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20 Best Tanning Accelerators for Sunbeds: Reviews & Buying Guide

by  Doris Harris -  Last Updated On 8th February 2021
Best Tanning Accelerators for Sunbeds

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How can you get a darker tan? Simple–use one of the best tanning accelerators for sunbeds.

But what is a tanning accelerator?

We’ll answer that question and more in this article today.

It’s the Easiest Way to Tan Faster in a Tanning Bed

A tanning accelerator is the easiest way to go dark faster. It’s a lotion with ingredients that help the skin produce more pigment quickly.

Some tanning accelerators offer extra benefits like bronzers for instant color.

Will a Tanning Accelerator Give You a Dark Tan Without Burning?

A tanning accelerator, like any indoor tanning lotion, doesn’t have sunscreen. Instead of blocking ultraviolet radiation, it intensifies the effects.

This equals a deeper bronze than you could achieve without a tanning accelerator.

The best way to prevent sunburn is to start with short sessions. Follow the recommendations of your tanning salon according to your skin type.

Once you have a base tan, you’re less likely to burn.

What’s in a Tanning Accelerator?

Tanning accelerator lotions, first of all, are moisturizers. That’s because dry skin doesn’t tan as well as moist skin.

Second, they contain vitamins and antioxidants that guard against the negative effects of UV radiation.

Third, they have tyrosine or other ingredients that speed up melanin production. Melanin is the pigment that creates the tan.

Finally, some tanning accelerators are tingle lotions. They speed up circulation to the surface of the skin. This may give you either a hot or cold sensation and cause redness. They’re recommended for experienced tanners.

Now let’s look at the top tanning accelerator lotions for indoor tanning.

20 Best Tanning Accelerators for Sunbeds (2021 Update)

1. ProTan All About That Base Mega Tan Accelerator

This lotion from ProTan is ideal if you’re in a hurry to develop a base tan. It has a light fruity fragrance, and it’s paraben-free.

The formula is made for all skin types. Users with fair skin and those who say they have trouble tanning their legs like it. They say they are pleased with how well the lotion works for them.

There are no bronzers and no tinglers in it.

2. ProTan Radically Hemp 10X Dark Tanning Gelee Accelerator

If you prefer gels to lotions, try this product. It has a gelee base that sinks into the skin quickly. But it still provides the intense moisturization of a lotion with hemp oil, Monoi de Tahiti, and aloe.

It has a soft coconut fragrance and no bronzers.

3. ProTan Perfectly Tan, Tanning Accelerator

This sunbed lotion is made for beginning tanners. It also works on parts that are hard to tan, like your tummy or legs.

The mild vanilla scent and the rich moisturizers make it a pleasure to use. Aloe, sunflower, and Monoi de Tahiti oil make sure that your skin stays hydrated.

4. Ultra Dark Tanning Lotion | The Original | From Hoss Sauce Tanning Products

Hoss Sauce wants to be sure you get the best tan for the money. It puts both L-tyrosine and Unipertan in this tanning accelerator. The former is an amino acid that is linked to melanin production.

Then, the latter is a proprietary formula that does not absorb UV rays but speeds up tanning (1). It’s made up of acetyl tyrosine, butylene glycol, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, riboflavin, and adenosine triphosphate.

Simultaneously, the lotion has jojoba, sweet almond, and tea tree oils plus eucalyptus to nourish and protect the skin.

5. The Fox Tan Natural Tanning Lotion & Accelerator | Tan Accelerating Oil Spray and Mist

Australian company Fox Tan offers this two-part tanning accelerator. Each day for three days before you go to the tanning salon, apply the Rapid Elixir. It prepares your skin to produce more melanin or pigment.

Next, before you get into the sunbed, spray on the Rapid Mist. For longer sessions, apply sunscreen first, then the mist.

The result is that you’ll be building a tan even while you’re not soaking up the sun.

6. Australian Gold Dark Tanning Accelerator

Australian Gold’s tanning accelerator is popular with fair-skinned people. It’s perfect if you plan to go on vacation and want to build a base tan fast. After only two or three sessions using it, you should be able to see a noticeable difference.

The first two things you’ll notice are the fresh tropical scent and how it makes your skin feel like silk. It absorbs without leaving a sticky residue.

This one and the next one below are two of the most popular tanning accelerators for beginning tanners and those with light skin tones.

— The Team’s take

7. Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion

The ever-popular Coconut Kisses is one of the best-selling tanning accelerators. It has no bronzer, but it makes cellulite less noticeable while it firms up the skin.

That’s not all that makes this tanning lotion attractive to new and experienced tanners alike.

For one, it has a proprietary blend of ingredients to ramp up melanin production. The manufacturer, Tanovations, calls them Melactiva and Quad-Tyrosine + MelanoBronze.

Next, this tanning lotion has a tattoo fade protector. That’s good news if you want to keep your ink bright and clear. Plus, rich cocoa butter and coconut oil ensure that your skin stays ultra-soft and smells delicious.

8. Hempz HYPOALLERGENIC DARK TAN Maximizer

If you have sensitive skin, try tanning with this lotion. It’s packed with hemp seed oil, one of nature’s best moisturizers. And it has oatmeal to soothe the skin.

9. Maui Babe – Tanning Salon Formula

Maui Babe began as one man’s quest to feed his family. Now’s it’s a favorite lotion of tourists in Hawaii and internationally known as well.

Some of the more exotic ingredients include Kukui nut oil and Kona coffee plant extract. It provides a little color so that you look good in your swimsuit right away. But this bronzing effect will wash off in the shower once. Fortunately, the tan you gain will not!

The tanning salon formula is made without mineral oil, so it’s safe for sunbeds. It won’t damage the acrylic.

10. SUPRE Snooki Get Real Tanning Lotion

The Get Real lotion would have you get just as dark as Snooki of Jersey Shore. It relies on tyrosine to kickstart your bronze.

Simultaneously, botanical extracts like gardenia rose and passionflower keeps your skin in top condition.

Users say the creamy white texture won’t cause streaks. It has a fruity floral fragrance and makes skin more tan after only one session.

11. Dr. Mercola: Natural Tanning Oil

If you prefer to avoid artificial ingredients, try Dr. Mercola’s product. It’s free of preservatives and emulsifiers, plus it’s biodegradable.

It’s based on coconut, sweet almond, sunflower seed oils, lanolin, and cocoa butter. It has Vitamins C, E, and tea leaf extract plus eucalyptus. Therefore, the result is Nature’s own tanning accelerator.

Interestingly, it doesn’t leave a greasy residue, but it’s waterproof.

Bronzing Lotions

Bronzing lotions will give that winter-pale skin a little color right away.

Some may also help you develop a deeper tone over the next few hours. Those have sunless tanning ingredients like DHA or erythrulose.

12. Ed Hardy Peace & Harmony Tanning Intensifier Bronzing Lotion

You’ll like the Peace & Harmony lotion if you don’t want to smell like you just went tanning. It prevents that typical after-tanning odor.

But there’s more to like. For instance, the formula is free of parabens, gluten, and nuts.

Next, the MelanoBronze complex stimulates melanin, green tea and caffeine make the skin firmer. Then, cotton and rice extract soothe and soften.

13. Australian Gold, CHEEKY BROWN Accelerator Dark Natural Bronzers

Australian Gold’s Cheeky Brown Accelerator is available with bronzers, so you never have to fear blinding others with your pale legs again. Moreover, it’s okay to use for outdoor tanning, not just indoors.

It has its classic Cocoa Dreams scent that harks back to good memories at the poolside.

Users say that this lotion helps them develop a darker color and that the bronzers look natural on pale skin. Even redheads have success with it.

14. Supre Smoke Black Bronzer Tanning Lotion

It sounds ironic, but the Smoke Black lotion has an Oxygen Regenerating System. This technology incorporates Unipertan to darken the skin faster while you’re tanning.

The bronzers won’t wash off in the shower, either. They keep you looking like you just got back from vacation for about a week after you apply the lotion.

The fragrance is fruity and tropical but neutral enough for both men and women.

15. Australian Gold Sinfully Black 15x Deep Dark Bronzing Tanning Lotion

The Sinfully Black lotion has walnut shell extract, caramel, and exotic oils for instant bronzing power. It keeps your skin soft and smooth with Kukui nut oil, hemp seed oil, and vitamins.

One of the main benefits for fair-skinned users is a slight green tint. This allows you to develop a more natural color and avoid orange streaks.

16. Devoted Creations WOKE UP LIKE THIS Bronzing Lotion

Once you apply the Woke Up Like This lotion, DHA begins to brown your skin. As a result, you’ll enjoy a deeper, richer color than you would from tanning alone. And your new bronze will continue to darken over the next few hours.

The formula also has trademarked technology like BodyFit, IdealLift, and RevitaFit to perfect your appearance.

Tingle Tanning Lotions

Methyl nicotinate is one of the most common tinglers in tingle tanning lotions. It speeds up circulation to the surface of your skin, which gives you that hot sensation.

Experienced tanners like to use a tingle lotion for two reasons. One is that it adds a new pleasurable dimension to tanning. And two, it can help them break a plateau and go darker.

Here’s the kicker: don’t hug your children or pick up pets until after you’ve taken a shower. The lotion might irritate their skin.

17. Millenium Tanning Insanely Black 60X Bronzer Accelerator Lotion

Users say the Insanely Black lotion is hot! Don’t try it if you’re new to tingle lotions. If you decide to risk it, bring a bottle of regular lotion to dilute it.

It has a silicone emulsion that locks in moisture and smoothes the skin. Also, the blackberry citrus scent keeps the after-tanning odor away.

18. Designer Skin BombShell, 100XXBronzer

The BombShell has a moderate tingle that will leave you pink and warm to the touch. It takes good care of your skin with anti-aging ingredients like Coenzyme Q-10 and white tea extract.

19. Ed Hardy Obnoxious Indoor Tanning Lotion Accelerator Bronzer

The Obnoxious tanning lotion may be one of the hottest tingle lotions on the market. But it’s designed to darken your skin well beyond what a regular tanning lotion can do.

Fortunately, it has plenty of moisturizers like hemp seed oil, antioxidants from mangosteen, and vitamins C and E to comfort and repair your skin.

20. Supre Cherry Bomb Red Hot Dark Accelerator Tanning Lotion

The Cherry Bomb is intensely hot. While it deepens your tan, it also tones the skin. Experienced users recommend blending this tingle lotion with a regular tanning lotion until you get used to the heat.

Which Type of Tanning Bed Tans You Faster?

Besides using a tanning accelerator lotion, you can go darker faster in the right kind of sunbed (2).

Tanning beds are rated in levels of intensity. Your salon should be able to help you choose the right one for your skin type.

To illustrate, if you already have a naturally dark skin tone, sunbeds with more UVA create a faster tan. UVA oxidizes your natural melanin to a deeper color.

On the other hand, beds with UVB will tan you more gradually. As a result, your tan will last longer.

Conclusion

The best way to use a tanning accelerator is to apply it to your skin right after a shower. You’ll get even better results if you exfoliate beforehand.

Did you discover a new tanning accelerator to try? If so, let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Everything You Need to Know About Tanning Bed Costs

Resources:

1. https://www.ulprospector.com/en/eu/PersonalCare/Detail/830/33983/Unipertan-Veg-242 accessed 17 May 2020

2. https://www.thetanningguru.com/secrets-of-uv-light-for-healthy-tanning/ accessed 17 May 2020

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