Sun Bum Tanning Oil vs Browning Lotion: Are they Different?

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If you stay outdoors a lot, there are a lot of lotions you can get for yourself.

Either to keep your skin natural or just for tanning.

Whichever option you plan on going through with, Sun Bum and similar brands have you covered.

In this article, I look at two of Sun Bum’s popular products, the Browning Lotion and the Tanning Oil.

While these products look different (look at the name), there are a lot of similarities between them.

I’m hoping that by the time you finish reading this article, you’ll not only know the subtle differences but also which one is most suitable for your skin.

But first, what does the brand say these products do?

Sun Bum Tanning Oil vs Browning Lotion: Overview

Sun Bum Browning Lotion

From the brand description:

Our secret weapon to accelerate the sun-triggered tanning process in our skin. To ensure protection, we always apply an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen 10 minutes before applying.

Sun Bum Tanning Oil

From the Brand’s Description:

For those of us who love to get golden brown but still want our skin to be nourished, silky smooth, and protected.

As you can see, both are basically doing the same thing. To accelerate the tanning process of the skin along with some extras like skin hydration and nourishment.

Similarities

Sunscreen protection

One of the biggest similarities between the two products is that they both contain Broad Spectrum SPF 15, which will serve as sunscreen and protect the skin from being damaged by UV rays.

Ingredients

The ingredients are also very similar. Both also contain organic coconut oil and aloe vera, as well as featuring essential nutrients and emollient properties.

Cruelty-free

Another thing is that they are cruelty-free, vegan, and free from paraben. So, if you like organic or natural products, then both are possible options to look at.

Differences

There are not many differences between the two products. Some of the ingredients are different as well as the price. But that’s it.

Which one should you then buy? It all depends on your preferences. I’ll try and cover the major ones here so you know what you’re getting.

Price

The Sunscreen Tanning OIl and Browning Lotion are similarly priced.

However, I’ve checked a few places like Amazon and the official website of Sun Bum and found the Tanning Oil to be slightly expensive.

At the time of this writeup, you’ll pay 18 dollars for 8.5 oz of the Tanning Oil as against 16 dollars for 8.5 oz of the Browning Lotion.

Unless you’re really on a tight budget, I don’t think the differential makes any difference. So, you’re more likely to base your decision on possibly other factors.

Ingredients

For the Natural Browning Lotion:

water, ethylhexyl palmitate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glyceryl stearate, fragrance, cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, phenoxyethanol, caramel, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, isohexadecane, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium hydroxide, polysorbate 60, tocopherol, daucus carota sativa (carrot) seed oil, hydrolyzed algin, coffea arabica (coffee) seed oil, glycerin, tocopheryl acetate, salvia hispanica (chia) seed, magnesium sulfate, manganese sulfate, cocos nucifera oil, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, argania spinosa kernel oil, caffeine, aleurites moluccana seed oil, coffea arabica (coffee) seed extract, carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract, zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, panthenyl triacetate, macadamia ternifolia seed oil, ascorbyl palmitate, ethyl linoleate, oleyl alcohol, magnesium aspartate, zinc gluconate, copper gluconate, yellow 6 (CI 15985), red 4 (CI 14700), red 33 (CI 17200), blue 1 (CI 42090)

For the Tanning Oil:

Mineral Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Fragrance

Conclusion: Sun Bum Browning Lotion or Tanning Oil?

As you can see, there are a few differences in the ingredients.

The Tanning oil contains mineral oil, avocado oil, and green tea butter, all of which are not present in the browning lotion.

Aside from that, I don’t see many differences in the list of ingredients. In essence, they should work similarly. The same can be said about the price.

However, if you have to choose, select the Sun Bum Browning Lotion for its moisturizing effect and the Tanning Oil for sunscreen tanning. This is why the brand recommends buying them together and even saving cost for doing so.

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