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In This Article
People have been lathering up with baby oil for decades to bronze their skin.
But exactly how bad is it?
Meet the Experts
What Is Baby Oil?
Stocksy
Baby oil is made primarily of an odorless product calledmineral oil, with a bit of fragrance mixed in.
If youre anything like us, you could probably spot baby oils distinct smell anywhere.
Why Is Baby Oil Used For Tanning?
Many people tan with baby oil because it can make your skin tan more quickly.
The reason for this quicker tan is because baby oil helps attract and absorb UV rays, says Farber.
The problem, and this is a big one, is that baby oil doesnt offer sun protection.
“And sitting for long periods in the sun without any coverage is incredibly damaging,” Farber says.
Is It Safe to Use Baby Oil for Tanning?
In fact, they say that there is no safe way to tan.Tanning simply isn’t healthy.
“However, it’s not worth the risk of damaging the skin and potentially developing skin cancer.”
As we’ve mentioned, no tan is a safe tan.
That means a broad-spectrum sunscreen, with UVA and UVB protection, formulated as an oil.
This is different from atanning oilwhich usually only contains minimal SPF.
Additionally, they provide limited relief tosunburned skinand sometimes even further inflame it by trapping in the heat.
Byrdie Tip
Aim to use products with a minimum SPF of 30.
Can You Wear Baby Oil Over Sunscreen?
It’s important to understand that baby oil is a distinctly different product from sunscreen.
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