Whether you’re tanning from home or just want tanning oils that you can easily find or keep at home, this is the list for you. The following 5 tanning oils may not be what you’d expect, and I’ve even gone as far as to list why each option is beneficial for your skin.
#1 Coconut oil
Amongst the many benefits coconut oil has, it can also be used to get a better tan faster.
It’s important to note that coconut oil doesn’t really provide any SPF protection, as it only blocks about 75% of UV rays, so you should still be applying sunscreen. In fact, it’s best to mix in some coconut oil with your sunblock and apply it that way.
Despite this, it’s one of the best alternatives to synthetic tanning oils because it speeds up the absorption of vitamin D.
Skin damage is reduced with coconut oil thanks to the stable saturated fats and vitamins that work as a protective layer on your skin. They also combat the loss of moisture while replenishing and provide that natural shine to your skin. Moreover, coconut oil also contains myristic acid, lauric acid, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), and capric acid which have anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties that protect your skin from any bacteria, fungus, microbes, and anything else that can cause an infection.
For more information on tanning with coconut oil – can you tan with coconut oil.
#2 Olive Oil
Olive oil has a lot of antioxidants that can protect your skin.
It should be applied and mixed in with regular moisturizer and since, like coconut oil, it has no SPF protection, so a mineral-based sunscreen should be applied as well. Specifically mineral-based sunscreen for a good reason – mineral-based ones don’t need to be absorbed because of certain ingredients, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, it rests on top of your skin and deflects sun rays.
A great idea would be to use olive oil after spending time in the sun as well, as its antioxidants and fatty acids can improve your tan by combating redness, sunburn, dryness, and general irritation.
Let’s take a deeper look into why olive oil is good for your skin. Firstly, it contains a lot of fat. Nothing like the kind of fats that come from animal sources or heavily processed plant oils, but rather polyunsaturated fats. Such fats are beneficial because they are great at picking up free radicals and neutralizing them; free radicals can come from anything, not just the sun, like pollution, toxic chemicals that can be found in our clothing, etc., and can be harmful.
So, olive oil is another great choice as it can protect your skin while enabling a great tan at the same time!
#3 Avocado Oil
Using vegetable oils and fats to protect skin has been a thing for millennia, so there’s no reason to stop now. Avocado oil, together with sesame seed oil, has the highest amount of natural SPF from all vegetable oils. It contains lots of healthy fatty acids (linoleic acid and oleic acid) and vitamins that are great for repairing damaged skin and is easily absorbed by our skin because of its high content of palmitic acid.
Vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, C, D, E and K can all be found in avocado oil, which contribute to protecting your skin from free radicals and environmental damage. The emollient and occlusive properties draw moisture into your skin and keep it there, which is really important seeing as tanning dehydrates your skin – this also ensures soft skin.
Last but not least, this oil maintains collagen levels, the protein responsible for keeping your skin plump and firm, shields and protects you from damaging enzymes.
#4 Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is known for its incredible ability at maintaining elasticity in our skin, one of the many reasons that it’s a great at home tanning oil.
It is one of the best natural moisturizers, full of skin-boosting compounds that aid in preventing the skin from drying out or cracking because of the sun.
Being rich in linoleic acid it strengthens your skin barrier and delivers antioxidants, like vitamin E, preventing free radical damage.
Sunflower seed oil is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, calming the skin and soothing irritation from acne or wounds.
#5 Sesame Seed Oil
Sesame seed oil contains fatty acids like oleic, palmitic, stearic and linoleic acid and vitamins A and C. It keeps the skin moisturized and prevents fine lines, wrinkles, rashes, and damage from UV rays by forming a natural barrier. As a bonus, your skin also gets protected from pollutants found in the air around us.
Its inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties are another big plus, clearing out any existing acne and stopping blackheads from developing.