17 Top Tanning Lotions for Legs: Top Picks, a Guide + Tips
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Getting a great tan — and more importantly, an even one — isn’t always easy. Sometimes, laying out for hours can still result in uneven color.
Legs, in particular, are often harder to tan than the rest of the body because the skin is thicker, so it’s harder for the sun’s rays or UV rays in a tanning bed to penetrate them.
A tanning lotion for legs is the best way to solve this (and avoid over-exposure)! But which tanning lotion for legs can give you the best results?
We did the legwork (pun intended) to help you find the top indoor tanning lotion for legs. Check out our picks for the top indoor bronzer tanning lotions:
- Paraben-free
- Advanced bronzing and skin-firming blend
- Infused with a hair-growth inhibitor
- Streak-free and easy to apply
- Non-sticky and no transfer formulation
- Ultra-hydrating and moisturizing
- Fast absorbing formulation
- Contains tyrosine for optimal tanning results
- Moisturizes and tans simultaneously
Table of Contents
Top 17 Tanning Lotions for Legs
Now that you know how to choose the right product and how to apply it, here are 17 of the top leg tanning lotions.
Get gorgeous, long-lasting golden bronze legs!
Key benefits: Delivers long-lasting, rich color to hard-to-tan areas; formulated with skin-firming ingredients; HyperDark Tanning technology
Features:
- Contains coconut and sweet almond essential oils
- Formulated with a hair growth inhibitor
- Paraben-free
This product is formulated with its dark tanning technology and is full of moisturizers, making it a go-to for smooth and rich color.
This is a perfect choice if you want an all-around tanner that colors your legs beautifully and keeps them soft and smooth.
Supre Snooki Ultra Dark Leg Bronzer uses Hyperdark Tanning technology to prep your skin for a rich, long-lasting golden color.
Moreover, it also contains hair growth inhibitors, moisturizers, and firming properties, so you shave less and enjoy soft and smooth tanned legs longer.
This all-natural formulation gives you that perfect summer bronze color with a hint of shimmer.
Key benefits: Natural and buildable color; streak-free formula; infused with all-natural ingredients
Features:
- Contains aloe vera and essential oils
- Lightly scented with fresh vanilla
- Cruelty-free and organic
A safe and non-greasy self-tanning formula uses natural ingredients to give you a sun-kissed golden glow.
This buildable tanning lotion allows you to start light and work your way up to the color you want.
Its non-greasy formulation glides smoothly onto the legs and offers a natural sun-kissed glow from within. Plus, it’s lightly scented with vanilla and has no harsh self-tanner smell.
This is also a great choice for sensitive skin because it’s made from 100% natural ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, and coconut oil.
Give your legs a golden sun-kissed color along with a flawless airbrushed feel.
Key benefits: Water and transfer-resistant; lightweight formulation; covers imperfections
Features:
- Easily absorbed
- Comes in five shades
- Palmaria extract for skin hydration
Create the color you want in seconds while covering up freckles, veins, and more with this tanning airbrush lotion.
Sally Hansen is famous for their body and leg makeup that helps you easily conceal and cover imperfections like freckles, veins, and more.
With this product, you get the benefits of their airbrush makeup technology combined with a mild self-tanner formulation that comes in five shades to match every skin tone.
The result is a golden glow with a flawless finish.
Enjoy a darker, deeper color with this product's unique blend of ingredients.
Key benefits: Unique warming technology helps create a deeper color; delightful agave nectar scent; creates a deep, long-lasting tan
Features:
- Highly moisturizing
- A unique shave minimizer blend
- Hypoallergenic
This hypoallergenic formula provides a deep and long-lasting tan while keeping your legs smooth and moisturized.
This is the perfect product for you if you want a more pronounced dramatic color.
The Jwoww Hypoallergenic Warming Leg Bronzer combines caramel and black walnut extract to create a golden color.
At the same time, their “warming technology” increases blood flow to the skin and boosts the production of melanin, resulting in an instant deep bronze finish.
The formulation also includes hair growth inhibitors for a smoother finish and less shaving, while caffeine helps provide a toning boost for firmer and more supple gams.
This self-tanning lotion requires no harmful UV rays to get that gorgeous sun-kissed glow.
Key benefits: Quick dry streak-free formula; instant natural color; boosts color with subtle shimmer
Features:
- Formulated with vitamin E
- Creates a natural sun-kissed tan
- Non-greasy
Enjoy the coverage and ease of a spray tan with this non-streak, non-greasy tanning lotion.
If you want the ease of a spray tan with the creaminess of a lotion, this is for you. You get complete coverage and a non-greasy moisturizer that provides color while hydrating your skin.
This self-tanner is formulated with vitamin E and is quick-dry and streak-free for easy use. It provides a natural-looking golden tan with a hint of subtle shimmer.
If you want full body color to add to your bronze legs, the L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze line comes in mousses, towelettes, serums, and mists to get you golden all over.
Get extra dark color while moisturizing your legs and keeping cellulite at bay!
Key benefits: Hair growth inhibitors; provides full coverage and color; can be used as a sun tanning lotion and self-tanning lotion
Features:
- Triple tanning lotion with bronzer
- Anti-cellulite oil for longer tan
- Cruelty and paraben-free
This double-purpose tanning lotion provides a rich, deep, long-lasting color while keeping legs smooth, supple, and flawless.
This dual-purpose tanning lotion can be used as an indoor self-tanner and a sun tanning lotion. Its silky formulation combines coconut oil, aloe vera, and cocoa butter for gorgeous color and smooth skin.
It utilizes high levels of the compound dihydroxyacetone (DHA), caramel, and erythrulose to prompt the skin in hard-to-tan places to develop a fast and long-lasting dark bronze color.
It also contains active hair growth inhibitors and anti-cellulite oil that works as a tan extender and improves the texture of your skin for a toned and tight appearance.
A lightweight lotion that allows you to decide how light or how deep you want your tan.
Key benefits: Ultra-hydrating and long-lasting; no self-tanner smell; infused with apricot oil for added moisture
Features:
- Streak-free and easy to apply
- Non-sticky and no transfer formulation
- Mild mood-boosting scent
A top-of-the-line tanner that is gentle on the skin and provides natural, buildable color.
St. Tropez tanning products are known for providing gorgeous color and being gentle on even the most sensitive skin.
This lightweight formulation allows you to create the exact shade you want depending on how long you leave the product on.
At the one-hour mark, you’ll get a nice soft sun-kissed glow. But you can also leave it on for three to four hours to penetrate the skin deeper and achieve a darker bronze.
It’s streak-free and easy to apply with a mild mood-boosting fragrance.
A product that combines multiple accelerators to help you achieve gorgeous bronze results.
Key benefits: Provides all-over golden glow; tightens and firms legs; reduces swelling and improves circulation
Features:
- Immediate and delayed bronzers
- Hair growth inhibitors
- Contains coffee bean extracts
A unique formulation that offers rich bronze color while promoting skin firmness and elasticity.
Lavish Legs combines natural and cosmetic bronzing accelerators with DHA to provide immediate and delayed bronzing results and rich color.
It’s also formulated with BodyFit, RevitaFit, and IdealLift technologies that help reduce the appearance of cellulite while toning the skin and improving elasticity.
Simultaneously, it utilizes coffee bean extracts as an anti-inflammatory that helps increase circulation and reduce puffiness.
This product can be used solely as a self-tanner or with an existing sun tanning lotion for legs.
Get that dark bronze color with this triple-action bronzing lotion.
Key benefits: Creates a deeper, darker tan; reduces the appearance of cellulite; improves cell function for soft and smooth skin
Features:
- Deep bronzing blend
- Tan maximizers amplify melanin production
- Skin conditioners for softer, smoother skin
A dark bronzing lotion that not only provides a deep bronze color but also ensures skin stays moisturized and healthy too.
This bronzer is packed with a host of benefits and harnesses the power of DHA to create a gorgeous natural sun-kissed look.
Skin stimulators in the lotion help increase the circulation on the skin’s surface to target cellulite. At the same time, tan maximizers work to amplify the skin’s natural melanin production to create a darker color.
This product also helps improve collagen production to reduce the appearance of cellulite and skin conditioners to provide essential hydration and moisture.
Even out your skin tone, hide imperfections, and get that golden glow with this bronzer.
Key benefits: Creates natural bronze color; skin conditioners provide hydration; skin firming and toning
Features:
- Fast-absorbing
- Contains tyrosine for optimal tanning results
- Moisturizes and tans simultaneously
This tan-enhancing formulation helps you achieve bronze goodness while keeping skin nourished, firm, and soft.
This fast-absorbing bronzer utilizes the non-essential amino acid tyrosine to give your skin a nice golden tan while helping to even out your skin tone and hide various imperfections.
It also contains skin-firming properties, shave minimizers, and conditioners to keep legs soft and smooth while creating a golden glow.
This bronzer can be used alone or with sun tanning lotion to create an even deeper color. Just be sure to limit sun exposure as the product doesn’t contain sun protection.
Become a bronze goddess minus sun exposure with this sunless tanning formulation.
Key benefits: Formula sets quickly with no messy streaking; easy to apply; requires no sun exposure to deepen the color
Features:
- Provides an effortless buildable sun-kissed glow
- Contains vitamins E and C and aloe vera
- All-natural and eco-friendly
A safe, all-natural tanning lotion for legs that provides a healthy, long-lasting golden glow.
Several tanners work better when paired with suntan oil or lotion and lying out under the sun. But this formulation allows you to skip the sun exposure and still get a golden glow.
It’s easy to apply and provides a smooth, natural, streak-free tan that leaves skin looking bronze, fresh, and flawless.
Plus, it’s safe, all-natural, and eco-friendly.
Transform hard-to-tan legs into gorgeous bronze stems with this dark tanning lotion.
Key benefits: Dark and deep bronze color; easy to apply; cellulite fighters and hair growth inhibitors
Features:
- Contains aloe vera juice
- Utilizes English walnut and plant extracts
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor tanning
Hydrate your skin while achieving a deep and dark bronze tan with this easy-to-use bronzer.
Solid Black Leg Bronzer contains natural ingredients like English walnuts, coffee beans, wild carrots, and tea tree extracts to provide a deep and dark tan.
This lotion also includes hair growth inhibitors and cellulite-fighting capabilities for tan, tight, and flawless legs.
It’s perfect for indoor and outdoor tanning as it only contains non-toxic ingredients, giving you options for building your color and achieving your desired level of tan
Get controlled, gradual color building with this moisture-enriched sunless tanner.
Key benefits: Provides a natural-looking tan; reduces the appearance of cellulite; nourishes and hydrates skin
Features:
- Dermatologist-tested
- Contains antioxidants
- Light fresh scent
The perfect combination of firming lotion and sunless tanner in one easy-to-use product.
The tried-and-tested power of Jergens moisturizing lotion combined with a sunless body bronzer gives you the ability to get golden while hydrating and firming your skin.
Jergens Natural Glow is dermatologist-tested, enriched with antioxidants and vitamin E, and glides on like a creamy body lotion.
Depending on your application, you can go from fair to medium or a deeper medium to tan color. The slow build allows you to control your gradual tanning over time.
Get that gorgeous Hollywood glow with this bronzer and tan accelerator.
Key benefits: Anti-aging; hydrates with hemp seed oil; encourages melanin activity for long-lasting color
Features:
- Formulated with essential oil and vitamins
- Both bronzer and accelerator
- Sweet-smelling
You’ll be mini dress and red carpet ready with this tanner that firms and sculpts legs while providing a golden bronze color.
Ed Hardy offers a diverse range of tanning products, and this one is an excellent choice for hard-to-tan legs.
It is a combination bronzer, tan accelerator, and anti-aging lotion fortified with hemp seed oil, cocoa butter, and cranberry oil to repair and hydrate the skin.
You can use it alone or in a tanning bed to create a head-turning, movie-star glow.
This bronzing blend firms and sculpts legs, giving you a tan and a boost of confidence!
Key benefits: Boosts melanin production for longer color; promotes toned and flawless skin; slows hair growth
Features:
- Formulated to maximize color and glow
- Vegan formula
- Sweet scent
This bronzer is full of vitamins, minerals, and more to provide golden glowing skin that’s also firm and flawless.
You’ll be ready for those short shorts with this bronzer that utilizes DHA, erythrulose, wild indigo, and caramel to create and maximize a beautiful golden glow.
It also contains copper and zinc to help boost melanin production for longer color, while caffeine, allantoin, and white willow bark help to slow hair regrowth, leaving legs smooth and flawless.
Plus, it’s vegan, 95% naturally derived, and smells like delightful wild berries.
A lotion that smells delightful and promises a deep and long-lasting tan.
Key benefits: Lasting dark color; improved skin elasticity; protection from environmental triggers
Features:
- Natural bronzing ingredients
- Immediate results
- Smells like chocolate
Develop a dark tan with this sweet-smelling lotion that darkens skin while improving elasticity and firmness.
We’re all a little addicted to chocolate. This lotion combines the sweet scent of chocolate with natural bronzing ingredients to create the deepest darkest tan making it one of the top tanning bed lotions for legs.
The product is infused with black praline to give skin an extra bronzing boost that develops for hours after application.
It also has all-natural ingredients like walnut shell extract, shea butter, and argan oil to keep skin firm and hydrated.
A product with everything you need to achieve golden bronze legs.
Key benefits: Contains antioxidants; hydrating and nourishing; gorgeous bronze color in four to six hours
Features:
- Available in two shades
- Easy application for a streak-free tan
- Sweet coconut scent
A natural organic self-tanning product that comes with all the tools to get that glow you've always wanted.
Beauty by Earth Self-Tanning Lotion is a full-package product that comes with a bronzer, a tanning mitt, and an exfoliating mitt giving you everything you need to achieve your perfect tan.
The product is vegan and contains clean, nourishing ingredients with DHA for a gorgeous golden color that develops within four to six hours.
It comes in two shades, so you can select the shade best suited to your skin tone and the tan you want.
How To Choose the Top Indoor Tanning Lotion and Bronzers
Finding good tanning products is just one part of the process. You also have to choose the right one for you. Not all tanners work the same on everyone.
Here are some tips on selecting a good tanning lotion for your skin:
Understand Your Skin’s Needs
Some products work better on oily skin, while others are better for sensitive skin. So while browsing for your next leg self-tanner, choose properly to get the most out of your self-tanner.
Take a look at this quick guide below to find which products suit your skin type.
Fair or Sensitive Skin
- Look for tanning lotions with lower levels of DHA (dihydroxyacetone). This will help prevent an overly dark or uneven tan.
- Opt for a tanning lotion that contains moisturizing ingredients, like aloe vera, shea butter, or hyaluronic acid, to help soothe and hydrate sensitive skin.
- Fragrance-free or hypoallergenic formulations are ideal for those with sensitive skin, as they are less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions.
Dry or Dehydrated Skin
- Choose a tanning lotion with intense moisturizing properties, like coconut oil, cocoa butter, or glycerin, to help keep your skin hydrated during and after tanning sessions.
- Look for lotions that are specifically labeled as “hydrating” or “moisturizing” to ensure they address your skin’s moisture needs.
Oily or Acne-Prone Skin
- Select a tanning lotion that is non-comedogenic and oil-free to prevent clogged pores and breakouts.
- Tanning lotions with a lightweight, gel-like texture may work well for oily skin types, as they are less likely to feel greasy.
Normal to Combination Skin
- Tanning lotions designed for normal to combination skin types should provide a balance of hydration and tanning performance.
- You can choose a variety of tanning lotions based on your specific preferences, whether that’s an accelerator or bronzer.
Mature or Aging Skin
- Tanning lotions for mature skin should focus on hydration, anti-aging, and sun protection.
- Look for products that contain antioxidants, vitamins (such as vitamins C and E), and peptides to help combat the signs of aging and protect against UV damage.
- Sunscreen ingredients in the lotion can add an extra layer of protection for aging skin.
SPF Protection
While indoor tanning lotions do not need to provide as high an SPF as outdoor sunscreens, it’s still important to choose a product with some level of UV protection.
Look for lotions with SPF to shield your skin from the UV rays emitted by tanning beds.
Accelerators vs. Bronzers
Tanning lotions come in two main types: accelerators and bronzers.
Accelerators promote melanin production in your skin and usually do not contain color enhancers. Bronzers contain added ingredients that provide an instant tan effect.
Choose between these types based on your desired outcome.
Quick Tip
If you’re unsure, use a product that allows you to build up your tan slowly over time. That way, you can be sure to get the color you want.
Price
Quality tanning lotions and bronzers come in a range of price points.
Consider your budget, but also be willing to invest a bit more in a reputable product that suits your needs and provides better skin protection and tanning results.
10 Top Tips for Applying Tanning Lotion
Once you’ve picked the right tanner, applying it correctly will allow you to make the most of the product.
Here are 10 tips you should follow when applying your choice of the top tan lotion for legs:
Prep Is Essential
To ensure a good, even color that’s streak-free, you need to start with smooth skin. That means prepping your legs before applying your tanner.
Shower, shave your legs, and exfoliate with a mild liquid cleanser and loofah to get your legs smooth.
Keep It Dry
After prepping your legs, you need to be sure the skin is completely dry to ensure it absorbs the tanning lotion.
Use Gloves
You don’t want to get tanner on your palms, especially when you have to keep reapplying. Cover your hands with gloves or use a special tanning applicator mitt.
Work in Sections
It’s always best to work from the bottom up. So start at the ankles and work your way upwards.
Apply in Circular Motions
Use gentle circular motions to apply the tanning product. This helps keep the application even versus long up and down strokes.
Don’t Put the Tanner on Your Feet
Your feet tend to get darker than the rest of your legs. As such, you often don’t need to apply tanning products to them. If you do, use just a little bit and take it slowly.
Go One Layer at a Time
Don’t apply tons of product at once. You won’t always see how dark you’ll get on the first pass. Apply the first layer and wait a bit before applying the next layer or if you need more color.
Buff Out Too Much Color
Use a damp washcloth to buff out areas that might grab too much color, like your knees, ankles, and feet.
Use Baby Powder To Set the Tan
You want an even color with no streaks and creases. To achieve this, you can use a talc-free powder for areas that fold like knees to prevent creasing or streaking.
Stick to What Works
Once you find a product that works with your skin tone and needs, stick with it!
Maintain Your Tan
After you’ve applied the tanner, use a gentle moisturizing lotion to help maintain the golden glow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Tanning Beds for Legs Only?
Yes, there are tanning beds created specifically for the legs. However, these beds aren’t as common as full tanning beds.
If you want to focus on your legs in a regular tanning bed, you can use a tan accelerator on your legs and use a tanning bed as usual.
Are Tanning Beds or Tanning Products Safer for Tanning Legs?
Both tanning beds and sunless tanning products are safer than natural sun tanning.
But sunless tanning products, such as self-tanning creams and tanning lotions for legs, offer a safer way to achieve a tan without UV exposure.
These products provide a tan through the application of a chemical called DHA (dihydroxyacetone) to the skin’s surface. They can give you a tan appearance without the risks associated with UV radiation.
Tanning beds emit UV radiation, which can still cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
Get the Top Indoor Leg Tanning Lotion!
There is no shortage of amazing tanning lotions for legs. Many of them not only tan your legs but also sculpt them, keep them firm, and improve elasticity.
You may need to try a couple of products to find out which is best suited to your skin tone and type. But if you try these picks, you are sure to find one that can help you get your legs gorgeous and glowing.
Love Tanning and Achieving the Perfect Bronze Color?
Check out these stories about getting golden:
- What UV Index Is Best for Tanning? Your Questions Answered
- To Shower After Tanning or Not: Timing Is Everything!
- Top Indoor Tanning Lotion: Top 10 To Give You a Golden Glow