Fortunately, you do not have to harm your fair skin to achieve a nice tan. You just have to choose the best tanning lotion. Selecting the right level of tanning beds while ensuring that your sessions end at the right time further helps.

When it comes to picking the tanning lotion that is suitable for your fair skin, remember not to shock your delicate skin by using intense bronzers right away. During the first few sessions, use a "base tan", "step 1", or "accelerator" lotion instead, until you will have a nice base tan. This way your skin will not only get used to the procedure, it will also be protected against chemicals in bronzers and tingle lotions that may irritate your skin. Some people who use tingle lotions without getting a base tan first have reported irritated and itchy skin afterwards. In addition, when you use a bronzer, you might not be able to determine how dark you have really become. Because of this, you might intensify or prolong your session putting your skin at risk.

An example of a good beginner lotion is Designer Skin Phoenician. This dark tanning lotion hydrates, smooths, and softens skin while darkening it so it is perfect for a tanning newbie. In fact, users of this lotion gave it an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars saying that it "gives a tan that looks natural", "smells nice", "is not sticky or heavy on the skin", "moisturizes skin", and "has vitamins, amino acids and plant extracts", among other comments. But if you do decide to try other beginner tanning lotions, just make sure that they have the words "base tan", "step 1" or "accelerator" in their names.

To further ensure that you'll get a beautiful tan, keep in mind that the level of your tanning bed matters. The higher the level of the tanning bed, the better. Higher level tanning beds are more expensive but they use more sophisticated bulbs which emit more light rays that darken rather than burn your skin. In contrast, the cheaper lower level tanning beds use low-quality bulbs that may toast your skin because they emit more amounts of the burning rays. Thus, select the highest bed your budget can get you so you will achieve the best outcome.

Equally important is the duration of your sessions. If you are new to tanning, shorten your first session to 5 minutes then prolong it slowly. For instance, your first session should only last 5 minutes, your second session may be up to 7 minutes, then 10 minutes on your next visit and so on. By not rushing your tanning process, you will safely get the skin color you want while minimizing the chances of adverse affects.

If you remember these guidelines the chances that your tanning sessions will go wrong are slim. You can easily have a glowing tan while making sure that your skin remains healthy.

I used to go tanning once a week and use my "Free Sundays" every other week. So in reality I would tan once a week and every other week, I would tan twice a week. I thought nothing of this and figured it was fine because real tanorexics tan everyday, right? Wrong! I would stay the full amount of time in every bed I went in and began to not realize how dark I actually was. I would think I was pale if I missed a routine session in the bed and I was far from that. I am not telling you to not tan, or go in tanning beds, but I am merely presenting an issue that has been brought up for quite some time now. There have been stories and jokes of people being "tanorexic" for a long time now, but all I did is take it as a joke or a poke at me enjoying tanning beds so much. I never really thought I had an issue.

Its been a while since I've used a tanning bed now, I mean it's summer and I'd like to try and get some real rays while I can, but back to my point... I never thought I was too tan when I used tanning beds. I thought I was just the right color...but then again I'd feel significantly paler if I missed a session. I ruled out my anxieties to just being neurotic and wanting to keep my tan dark and not wanting to waste my money that I'd spent on a package of sessions at the salon. Now looking back at pictures of when I tanned that way I feel ridiculous. All the comments people made about my dark tan were completely justified. I looked a completely different race. Now I mean no disrespect when I say that, but generally you don't want to take it that far. If you want a tan you want it to be golden, glowing, fun and vibrant; not something over-the-top. When I look at these pictures I am embarrassed and cant believe I didn't see how dark I was. My tan clearly looked fake and although I looked rested and had a dark shade it was definitely too much. I should have noticed how dark I was but all I was concerned with was how to keep my color and not be pale. These are the red flags of tanning addiction.

Over and over we hear of this "Tanorexia" but do we really know anything about it? It is real? What does it entail? And how do we make others more aware of the tell tale signs of a problem arising? Well I recently read an article that cleared up a lot of confusion of whether this problem is real or a concoction of BS. It turns out tanorexia is real. It is a real problem people face when they feel they need to maintain their tans and get anxiety when they cannot. These individuals also get anxiety about becoming pale therefore fueling their obsession with tanning salons and bronzed skin. Anyone can be tanorexic. Tanorexia has some interesting symptoms, side effects and withdrawals signs as well.

Symptoms of tanorexia include all of the above I mentioned. Having a fear of becoming pale, having anxiety when you cannot tan, feeling as if you are not dark enough, feeling that skipping one session at the salon will cause your tan to fade significantly where you become pale and the number one symptom, tanning excessively.

Side effects of excessive tanning include skin cancer which millions of people get diagnosed with every year. Melanoma is the most common and most serious kind of skin cancer. It is important if you are tanning to go to a dermatologist to get your skin checked out regularly to make sure there are no problems arising. Abstinence is always the number one key but if you can't abstain from the sun or the wonderful tanning beds then prevention is the next step. Frequent tanning can also cause skin to look splotchy and feel leathery. Skin can dry out easily, you can get rosy cheeks (that don't necessarily go away because you have damaged a layer of your skin so you would need to treat it for months with creams), can cause wrinkles and fine lines and give you an overall older look.

Withdrawal symptoms sounds ridiculous...trust me I know...but realistically there are some and you should know them. When tanorexics cannot tan they may experience nausea, anxiety, nervousness, dizziness, and sometimes depression. Some people are happier when they are exposed to sunlight or UV rays and when you tan you reduce negative moods. When the tanorexic cannot tan they can experience the opposite effect. Tanning induces endorphins to go off in the brain and creates a euphoric feeling for the tanner therefore making it act as an addiction. If the individual cannot tan or "get their fix" they experience negative symptoms and they obsess over it until they can get what they want or do what they want (in this case tan).

I am by no means at all putting down tanning. I absolutely love it..both in the sun and in tanning beds. I am just proposing a serious issue which has been thrown around in the news and community. I want to make people aware that this hobby can become addictive and become an issue. It is important to know the signs of when tanning or anything else is becoming a problem so I feel it my duty as a supporter of the  industry and big fan myself to present these issues and facts. So don't stop going to salons, just be aware that everything and anything can become a problem and when and if it does, you will know the signs and be one step ahead. Tanning is a wonderful thing. It lifts moods from the UV exposure, creates sexy tan bodies and makes us feel great about ourselves. There is nothing to hate or dislike about outdoor or indoor tanning...well except the dumb tax that was recently put on tanning salons...but that's besides the point..that's a whole other discussion...but tanning is fun and great. No one is asking you to stop doing it just be aware of what's going on and how to tan safely. Tanning is addictive...and can we really blame it? It makes us look rested, chizzled and hot =)

Let's start with the secondary reason tanning lotions cost so much. These types of lotions have very special ingredients and their formulas take time to be developed by chemists and scientists. Some of these ingredients include hemp seed oil, tinglers and more commonly added skin bronzers. The use of such unique ingredients in the formulas is one of the reasons why the price jumps to a level that seems very high to most.

The main reason indoor tanning bed lotions are as expensive as they are is... well there isn't really any good reason. The profit margin on lotions is extraordinarily high, much more than most consumer products. The sale of indoor tanning products is a big part of a salon's business model when it comes to the bottom line. However, some tanners dislike the idea of having to pay that much for a consumable product that they'll need to buy again in 2 months. Add that on to the price of tanning itself and you have a pretty decent monthly expense. The good news is that if you have some negotiation skills you can usually become friendly with the salon operator and they'll start giving you nice discounts on bottles of lotion.

Even though it may be very costly we still recommend that you stay away from cheap tanning lotion. This is something you spread over your entire body so it's a good idea to make sure you're using a very high quality product.

One of the all-time best selling tanning lotions is Black 20x by Designer Skin. This is an awesome bronzer tanning lotion that is so good most people don't even try anything else after using it. It applies evenly, smells great and gives you a deep, dark tan within only a few sessions. Many swear by it and it shows by how many bottles are sold every day. If you're a frequent tanner there is a very high chance you've heard of Black 20x. The only thing that sucks a little bit is that salons charge upwards of $110 for it which is insane. But if you shop online you can get it for around $40 bucks.

Designer Skin also came out with Luminary tanning lotion in 2010 which is a 25x bronzer. This one is even more expensive than Black 20x, at $120 retail price, but technically has more bronzer ingredients in it so could be even better. Even though it just came out recently it is topping the charts in sales and the reviews that come back are almost all positive. I mean how could it not be a good lotion at such a high cost right? **Update: Luminary now exceeds Black 20X in popularity and sales - if you haven't tried this lotion you are missing out!!

An oldie but goodie is Smoke Black tanning lotion by Supre. This has been out for years but it continues to sell like crazy and it's hard to find a bad review of this product. It is much cheaper than the other lotions mentioned above which makes it more appealing to those on a budget. The retail price is only around $60 (yes, we said only lol) but you can also get it for about one-third the price online. There are a few different varieties of Supre Smoke but Black is the best one that contains bronzer ingredients in the formula. We recommend this lotion highly for beginners as well as seasoned tanners.

Always remember that with bronzer tanning lotions you should wash your hands right away after you leave the tanning bed so that they don't get those orange streaks. You should also wait a few hours before showering to let the bronzer do their job fully, you'll get darker faster if you do this.

This ingredient, when used in an indoor tanning lotion, moisturizes your skin better than anything else. There is something about this oil that leaves your skin smooth, soft and comfortable without making you feel greasy or oily. There are also many after-tan moisturizers that are highly acclaimed and contain hemp seed oil. One of the most famous body lotions with this oil is Hempz Herbal Moisturizer by Supre.

Some popular tanning bed lotions that contain hemp seed oil are Millennium Paint It Black, Designer Skin Hemphatic, Australian Gold Sinfully Black and Supre Hooked 8X Bronzer.

You don't have to take our word for it, give one of these lotions a try and you'll absolutely fall in love with it. You'll leave your tanning session with your body feeling better than it ever did before.

Leave a comment below and let us know what you think of hemp tanning lotions and which one may be your favorite.

Think about it, an indoor tanning lotion is something you apply to your skin, usually your entire body and face, so it doesn't really make a lot of sense to go the cheap route with this type of product. The cheapies just don't have all of the high quality ingredients that the good lotions have, and whatever substances are in their formulas are generally sub-par.

We know how tempting it is to only want an inexpensive, basic lotion, but the fact is this is really something you need to spend a little money on, I mean it's your own body we're talking about here right? The main problem is that tanning salons charge an exorbitant amount of money for the good tanning bed lotions, which puts them out of the reach of most consumers. For the really great top-of-the-line lotions salons can charge upwards of $100 or more, which most people think is just ridiculous. In summary, stay away from the cheap tanning lotions. You only get one body and you need to pamper it if you want the best results and you want the most protection for your skin.

Types of Indoor Tanning Lotions

Tingle and Hot Action Lotions: These products can be fun to try in your search for the ultimate tan, but are not recommended for first-time tanners. Hot action lotions contain an active ingredient like benzyl or methyl nicotinate, which promotes micro-circulation. More plainly, it increases blood flow and brings oxygen to the cells in your skin. This process of oxygenation will improve your tanning results. When you use these products you will experience a mild tingling, reddening and warming sensation on the skin’s surface. You might want to test these tanning lotions on a small area at first, because they can cause reactions for people with delicate or highly sensitive skin. One example of an excellent tingle lotion is Pink Diamond by Swedish Beauty.

Bronzer Lotions: Some people are confused by indoor tanning lotions and self-tanning products. What’s the difference? Self-tanners contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a chemical that changes the cells of the skin. This chemical is also found in bronzing lotions. The nice thing about a bronzer is it gives you an instant tan, so you achieve that sun-kissed look immediately, and you continue to darken for hours after your session. With bronzers you typically wait a few hours after tanning before taking a shower, but it is recommended to wash your hands right away to avoid discoloration. The skin on your hands reacts differently to bronzers than the rest of your body and can sometimes get splotchy if they are not washed as soon as you're done. The current best-selling bronzer lotion is Luminary by Designer Skin.

Accelerator & Maximizer Lotions: Accelerators and maximizers are great for beginning indoor tanners. They are formulated to help you quickly achieve a base tan, but normally don't contain any added bronzers. They usually contain a large amount of moisturizers that allow the skin to tan more quickly and retain your color for a longer time. Once you build up a good base tan you can try a more intense bronzer or tingle lotion to give you that extra boost. Designer Skin Phoenician is a great example of a good accelerator lotion.

What’s In Your Tanning Lotion?

With so many options available, carefully read product labels to find the lotion that's right for your skin type and your level of tanning. Knowing the following terms will give you an advantage:

• Hemp Seed Oil: Its nourishing and moisturizing properties make it a popular ingredient.
• Body Blush: A type of product made for those who want a tingling effect but have sensitive skin.
• Anti-Aging: These lotions contain added vitamins that help protect against premature signs of aging.
• Shimmer: Glimmering additives in these projects have reflective properties that give your skin an added glow.
• Caffeine: Caffeine is often added to reduce puffiness and energize your skin. Caffeine will absorb into the body, so if you are sensitive to caffeine or have eliminated it from your diet, steer clear of these lotions.
• Silicon: Silicon is a mineral with moisturizing benefits. It's used to help condition your skin.
• Beta Carotene: Also called vitamin A. It enhances pigment coloration in your skin.
• Vitamin E: Makes skin softer and reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

If you are new to indoor tanning, you probably have a lot of questions about getting started. How long should my first session be? What should I wear? Will I burn? Does it matter what tanning bed I use? How soon will I notice a change in skin tone? Will tanning lighten my hair? It’s a lot to think about. In your quest for the best tan, don’t forget to research tanning lotions, and find the one that’s right for you. If you’re a veteran tanner, and you’re not using a lotion – you are missing out.

The Benefits:

Rev Up Your Tan. Unlike sun block, which filters the sun’s rays, specially formulated lotions can help you tan better and faster. They are great for helping you reveal a deeper, darker tone. Working with the skin, lotions increase the rate at which you brown, helping you get the most out of every tanning session. Using an indoor lotion will get you ready for swimsuit season in no time.

Moisturize. Tanning lotions include moisturizers that keep your skin soft and smooth. Dry skin looks unhealthy, old, and dull. Moisturizing your skin while you tan will help you maintain a healthy glow. Look for items that contain aloe or hemp seed oil.

Feel Great. It can get hot under those tanning bulbs. To keep you feeling cool, you should find lotions containing elements that offer a slight cooling effect and a tingling sensation. Other formulas contain “sizzling” ingredients. These types of lotion help to color the skin, and their effects can last an hour or even longer, depending on your complexion.

Nourish. Indoor tanning can take a toll on your skin. Look for lotions with skin-nourishing ingredients designed to slow down aging.  There are many options formulated with skin firming compounds and vitamins.

Prevent Burns and Uneven Tanning. Let’s face it, the whole reason you are tanning in the first place is because you want to look and feel better about yourself. Without the aid of tanning lotion, you may be at risk of burning or peeling. Uneven tans don’t look natural, and it can take a long time to fix the damage once it’s done.

A Word of Caution:

You can expose yourself to health risks if you don’t tan responsibly and take steps to protect the health of your skin. There are tons of products on the market for you to consider. If you are not sure about the quality of a product, ask a tanning salon representative or check for consumer reviews. Read labels carefully. Special lotions are available to protect your face, but they may be sold separately. Protect your skin and your image.

A Little Back Story

Tanning beds were developed as a result of medical research conducted in Germany in the early 1900s. Researchers thought that UV rays would increase calcium levels and strengthen bones in some patients. Then in the 1970s, Friedrich Wolff, a German researcher used tanning lamps for his studies with athletes. During the course of his research, he noticed athletes had developed tan skin after exposure to the UV lamps, and tanning beds became popular in Europe and America. Early beds produced in the United States emitted high levels of UVB rays. UVB rays quickly produce sunburns, so researches increased the levels of UVA light to produce a tan without less burning.

Tanning Bulbs

The bulbs in a tanning bed are responsible for producing the UVA light rays that give you a tan. They are fluorescent bulbs, and like all bulbs they become less effective over time. Generally low-pressure bulbs should be replaced after 300 to 1600 hours of use. High-pressure bulbs have a maximum range 300 to 1000 hours. The life of a bulb is usually rated by the manufacturer. The rating lets you know how long you can expect the bulb to operate at a minimum 70-80% effectiveness.

Types of Tanning Beds

• Low-Pressure Tanning Beds: These beds are the most popular. They use low-pressure fluorescent bulbs to mimic natural sunlight. A typical low-pressure tanning bulb emits a UVA to UVB ratio around ninety-five percent UVA, and five percent UVB. The higher amounts of UVB can lead to burning, but also produce higher amounts Vitamin D. A drawback of low-pressure beds is that they take more time to achieve a base tan and require more sessions to maintain your existing tan.
• High-Pressure Tanning Beds: High-pressure tanning beds release higher amounts of UVA rays. UVA rays penetrate deeper into your skin. Conversely, they contain lower amounts of UVB, which leads to less burning as you tan. With high-pressure beds you can establish a base tan 6 to 8 times faster than with low-pressure. They also result in a deeper tan, which means you need to tan less frequently to maintain your color.
• Wolff Tanning Beds: Beds with the Wolff name are not manufactured by Friedrich Wolff. Instead, the manufacturer purchases a license to use the Wolff name.
• Horizontal and Vertical Beds: As their names suggest, in a horizontal bed you lie down for the duration of the session. With vertical beds you stand in a booth where the tanning bulbs are mounted behind Plexiglas and emit rays from all sides.
• Level 1, 2, and 3 Tanning Beds: Tanning salons use the concept of “levels” to correlate with the intensity emitted by the bulbs. There are no hard and fast rules, but generally speaking lower levels are associated with low-pressure lamps and level three beds are associated with high-pressure bulbs. The level of bed you choose will likely depend upon the intensity of tan you want to achieve and how frequently you schedule your sessions.

My tanning salon says beds are safer than the sun. Is that true?
Perhaps the greatest danger associated with indoor tanning is that people exceed approved limits and tan with the highest level beds from the very beginning. Tanning beds actually emit 3-15 times more ultraviolet (UV) rays than the sun does in summer.

Tanning lotions protect my skin, right?
The lotions sold in tanning salons do not filter the sun’s rays. In fact, just the opposite is true. Indoor tanning lotions are designed to accelerate your skin’s browning process. They contain moisturizers and colorants like, carrot oil and DHA (the active ingredient in self-tanners). Using a tanning lotion under the assumption that it will block harmful UV radiation or protect you from developing skin cancer can be very dangerous.

Can I get an STD from a tanning bed?
No. Bacteria and viruses cannot survive on tanning beds. The UV rays are effective at killing them; however, some people might develop a rash from the chemicals used to clean the beds. Also, certain medications are known to be affected by UV light, and this reaction may result in skin irritation.

Can a healthy tan protect me?
When your skin produces melanin, the cells are actually attempting to block damaging ultraviolet rays. Your skin type determines how deeply you can tan, but most tans only equate to a level 2 or 3 sun protectant factor. To put that in perspective, the FDA recommends no less than an SPF 15. If your goal is total protection, do not rely on merely a suntan.

I hardly ever burn. That means I won’t get skin cancer, right?
You may tan easily, but UV rays can still damage your skin. The changes to your skin add up over your lifetime, so it can be hard to detect damage until it’s already too late. Ease of tanning isn’t the only thing to consider. The number of moles or dark freckles you develop can also increase your risk for melanoma. Your family history should also be accounted for in your tanning regimen.

Are sunless tanning lotions really safe?
Yes. Sunless tanning products are a safe alternative. They contain DHA (dihydroxyacetone), which colors the top layer of skin. This layer is made up of mostly dead cells that you shed every four or five days.

My friend says her doctor told her to go to a tanning salon. Is she lying?
Some medical conditions like eczema and psoriasis can be treated with UV rays. The treatment is completely controlled by a doctor or trained technician and exposure is limited by the doctor’s orders. Most indoor tanning not monitored this strictly, so be careful.

If I tan in a bed before my beach vacation, will I burn?
Even if you already have a tan, you can still burn. People with lighter skin, hair and eyes have fewer natural defenses against the sun’s rays.