The best tanning bed lotion for a beginner is a boring one: an accelerator with no bronzer and no tingle, or a light DHA-free bronzer. It hydrates, it helps your skin build a base tan over the first few sessions, and it cannot streak, stain or sting.
Every product on this page is flagged beginner-safe in MEGATAN's product taxonomy, which means no tingle agents and a formula we would hand to someone on their first visit to our own Birmingham studio.
Beginner-safe tanning bed lotions in stock now
2bTanned
2bTanned Black Cherry Tanning Accelerator Cream
2bTanned
2bTanned Extreme Bronzer Cream - Charm & Glow Collection
2bTanned
2bTanned Extreme Plus Melano Booster Cream (200ml)
2bTanned
2bTanned Extreme Plus Tyrosine Accelerator Cream (200ml)
2bTanned
2bTanned Extreme Tan Accelerator Lotion - Charm & Glow Collection
2bTanned
2bTanned Glow Drip - 24K Gold (100ml)
2bTanned
2bTanned Glow Drip - Iced (100ml)
2bTanned
2bTanned Glow Drip - VIP Bronze (100ml)
2bTanned
2bTanned Peach Duo Bundle
2bTanned
2bTanned Whipped Vanilla Tanning Accelerator Cream with Thalitan
Australian Gold
Australian Gold Accelerator
Australian Gold
Australian Gold Accelerator K
A sample of what is in stock. Browse the full range: Beginners · Accelerators · Natural bronzers.
What to look for
Hydration first: aloe, coconut oil, shea butter and panthenol. Then a tyrosine source to support your own melanin. Then nothing else. Skip anything labeled tingle, hot, or with a high multiplier, and skip DHA until you have three or four sessions behind you and know how your skin responds.
Sachets (US: packets) are the beginner's friend. A 15 ml packet covers one full-body session for a couple of pounds, so you can try two or three formulas before you buy a bottle.
Your first sessions
Keep early sessions short, apply lotion to clean, dry skin about 15 minutes before you get in the bed, and moisturize afterwards. A tan extender after the session is optional but helps the color last. Once you have a base tan, move up to a hybrid bronzer if you want to go darker.
Key ingredients
Each link is an ingredient page built from manufacturers' own ingredient declarations.
Glossary
Guides
US and UK tanning words
| In the USA | In the UK (and on this site) |
|---|---|
| Tanning bed | Sunbed |
| Indoor tanning lotion / tanning bed lotion | Sunbed cream / sunbed lotion |
| Intensifier / accelerator | Accelerator |
| Bronzer (DHA or natural) | Bronzer |
| Tingle lotion | Tingle |
| Tan extender / after-tan | Tan extender / aftercare |
| Tanning lotion packet | Sachet |
| Tanning salon | Tanning shop / studio |