10 Best Tanning Oils With SPF, According to Dermatologists
Sun protection and glowy skin? Now that's hot.
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If the words "tanning oil" make you think of nasty orange goo and burnt-to-a-crisp skin, I don't blame you—the '90s and early 2000s were a scary time for sun protection (or lack of it). We were all slathering on greasy oil, hoping to look like a bronzed goddess and (spoiler alert!) ending up with a wicked sunburn instead. Fast forward two decades and bronzy, shimmery body oils are making a maaaajor comeback. There's a twist, though—this time, it's in the form of sunscreen oil.
What is sunscreen oil, you ask? Unlike the tanning oils of yesteryear, these tanning oils with SPF boast cast-free sheens and hydrating formulas with a healthy dose of UV protection (dermatologists recommend SPF 30 or higher).
"Because there is no such thing as a healthy tan—a tan represents the skin’s defensive response to damaging UV rays—tanning oils are not recommended," says Brendan Camp, M.D. "[Instead], sunscreen oil is a form of sunscreen that is oil-based, so that it moisturizes and softens skin, leaves a sheer finish, and protects skin from ultraviolet radiation."
Our top picks for the best sunscreen oils in 2024
Our picks run the gamut from subtle dry-touch finishes to eye-catching shimmers with a bronze tint, and many even come with skin-loving ingredients like squalane, aloe, and vitamin E—you're welcome! Keep reading to get the lowdown on the best tanning oils with SPF in 2024.
Lauren is a Brooklyn-based journalist and Associate Editor at Hearst. You can find her previous work at Entertainment Tonight, Shop TODAY, USA Today, Self Magazine, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, and Modern Luxury Media.
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