The 11 Best Tanning Oils to Enhance or Fake a Tan

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As the weather gets warmer and we start thinking about long weekends and days spent by the pool or the beach, it’s natural to start thinking about what products you’re going to keep in your beach bag. There’s one classic product that’s withstood the test of time: tanning oil.

The tanning oils of yesteryear had minimal SPF protection at best. Modern tanning oils offer much more protection, all while giving your skin a glowy finish. If you want to opt for a tanning oil, it’s best to choose one with over SPF 30, or layer on top of a more SPF-heavy sunscreen formula if it has less protection. In fact, layering your sunscreen might even help you get the adequate amount of protection. “It’s important to understand that layering sunscreen does not give you double the level of protection,” says Dr. Josh Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. “Because you likely are not applying as much as you should to begin with, layering one product on top of another most likely will give you the amount of protection[as if] you were using just one of the products the way you should be.”

While Dr. Zeichner doesn’t like the idea of using a tanning oil as it might encourage tanning, he says that using a tanning oil with SPF is better than using one without. “The goal of using a sun protecting product is to prevent tanning rather than enhancing it,” he says. “At the end of the day, the most important thing I can do is to educate consumers on proper protection, even if it is coming from tanning oil.” If you’re a fan of tanning oils, we rounded up the 10 best on the market, ahead.

Shop our top picks for tanning oils in 2024:

Baby Oil SPF 30

You can always count on Vacation to make applying sunscreen fun. The Baby Oil has a nostalgic, powdery baby oil scent that’s not as greasy or slippery as traditional baby oil, and melts into the skin without a trace.

Vacation star rating: 4.9/5 stars

A Vacation reviewer said: “I used to work at a tanning salon in high school and have since become an esthetician. I love that warm skin flush that happens when tanning and for years, I have avoided it for the sake of my already damaged skin. This nostalgic baby oil made me feel so confident in catching a few rays. It offered me protection but also gave me that warm tanning feeling out in the sun. Not to mention the beautiful powdery soft scent that takes me right back to my younger days.”

Isle Body Oil SPF 30 with Sea Moss and Squalane

Sunbathing is no fun when you’re left with sore, burnt skin due to a lack of proper sun protection. Cay Skin’s Body Oil not only nourishes the skin with skin-loving squalane and sea moss—both great for hydrating and softening the skin—but it also protects against the sun with SPF 30, so you can lounge for a longer period of time and not feel like a crispy potato chip after.

Sephora star rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “This is a BEAUTIFUL oil and a little goes a long way. I love how it settles into the skin to make it glisten all day without being greasy. Lovely scent, excellent coverage. I will be buying more products from this line.”

Tanning Oil Spray SPF 15

Generations of sunbathers have used this tanning oil for a reason—the formula is spiked with SPF 15, along with vitamins A, E, and C, to condition skin the moment you smooth it on. And the scent—coconut—is an absolute classic.

Walgreen star rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Walgreens reviewer said: “Ladies and gents, all I have to say is this is the ONE! If you want to look like you just came back from a 2-week Caribbean vacation, go buy this! I also have super sensitive skin and had no breakouts or rashes! 6 stars. I’ll never use a different brand again.”

Spray Gel Sunscreen with Instant Bronzer SPF 15

This deep-bronze oil is a trifecta of perfection. Carmel gives you an instant tan (literally the moment you put it on!), while SPF and antioxidants Kakadu plum and tea tree oil protect skin from the sun and free radicals. It also helps your tan last longer by keeping your skin hydrated.

Amazon star rating: 4.7/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “This is my favorite sunscreen. I like the instant bronzer. The smell makes me feel like I’m on a beach vacation. Also, I have never got a sunburn while using this. I would recommend.”

Tanning Oil SPF 15

Sprays are the easiest way to ensure your entire body is evenly coated. And this reef-safe formula has aloe vera, green tea butter, and four types of oils (argan, marula, coconut, and avocado) to super-moisturize and nourish the skin.

Ulta star rating: 3.5/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer said: “This smells amazing. The spray nozzle works great and didn’t leak. That was my fear. This oil worked great! I didn’t burn and I was out in the sun for a couple of hours. I would definitely buy it again!”

Tanning Dry Oil Sunscreen Continuous Spray SPF 15

Yes, you may be on island time during your vacay, but your tanning oil doesn’t have to be. Coopertone Tanning Dry Oil Sunscreen is quick-drying, so you don’t have to worry about it transferring onto your clothes or swimsuit.

Amazon star rating: 4.7/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “I used this product at the beach and it might have worked a little too well. It’s easy to apply and you tan super quick. I would recommend it!”

Glow Oil SPF 50 Dry Body Oil Sunscreen

If you want to ensure your tanning oil still carries a maximum amount of sun protection, Supergoop!’s Glow Oil has SPF 50. It leaves skin glowy, never greasy, thanks to a hyper-nourishing blend of grapeseed, jojoba, and meadowfoam seed oil. It’s also waterproof for up to 80 minutes, so it’s the perfect option to throw in your beach bag.

Sephora star rating: 3.9/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “I always wear high SPF but hate how thick it is, how greasy it feels and the way it smells. Enter Supergoop. I love to apply oil to my skin, so putting this on feels lovely, and my skin feels hydrated and looks radiant. Doesn’t have much of a smell, and though your skin will glow it will not feel greasy after the stuff has a minute to sink in.”

Kopari Beauty Rose Gold Sun Shield Body Glow Gel SPF 45

This tanning oil imparts a shimmery glow while it helps shield skin from the sun. It comes in a gold shade, a rose gold shade, and an amber shade to suit every skin tone. Avocado, coconut, hibiscus, and macadamia oils moisturize while sustainably sourced mica leaves a pearlescent finish.

Ulta star rating: 4.2/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer said: “This gives the perfect glow—no cheap sparkles. Great texture and not sticky! I can tell this will be a summer staple.”

Goccia di Sole Hydrating Self-Tanning Serum Drops

If you want the benefits of a tan without any of the potential UV damage, mix some of these drops into your favorite SPF-laced oil. The lightweight, hydrating formula is easy to mix into any body oils, moisturizers, or serums, and the blend of natural keto sugars help give you the most even, golden glow.

Dolce Glow star rating: 4.7/5 stars

An Dolce Glow reviewer said: “Mixes well with any of my lotions. I use it with my face lotion and my whole body lotion and found it blends quite well with them. I also have used it by itself on my face and it gives a nice color.”

Rio Radiance SPF 50 Shimmering Body Oil

Sol de Janeiro’s newest body oil is a dry oil, so it soaks into skin immediately after rubbing it in. It also smells like Sol de Janeiro’s cult-favorite Cheirosa 87 scent, which has notes of solar tuberose and leite de coco. Golden mica gives skin a soft shimmer.

Sephora star rating: 4.9/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I love how this body oil has SPF 50—I’m extremely fair, so any tanning oil I use needs to have tons of sun protection. This one also smells so good, like a salted caramel sundae, and has just a whisper of shimmer, so it leaves you with a glow.” —Katie Berohn, Beauty Editor

Sublime Sun transparent Protect SPF 30 Oil Spray

One of the biggest fears with tanning oil is burning your skin and irreversible sun damage. This formula contains SPF 30, giving you an extra dose of protection. It’s non-greasy and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so you can worry less about your skin and more about fun in the sun.

Amazon star rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “This sunscreen is so gentle I can use it on my sensitive face and scalp. I love L’Oreal Sunscreen. It costs more, but the quality and effectiveness is high. I cannot use another after using this product.”

Meet the Expert

Dr. Joshua Zeichner is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. He is an associate professor of dermatology and the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.

How do you use a tanning oil?

A tanning oil accelerates the tanning process by attracting the sun’s UV rays to give the skin a deeper tone. When applied to the skin, the oil activates the melanocytes in the skin, which are responsible for producing melanin. It’s best to evenly distribute the tanning oil to the desired area for maximum results, be it with a tanning mitt or your own hands. However, if you opt for your hands, ensure the tanning oil has a stain-free or transfer-proof formula. For adequate sun protection, you should always layer a tanning oil with a sunscreen that has SPF 30 or higher.

Why trust ELLE Beauty?

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless skincare professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest products across makeup, skincare, and hair care.

Katie Berohn is ELLE’s beauty editor. She loves to try every product that hits her desk, and she loves interviewing beauty industry experts and learning from them.

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