Tanning can be especially drying on your skin and, if you don’t take proper care of it, the effects of the ultraviolet rays can be long-lasting or even permanent. That’s where moisturizers come in. In this article, I will walk you through why it is important to moisturize after tanning as well as some of the best moisturizers to use after the tanning bed.
Why is it Important to Moisturize After Tanning?
Moisturizing after using the sunbed is important because it can help to restore and rejuvenate your skin. Whether you are tanning in a bed or underneath the sunshine, it’s important to use moisturizer after ultraviolet exposure. This is because tanning of any sort absorbs the moisture from your skin. In order to replenish this moisture, you will need to take special care of your skin and apply the proper moisturizer.
Also read: Tanning Bed Lotions: Can You Use Them Outside? (SPF & UV)
Best Moisturizers for Face
Taking care of the skin on your face is important for any human, but especially those of us who use tanning beds. Here are some of the best moisturizers that will hydrate your skin, reduce signs of aging, and restore your natural glow.
1. Bliss Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer for Face
- TIKTOK VIRAL DRENCH & QUENCH MOISTURIZER: Bliss' ultra-lightweight moisturizer deeply hydrates skin on contact, leaving your skin instantly quenched and refreshed. Plus, the rejuvenating aquatic scent helps recreate the spa at home.
- CREAM-TO-WATER HYDRATOR: Intense moisture, no greasy and heavy after effects. This incredible facial cream instantly transforms on your skin to a serum water texture to dissolve deeply into every layer of skin for all-day comfort.
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This lightweight moisturizer is one of the best face moisturizers to use after the tanning bed. Its formula features 4 different types of hyaluronic acid to provide intense hydration for your skin. Hyaluronic acid is amazing for dry skin because it helps the skin hold on to moisture. This will help your skin look plumper and more youthful.
2. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
- [ HYALURONIC ACID MOISTURIZER ] With hyaluronic acid, ceramides and MVE technology for 24 hour hydration. Rich, velvety texture that leaves skin feeling smooth, it is absorbed quickly for softened skin without greasy, sticky, feel.
- [ MOISTURIZER FOR DRY SKIN ] A deficiency of ceramides in skin can often be associated with dry skin, which can feel itchy and look flaky. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is formulated with three essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid.
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This intensely hydrating cream is one of the highest-rated moisturizers on Amazon. In addition to providing hyaluronic acid within its formula, it delivers moisture to your skin without clogging your pores. It is also fragrance-free, making it a great option for those of us with sensitive skin. This allows your skin to breathe and remain hydrated all day long.
3. Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance
- Beauty and Personal Care Product;Dermalogica Skin Care; Packaging may vary
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If you’re looking for a high-end moisturizer, look no further than the Intensive Moisture Balance face moisturizer from Dermalogica. This luxury formula is specifically designed to return moisture to dry, depleted skin. It also strengthens the skin’s lipid barrier, ensuring that your skin remains moisturized over time. You really can’t go wrong with this product!
4. Codex Barrier Repair Moisturizer
- Proven Protective Moisturizer: Restore your skin barrier and defend against pollution and photo-aging with Antü Skin Barrier Repair Cream. Meticulously formulated using ingredients grounded in science and sourced from the bounty of nature. It’s your clinically proven skin care solution to hydrate, brighten, refine the appearance of pores, and protect dull, dry, uneven skin for all skin types.
- Recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation: Our Antü Barrier Repair Moisturizer was given a Seal of Recognition by the National Psoriasis Foundation, demonstrating that this product is safe for individuals with psoriasis and/or severely sensitive skin. We also conduct clinical tests and publish the data to prove how this cream repairs your barrier to help you make an informed purchase decision.
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This vegan face moisturizer is one of the best moisturizers to use after tanning. Its formula features all sorts of nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin A, and antioxidants that will purify and nourish your skin over time. It has a subtle citrus scent that is quite refreshing. This brightening moisturizer deeply hydrates your skin while repairing UV damage and protecting your skin’s natural barrier. It also has anti-aging properties.
5. Bliss Renew & Smooth Night Serum
- RENEW AND SMOOTH GLYCOLIC + POLYYHYDROXY ACID NIGHT SERUM: Wake up to smoother, more refined skin overnight with Bliss' nightly PM serum. The floral jasmine scent makes it a rich and soothing part of your nightly skincare routine.
- WAKE UP TO SMOOTHER SKIN: Effective yet gentle, this nighttime serum works while you sleep to visibly transform dull and dry skin by exfoliating overnight. Wake up to better skin every morning!
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Serums are essential when it comes to moisturizing your face because they are able to penetrate the skin deeper than your typical moisturizing cream. If you’re looking for the perfect serum for hydrating and nourishing your skin after UV light exposure, Bliss Renew & Smooth Night Serum is a must-try. This gentle and hydrating resurfacing serum features AHAs such as glycolic acid and a fruit acid complex. AHAs help to remove excess dead skin cell build-up and improve the texture of your skin so that your moisturizer can penetrate deeper into your skin and be more effective. You should apply this serum at night before the other products in your nighttime skincare routine.
Best Moisturizers for Body
We all know how important it is to moisturize your face, but did you know that it’s also essential to moisturize your body after using the tanning bed? Moisturizing your body regularly can help you obtain an effortless, natural glow and repair your skin’s moisture barriers. Here are some of the most effective body moisturizers to use after the tanning bed.
1. HoneySkin Ultimate Face and Body Cream
- SOOTHE, NOURISH, & RESTORE - This Manuka Honey Skincare Face Moisturizer & Eczema Cream delivers restorative & nutrient-enriched relief from a wide array of skin conditions, making it ideal for even the most sensitive skin. This facial moisturizer & body cream soothes & nourishes extremely dry skin, itching, acne, sunburn, rashes, eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, & more!
- LONG-LASTING HYDRATION & MOISTURIZATION - Our best-selling itchy skin relief & hydrating moisturizer face cream penetrates deeply to provide rejuvenating & replenishing moisture to the skin. Unlike ordinary vitamin e body moisturizers & facial skin care products, this redness relief for face & eczema honey body lotion for dry skin goes layers deep, giving you smooth, healthy, & balanced skin.
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This hydrating face and body cream is perfect for using after sun exposure. With natural ingredients like coconut oil, manuka honey, and aloe vera this formula has everything you need to nourish your skin after a sunbed session. The uses of this product go beyond hydrating dry skin, it can also help with skin irritation and relieve the effects of eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. It is also cruelty-free, vegan, and made from organic ingredients.
2. Derma B Daily Moisture Body Lotion
- LONG-LASTING MOISTURIZING BODY LOTION with a soft creamy texture not only absorbs softly & gently but also keeps skin moisturized for a long time/ The date on the packaging is not an expiration date. It is the manufactured day
- DRY & SENSITIVE SKIN CARE: Multi-layer of panthenol, shea butter, and grape seed oil helps the lotion be absorbed promptly and keeps moisture for a long time without leaving a greasy oil feeling on the skin afterwards
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The Daily Moisture Body Lotion from Derma B is one of the top-rated products on Amazon for dry skin. This Korean skincare brand has been taking the world by storm for its impressive skincare and beauty products. Its formula features ingredients such as olive oil and allantoin which are designed to penetrate your skin’s moisture barrier and soothe your skin. When you use this product, you’ll find that your skin is smoother and able to maintain a natural and healthy glow.
3. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion for Dry Skin
- [ DAILY MOISTURIZING LOTION ] Smooth, light-weight texture that is absorbed quickly, leaving skin feeling smooth and hydrated, never greasy
- [ LONG-LASTING HYDRATION ] Contains Hyaluronic Acid to help retain skins natural moisture and MVE technology to provide 24 hour hydration
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This lightweight daily moisturizer is a best seller on Amazon, and it’s easy to see why. It features a formula with hyaluronic acid and essential ceramides to repair and restore your skin’s moisture barrier. Upon application, it feels smooth and lightweight against your skin and absorbs quickly for up to 24 hours of additional hydration while also helping your skin retain its natural moisture.
4. NIVEA Intense Healing Body Lotion
- Quick Nourishing: NIVEA body lotion for dry skin nourishes, intensively moisturizes, and soothes dry rough skin after just one application
- 72 Hour Moisture: NIVEA Intense Healing lotion is enriched with NIVEA Deep Nourishing Serum and Provitamin B5 to deliver deep nourishing moisture that lasts for up to 72 hours
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For a budget-friendly option that is amazingly effective, try out the NIVEA Intense Healing Body Lotion. This formula features nourishing ingredients that provide up to 72 hours of moisture and hydration. The moisturizer is non-greasy and soaks into your skin with ease, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It is enriched with Provitamin B5 to nourish your skin and provide you with a natural, all-over glow.
5. La Roche Posay Triple Repair Moisturizing Body Cream
- This triple repair body and face moisturizer is clinically shown to reduce dry, rough skin and provide 48 hour hydration. Fragrance free, suitable as body cream, hand lotion & facial moisturizer.
- Its triple action helps rebalance the skin microbiome, restore the skin’s protective barrier and replenish the skin’s lipids to provide daily relief for dry skin. Rich, comforting cream texture with a non-greasy and non-sticky finish. Skin firming body lotion.
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If you’re looking for a high-end body cream, look no further than the La Roche Posay Triple Repair Moisturizing Body Cream. This formula is specifically designed to hydrate and nourish dry skin. With ingredients like shea butter and niacinamide, this body moisturizer will help to improve your skin’s texture and restore its natural moisture barrier, making it the perfect body moisturizer to use after the tanning bed.
What Makes a Good After Tanning Bed Moisturizer?
When it comes to shopping for an after-tanning bed moisturizer, you should look for something lightweight and ultra-hydrating. Some people even like to use oils to nourish and rejuvenate their skin after a sunbed session. To make sure your moisturizer is high-quality, take a peek at the ingredients that are included. Some of the most nourishing ingredients include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid. Argan oil and green tea are also incredible ingredients for restoring moisture to your skin after a tanning bed session.
Also read: Tanning Bed vs Sun – Which One’s Worse?
Should You Apply Lotion Before or After the Tanning Bed?
To achieve the best results from your sunbed sessions, it is recommended that you apply lotion both before and after you use the tanning bed. Keeping your skin hydrated will help it hold a tan more effectively.
The best way to do this is to apply moisturizer to your skin about 30 minutes before your session. You can use a lotion that is designed specifically for tanning beds, or any other sort of hydrating lotion. However, it is important to keep in mind that using oils to moisturize before your tanning bed session can cause burning. For that reason, it is best to opt for a lightweight, water-based lotion.
After your tanning bed session, you will want to wait a few minutes before applying lotion again. This moisturizer should be ultra-hydrating and nourishing for your skin, but it does not have to be specifically designed for use with a tanning bed. Contrary to before using the tanning bed, it is absolutely okay to use oil to hydrate after your sunbed session. In fact, hydrating with a nourishing oil, such as coconut oil, can help to rejuvenate your skin and retain your glow.
How To Soothe Your Skin After Using the Sunbed?
There are a few essential steps when it comes to soothing your skin after using the sunbed.
First, it is important to drink a lot of water. Tanning can absorb the hydration from your skin and body, leaving you feeling thirsty or even lightheaded. To avoid this dehydrated feeling, you should make sure that you are drinking plenty of water before and after you step inside the sunbed.
Another way to rejuvenate your skin after tanning is by moisturizing. Aside from soothing and cooling your skin, using a moisturizer regularly can help to improve the appearance of your tan and make your tan last longer.
Some experts recommend waiting a few hours after tanning before you shower. This can help your skin replenish its oils naturally. It is recommended to wait at least four hours.
If your skin is feeling dry and drained after using the sunbed, the best option might just be to take a break from tanning for a few days. During this time, you will allow your skin to repair itself and recover from ultraviolet exposure. If you are tanning too frequently, you will risk causing further damage to your skin and increase the risk of skin cancer.
