Best Tanning Lotion For People With Fair Skin
If you have fair or pale skin getting a nice tan does not have to be difficult. There are two things to consider: the type of lotion to use and the type of bed to go into (including the duration). These guidelines also apply if you are new to tanning and don't know where to start.
We recommend using a "base tan", "step 1", or "accelerator" lotion for at least the first few sessions until you have a nice base tan and your skin is used to the whole process. These types of tanning lotions do not contain any bronzer or tingle ingredients, and there are reasons why this is good. Bronzers could give you a false sense of how dark you are, and you may start increasing the intensity/duration of your sessions before your skin is really ready for it. It's also a good idea to let your skin get used to having these types of lotion on it before introducing the more intense bronzer ingredients. The same goes for tingle lotions, as they could be too irritating to the skin of someone who doesn't yet have a base tan. Some people report reddening, burning or itching of the skin after using a tingle lotion, so it's best to leave those until you're ready to move up to the next level.
One of our favorite beginner lotions is Designer Skin Phoenician. There are many others out there that also do a great job, just remember when you're searching to look for "base tan", "step 1" and "accelerator" lotions.
Equally important is the level of the tanning bed you choose and the duration of your sessions. Most tanning salons will have multiple "levels" or "packages" which usually correlates to the type of bed you'll have access to. You may think that starting at the lowest level is the best choice but the opposite may actually be true. Lower level beds use cheaper bulbs, which can emit a higher ratio of the UV rays that burn compared to those that brown your skin. The highest level beds have the most expensive and sophisticated bulbs that emit a higher ratio of browning rays to burning rays. Basically this means you have a higher chance of burning in a low level bed than a high level bed, so you may achieve the best results if you use the highest bed you can afford. The duration of your session is also extremely important. If you're pale or have fair skin you do not want to spend a very long time in the bed for your first few sessions. If you are going in your first session ever we would recommend you stay in there maybe 5 minutes. The next session you can probably up it to 7 minutes, and so on until you reach the maximum recommended session length of 12 to 15 minutes.
Following these general guidelines will help you achieve a glowing tan while greatly reducing your chances of burning or turning red. Leave a comment below if you have any questions or if you have anything you'd like to add. Happy tanning!
May 23rd, 2012 at 11:45 am
Ive just started tanning, I have fair skin and I seem to be more red then a bronze tan. I have been using very high end beds and started with 6 and 7 minutes. I have tanning 2 to 3 times a week for 2 1/2 weeks now. Im up to 12 minutes now. Im using australian gold satin d sol. Is there a better lotion so I dont stay red? When I would go in the sun I would get red and the next day it would turn brown. Ive also been using different beds and a lotion for legs as they recommended because my legs arent getting any color. Any advise would be great!
May 23rd, 2012 at 9:13 am
Hi this my first time tanning what lotion should i use and how long should be my first sessions i have fair pale skin? ? Please help to make the right decision
April 11th, 2012 at 12:28 am
i use SWAG by Brown Sugar for my legs and it works fairly well.
March 30th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Hey Tiffani ~ Most lotions will work with most skin types, it really just depends on how your body reacts to the bronzers. Usually we recommend a lotion without bronzer ingredients in it for people who have very fair skin, but there are many fair-skinned tanners who report great results with bronzers anyway.
They won’t do anything bad to you, but if you have very light skin your tan might not seem as natural at first, but everybody is different.
If you’re going to use it outdoors, there’s no specific temperature that it’s most effective at, but you need to remember that there is no SPF in these lotions, so you should limit your sun exposure. Normal indoor tanning sessions are only 5 to 15 minutes long with accelerator or bronzer lotions applied to the skin.
March 17th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
I ordered Millennium Solid Black. It claims, “100X Ultra Advanced Silicone Bronzer Auto-Darkening Tan Technology’. So would this help me considering I have pale skin? Also, how hot does it have to be outside for this tanning lotion to really work?
March 14th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Hey Tiffani ~ I would say if your skin is fair start off with an accelerator lotion like Phoenician, otherwise if you have at least a little base tan you can try a good bronzer lotion like Luminary that can really help boost your color quickly.
March 14th, 2012 at 6:41 pm
I have copper blonde hair (more redish than blonde), I find that my feet tan, but the rest of my body doesn’t… What can I use to help me achieve some colour?!
March 8th, 2012 at 11:01 am
Hey Whitey – Your problem is common and they actually make some lotions specifically for tanning legs better. One of the most popular is Gorgeous Gams by Designer Skin. Our page about it has a few reviews from users that might help you.
March 8th, 2012 at 1:15 am
just started tanning, my legs seem to take the longest to tan. indoors and out! any suggestions?
March 5th, 2012 at 10:30 am
I have tried about 5 or 6 different lotions and this lotion is by far the best I have used. I have fair skin and have never tanned easily. With all my other lotions I have tried this lotion has worked the quickest. I tan about 5 times a week for about 20 minutes each time depending on what bed I go in. The lotion definitely makes your skin feel smooth and the lotion smells pretty good even after you tan. It doesn’t smell like burnt skin like alot of the lotions I have used. I use the tanning stickers to see the difference in color when I tan. Normally it takes about a week for me to show color, But just after 2 times I could already see an improvement. For a Fair skin, I would absolutely recommend this lotion its AMAZING!!
January 25th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
This website has not failed me yet. They are the best to work with.
i will always go with them. thank you so very much guys 
you are the best 
January 21st, 2012 at 4:15 pm
I like to rub a little xtra Australian Gold lotion on my junk before i tan so it doesn’t burn!!! I hope this helps you!!!
January 19th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
The temptation might be to jump into using a super bronzer lotion right away, and many salons might try to sell you their most expensive lotions (which are often loaded bronzers… i.e., Obsidian by Designer Skin that retails for $130!) – just say NO and stick with an accelerator to begin with! Phoenician by Designer Skin is a great starter lotion. If you must user a bronzer, choose one without DHA. I like Designer Skin Epiphany – it is a natural bronzer that uses “Smart Wave” technology (no dyes)… you don’t have to worry about turning orange.
It is a great lotion for getting a natural “glow”.
January 19th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
For those of you who have light to Fair skin I would recommend using a base tan buillder because you don’t want to have a dark tan to start off with and besides if you have a lot of time before going on vacation,take your time with your tan as you would to make all your bookings.Tanning too quickly will make your skin look dry and dull.
January 19th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I absolutely loved Devoted Creations “Lover Perfect” lotion when I first started tanning and was fair. It worked great and I saw results fairly quickly. Kind of a perfume smell so may not be the best for the guys… Everything I’ve ever used from Devoted Creations has given me great results. I have been tanning 3+ times a week for several years.
Another great product line with good results for me is Designer Skin products. I’ve never had any complaints and no orange.
Also remember that you need to wait at least a couple of hours after tanning to shower. Give your lotion or bronzer a chance to work.
September 26th, 2011 at 8:43 am
Hey Mark – Just a few questions to better understand your situation… are you using a lotion over your entire body during each session? how often have you been tanning?
Most likely if you’re staying red and not getting tan you either need a better lotion, you need to use a better tanning bed, or you need to tan less often.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
I’ve just started tanning.Have fair skin.Salon started me in smaller,cheapest bed for 7 min.for 3 sessions before I moved up to 8 min.I havent blistered,but have stayed red with no pain,and no visible tan.What am I doing wrong?