Why Should You Use Coconut Oil For Tanning?

September 12, 2018 by Renold Rajan

Does the bright sun lift your spirits? A hot summer day can definitely chase away the gloom. The summer months are not liked by a lot of people thanks to the dust, humidity, and sweating that are part of the season. But, there are others who wait for those days. It is the perfect time to get a tan on the skin and boost the appeal. However, it is also important that you adhere to the safety provisions while developing a tan. Not all methods used for tanning are safe. The tanning beds are not natural, after all, and lying on the beach for hours can expose your skin to the harmful UV rays (1). Applying a sunscreen is an option but it also comes with some caveats. Using natural remedies is a better option for tanning.

Is Coconut Oil Good For Tanning?

Yes! Most people are accustomed to using coconut oil either for hair care or cooking needs. While its benefits for the scalp and hair are undeniable, you can also use coconut oil for tanning, avoiding the harm caused by the UV rays (1).

Why Should You Use Coconut Oil For Tanning?

Below listed are the reasons why you should use coconut oil for tanning.

1. No Harmful Chemicals:

A lot of sunscreens, including those made by reputed skincare brands, are often laden with chemicals and ingredients like paraben and solvents. While they contain SPF for protecting your skin from the harmful UV rays, those chemicals may cause side effects (2). People with sensitive skins fare worse after applying sunscreens. This applies to various forms of sunscreens, including gels, creams, and lotions. Coconut oil, on the contrary, does not contain any harmful ingredient or chemical that can impact your skin negatively.

2. Excellent Skin Nourishment:

Unlike typical sunscreens, coconut oil helps your skin stay hydrated while taking sun baths (3). Its natural fatty acids ensure your skin remains well-moisturized, even hours after application. It helps prevent the skin from getting dry and wrinkled when you lie for hours on sun-kissed beaches. You get a tanned look while your skin texture does not suffer.

3. Develops A Layer:

Whether you apply coconut oil as it is or apply it after mixing with other oils or ingredients for tanning, it helps form a layer on your skin. This helps reflect some of the UV rays off your skin.

4. Offers Protection From Infections:

When you spend hours lying on a sea beach or an open ground for a tan to set in, your skin gets exposed to the various germs and microorganisms in the surroundings. Most of it happens without you even being aware of it. Coconut oil has proven antimicrobial and anti-fungal attributes that help protect your skin from getting affected by the germs in the environment (4).

5. Shiny Look:

Constant exposure to strong sunlight can make your skin darker and duller. The application of coconut oil can help your skin remain shiny even after you get the tan. It makes your skin darker and shiny, eventually.

6. Helps Get A Tan Faster:

Coconut oil gets absorbed pretty quickly by the skin and energizes the melanin-producing layer beneath the skin surface. So, you need to spend less time in the scorching sun.

7. Does Not Thwart Vitamin D Absorption:

Apart from tanning, the exposure to sunlight also helps you soak in Vitamin D. Vitamin D is required for the execution of various physiological functions in the human body (5). The problem with most sunblock creams and sunscreen lotions is that they block Vitamin D along with the harmful UV rays. That is not the case with coconut oil.

How To Use Coconut Oil For Tanning? – Step By Step Process

It is quite simple to use coconut oil for tanning.

Take a generous amount of coconut oil and then massage it all over your body.
Massage well, so that the oil can soak into the skin easily.
Based on your skin sensitivity, you may use protective clothing like a hat or take an umbrella.
Reapply the oil every half an hour during the exposure to the sun.
For the best results, use virgin and organic coconut oil. The refined and perfumed variants of this oil do not contain all the natural goodness.

Why Should We Use Coconut Oil For Tanning?

However, keep in mind that coconut oil, in itself, is not very protective against UV rays, especially during prolonged exposure to the sun. You may dab on a good quality waterproof sunscreen with SPF 30 for enhanced protection. For the best results, mix the sunscreen with coconut oil a few minutes before you step out into the sun.