The Best Bronzer Tanning Lotion Reviews – 2018 Top Picks
As we start looking for tanning lotions, we are obvious to find numerous options available. Best bronzer tanning lotions are applied to escalate a tan by leading the integument to tan faster. These types of tanning lotions are also known as 'Tanning Accelerators'.
Similarly, like the other tanning lotions, it affects the melanin pigment present in the epidermal layer of the skin that imparts a gorgeous deeper brown shade to the skin. These bronzer tanning lotions are a popular pick for the tan lovers worldwide.
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Rank | Image | Product Name | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 98 /100 | ||
2 | ![]() | Millenium Tanning Auto-darkening Paint It Black Tanning Lotion | 95 /100 | |
3 | ![]() | 94 /100 | ||
4 | ![]() | 92 /100 | ||
5 | ![]() | 90 /100 |
*Below, you’ll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Why Do We Tan?

Tanning has been a fashion statement for years now. People these days don’t tan themselves merely to get rid of their lighter body shade. Instead, they desire an unlighted complexion to look captivating and pleasing. Tanning can help one with different shades of darkness.
In the earlier days, tanned bodies made the person look like a worker in the sun. The tan generally used to be uneven, covering only the body parts exposed to the sun. But these days, with the help of tanning lotions and even tanned look is so much easily possible. People are thoroughly engaging in getting tanned bodies that give them a stunning appeal.
What Is A Bronzer Tanning Lotion?
Bronzers contained in the tanning lotions are a popular choice amongst the buyers. Bronzers in the tanning lotions comprise of self-tanner ingredients that lead to skin darken above a base tan or a suntan. The bronzers are also called accelerators as they accelerate the tanning process while reducing the time invested to the tanning sessions. It results in a deeper tan with less amount of time.
Ingredients In A Bronzer Tanning Lotion
- Caffeine and Coffee Extract: This ingredient particularly works to keep the skin tight. It helps the tanner's skin to be youthful and toned making it the best for the aged amongst all the other indoor tanning lotions.
- Hemp Seed Oil: This ingredient is a must to be for lotions promising a moisturized and hydrated skin. It provides nourishment to the skin and hugely conditions it. It also reduces the drying effect of the skin.
- Silicone Emulsion: This ingredient imparts a long lasting tan. It also provides hydration to the skin and makes it soft.
- Psoralen: It is an extract of citrus oil. It is a type of amino acid that nourishes and protects the skin while it stays in contact with the ultraviolet rays.
- Tyrosine: It is also another type of amino acid contained in the bronzer tanning lotions and works very similar to psoralen.
Types Of Bronzer Tanning Lotions

There are majorly two different types of tanning lotions classified on the basis of their composition:
DHA Bronzers
Also known as self-tanners, these bronzer tanning lotions do not provide instant results. It takes around a couple of hours for the lotion to show up its darkening results and the coloration may continue to enhance for next few days. DHA (dihydroxyacetone) is one of the main ingredients of the DHA bronzers.
These accelerate the amino acids in the layers of the integument to form melaninoids. Choosing the correct bronzer tanning lotion might play a significant role in achieving a perfect tan as the percentage of DHA differs in each bronzer tanning lotion. Hence, picking up the bronzer having the correct amount of DHA would lead to outstanding results.
- 5-8% – Best for very fair to pale skin types (skin types I and II).
- 10% – Best for the medium skin color (skin types III and IV).
- 12% – Best for brown colored skin types (skin type V)
DHA bronzers affect the dead skin cells which eventually shed in a few days which lead to fade the tan. Therefore, reapplication is a must to maintain the tanned look. It is often called as fake tan as it affects the dead cells and doesn't produce coloration via melanogenesis.
Natural Bronzers
Natural bronzers contain natural ingredients especially herbal extracts. It is a chemical free bronzer tanning lotion. Their results stay for around 3-4 days, therefore, they require frequent reapplication. Chances of having streaks, orange marks and splotches are minimal as these are absolutely organic and mild in nature.
It provides excellent moisturization and hydration to the skin as most of the ingredients in natural bronzers are moisturizing in nature. It is best recommended for tanners looking for a healthy tan. Riboflavin and caramel are two of its main ingredients which impart perfect boost of color. These natural bronzers accelerate the oxygen circulation to the integumentary layers and enhance the process of natural tanning.
Pros Of Using Bronzer Tanning Lotions

- Bronzer tanning lotions are immensely hydrating and moisturizing and impart an even tan to the tanners.
- These tanning lotions are comforting and soothing as they impart tanned skin without any tingle sensation unlike the tingle tanning lotions.
- Bronzers are absolutely safe for the integumentary layers as they pose no health hazards to its users.
- These tanning lotions provide faster results as compared to the other types available in the market.
Cons Of Using Bronzer Tanning Lotions
- The bronzer tanning lotions tend to get washed away too quickly.
- These tanning lotions are only meant to be used by the experienced tanners. It doesn't work very well with the beginners.
- While the application of the product one needs to be very careful as they may lead to orange marks, streaks and splotches on the hands if the product isn't rinsed properly after application.
- These bronzer tanning lotions are weak in protecting the skin from the sunburn damages if one goes out in the sun post application as it lacks SPF. Therefore, a sunscreen needs to be used while visiting outdoors.
Top 5 Best Bronzer Tanning Lotions Reviews On The Market 2018
Rank | Image | Product Name | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 98 /100 | ||
2 | ![]() | Millenium Tanning Auto-darkening Paint It Black Tanning Lotion | 95 /100 | |
3 | ![]() | 94 /100 | ||
4 | ![]() | 92 /100 | ||
5 | ![]() | 90 /100 |
*Below, you’ll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
1. Millenium Tanning Bronzer Solid Black Lotion

Via Amazon.com
This bronzer tanning lotion comes packed in a beautiful bottle that can be easily carried in different sized handbags. It is an ultra-advanced product with 100X silicone bronzer. It is a popular tanning lotion which enhances the coloration of the skin and accelerates the process greatly. It comes in a 400 ml packaging with an attractive fragrance.
Pros
- An excellent fragrance with fresh orchid blush scent.
- Acts as an accelerator and increases body tan within short period of time.
- Contains active ingredients like Caffeine and Coffee Extracts, hemp seed oil, silicone emulsion, tyrosine and psoralen that work together to give the tanner a perfect tanned look.
- This bronzer contains ingredients like Walnut Seed Oil, Pecan Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil and Carrot Seed Oil that nourishes the skin and keeps it healthy.
Cons
- This bronzer tanning lotion can only be used for indoor tanning purposes as it doesn't protect the body from the harmful effects of the sun rays.
- It contains a heavy bronzer to impart a darker tan. But one may require scrubbing the body using a mild scrubber, post a couple of days of the tanning session.
- The bottle needs to be shaken up before use as the lotion tends to get concentrated if stored in a cold environment.
2. Millenium Tanning Auto-darkening Paint It Black Tanning Lotion

Via Amazon.com
A beautiful bottle with 50X auto darkening technology, gives the user an attractive dark, tanned and stunning look. It comprises of ingredients like hemp seed oil and silicone emulsion that naturally smoothens the skin all day long. Its cotton blossom fragrance gives a refreshed feel.
Pros
- This tanning bronzer comes with 50X auto darkening technology that leaves the skin extremely dark and tanned.
- Ingredients like silicone emulsion and hemp seed oil leave the skin soft and supple all day long.
- It has the goodness of green tea extracts and aqueous infusions of caramel extract that keeps the skin nourished.
- It comes with a fresh, clean and pleasant Cotton Blossom Fragrance.
- This bronzer tanning lotion works excellently for the aged as along with tanning it also tightens and tones the skin making it look younger.
Cons
- Cannot be used for outdoor tanning sessions as it does not contain SPF.
- Leaves orange streaks and blotches in some cases. Hence, one needs to be careful.
- Should be kept stored in normal temperature.
3. Ed Hardy Golden Coconut Kisses Tanning Lotion

Via Amazon.com
This tanning lotion is enriched with ingredients like coconut oil, coconut, intensifiers that make the skin nourished and healthy. It as a natural product with nature extracted ingredients which makes it a healthy tanning lotion.
Pros
- This bronzer tanning lotion is enriched with the goodness of coconut and coconut oil that gives excellent results to its users.
- It results in a golden enhanced, rich body color.
- It contains tan intensifiers that deliver dark golden glowing touch to the skin making it beautiful than ever.
- This tanning lotion is comprised of ingredients like Quad Tyrosine Blend and Melano Bronze that accelerates and stimulates the formation of melanin which in result increases the process of tanning.
- It is rich in Melactiva, which is a synthesizer of melanin that gives the tan a long lasting effect.
- It is an amazing choice for the old aged as it imparts firmness to the skin and leads to cellulite reduction.
Cons
- Not recommended to be used by all types of skin.
- Lacks SPF and therefore application of sunscreen is a must in such a case.
- Reapplication is necessary to keep up the golden tan constant.
4. Australian Gold Jwoww Dark Black Bronzer Lotion

Via Amazon.com
An amazingly popular product among the tanners, this tanning lotion has the goodness of ingredients like black caramel, dark natural bronzers and walnut shell extract. Hemp seed oil makes it a skin softening tanning lotion which works perfectly for the experienced tanners imparting a soft appeal to the skin.
Pros
- This bronzer has ingredients like Black Carmel, Walnut Shell extract, Monoi de Tahiti and Dark Natural bronzers. These ingredients team up to impart a dark natural looking tan.
- Its active components like Hemp Seed Oil and Black Currant Oil work to keep skin smooth and soft all day long. This in turn prepares the skin for the application of bronzers.
- This bronzer tanning lotion is a combination of vitamins, sunflower oil, and Kukui Nut Oil that makes the skin baby soft.
- It is a perfect purchase for the experienced tanners looking for indoor tanning lotions.
- It is safe to be applied on the skin as it is made of natural ingredients.
Cons
- It is very important to be careful while applying the lotion as it leaves streaks and marks at times.
- To prevent one loose the tanned look reapplication is required every few days varying from user to user.
- Application of sunscreen is important as it doesn't contain SPF.
5. Designer Skin Luminary Bronzer

Via Amazon.com
A beautifully designer attractive bottle with a shimmery outside, this bronzer gives the skin a glowing and radiant effect. This lotion is non-greasy and leads to darkening of the skin without any discomfort or tingling sensation. The Designer Skin Luminary lotion contains tiny sparkles within the bottle that imparts a glowing touch to the tanned skin.
Pros
- Skin luminary bronzer contains tiny sparkles in the bottle that impart glow to the skin.
- Gives a perfect bronze look to the body and smells great.
- It leaves the skin shimmery and soft, which looks like a perfect combination.
- It is not a greasy product and gives a beautiful bronze color tone to the skin without any tingle sensation or discomfort.
- It is easy to use and provides complete hydration to the skin.
- Contains hemp seed oil that imparts softness to the skin.
Cons
- Cannot be used for all skin types. One can check by applying the lotion a little on a small portion of the skin.
- A use of sunscreen is a must along with the bronzer as it lacks SPF.
- Might leave the skin orange if not rinsed properly.
Conclusion
People looking for tanning within a limited period of duration often go for indoor tanning lotions. There are quite a number of options available in the indoor tanning lotion's category from which one may pick the best to suit their needs and skin types.
To accelerate the indoor tanning effects and to minimize the time period spent for indoor tanning sessions, people pick one of the best bronzer tanning lotions as per their choice. But with the market overflowing with varying brands and bronzers, one becomes skeptical about which one to pick to suit them best.