Yes, you can make tanning oil at home, and it’s simpler than most people expect. The most effective homemade tanning oils combine a carrier oil — such as coconut, olive, or avocado — with lighter oils like sesame or walnut that help attract UV light to the skin and speed up the tanning process. You can mix and match based on what you have available and add a few drops of essential oil for scent.

Homemade tanning oils work on the same principle as store-bought versions: the oils create a reflective layer on the skin that draws in more UV light, warming the skin and encouraging the melanin response that produces a tan. They’re free from artificial chemicals, more affordable than commercial products, and easy to customise for your skin type.

Below we cover four recipes for different skin types, the best individual oils to use, how to apply your homemade tanning oil effectively, and an important safety note that most DIY tanning oil guides leave out entirely.

Key Takeaways

Homemade tanning oils work by attracting UV light to the skin and creating a warm, reflective layer that speeds up the natural tanning process.
The best carrier oils for tanning are coconut, olive, avocado, and sesame — all moisturising, skin-nourishing, and effective at enhancing UV absorption.
Homemade tanning oils contain no artificial preservatives, parabens, or synthetic fragrance — making them a cleaner alternative to many commercial products.
Important: Natural tanning oils do not provide meaningful SPF protection. Always apply a separate SPF product if you are prone to burning, or limit session times carefully.
Sesame oil and walnut oil naturally darken the skin slightly and can enhance the depth of your tan.
Store all homemade tanning oil in a dark glass container away from direct light to preserve the oils and prevent oxidation.
Exfoliating before applying tanning oil gives a more even result — dead skin cells on the surface absorb oil unevenly and can cause patchiness.

How Tanning Oil Works

Tanning oil works by intensifying the amount of UV radiation that reaches the skin’s surface. The oils create a thin, glossy layer that attracts and concentrates UV light onto the skin — similar to the way a magnifying glass focuses light. This increased UV exposure accelerates the skin’s natural tanning response.

When UV rays penetrate the outer layers of skin and reach the epidermis, they interact with specialised cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin — the pigment responsible for skin colour. The more melanin produced, the darker the skin tone becomes. Tanning oil speeds up this process by increasing the effective UV exposure during a session, meaning you can achieve a deeper tan in less time outdoors. [D’Orazio J et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2013]

This is also why the safety considerations around tanning oil matter — accelerating UV exposure speeds up tanning, but it equally accelerates the risk of burning if exposure time isn’t managed carefully.

Important Safety Note

Before we get into the recipes, this point is worth making clearly: homemade tanning oils do not provide meaningful sun protection.

Some recipes online suggest that raspberry seed oil or carrot seed oil offer natural SPF. While these oils do contain antioxidants that are beneficial for skin health, the evidence that they provide reliable sun protection is not strong — the SPF values sometimes cited for raspberry seed oil come from a single in vitro study and have not been validated in clinical human trials. Relying on natural oils as a substitute for proper SPF is not a safe approach. [Oomah BD et al., Food Chemistry, 2000]

Homemade tanning oil is designed to enhance UV exposure, not protect against it. If you are fair-skinned, prone to burning, or tanning during peak UV hours, use a tanning oil alongside a separate broad-spectrum SPF product — applied first, with the tanning oil over the top — or limit your session time and build up gradually. For guidance on timing, see our article on what UV index is best for tanning.

Benefits of Making Tanning Oil at Home

No Artificial Chemicals

Many commercial tanning oils contain parabens, synthetic fragrance, petroleum derivatives, and artificial colourants. DIY tanning oils use only what you choose to put in them — natural carrier oils, plant-based additions, and essential oils if you want a scent. For people with sensitive skin or a preference for cleaner products, this is a meaningful advantage.

More Affordable

The ingredients for a good homemade tanning oil — coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil — are widely available and inexpensive. A single batch typically costs a fraction of what you’d spend on a branded product and makes enough for multiple sessions.

Customisable for Your Skin Type

You have full control over every ingredient. Dry skin benefits from heavier, more nourishing oils like avocado and wheat germ. Oilier skin types may prefer lighter options such as sesame or sunflower. You can also adjust the scent, add bronzing elements like mica powder, or leave it entirely unscented — none of which is possible with a commercial product.

Genuinely Effective

Natural oils are effective at speeding up the tanning process. Their reflective, glossy finish on the skin does concentrate UV light, and many of the oils — particularly sesame and walnut — have a slight natural darkening effect on the skin that enhances the visual result. For tips on getting the best results from your sessions, see our guide on how to tan darker and faster without burning.

How to Make Tanning Oil at Home

Here are four recipes suited to different skin types and tanning goals. All use ingredients that are widely available. Store every finished oil in a dark glass bottle or container — UV light degrades natural oils and shortens their shelf life significantly.

1. All-Natural Tanning Oil (General Use)

A well-rounded blend that suits most skin types. The carrot seed oil adds antioxidant properties and a subtle warmth to the skin tone, while lavender and sandalwood give a pleasant, natural scent.

What You Need:

¼ cup (4 tablespoons) olive oil
2 tablespoons avocado oil
½ tablespoon carrot seed oil
½ tablespoon raspberry seed oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops sandalwood essential oil
1 teaspoon bronze mica powder (optional — adds a shimmer effect)
Dark glass bottle or container

Steps:

Combine all liquid oils in a glass bowl and stir until fully blended.
Add the essential oils and stir again.
If using mica powder for shimmer, add it last and mix thoroughly.
Transfer to your dark glass container and store away from light and heat.

2. Tropical Tanning Oil (Deep Colour)

A coconut-forward blend with a beach scent. Sesame oil gives this recipe a natural darkening quality that adds depth to the tan, while coconut oil provides excellent moisture. This is a good option if you want a richer, darker result. For more on using coconut oil specifically, see our guide on tanning with coconut oil.

What You Need:

½ cup (8 tablespoons) coconut oil (melt gently if solid)
3 tablespoons avocado oil
3 tablespoons walnut oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
5–8 drops essential oil of your choice (coconut or vanilla work well)
Dark glass container

Steps:

If your coconut oil is solid, warm it gently for a few seconds until liquid — do not overheat.
Add avocado oil, walnut oil, and sesame oil and stir until fully combined.
Add your chosen essential oil and mix well.
Pour into an airtight dark glass container. If coconut oil is part of the blend, it may solidify again at cooler temperatures — this is normal. Warm briefly before use.

3. Hydrating Tanning Oil (Dry Skin)

If your skin is dry or flaky, tanning tends to produce patchy, uneven results — and UV exposure dries skin further. This blend uses wheat germ oil, which is exceptionally rich in Vitamin E, alongside avocado and walnut oils for deep nourishment. It’s the best option if your skin needs intensive moisture alongside a tan.

What You Need:

3 tablespoons avocado oil
3 tablespoons walnut oil
3 tablespoons wheat germ oil
3 tablespoons sesame oil
5–8 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)
Dark glass container

Steps:

Combine all oils in a glass bowl and mix thoroughly.
Add essential oil if using and stir again.
Pour into a dark glass container and store in a cool, dark place.

4. Fair Skin Tanning Oil (Gentle Formula)

For lighter skin tones, the priority is a formula that supports the tanning process without over-exposing vulnerable skin. This blend leans heavily on olive oil and avocado for their antioxidant content and skin-protective properties. Pair this with shorter, carefully timed sessions and always stop before your skin starts to redden. See our guide on tanning tips for pale skin for session guidance specific to lighter skin tones.

What You Need:

½ cup (8 tablespoons) olive oil
3 tablespoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon carrot seed oil
1 tablespoon raspberry seed oil
5–8 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)
Dark glass container

Steps:

Combine olive oil and avocado oil in a glass bowl and stir well.
Add carrot seed oil and raspberry seed oil and mix thoroughly.
Add essential oil if using.
Transfer to a dark glass container and store away from light.

The Best Individual Oils for Tanning

If you’d prefer not to make a blend, several oils work well applied directly to the skin before a tanning session. Here are the most effective single-oil options:

Coconut Oil

The most popular tanning oil by far. Rich in fatty acids that penetrate the skin quickly, coconut oil moisturises deeply while creating the reflective surface that attracts UV light. It has a natural, subtle scent and suits most skin types well. See our full guide on tanning with coconut oil for how to use it effectively.

Olive Oil

High in Vitamin E and antioxidants, olive oil is an excellent tanning and moisturising oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the best option — it’s the least processed and retains the highest concentration of beneficial compounds. Mixing it with a small amount of carrot juice is a popular combination for deepening the tone of the resulting tan.

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is notable because it has a slight natural darkening effect on the skin, giving a warmer tone to the tan. It absorbs reasonably quickly and is a good choice for people who want a deeper-looking result from their sessions.

Sunflower Oil

Lightweight and non-greasy, sunflower oil is a good option for people who find heavier oils like coconut oil too rich for their skin. It absorbs quickly, moisturises well, and works effectively as a UV-attracting base for tanning sessions.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is one of the most nourishing options available. It penetrates deeply into the skin and is particularly good for areas that dry out quickly during sun exposure, such as the elbows, knees, and shoulders. It’s an excellent addition to any blend or a strong standalone option for dry skin.

Hazelnut Oil

Rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids, hazelnut oil is found in many commercial tanning products for good reason. It absorbs well, provides solid moisture retention during UV exposure, and suits sensitive skin types particularly well.

Aloe Vera Gel

While not an oil in the traditional sense, aloe vera gel is worth including here because it has well-documented skin-soothing and moisturising properties. [Surjushe A et al., Indian Journal of Dermatology, 2008] It can be mixed into a blend to reduce inflammation risk during and after tanning, and applied neat after a session to calm any mild redness. It’s an especially useful addition for sensitive or reactive skin.

How to Apply Homemade Tanning Oil

The application process matters as much as the recipe. A few simple steps make the difference between an even, glowing result and a patchy one:

Exfoliate the day before. Dead skin cells on the surface absorb oil unevenly and cause patchy tanning. A gentle body scrub the evening before your session gives you a smooth, even canvas to work with.
Apply to dry skin. Wet or damp skin dilutes the oil and reduces its effectiveness. Make sure your skin is completely dry before applying.
Use enough to cover evenly. Apply a thin, even layer all over. You don’t need a thick coating — just enough to create a visible sheen on the skin. Massage it in gently to ensure full coverage.
Pay attention to dry areas. Elbows, knees, ankles, and the tops of feet absorb oil more heavily. Use a slightly lighter touch in these areas to avoid them going darker than the surrounding skin.
Reapply if swimming or sweating. Water and sweat remove tanning oil quickly. Reapply after any time in the water.
Moisturise after your session. Applying a good body moisturiser after tanning helps maintain your skin’s hydration and keeps your tan looking fresh for longer.

For a broader overview of tanning oil use, see our full guide on how to use tanning oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best homemade tanning oil recipe?

The best all-round homemade tanning oil is a blend of olive oil, avocado oil, carrot seed oil, and raspberry seed oil with a few drops of essential oil for scent. This combination works well for most skin types — it moisturises deeply, attracts UV light effectively, and doesn’t leave a heavy residue. If you want a darker result, add sesame or walnut oil to the blend.

Does homemade tanning oil actually work?

Yes. Natural oils create a reflective layer on the skin that concentrates UV light and accelerates the tanning response. Oils like sesame and walnut also have a slight natural darkening effect that enhances the tone of the tan. The results won’t differ dramatically from a commercial tanning oil — the core mechanism is the same. What you lose is the added bronzers and synthetic ingredients some commercial products include for an immediate colour effect.

Do natural oils protect you from the sun?

No — not reliably. Some sources suggest that raspberry seed oil or carrot seed oil offer natural SPF, but this is based on limited in vitro research that has not been confirmed in clinical human studies. Natural tanning oils should not be used as a substitute for proper sun protection. If you’re prone to burning or will be in strong sun, apply a broad-spectrum SPF product first and keep your session time within safe limits.

What oils make you tan faster?

Sesame oil, coconut oil, and walnut oil are among the most effective at speeding up the tanning process. Sesame oil in particular has a natural darkening quality that adds visible depth to a tan. Olive and avocado oil are better known for their moisturising contribution, but all of these attract UV light to the skin and support faster melanin production.

How long does homemade tanning oil last?

Stored correctly — in a sealed dark glass container, away from light and heat — most homemade tanning oil blends will last 6–12 months. Oils containing wheat germ oil have a shorter shelf life due to its higher Vitamin E content oxidising faster. If your oil smells rancid or changes colour significantly, discard it and make a fresh batch.

Can you use homemade tanning oil in a tanning bed?

Not all oils are safe to use in a tanning bed. Many salons prohibit natural oils because they can damage the acrylic surfaces of the bed. Always check with your salon first. If you use a home canopy tanning bed, lighter oils such as sunflower or a dedicated indoor tanning lotion are safer choices. For outdoor sun tanning, any of the recipes above are suitable.

Final Thoughts

Making tanning oil at home is genuinely easy, effective, and far cheaper than buying commercial products. The recipes above cover most skin types — whether you need deep hydration, a darker result, or a gentler formula for fair skin — and every ingredient is natural, widely available, and free from the additives that make some commercial products unsuitable for sensitive skin.

The one thing to keep in mind is that none of these oils replace sun protection. They’re designed to enhance your tan, not shield your skin. Use them alongside sensible session times, monitor the UV index before you head out, and stop well before your skin shows any sign of redness. Done right, a homemade tanning oil is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your sun tanning routine.

References

D’Orazio J, Jarrett S, Amaro-Ortiz A, Scott T. UV radiation and the skin. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2013;14(6):12222–12248.
A comprehensive review of UV radiation’s interaction with skin biology, including the mechanism by which UV exposure stimulates melanocyte activity and melanin production — the biological basis of tanning.
Oomah BD, Ladet S, Godfrey DV, Liang J, Girard B. Characteristics of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) seed oil. Food Chemistry. 2000;69(2):187–193.
The original study from which SPF claims for raspberry seed oil have been derived. The values reported were from in vitro analysis and have not been replicated in clinical human trials — this paper supports the caution against relying on raspberry seed oil as a sun protection agent.
Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple DG. Aloe vera: a short review. Indian Journal of Dermatology. 2008;53(4):163–166.
A clinical review documenting the skin-soothing, moisturising, and anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera, supporting its use as a skin-calming addition to tanning oil blends and as a post-sun application.
Keen MA, Hassan I. Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatology Online Journal. 2016;7(4):311–315.
A review of Vitamin E’s role in skin health and protection, relevant to the antioxidant properties of several oils used in homemade tanning oil — including avocado, hazelnut, and wheat germ — and their contribution to skin barrier maintenance during UV exposure.