what is the best sunscreen for tanning?

Why a tan makes us feel good

Exposure to sunlight increases the release of a hormone called serotonin in your brain which helps to relax you and elevate your mood. During the winter months, you will be exposed to less sunlight and this can lower your spirits. We also tend to be less active during this time, staying indoors and eating comfort food while wrapped up in warm clothing. After this season-long retreat our skin can look ashen and pasty in the spring light and we look for the healthy looking glow that summer brings.

During the summer, your skin will naturally tan as you spend more time outdoors and you will feel better physically and psychologically. As long as you use sun protection, spending time outside in the summer months offers health benefits − fresh air, mood-boosting vitamin D and the renewed motivation to exercise and eat healthy food.

A tan also enhances your natural beauty and skin tone, so you tend to wear less make-up, your skin can breathe, your blemishes diminish and your natural radiance is restored. It’s liberating!

Keep your tan for longer using our top tips

Look for sunscreens with added benefits

After the winter it’s time to pamper your skin. Throughout the coldest season, dead skin cells can build up on the skin's surface, resulting in a complexion that looks dull and feels dry. Spring is the perfect time to exfoliate the winter away, giving your skin the boost it needs to prepare for a long-lasting summertime glow.

After you have exfoliated, ideally choose a sunscreen that will care for your skin with 12 hour hydration to renourish it after the winter, as well as including essential UVA and UVB protection.

For added benefit, select a sunscreen with a scent you love. As you inhale the smell on your skin, the scent will stimulate the olfactory system (the part of the brain connected to smell) and this will help to relax you and evoke happy memories.

Does sunscreen reduce tanning?

No − many people worry that by applying sunscreen they will reduce a tan, but this is not true.

Sunscreens filter harmful UV rays, but not the melanin which tans your skin. In fact, applying sunscreen will enable you to have a deeper, more even tan.

Find out more about tanning with sunscreen.

Tanning while your skin is protected

The best sunscreen for tanning has a broad spectrum UVA and UVB to protect your skin from harm.

You also need to make sure that you have the correct SPF for your skin type so that you have the freedom to completely relax and enjoy activities in the sun. You will find that you achieve your best tan when you aren’t thinking about it − just having a good time, safe in the knowledge that your skin is protected.

To care for your skin whilst you protect it, take a look at the best sunscreens for tanning. These sunscreens make application a pleasurable experience:

The best sunscreen for tanning indulgence

While lying back on the beach listening to the sound of the waves lap on the shore, take some deep breaths and restore your inner peace. Gently massage Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration into your skin for a truly holistic experience. This sunscreen indulges your senses while you benefit from:

  • UVA and UVB protection
  • Blended exotic island botanicals
  • That unmistakable Hawaiian Tropic fragrance
  • Up to 80 minutes water resistance

It offers high quality sun protection with the added benefit of moisturising ribbons infused with glycerin and silk proteins to moisturise your skin for up to 12 hours while you tan.

It is also light to apply, with a silky feel and a fabulous tropical scent for added relaxation. The lotion quickly absorbs so that you won’t feel the sunscreen on you − only the comforting warmth of the sun. It’s also water resistant for up to 80 minutes, so you can join in the fun!

The best sunscreen oil for tanning

When people think of tanning, they naturally think of using oil, but the key is to use one with good sun protection. Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil is scented with the classic coconut fragrance and has the advantage of UVA 5 star rated for protection. This tanning oil is enriched with luxurious, natural ingredients, including:

  • A blend of rich oils
  • Cocoa butter and aloe vera
  • Exotic island botanicals

This oil is bursting with antioxidants within the natural ingredients such as aloe vera, mango, papaya and passion fruit. The oil moisturises the skin and encourages a deep tan, attracting the light to increase melanin, while filtering out the harmful rays.

The action of massaging the oil into the skin will also help you to unwind, relaxing your muscles as you breath in the captivating, exotic scent.

Find out more about how tanning oil works

The best sunscreen for tanning while playing sport

Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Lotion offers high performance sun protection for fitness and outdoor activities, packed with benefits:

  • It won’t clog your pores
  • It’s sweat-resistant
  • The tropical scent is refreshing and invigorating
  • It provides both UVA and UVB protection
  • It’s suitable for water sports as it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes

With this sunscreen you will never have to miss out on the fun of water sports or a game of beach volleyball because you are worried about retaining a high level of sun protection.

The sunscreen has an ultra-light, breathable formulation that won't clog your pores and is sweat and water resistant so it won’t drip into your eyes to distract you from your performance.

By applying this fast-absorbing Sport Lotion you can sweat without care, making sure you are completely focused on your strength and power − catching that wave or your best serve.

Being active is the best way to create a natural looking, even tan − without even trying!