If I counted out loud all the reasons why I love summer, I’d run out of fingers and toes. Backyard BBQ’s, day parties (also lovingly dubbed darties), fleeting passionate romances and of course those amazingly toned abs and bikini bods are out on display. Life is good!

As amazing as summer is, it has its own set of challenges. Perhaps the worst is having to deal with uneven patches of tanned and pale skin. No matter how much sunscreen I slather on my body, I still end up with unsightly darker spots all over.

Being the typical L.A girl I am, I cannot in good conscience step out in my minimalist sportswear looking garish. The only way to beat the sun to the punch is by rocking my own self-imposed tan.

You’d be surprised what a good tan can do to your body. Not only will you be glowing under the summer heat, the tan will also mask the dark circles tucked under your eyes.  What’s more, it will have you looking a few pounds lighter. What’s not to love?

I think we’ve established, we would all love to rock that Greek goddess-like glow all summer long, right? But how can you achieve this? There is a myriad of options available ranging from self-Tanning body wash to outdoor tanning lotions. Of all the options available, I for one favor indoor tanning bed lotions and here’s why.

Why choose indoor tanning bed lotions?

The lotions are richly formulated with products that enhance your skin’s natural tanning process. It will give you that coveted shiny dark skin without exposing you to damaging UVB rays of the sun. The lights and lamps on the tanning bed only illuminate UVA rays which are gentler on your skin.

Rather than roasting all day under the sun to get that summer glow, you only need to hop in a tanning bed for a couple of minutes and you’re good to go. Simply put, indoor tanning lotions result in quicker and deeper tans compared to suntan lotions. They also have a moisturizing effect that will have you looking ten years younger.

Even so, there is still need to protect and shield the skin from the artificial light. You still run the risk of experiencing some form of increased aging. Scary, right? Well don’t fret; the best indoor tanning bed lotions are quite capable of protecting you from this.

Recommended Tanning Lotions for Tanning Beds

For this reason, finding the best tanning lotion is essential. It is the only guarantee to having flawless tanned skin. Here is a rundown of the best tanning lotions for tanning beds if you’re planning to join my ranks.

1. Millennium Tanning Paint 

Tanning has never been easier than with Millennium Tanning Paint. For starters my skin was as smooth as a baby’s bum. Truth be told, I don’t think my herd of skin moisturizers can compete with that level of silkiness. All this is thanks to its silicone emulsion blend.  

What of the tan you ask? It was so effective a few folks mistook me to be Indian. Keep in mind I’m usually horrifyingly pale; you’d be hard pressed to spot me on a whiteboard. Seems like the 50X auto darkening tan technology is not a baseless sales spiel. The best part is that the dark tan lasted all day without fading.

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical of its bronzing abilities. In the past, I have used indoor tanning lotions that claimed to contain a generous amount of bronzer only to have me caked in orange hues. That was not the case with this bad boy. It had just the right amount of bronzer. It made me all glowy without overriding my tan. What’s more, my hands were perfectly clean after application. No streaks and no stains!

The smell is such a big win in my books. The cotton blossom fragrance reminds me of my niece and that always puts a smile on my face.

Here’s the kicker. It doubles as both an indoor and outdoor tanning lotion.

>> BEST DEALS: Millennium Tanning Paint

I’m almost never swayed by ads but I came across one touting rave reviews about this lotion and I was intrigued.  The ad claimed and I quote “discover your darkest potential that will have your color in Sol D Mand”

It took me a while to load that Sol D Mand actually meant sole demand. However once I figured it out, I had to try it for myself. I have to admit that the ad actually held water. My tan was not only dark it lasted a whole day. Unlike run of the mill spray tans, it is not affected by salty ocean water.

I have very sensitive skin so anything that’s packed with lots of harsh chemicals is a big NO NO. To that end, this is perhaps the most gentle tanning lotion I’ve ever sported. It is infused with Shea butter, Pro Vitamin D and B5 as well as Vitamin E. Not only are these ingredients soothing on my skin, they greatly improve its luster and keep it hydrated.

Other than imparting my skin with that the sexy and appealing brown look, the lotion also has a bronzer that made me all shiny. Despite having a bronzer, the formula was not streaky neither was it sticky.

The fragrance was quite welcoming. It was as if I had stepped in a fruit farm that grew apples, oranges, melons, plums and pineapples.

>> BEST DEALS: Australian Gold Sol D Mand Tanning Lotion

Bronzers are probably the most effective substitute to attain a sun-kissed face without having to step out and marinate under the sun for hours. This tanning lotion features an ultra advanced 100X silicone bronzer that delivers that glowy look in a matter of minutes in a tanning bed. Its tan was not a base tan, it was pretty dark.

Millennium tanning bronzer lotion is quite different from the self-tanners that contain up to 5 percent of DHA — the skin coloring ingredient, which is more than what’s actually required. It only contains 2-3 percent DHA minimizing your chances of getting affected by it.

It is infused with great antioxidants that can last up to 7 days, unlike the self-tanners that can be washed off easily within hours. It also features nutrients like Vitamin A, E, and C that are very beneficial to your skin.

I loved how the lotion masked certain prominent features on my face like my wide nose. It made my face look thinner and dare I say I turned a few heads! It also gave me this natural glow that seemed like good genes to the un-perceiving eye

The only issues I had with the lotion were the smell and its stickiness. Be sure to wipe it off from your hands lest you contend with horrid stains.  

>> BEST DEALS: Millennium Tanning Bronzer Lotion

Ed Hardy Tanista - akin to fashionista- was formulated for tanning addict who is keen on luxurious skin care. I kid you not, the results mirror salon quality. Its formula is infused with a BB cream that combat aging effects like wrinkles. A week of sporting this lotion will restore that youthful glow of yesteryears.  

It also boasts of coconut oil and coconut milk which are quite effective for making skin smooth and silky.

For a lotion without bronzer, the results are quite spectacular. The lotion left my skin with a deep golden hue that was quite pleasing to the eyes. This is thanks to its intensifiers. It also boasts of a blend of melanobronze and quad tyrosine that stimulate melanin to speed up your skin’s natural tanning process.

The long lasting tanning effect is thanks to the melanin synthesizer dubbed melactiva. This ingredient made my tan so deep you’d think I’m a whole other person. What’s more, it also toned my skin and reduced my orange peel aka cellulite. Talk of unbeatable value!

>> BESET DEALS: Ed Hardy Tanista Tanning Bed Lotion

5. Just Nutritive Tanning Indoor Lotion 

If you’re not a bronzer fan, this is way to go. Just Nutritive Tanning Lotion is an all natural formula that’s quite gentle on sensitive skin. I can take my name and reputation on this. There was no single breakout on my skin.

Its moisturizing abilities are on other level. This is thanks to natural moisturizers like avocado, mango hazelnuts, andiroba and kokum. My skin was silky smooth and hydrated all day.

The tan is quite deep, easy to maintain and achieve. It works both as indoor and outdoor tanning lotion. I prefer the former seeing as it takes a shorter to attain.

It enhances your look and gives you a natural golden glow instantly.

>> BEST DEALS:  Just Nutritive Tanning Lotion

Wrap up

When choosing the best tanning bed lotion there are two key things you ought to consider; your preferred result and your type of skin. Before slathering the formula all over your body, ensure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. In the same breadth, if you are looking to sport a glowy look, you’d be better served with a tanning lotion that features a bronzer.