Why use a tanning lotion?
You wouldn't leave your body without the proper nutrients and goodness it needs to stay happy and healthy, so why should your skin be any different? It's time to wake up and smell the lotion! Tanning lotions are a must. Necessary for nourishing, rated for rejuvenating, adored for anti-ageing, lotions should be considered in the same light as that favourite skincare product of yours that makes you feel so glowy.
For some reason, some tanners use products not designed for sunbeds or simply use nothing at all, unaware of how this can damage skin. Our tanning lotions have been designed for a reason, it's time to let them do their job!
Have a read to find out not only how professional tanning lotions benefit your skin, but also how your skin is affected if you tan either with a lotion or oil not formulated specifically for sunbeds, or if you tan without a lotion at all.
Tanning without a professional tanning lotion
One of the main reasons why people don’t apply lotion is that they believe they tan better without. This is untrue. In fact, if you don't use lotions, this can negatively impact skin health in so many ways:
- Skin will become dehydrated, giving a dry, dull appearance. Dry skin actually reflects light, meaning you won't tan as effectively and may spend more time tanning, only to achieve a lesser result.
- Lipids and skin proteins also become oxidised causing skin damage.
- A loss of elasticity and collagen will speed up the ageing process.
- The production of free radicals on the skin will increase. This can damage the DNA in our skin and result in premature ageing.
- Skin can become inflamed.
UV light can damage skin if tanning lotion isn't applied, which can affect melanin production, meaning you won’t be able to get a dark tan easily. Plus, these lotions regenerate, rejuvenate and nourish skin to encourage the best tan possible. By forgoing these in favour of something which has not been designed for sunbeds, or in favour of nothing at all, you open yourself up to the risk of skin damage and premature ageing.
Some people believe that products such as baby oil, moisturisers or even suncreams can substitute a tanning lotion. However these can either magnify UV or block it altogether, ruining your tanning session and also possibly ruining the sunbed itself.
Tanning with a professional tanning lotion
So what can a lotion actually do to counterbalance all of this? We believe that you are what you apply, so with this in mind, all Australian Gold tanning lotions have been crammed full of antioxidants, vitamins, natural oils and moisturisers which work to improve skin condition. So you could consider lotions to be like a super juice for the skin.
Furthermore, when applying lotion before tanning, you'll experience:
- An increase in collagen synthesis, which will plump skin and combat the ageing process.
- Increased skin firmness, making skin look toned and tightened.
- The anti-wrinkle properties of professional tanning lotions, thanks to the high concentration of moisturising ingredients such as Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and Natural Oils.
- Increased skin hydration, preventing a dry and dull appearance.
- The promotion of free radical scavenging, diminishing their presence on the skin and protecting from skin damage.
- Counteraction of inflammation to the skin.
- Prevention of protein and lipid oxidative damage, therefore improving overall skin condition.
- Increased enzyme synthesis, which makes skin more effective at tanning.
- No tanning odours, as tanning lotions have been designed to leave you feeling and smelling fresh.
In fact, it has been proven that when a lotion is applied, you improve your tanning results by up to 50%. They're called Accelerators for a reason!
This does not even include the improved results that can be seen when you apply bronzers. These help to personalise tanning results. For more information on bronzers, have a look at our blog about the difference between our bronzers!
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