If you are going to use a tanning bed you might be wondering if you can use a regular lotion in a tanning bed.
No, you should not use regular lotion in a tanning bed ideally. The reason it’s not ideal is because it hasn’t been formulated with the important ingredients in mind for tanning bed use. It will not serve the purpose that tanning lotion does such as helping to keep the skin hydrated and enhance your tanning session and can even lead to a patchy or uneven tan!
Below we will get into that in more detail now!
Can You Use Regular Lotion in a Tanning Bed?
While you can use regular lotion in a tanning bed it is not recommended. The first important thing to talk about is when you use regular lotion in a tanning bed that is will reduce the effectiveness of the tanning process. Often these kinds of lotions may even block the UV rays which can diminish the effectiveness of using a tanning bed. Sometimes this can lead to a patchy or uneven tan.
When you are using a tanning bed it uses UV rays that stimulate the melanin production in your skin. Melanin is what’s responsible for creating a natural looking tan on your skin. When you apply these regular kinds of lotions it can block the UV rays from reaching the skin at least to an extent which can mess up your tan’s development in some cases.
Generally thicker kinds of lotions like creams are much more likely to interfere with the tanning process. That is typically why most tanning lotions come in the form of oils because they don’t block the UV rays’ effect and will even enhance it. If you want to use a regular lotion instead of a tanning lotion your best option would be an oil-based lotion because these are much less likely to interfere with the tanning process.
When using a tanning bed, it’s best to use a tanning lotion that is formulated for use in a tanning bed. Tanning bed lotions are formulated to help to protect your skin from the UV rays while also enhancing and speeding up the tanning process.
There are also ingredients included that help the skin tan more smoothly and evenly. That is something that you won’t find with regular lotion.
The final important element of tanning bed lotion is the moisturizing and hydrating effects. It’s designed to keep the skin as soft and hydrated as possible. That of which is very important because using tanning beds can make your skin more dry. If you are using a regular lotion the chances are higher that your skin will become more dry and flaky. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to use a tanning bed lotion instead if and when possible.
Important Related Questions
Can I Use Regular Lotion to Tan Outside?
Just like with tanning beds it’s best not too use regular lotion outside. The reason for this is because it can interfere with the tanning process that can lead to an uneven or patchy tan, and it does not hydrate the skin as well as tanning lotion would.
Can You Tan Without Tanning Lotion?
Yes you can tan without tanning lotion. Though usually tanning lotion helps keep your skin better hydrated and will often result in a better tan when you do use it.
Can You Use Tanning Oil in a Tanning Bed?
Using tanning oil in a tanning bed is a better choice than using regular lotion. Though ideally it is not the best choice. It is an okay choice that you can use on occasion, but it should not be a substitute for tanning lotion in the long run.
What Can You Use Instead of Tanning Bed Lotion?
Instead of using tanning bed lotion you can use natural lotions or oils. A couple of example of natural oils that work well are olive oil and coconut oil. Both of these oils are good because they help to keep the skin moist and hydrated and also help to speed up the tanning process. They are a great alternative if you don’t have easy access to a tanning bed lotion at that moment.
Do You Need Special Tanning Lotion for Tanning Beds?
You do not need special tanning lotion for tanning beds though it would enhance your tanning bed experience. The ways it helps is mainly by speeding up the tanning process itself by attracting more UV light to your skin.
It also helps with keeping your skin moist and hydrated which is important for preventing your skin from drying out when using the tanning bed. It also helps with things like keeping your tan as even and smooth as possible.
How Do You Make Indoor Tanning Lotion?
If you want to make your own indoor tanning lotion you can. Usually using a natural oil like olive oil or a mixture of oils can be a good alternative to using a premade indoor tanning lotion.
An example of a few oils that work well for this purpose are coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil and walnut oil. For more information on this check our article here – At Home Tanning Oil – How to Make Tanning Oil.
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