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Best Non-Toxic Tanning Bed Lotions

We vetted tanning bed lotions against the Welpr Standard and here are our top picks.

Camille May

Cofounder & Product Curator

Olushola M. Awoyemi

Medical Reviewer, PhD

Here's what we look for:

Formulas made with natural or synthetic ingredients that meet our standard
Free from parabens, PEGs, phthalates, harsh sulfates, BHA/BHT, artificial dyes, formaldehyde-releasing ingredients, and undisclosed fragrance
Minimal, well-chosen preservatives
Trusted third-party certifications when available
Transparent sourcing, ingredients, and manufacturing practices

Best Non-Toxic Tanning Bed Lotions

On Welpr, terms like "non-toxic," "safer," "cleaner," "healthier," and "vetted" are editorial labels based on our own standard for product assessment. They are not guarantees, certifications, or medical claims. Learn more.

Meets the Welpr Standard

Top Pick

Maui Babe

Tanning Salon Formula

Free From: Cruelty Free
Highlights: Dark tanning, No bronzer

7.6

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Produces a noticeably deeper, more even tan after just one or two uses.
The scent is sweet and tropical; most people find it pleasant, though a few pick up more of a coffee note.
Easy to spread and absorbs into the skin without much effort during application.

Cons

The formula is oily; multiple people found it greasy on the skin, especially once it warms up, making it uncomfortable to put clothes on afterward.
The lotion itself is brown, so you'll want to wipe your hands after applying to avoid transferring color to light clothing.

An oil-based tanning accelerator, not a self-tanner, bronzer, or stain. It works by enhancing your skin's response to UV light (from a tanning bed or the sun), so you still need actual UV exposure to see results.
Formulated with lighter oils specifically so it won't damage the acrylic surfaces on tanning beds. Maui Babe's original browning lotion uses heavier oils that some salons don't allow in lay-down beds.
Does not contain SPF, so if you use it outdoors you'll need to layer sunscreen underneath. For tanning bed use, it goes on alone.
The lotion has a noticeable coffee scent from the Kona coffee extract and a brown color that can transfer onto towels, swimsuits, and clothing. Darker fabrics are your friend here.
Maui Babe is a family-owned operation based in Maui, Hawaii. The original formula dates back to 1996 and became the top-selling tanning oil in Hawaii before expanding to the mainland.
For anyone searching for non-toxic tanning bed lotions, the ingredient list here is short: a handful of plant oils, aloe, coffee extract, and vitamins, with no mineral oil in this particular formula.

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Meets the Welpr Standard

Just Nutritive

Natural Indoor Tanning Lotion

Free From: Cruelty Free
Highlights: Vegan, Cruelty-free, Made in USA, No synthetic fragrance, Medium tanning, No bronzer

7.5

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Noticeable color results within just a few sessions, even on fair skin and hard-to-tan areas like legs.
Leaves skin noticeably soft and well-moisturized after use.
The coffee scent is light for most people and fades once the lotion sets in.

Cons

The scent is polarizing; several people describe it as earthy or musty, and it can intensify after a tanning session.
Needs to be applied 10 to 15 minutes before tanning, which means you can't just apply it at the salon.
A few people saw no color results even after extended use.
The bottle feels small for the amount of product you get.

Not a self-tanner or bronzer. This is a moisturizing lotion meant to hydrate your skin before and during UV exposure (indoor or outdoor), which helps your skin develop its own natural tan more evenly and hold onto color longer.
Absorbs quickly with a non-greasy finish, so it functions more like a lightweight moisturizer than a heavy tanning oil. It doubles as a daily body lotion between tanning sessions to help prevent the dryness that causes tans to fade.
Among non-toxic tanning bed lotions, most rely on synthetic accelerators or bronzing agents. This one uses plant-based butters and oils to condition the skin, letting UV do the color work rather than DHA or artificial dyes.
Each batch is hand-mixed and bottled by a small team in South Florida without industrial heating, which the brand says preserves the potency of the botanical extracts in the formula.
No artificial fragrance added; the scent comes from the botanical ingredients themselves, which some people describe as coffee-like.

Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera Hydrosol)
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract (Coffee) Extract
Garcinia Indica (Kokum Butter)
Mangifera Indica (Mango Butter)
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Butter)
Persea Americana (Avocado) Oil
Corylus Avellana (Hazelnut) Oil
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
Carapa Guianensis (Andiroba) Oil
Cetyl Alcohol
Glyceryl Stearate
Glyceryl Caprylate
Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract
Panthenol (Vitamin B5)
Myrica Pubescens Fruit Wax (Laurel Wax)
Psidium Guajava Extract (Guava Fruit) Extract
Morinda Citrifolia (Noni Fruit) Extract
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Caprylyl Glycol
Carica Papaya (Papaya) Extract
Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Meets the Welpr Standard

COCOSOLIS

Organic Tanning Bed Lotion

Highlights: Vegan, Recyclable packaging, Money-back guarantee, Dark tanning, No bronzer

7.0

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Leaves skin feeling silky smooth and well-hydrated after application.
Scent is pleasant and not overwhelming, mentioned positively across multiple reviews.
Lightweight oil texture that absorbs without transferring onto clothing once it sets.

Cons

The oil consistency can separate and become clumpy, especially if stored in cooler temperatures.
Bottle size is small relative to how much product you need per application.
The pump has reliability issues; a few people reported it not working properly.

An oil (not a lotion or cream) made from a blend of cold-pressed organic oils that you apply before sun or tanning bed sessions to help accelerate and deepen your tan. It does not contain a UV filter, so it needs to be paired with sunscreen when used outdoors.
Works for both tanning beds and natural sun exposure, and doubles as a daily body moisturizer or massage oil outside of tanning sessions.
The formula can solidify in cooler temperatures (below about 25°C/77°F) because it's made entirely from plant oils with no synthetic stabilizers or emulsifiers. If that happens, a brief warm water bath liquefies it again.
Among non-toxic tanning bed lotions, this one is notably minimal: just six plant oils and natural vitamin E, with no added fragrances, preservatives, or fillers. The coconut scent comes from the oils themselves.
COCOSOLIS sources exclusively cold-pressed oils from raw seeds and nuts, a method that retains more of the oils' natural nutrients compared to refined or heat-extracted alternatives.

How to Swap to Non-Toxic tanning bed lotions:

Here's how to swap to non-toxic tanning bed lotions:

What to know about tanning bed lotion

Tanning bed lotions are designed to stay on your skin for extended periods while your pores are open from heat and UV exposure. This means your skin may absorb more of what's in the formula compared to a regular lotion. Welpr focuses on the formulation — the ingredients, fragrances, and preservatives — to make sure what sits on your skin is as clean as possible.

Because these lotions stay on warm, exposed skin for a prolonged session, the quality of ingredients deserves a close look.
Many tanning bed lotions rely on synthetic fragrances, harsh preservatives, and unnecessary additives that don't need to be there.

Review what you already use

Check the lotion you currently use before your next tanning session. Use the Welpr Personal Care and Cosmetic Scanner to take a picture of the ingredient label and see what's flagged.

Look for "fragrance" or "parfum" on the label — these are synthetic fragrance blends that don't disclose individual ingredients.
Check for parabens, PEGs, phthalates, or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, which are common in conventional tanning bed lotions.

Use your current tanning bed lotion more safely

If you're not ready to replace your lotion right away, a few small adjustments can help reduce what your skin takes in. These steps won't make a problematic formula clean, but they can make a difference while you transition.

Apply only the amount you need for even coverage — using extra doesn't improve your tan but does increase what your skin absorbs.
Shower shortly after your session to rinse off residual product rather than letting it sit on your skin for hours.

Choose a cleaner tanning bed lotion

Look for tanning bed lotions with simple, purposeful formulations. Fragrance-free options or those scented only with essential oils or plant extracts are a better starting point. Trusted certifications like EWG VERIFIED™ or MADE SAFE® are a good signal, but Welpr reviews every formula beyond just certifications.

Skip products with long ingredient lists full of synthetic fragrances, parabens, PEGs, or harsh preservatives — a cleaner formula keeps it simple and intentional.
Click the button above to shop Welpr Approved tanning bed lotion.

Camille May

Cofounder & Product Curator

Camille May is the co-creator of Welpr and a guide for clean living. After selling her last company in the health food space, she went non-toxic while working to heal an autoimmune condition....

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Olushola M. Awoyemi

Medical Reviewer, PhD

Olushola M. Awoyemi (aka Shola) is a board-certified toxicologist and a research scientist with a PhD in Environmental Toxicology. Shola's long-term ambition is to be recognized as a world-renowned expert in toxicology,...

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