Coconut Oil For Tanning: Does It Work?

Last Updated on March 3, 2021 by Janie Wilson

You have most probably heard that coconut oil can be used for tanning. You have actually heard it right. Coconut oil has been in fashion for a long time. Due to its health benefits, this tropical oil is widely acclaimed as super-food and is a popular ingredient in a variety of beauty products. But did you know that coconut oil can also help you get a better tan?

Coconut oil not only allows you to tan faster, but also keeps your skin hydrated while sunbathing. In this post I am going to explain everything you need to know about the use of coconut oil for tanning. Is it really worth it and most important, is it safe to use it for tanning? Well, let’s find out the actual truth.

Does coconut oil help you to get a tan?

Although coconut oil does not offer enough SPF protection, it can be used as an alternative to lotions and synthetic tanning oils. The composition and ingredients of coconut oil for sun protection can benefit your skin in numerous ways. This is exactly how it helps you tan effectively.

By the way, I always use this organic coconut oil and this nourishes my skin and gives it a healthy glow.

1. Coconut oil accelerates the absorption of vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for body and skin. While coconut oil blocks 75% of UV rays, its SPF of 4 also allows your skin to quickly absorb the correct vitamin D.

2. Coconut oil nourishes and protects the skin

During a tanning session, the skin is exposed to strong sunlight and harmful UV rays. Coconut oil helps to reduce skin damage by providing stable saturated fatty acids that form a protective layer on the skin. These saturated fats and vitamins also help reduce moisture loss from the skin. In addition, coconut oil helps to restore the skin’s natural radiance.

3. Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties

As the skin is exposed to the sun for hours during tanning, it provides an open invitation to microbes, bacteria and fungi of all kinds that can cause infections. The coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides (MCT), myristic acid, capric acid and lauric acid, which give it antifungal and antimicrobial properties and protect the skin from infections.

4. Coconut oil reduces skin inflammation

In case of possible inflammation caused by sunburn, dust or other environmental factors, coconut oil calms the skin and helps to prevent relapses. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that prevent the skin from peeling or cracking.

5. Its free from hazardous chemicals

Finally, coconut oil is free of all the harmful and irritant chemicals that make the use of artificial products less beneficial and even downright hazardous.

Instructions to follow

It is easy to use coconut oil to achieve a natural, sunny glow. For best results, use virgin coconut oil as it offers more benefits than refined coconut oil.

Step 1: Massage a little coconut oil over your entire body. Be sure to cover each area of exposed skin to moisturize and tan evenly. If you go to the beach or pool, you can take it with you in a pump bottle.

Step 2: Don’t forget to wear your sunglasses and hat. Your eyes and the skin around you are extremely sensitive and vulnerable to UV rays. Also avoid falling asleep outside with your sunglasses on, as this can cause nasty tan lines on your face.

Step 3: Enjoy basking in the sun. However, do not stay in the sun for more than 20 minutes at a time. The effects may vary from person to person depending on your skin type. It takes 15-20 minutes a day to get a tan and absorb the right amounts of vitamin D.

The dangers of exposure to UV rays

Spending too much time in the sun, especially without sunscreen, can not only damage the skin, but also cause premature aging as well as skin cancer. For some reason, it has been observed that coconut oil as a tanning oil works best for women.

So the question is: is there a safe tan?

The answer is yes. Although it’s not without risk, the best way to achieve a healthy tan is to avoid exposing your skin to too much UV radiation. It’s advisable to tan gradually, spreading the time of sun exposure evenly to reduce sunburn.

Tan in small doses and choose carefully the moment you want to tan. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the power of UV rays is strongest from 10am to 4pm on sunny summer days.

How to protect your skin

Use sunscreen. The AAD recommends using an SPF of 30 or more, which blocks about 97% of harmful sun rays. You should apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going out and reapply it at least every 2 hours or every hour if you are swimming or sweating.

Cover up

You should also wear protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses when outdoors, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Watch out for shade

If possible, stay in shaded areas to protect yourself from the sun.

Younger people should avoid tanning beds

People who use a tanning bed before they reach 35 face an increasing risk of melanoma by almost 60%, and the risk increases with each use.

Try a sunless self-tanner

You may try a sunless self-tanner. But you should wait at least 12 hours after shaving to apply a self-tanner. Remember to apply sunscreen every time you go out in the sun, even though the sunscreen is already included in the self-tanner.

Wrapping up

Although coconut oil is beneficial to the skin in many ways, it is not good for everyone to use it for tanning. Depending on your skin type and how your skin reacts to the sun, coconut oil can have different effects on different people. For example, if you have oily skin, coconut oil is a risky activity for you because it can cause acne secretions.

It is important to note that coconut oil does not provide enough protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays. That is why, it cannot prevent sunburn or more permanent skin damage.