6 Best Tanning Oils with SPF, Reviewed by Glamour Editors
While slathering yourself with oil and laying out in the sun is highly (and rightfully) frowned upon in the beauty community, there is one type of oil that dermatologists stand by: the best SPF tanning oils. These much safer options give you the look and feel of a traditional body oil with the addition of sunscreen to help protect your skin.
āAn SPF oil is a sun-protective product that combines moisturizing oils with sun-blocking ingredients. It works by forming a thin film over the skin, which both hydrates and shields the skin from harmful UVA/ UVB rays,ā says Dendy Engelman, MD and board-certified dermatologist in NYC. To find the best SPF oils on the market, we polled Glamour editors, reviewers and dermatologists for their favorites, then put them to the test. Our top overall pick, the Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Shimmering Body Oil, came derm-recommended, has a high SPF of 50 and leaves behind a glossy, shimmering finish. We also found options that firm the skin and can be used as a scalp sunscreen.
Best SPF tanning oils, at a glanceBest Overall: Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Shimmering Body Oil, $30Best Firming: Coola Firming Body Oil Mist SPF 30, $42Best Shimmer: Vacation Shimmer Oil SPF 30, $38Best for Scalp and Hair: Undefined Beauty R&R Sun Elixir SPF 30, $22Best for Arms and Legs: Supergoop! Glow Oil SPF 50 Body Oil, $40How we tested SPF tanning oils
We tested SPF tanning oils by evaluating their ingredients, texture and efficacy. When it came to ingredients, we prioritized the level of SPF (the higher the better), and if the formula also contained actives like vitamin C, hydrating oils, or hyaluronic acid. We then tested out various textures, and the best ones were lightweight and didnāt feel greasy or sticky on the skin. Instead, they left our skin soft and hydrated. Finally, the best tanning oils with SPF we chose for this list were efficacious and protected our skin after reapplication every two hours while out in the sun, without irritation or redness by the end of the day.
Best Overall: Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Shimmering Body Oil
Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Shimmering Body Oil
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Shimmering Body Oil
This pick made it to the top of our list because itās one Dr. Engelman highly recommends. āThis formula is lightweight yet truly effective. It absorbs quickly, leaving a smooth finish, while delivering high SPF 50 protection thatās perfect for daily use,ā she says. We love that it also has patauĆ” oil for a hydrating finish and antioxidant-rich pongamia seed extract to gently, yet effectively brighten the skin.
āIām simply obsessed with this shimmering body oil,ā says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. āItās super silky and smooth to the touch, and doesnāt feel greasy after application. It makes the skin feel and look smooth like butter, and itās also not too sparkly eitherāthe shimmer is subtle yet noticeable, but doesnāt read āglitter.ā I love slathering this on before a day out in the sun thanks to its SPF of 50.ā
Best Firming: Coola Firming Body Oil Mist SPF 30
Coola Firming Body Oil Mist SPF 30
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Coola Firming Body Oil Mist SPF 30
If youāre looking for an option that can firm the skin and improve rough texture, we love this body oil mist that features SPF 30 and a slew of antioxidants. It blends sea buckthorn, kalahari, moringa seed oils and bakuchiol extract to help soften and smooth uneven skin texture and improve resilience.
āI have some uneven divots on my thigh area,ā Glamourās Kilkeary notes, āso whenever Iām in a bathing suit I like to use a touch of a firming cream to make them look a little smoother and even-textured. This SPF oil actually allows me to skip that step, and instead, I apply it all over my thighs and legs to help firm up the area all while getting UV protection from sun exposure. Itās light as a feather and totally non-greasy, and I like that it does double duty of nourishing the skin inside and out. The mist format also makes it easy to spray on and blend in.ā
Best Shimmer: Vacation Shimmer Oil SPF 30
Vacation Shimmer Oil SPF 30
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Vacation Shimmer Oil SPF 30
So you want something a little more sparkly? This body shimmer oil might just be the formula youāve been looking for: itās glowy and glassy and leaves behind eye-catching gold flecks for the perfect hint of shimmer on your decolletage, arms or legs. Not to mention, it also has vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and peptides to deeply hydrate and plump the skin, which Dr. Engelman says is key. āThis formula replenishes the skinās lipid barrier and helps reduce water loss while offering broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection. I like that the light-reflective shimmer adds a luminous, sun-kissed glow, enhancing the appearance of healthy skin,ā she notes.
āThis absolutely gorgeous (and quite retro, might I add) shimmer oil has warm, gold flecks that visibly pop off of my olive skin tone and catch the light beautifully. The formula itself is shimmering but not overly glittery, and sinks right in for an ethereal glow. Not to mention, it also makes me buttery soft and hydrated (thanks to coconut and jojoba oil), and itās sun-safe too, with SPF 30. Seriously, Iāll be dunking myself in this for the foreseeable future,ā says Glamourās Kilkeary.
Best for Arms and Legs: Supergoop! Glow Oil SPF 50 Body Oil
Supergoop! Glow Oil SPF 50 Body Oil
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Supergoop! Glow Oil SPF 50 Body Oil
If you want to add a touch of sheen to your arms and legs while out and about on vacation, we highly recommend this glowing oil that is perfect for combating dryness in these areas. It has argan oil, grapeseed oil and meadowfoam seed oil to help keep skin looking and feeling smooth and moisturized for hours.
āMy legs tend to get a bit dry and bumpy in the summertime, so I like adding a few drops of this oil on my knees and calves to give them extra hydration and luminosity. This one also smells delicious with notes of coconut, vanilla and figāperfect for a date night or even just a trip to the beach,ā says Glamourās Kilkeary.
Best for Scalp and Hair: Undefined Beauty R&R Sun Elixir SPF 30
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing Undefined Beauty R&R Sun Elixir SPF 30
Undefined Beauty R&R Sun Elixir SPF 30
Weāre here to let you in on a little secret: it is possible to use an SPF oil on your hair and scalp. We know it might sound daunting (greasy strands are pretty much the bane of our existence), but trust on this one, it wonāt make you feel like you need to reach for your shampoo for oily hair. The formula is lightweight, and has vitamin C plus milk thistle to gently and effectively soften and protect the hair and scalp from UV rays.
Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley loves it, too. āThis oneās more of a dry oil with a subtle floral scent and a smooth, non-greasy finish that gives you a dewy, sun-kissed glow without leaving you sticky. Iāve even used it right on my part as a scalp suncreen without ending up with greasy roots. With SPF 30, it hits the dermatologist-approved minimum for daily protection, and itās one of the few oils I feel good about using on my face. In fact, it’s packed with skin-friendly ingredients like brightening vitamin C and rosehip, as well as barrier-boosting squalane and milk thistle,ā she says.
Best for Mature Skin: Kopari Sun Shield Body Glow SPF 30Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing Kopari Sun Shield Body Glow SPF 30
Kopari Sun Shield Body Glow SPF 30
The youthful glow of this sunscreen oil formula makes this a great option for mature skin types: It has vitamin E plus macadamia and hibiscus oils to help protect and nourish the skinās barrier, plus mica to illuminate and add a bronzing radiance.
āAs a child of the late ā80s, I have a deep love for that classic sun tanning oil smellāit just screams summer,ā says Earley. āBut now that Iām pushing 40, I don’t want to mess around when it comes to sun protection. The Rose Gold Sun Shield from Kopari hits the sweet spot with broad-spectrum SPF 45 to shield against UV rays, but still delivers that nostalgic, tropical scent. It goes on more like a gel than a traditional oil. It’s smooth and glossy, not overly greasy. And while it does feel a little sticky at first, it sinks in within a few minutes, leaving my skin feeling hydrated and subtly glowy, not super tacky.ā
Frequently asked questionsCan you tan with an SPF oil?
In short, yes, according to the experts we chatted with. āSPF oils filter out some of the sunās rays, but typically some UV will still reach the skināso skin damage (tanning) could still occur,ā says Dr. Engelman. While she doesnāt recommend sunbathing, she does recommend reapplying sunscreen often, especially when swimming or setting, and to choose an SPF formula thatās at least a 30 (SPF 50 or higher is ideal, she notes). āIf you want a tan, I always recommend self-tanning products to achieve a sunless tan instead of natural tanning,ā she says.
How are SPF oils different from regular tanning oils?
āTanning oils are used to intensify and enhance tanning of the skin,ā says Brooke Jeffy, MD and board-certified dermatologist based in Arizona. āSPF oils do the exact opposite and attempt to protect the sun from tanning and sun damage,ā she notes. SPF oils do have the same hydrating and glow-inducing effect, while shielding skin from harmful UV rays.
Why should you not use a tanning oil without SPF?
Tanning oils without SPF offer absolutely no protection against UV rays, which will leave your skin vulnerable to burning and damage. In fact, the reflective glow of the oil attracts sunlight to the skin, according to Dr. Engelman, which can accelerate the tanning process at the cost of your skinās health. ā āI never recommend tanning oils, as they significantly increase the risk of sunburn, long-term damage and skin cancer,ā she says. In short, if youāre going to use an oil while out in the sun, itās non-negotiable to choose one with SPF.
