isletan sun kissed tanning accelerator lotion for indoor tanning bed & outdoor sun watermelon

This Isletan Sun Kissed lotion comes double sealed for your protection (outer wrapped and inner top seal). This lotion sports a fairly strong watermelon scent. Most tanning lotions I have previously used have opted for more tropical and/or a floral scent, usually coconut and/or coconut mixed with tropical florals. This is the first tanning lotion I've used that smells of watermelon. The watermelon scent is not of an actual watermelon, though. It's mostly of that artificial watermelon scent that is typically used to enhance artificially flavored watermelon drinks or watermelon candies, such as a Jolly Rancher. However, the scent is pleasant and should be strong enough to cover the "tanning odor" produced after using a high pressure tanning bed.

While this lotion is a light pink shade of color, this lotion does not fluoresce under UV. Many "extreme tanning" lotions add pigments that moderately fluoresce under UV lights to aid the lotion's "maximum tanning" capabilities. This lotion doesn't have this feature. Being light pink in color, the lotion also DOES NOT contain any cosmetic bronzers and won't stain clothes with a brown shade.

This lotion DOES contain Tyrosine, according to the ingredient label. It is suggested that Tyrosine reduces the amount of time it takes for skin to begin absorbing UV to activate melanin production. With that said, the NIH has determined that when exposed to UVB light (the burning kind of UV), Tyrosone didn't have any affect on melanogenesis (the production of melanin). However, when exposed to UVA light (the majority of light emitted by most tanning beds), melanogenesis increased when cells were exposed to Tyrosine at specified higher levels.

The question, though, is whether this lotion contains enough Tyrosine to enhance melanogenesis in this way and whether that Tyrosine can be absorbed into the skin layer where the melanocytes exist.

This Isletan Sun Kissed lotion DOES NOT include any self-tanners (or bronzers as stated above) such as Dihydroxyacetone. This is a good thing in my book. Too many tanning bed lotion producers include weak self-tanners designed to produce a fake tan a few hours after application. These type of lotions typically include a self-tanning formula which avoids streaking, but when used multiple times day after day, it will build up a fake tan gradually. These fake tanners are included to satisfy some people's need for instant gratification, but they also get in the way of determining if you're getting a natural tan. Again, no bronzers or self-tanners are included in Isletan's Sun Kissed.

As with all tanning bed lotions, this lotion DOES NOT contain SPF. Lotions like this Isletan Sun Kissed are mostly formulated for, designed for and best used in a tanning bed situation rather than outdoors. While these types of "maximum tanning" lotions can be used outdoors, it's exceedingly difficult to control UV exposure when using a "maximum tanning" lotion without SPF. Using this kind of lotion outdoors makes it easy to misjudge exposure and get a bad burn. I don't recommend using tanning bed lotions outdoors.

This Isletan Sun Kissed lotion DOES NOT contain tingle / hot or cold sensation effects. Some tanning bed style lotions attempt to increase their effectiveness by adding benzyl or methyl nicotinate to increase blood flow in the skin (producing a tingle or heat sensation) or menthol (producing a cooling sensation). Tingle lotions are intended to break through the tanning plateau once you have reached your maximum base tan. These ingredients ARE NOT in this lotion.

This Isletan Sun Kissed lotion is one of many types of lotions formulated for and best used under controlled UV exposure conditions, such when using a tanning bed. This lotion seems reasonably well formulated and may produced reasonable results if used each time prior to using a tanning bed.

While using this Isletan Sun Kissed lotion outdoors is possible, I've always found these tanning bed designed lotions to be too difficult to manage. For outdoor use, I typically stick with an SPF 5 or 10 dry oil or lotion. These lower SPF lotions allow more UV light through, but also allow you to stay outdoors a bit longer because of the SPF. Using a lotion without any SPF at all, you risk burning rapidly, especially when using these "maximum tanning" lotions which contain ingredients designed to accelerate or magnify UV exposure.

Overall, 5 stars because of lotion's overall light formulation, without self-tanners, without bronzers and without tingle or cooling sensations. This Isletan Sun Kissed lotion seems to be of a reasonably high quality and may help produce a better tan over time when used properly. However, I have typically found it takes several weeks using an accelerator lotion and many tanning sessions before one can conclusively say how effective any given lotion is at producing results. Skin type also plays a big factor in how effective these "maximum tanning" lotions ultimately are.

For aro...

Im pale as all get out so I have been trying to build up a collection of tanning products for summer. I know I need to be careful because its an accelerator. Smell is mild and not overwhelming which I appreciate! Spreads easily. I think its worth it compared to competitors!

This smells soooooo good! Has a very fruity watermelon scent. Its only the beginning of spring, but I did slather some on while out working in the garden and it did seem to make my tan start a little faster. Just use caution and sunscreen with it to avoid getting sunburn.

Finally a tanning lotion that has a pleasant smell and doesn't smell like tanning lotion. The scent is watermelon and smells so nice. It really helps you get tan faster. Feels good and hydrating on the skin. Good value for the price. Will be purchasing more when I run out.

I really like the smell of this product and the way that it makes my skin feel. I found it easy to apply and had no adverse reaction to the product. It lasted for a few hours and even through a swimming session in the water. I reapplied after an hour in the water. For as much as you get, I feel this is a good price.