Are tanning lotions with tingling ingredients safe?

Tanning lotions with tingling ingredients are a special class of lotion designed for the seasoned tanner. If you lack a base tan or have sensitive skin, lotions with tingling ingredients shouldn’t be among the first you use.

You are probably curious as to whether the tingling ingredients are safe or dangerous.

Let me reassure you with the facts. Most skin care experts consider them safe to use, if you know how. However, the “tingling” sensation can be somewhat surprising if you are not prepared.

Have you had any experience with a muscle massage? The same ingredients that cause that hot tingling sensation in a muscle massage are also used in tingling tanning lotions. The most common ingredients are: benzyl nicotinate, hexyl nicotinate and methyl nicotinate. Alone or in combination, these ingredients cause an increase in blood flow to the skin, leading to redness. Don’t be surprised if you come out of your tanning session the same shade of red as a boiled lobster. The color comes from increased blood flow in the topical layer of the skin during the tanning process.

I know what you’re thinking: how exactly is this supposed to help me get a better tan? I want to be beautifully tanned, not the shade of a crustacean I enjoy for dinner! Don’t worry! The lobster look will turn into a tan later; It is not permanent.

So, will tanning lotions with tingling ingredients help you tan better? Yes! The increase in blood flow also increases your skin’s ability to tan! You see, the visible result of tanning comes from the oxidation of melanin in your skin by UVA rays from tanning lamps. The blood provides the oxygen necessary for oxidation. Therefore, the more blood that floods the outer layers of the skin, the more oxygen will be supplied to the tanning process. All this will help to give you a better and more even tan. The increased blood flow also causes more melanin to rise to the top layer of the skin. This gives a darker tan. By using a tingling tanning lotion, you’ll be promoting a faster, longer-lasting tan.

Now you know the details of how these products work. Also, you have a general understanding of what they are designed to accomplish. Let’s talk a little more about the feeling when using them. If you have sensitive skin, it is best to avoid these ingredients. The “tingling” sensation may feel like a light slap in the face or like catching fire. The stronger the tingling (higher percentage in lotions), the more intense the sensation. The more sparingly you use it, the less likely you are to feel like a burn victim. In fact, seasoned tanners who use it sparingly rarely experience anything uncomfortable.

There are also tanning lotions with only a very small amount of tingling ingredients. The effect of such lotions is called “Blush” and is less intense than the effect of stronger tingling lotions.

Making smart choices about the tanning lotions you use is half the battle to getting a great tan and healthy skin!

Remember, tingling lotions with tingling ingredients are safe. Just be smart when using them. If you are trying them for the first time, start with a low intensity product. Always test new lotions on a small area to minimize problematic reactions. Avoid using tingle near the eyes and wash your hands thoroughly after applying tingle tanning lotion.