze that lasts.

Also, Sun Beauty Silky Milk SPF15 is a lightweight lotion that provides adequate sun protection and moisturizes the skin.

It also helps develop your tan with its self-tanning properties, bringing you radiant beauty all year round.

The ingredients in this product not only protect your skin from UVB & UVA rays, but they also shield it against the effects of Visible Light + Infrared.

With the Tan Activator Complex in your arsenal, it aids boost natural melanin production to prepare skin for the perfect, long-lasting tan from day one!

Lancaster Sun Beauty Silky Milk SPF 15 is our top pick from the selection as it provides a perfect tan without burning the skin. All while keeping the skin moisturized and smooth.

Moreover, its compact design makes it environmentally conscious by producing a lower carbon footprint and also is a travel-friendly product for the same reason.

2. Sun Bum SPF 15 Moisturizing Tanning Oil

Last update on 2021-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Sun Bum Tanning Oil is perfect for those who want a beautiful bronze tan without the dry, flaky skin that comes with it.

Give your skin the perfect sun-kissed glow with the Broad Spectrum SPF 15 UVA/UVB Protecting Dark Tanning Oil! Their dark tanning oil lets you get bronzed without worrying about damaging your complexion.

Moreover, their water-resistant and reef-friendly sun protection is perfect for all skin types. Our SPF products are fantastic for people who love to swim, dive into the ocean, or lounge on a beach chair in hot sunshine!

Your skin will be in love with this summer lotion. Get your hands on this lineup of ingredients: Aloe Vera, Green Tea Butter, Marula Oil, Argan Oil, and Avocado oil. These are all great for the winter months as well!

It doesn’t matter if you’re going to work or on vacation; the sun can be harmful in many ways without protection!

Don’t worry, though, because we have your back with our Hypoallergenic and Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Gluten-Free sunscreen that’s also Cruelty & Paraben free!

3. Australian Gold Sunscreen Lotion with Instant Bronzer

Last update on 2021-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The name says it all, SPF 30, Sunflower Seed Oil, Olive Fruit Oil & Cocoa Butter.

It’s no wonder that this formula is designed to provide ultimate hydration and deep moisturizing for your skin. And the caramel bronzer imparts a beautiful faux sun-kissed golden glow!

For a natural glow, this blend of Kakadu Plum extract with the highest content of Vitamin C and Tea Tree Oil is powerful.

It fights off free radicals to leave you feeling refreshed while also eliminating blemishes on your skin.

The sunscreen comes in a tropical scent of Coconut, Orange, and Vanilla.

Broad Spectrum Sunblock shields your skin from the harmful effects of UV rays and reduces sun damage.

Apply this lightweight, non-greasy sun protector lotion 15 minutes before stepping out in the summertime.

4. Coppertone Tanning Sunscreen Lotion

Last update on 2021-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The lightweight formula won’t make your skin feel greasy. This is perfect for people who are looking to get natural coverage.

This water-resistant sunscreen can protect against sun damage on areas of the body not covered by clothing or when swimming in chlorinated pools.

Its Vitamin E enriched moisturizer leaves behind radiantly smooth skin after just one application.

The BrandSpark American Trust Study found that Coppertone was voted the most trusted brand of sunscreen by Americans.

The sunscreen tanning lotion has Coppertone’s classic fragrance that is a favorite among the regular users of the product.

5. Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen Protective Tanning Dry Oil

Last update on 2021-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Banana Boat Ultra Sport with broad-spectrum SPF 50 is designed to give you maximum protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays while keeping your skin very well moisturized as you go about your daily holiday routines in the sun. Made without oxybenzone or octinoxate, this sunscreen is reef safe and ecofriendly. Useful for many purposes, hiking, camping, swimming, and tanning included, you can be sure you are well protected at a high SPF of 50.

Banana boat is formulated with an advanced technology that ensures that you have no sunburns or damage to your skin. It also contains an active protect formula to ensure that it is quickly absorbed into your body. It is nongreasy, nonoily and noncomedogenic. It also doesn’t irritate your skin and it contains no fragrance. Another great advantage of this sunscreen is that it is ready to go; it comes in very small containers that make it easy to carry around. Moreso, it is a great value for your money, it is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes which means you can go for a swim without worry and even when you sweat, it doesn’t run into or irritate your eyes and it is suitable for family use! A letdown, however, is that it is thick and not so easy to blend in to the skin. For this reason, we won’t recommend this as a first choice!

Conclusion

This guide was written for those who are trying to find the best sunscreen for tanning. I really hope that by reading this guide, you gained more knowledge about how to tan healthily and what to look for in a sunscreen for tanning. I hope you found a product that fits your specific needs!

SimplySunSafe recommends  Lancaster Sun Beauty Melting Tanning Milk as it provides a perfect tan without burning the skin. All while keeping the skin moisturized and smooth. But all 5 products will sufficiently protect your skin while you spend time in the sun tanning.

Keep in mind that it is always a good idea to test a few products when searching for your perfect sunscreen. After testing different sunscreens, you will be able to make a more informed decision about which one fits your personal needs. Then you will be able to proceed with your desire to achieve golden skin in the least harmful way possible.

I really love to learn new things and hear about new products from people around me. So if you use or know of another sunscreen that is good for tanning, please let me know in the comments. I will check it out and maybe even add it to this list!

FAQs

Q: Does sunscreen decrease tan?

A: Sunscreen may prevent tanning to some degree but doesn’t decrease your tan as it’s the UVA and UVB rays that lead to tanning. However, sunscreen does offer at least some protection against premature skin aging from other forms of radiation such as infrared light or visible light, which affects collagen production. It also helps protect you from painful burns caused by overexposure to UV light. 

Q: Can you use tan accelerator with sunscreen?

A: Tan accelerators boost your skin’s natural melanin production by providing a tanning agent, such as Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which helps in tanning. But sunscreen blocks out DHA from having an effect on your skin and causing a sunburn-like reaction. 

So while they have almost opposite effects, pairing SPF with an accelerator ensures protected skin while also helping speed up the tanning process. Feel free to apply a thin layer of a tan accelerator before applying sunscreen. 

Q: Can I wear sunscreen and tanning oil?

A: Preferring tanning oil over sunscreen can leave your skin defenseless against harmful rays from the sun, leaving it damaged in time. Yet, combining the two is also not an ideal choice. 

But you can still use them together – Just make sure to lather up with sunscreen before putting any tanning oil on top of it so that your skin is protected for a more extended time period while getting darker faster. 

Q: Which SPF number will prevent you from tanning?

A: None. The SPF number, or sun protection factor, of a sunscreen, only refers to the amount of time needed for your unprotected skin to turn pink after going out in the sun. A higher number means it’ll take longer for your skin to get burned than a sunscreen with lower SPF. 

It does not account for how much pigment in your skin tone is being released by melanin when exposed to UV rays and has nothing to do with whether or not someone burns or tans while wearing the cream.

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