Do Tanning Lotions & Accelerators Work?
Accelerators, tingles, bronzers — what they actually do, which suits who, and how to use them without wasting your minutes.
5 min readReviewed 24 July 2026
Walk past the shelf of tanning lotions and it's a wall of promises — accelerators, intensifiers, tingles, bronzers, coolers. It's easy to assume it's all marketing, and easy to waste money on the wrong one. The truth sits in the middle: a good lotion genuinely helps, but not in the way people often think.
Here's an honest guide to what these products actually do, the difference between the main types, and how to use one well — so your minutes work harder rather than being spent on dry, unevenly tanning skin.
What accelerators actually do
The most important thing a tanning lotion does is hydrate. Dry skin tans poorly and unevenly and lets colour fade fast; well-hydrated skin tans more evenly, holds colour longer and simply looks better. That alone is why regular tanners tend to swear by a good lotion — it's the moisture doing much of the heavy lifting.
'Accelerators' go a step further, with ingredients intended to support and encourage your skin's own tanning process so you get more from each session. They don't replace UV or work magic — you still tan from the lamps — but on hydrated, prepared skin they can help you build colour more efficiently and evenly.
Accelerators, tingles and bronzers explained
It helps to know what the main categories are for, because they suit very different people. Getting this right is the difference between loving a product and never using it twice.
Ask in studio before you buy — we'll match one to your skin, your experience level and what you're after, rather than leaving you to guess at the shelf.
- Accelerators / intensifiers — hydrate and support your skin's tanning process; a safe, popular all-rounder, good for most people.
- Bronzers — add cosmetic colour on top of your tan for an immediate boost; lovely for events, but can mark clothing and aren't for everyone.
- Tingle lotions — create a warming, reddening effect to stimulate the skin; strictly for experienced tanners only, and never for beginners or sensitive skin.
- Coolers / after-tan — soothe and hydrate afterwards to help your colour last.
How to use them well
Apply an even layer to clean, dry skin shortly before your session — patchy application gives patchy colour, so take a moment to cover everywhere evenly, including easy-to-miss spots. Wash your hands afterwards, especially with any bronzer, to avoid tell-tale dark palms.
Start simple: a straightforward hydrating accelerator suits almost everyone and is the one to begin with. Leave tingles well alone unless you're experienced and know how your skin reacts, and always patch-test a new product if your skin is at all sensitive. If in doubt, ask us first.
Do you actually need one?
You don't need a lotion to tan — the lamps do that. But a good hydrating one genuinely helps you tan more evenly, hold colour longer and get more from the minutes you've bought, which is why so many regulars use one. If you're spending on a course, a lotion often makes that spend go further.
The best move is simply to ask the team in Corby or Kettering what suits your skin and your goal. We'll be honest about what a product will and won't do — and we'll never push a tingle on a nervous beginner. As with everything, sunbeds are 18+, and we'll pace your sessions to your skin whatever lotion you use.