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 2011: 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.

Australian Gold also makes some fantastic indoor tanning bed lotions. Their Crystal line of lotions is probably the most popular and those have also been out for quite some time but continue to sell and get good reviews. Crystal X and Crystal XII are top-of-the-line and can be a little expensive but they really work incredibly. It also has added bronzer in it and has a high retail price but go on eBay or Amazon and you'll find it much cheaper.

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.

Types of Indoor Tanning Lotions

Tingling and Hot Action Lotions: These products can be fun to try in your search for the ultimate tan. 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.

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 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. As the lower layers of skin brown and catch up, you might find you no longer need a bronzing product.

Accelerator Lotions: Accelerators are great for beginning indoor tanners. They are formulated to helpy you quickly achieve a base tan. They usually contain a large amount of moisturizers that allow the skin to tan more quickly and retain your tan for a longer time.

Maximizing Lotions: Once you have achieved a base level tan, you might want to switch to a maximizing lotion. Maximizers generally contain fewer moisturizing ingredients, so it’s best to make sure you apply them right before you begin your tanning session.

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.