The beach and tanning oil are out of our reach in this quarantine, but what if I told you that you could still get a beach tan in time for summer?
Switch up your quarantine complexion with a sun-kissed glow. You can concoct your own tanning oil recipe with ingredients you already have at home.
Layout your beach mat in the garden, and read down below for your DIY tanning oil.
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Homemade Tanning Oil Recipes More Ways Than One
1. All Natural Tanning Oil
This recipe includes oil that is sun-protective such as raspberry seed oil and the carrot seed oil. We’re calling them sun-protective since no studies have conclusively proven that the natural oils we’ve discussed actually do have Sun Protective Factors (SPF).
I recommend this recipe for the ladies who want a deeper, Greek-like tan. The subtle shine of the mica powder will give you a divine glow inspired by the Greek gods themselves!
What You’ll Need:
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1/2 tsp carrot seed oil
- 1/2 tsp raspberry seed oil
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops sandalwood essential oil
- 1 tsp bronze mica powder (optional)
- Dark glass container
How To:
- Pour all the oils into a glass bowl.
- Stir well until it the ingredients become a homogenous mixture.
- As an optional step, mix in the mica powder for a subtle beach babe glow!
- Finally, transfer into a dark glass container. A dark glass container will protect the oils because some compounds are sensitive to light.
2. Tropical Beach Tanning Oil
Evoke the scent of the beach with this natural tanning oil recipe! We’re going coconuts with coconut oil in this recipe.
The sesame oil in this recipe naturally has a darker tint. Be prepared to get immediate (temporary) results with this at home tanning oil.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup of coconut oil
- 8 tsp walnut oil
- 8 tsp avocado oil
- 8 tsp sesame oil
- Optional: your favorite essential oils (e.g. vanilla, lavender, etc.)
- Dark glass container (coconut oil is a bit thick, so choose a glass jar instead of one with a pump)
How To:
- Pour 1 cup or 16 teaspoons of coconut oil into a glass bowl. If the consistency of the coconut oil is not liquid enough and is more like a gel, heat it up in low heat for a bit.
- Once you get the consistency of the coconut oil right, mix in 8 teaspoons each of the walnut oil, avocado oil, and sesame oil.
- Optional: Add a drop or two of your scented essential oil.
- Stir well until it becomes a homogenous mixture.
- Finally pour into a dark airtight glass container.
3. Hydration Boost Tanning Oil
I recommend this recipe to the beauties who want to get a tan but have dry and flaky skin. Our skin will crack and dry under heavy sun exposure. These ingredients will strengthen the skin barrier and boost collagen production.
Feel free to add scented essential oil if you want to mask the strong smell of sesame oil.
What You’ll Need:
- 8 tsp avocado oil, walnut oil, wheat germ oil, and sesame oil
How To:
- First, mix all ingredients into a glass bowl.
- Mix thoroughly until it becomes a homogenous mixture.
- Optional: Add a drop of your favorite scent if you’re a fan of scented tanning oils.
- Finally pour your natural tanning oil into a dark glass container.
4. Sun Tan Oil for the Fair Beauties
Getting a tan may be more challenging if you’re light or fair-skinned. You might actually end up more red than brown because you react to UV rays more harshly than other skin tones. This concoction was made with you in mind!
This antioxidant-packed recipe will protect your skin from sun damage.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup or 16 tsp olive oil
- 8 tsp avocado oil
- 2 tsp raspberry seed oil
- 2 tsp carrot seed oil
- Optional: Sandalwood essential oil or your favorite scented oil
How To:
- First, pour 1 cup or 16 teaspoons of olive oil into a bowl.
- Then mix in 8 teaspoons of avocado oil.
- Stir thoroughly until the two oils combine into one mixture. We’re combining the ingredients one by one so that it will be easier to mix them together.
- Mix in 2 teaspoons each of the raspberry seed oil and carrot seed oil.
- Stir until it becomes a homogenous mixture.
- Optional: Add your favorite scented oil.
- Finally, transfer your tanning oil into a dark glass container.
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What You Need to Know About Natural Oils
1. Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is a popular and key product in most suntan oil ingredient lists. It’s lauded for its ability to keep the skin elastic and moisturized. With high amounts of vitamin E and linoleic acid in its arsenal, it came to fame as an anti-aging and acne treatment.
2. Wheat Germ Oil
Wheat germ oil contains vitamins A, B, D, E, and antioxidants. Our skin needs these nutrients to maintain good health while we lounge in the sun.
I recommend doing a skin patch test if you have sensitive skin. Watch out for redness, inflammation, or irritation especially if you have sensitive skin. Give it 24 hours for any symptoms to appear (if any).
3. Olive Oil
Olive oil is a familiar name that you will spot in most natural skincare brands. In fact it’s so popular, the Greeks already used this as a natural suntan oil.
Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and will keep your skin moisturized under the sun. Since it naturally has a dark coloration, it will give you an instant tanned tone.
4. Hazelnut Oil
Hazelnut oil also contains high amounts of vitamin E and can be found in many commercial suntan oils. It’s a fatty oil, so your skin will absorb this easily.
Lather on a generous layer of hazelnut oil so your skin won’t dry up under the summer heat!
5. Green Tea Extracts
Green tea is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the market. Not only is it rich in vitamin E, it’s also packed with Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG is 20 times more potent than vitamin E, making this our skin’s best friend!
Matcha powder is the purest form of green tea extract and will give you the full power of the tea leaf. It’s easy to melt and will mix well with any formula.
6. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera contains 75 active nutrients as well as A, C, E, and B12! It’s not surprising that this would make it to the list.
I recommend applying aloe vera on wet skin before getting a suntan to trap in the moisture. Apply again before laying on your mat to protect your skin from sunburns and sun damage. Aloe vera is non-comedogenic, so feel free to apply this liberally.
7. Coconut Oil
Everything you needed to play on the beach was there all along! And the best part is it’s also extremely easy to find in your local stores.
Coconut oil is rich in antioxidants, is moisturizing, and strengthens your skin barrier. Extra virgin coconut oil is the purest form of coconut oil and will give you all the benefits of the seed! Coconut oil is safe to use on all skin types, so lather away!
8. Avocado Oil
Avocado oil contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, C, D, E, and K. Vitamins A, B5, C, and E are loved by skincare enthusiasts all over the world! The mixture packs a punch when it comes to skincare. They will keep your skin protected, barrier strengthened, and complexion brighter!
9. Sesame Oil
You may need to pinch your nose for this one, but I swear it’s worth a shot!
Sesame oil is a natural moisturizer and repairs skin cells. This is heaven-sent considering what we’ll be needing this for. The natural yellow color of sesame oil will also give you an instant sun-kissed look.
Go with organic or cold-pressed sesame oil for the best results.
Check out Tay’s video below for tips and tricks to get the perfect tan:
That’s right, it’s actually possible to get tanned at home. It’s time to glow up while you stay in! No one will ever know you actually stayed at home during this entire ordeal.
Now that we’ve shared with you our bronze secrets, it’s time to tell us yours! Share with us your own tanning oil recipes in the comments section below! We’d love to hear from you.
Up Next:
- 10 Amazing Tricks With Coconut Oil
- 10 Best Makeup Looks For The Beach To Wear This Summer
- Summer Makeup Tips For Glowing Skin
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FAQs
What oil makes you tan the most? ›
Olive oil has tons of skin benefits. It can help you achieve a healthy glow, an even and beautiful tan, and even speed up the tanning process for you. As long as you use it safely and responsibly, olive oil can be your fast-track ticket to gorgeous tanned skin.
What ingredient in tanning oil makes you tan? ›One common bronzer used in tanning oil is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), per the Mayo Clinic. DHA is a colorless natural sugar that chemically reacts with the natural amino acids on the outer layer of your skin.
What is the key ingredient to tanning? ›Dihydroxyacetone, DHA, is the most commonly used active ingredient in most sunless tanning products and gives an even and natural tan.
How do you use olive oil for tanning? ›- Combine 1 cup used or fresh coffee grounds with 1 cup extra virgin olive oil in a bowl, and let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Stand in the shower with your clothes off and gently scrub the coffee-olive oil mixture into your skin for several minutes.
Dermatologists strongly agree that it is not safe to use baby oil for tanning. In fact, they say that there actually is no safe way to tan. Tanning simply isn't healthy. “[Baby oil] can make you tan more quickly because it absorbs the sun better,” says Sperling.
How do you get a deep dark tan? ›The best way to develop the darkest of tans is to use a tan accelerator. Carrot Sun's Original Carrot and Tropical Fruits give the best results for developing a deeper and darker tan, making tanning easier, less timely, and creating better and longer-lasting results.
What oil is good for sun tanning? ›Extra virgin olive oil is one of the most effective and natural ways to tan your skin. It attracts the sun's heat and helps you get a browner and deeper skin tone.
Can you tan with vegetable oil? ›"Applying a cooking oil to the skin in the hope of promoting the tanning process is also false and illogical," he said. "Ironically, you'd get a healthier looking and longer lasting tan by using a high protection SPF and small amounts of sun exposure over a longer period of time."
Is there a natural tanning oil? ›There are many other natural oils that you can use as tanning oil on top of coconut oil, grapeseed oil and olive oil. You can use jojoba oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, carrot seed oil, hazelnut oil…
Can you use coconut oil instead of tanning oil? ›Although coconut oil can benefit your skin in many ways, it isn't advisable to use it for tanning. While it offers some protection from the sun's damaging UV rays, it doesn't offer a high enough level of protection to prevent you from getting sunburned or suffering other types of long-lasting skin damage.
Can I use olive oil for tanning? ›
Nope, olive oil isn't safe for tanning—and neither are other oils—because there's really no safe way to tan. Tanned, darkened skin is simply sun damage in disguise.