If you've spent any time looking through tanning lotions, you've probably seen products described as Tingle, Hot, Sizzling or Extreme Heat.
They're some of the most intense tanning lotions available – and they're particularly popular with experienced tanners looking to change up their usual tanning routine.
But what actually causes that famous tingle?
It's not simply a lotion designed to make your skin feel hot. Tingle lotions work by temporarily increasing blood flow close to the surface of your skin.
Here's what you need to know before turning up the heat.
What Is a Tingle Tanning Lotion?
A tingle tanning lotion is a specialist tanning lotion formulated with ingredients that temporarily stimulate circulation in the skin.
Two ingredients you'll commonly see in tingle formulas are Benzyl Nicotinate and Methyl Nicotinate.
These ingredients act as vasodilators. In simple terms, they cause small blood vessels in the skin to widen temporarily, increasing blood flow through the area where you've applied the lotion.
That's what creates the distinctive heat, redness and tingling sensation associated with these products.
The stronger the tingle formula – and the more sensitive you are to it – the more noticeable that sensation can be.
How Does Tingle Lotion Actually Work? 🔥
Here's where tingle lotions are different from your everyday accelerator or bronzer.
After you apply a tingle lotion, ingredients such as benzyl or methyl nicotinate stimulate microcirculation within the skin.
1. Blood vessels near the skin dilate
The active tingle ingredients cause small blood vessels in the treated skin to temporarily widen.
This is known as vasodilation.
2. Blood flow to the area increases
As those vessels dilate, more blood flows through the skin in the area where the lotion has been applied.
That's why your skin may begin to look noticeably red or flushed.
This redness isn't your tan suddenly appearing – it's the temporary effect of increased circulation.
3. Your skin begins to feel warm or tingly
That increased circulation, together with the way the active ingredients stimulate the skin, creates the sensation tingle lotions are famous for.
Depending on the product and your individual response, you might experience anything from a gentle warming sensation to quite an intense feeling of:
Heat • Tingling • Prickling • Redness • Flushing
With a strong tingle lotion, the sensation can be surprisingly powerful if you've never experienced it before.
4. More blood flow also means increased oxygen delivery
Blood carries oxygen around the body, so increased circulation within the skin also increases oxygen delivery to the affected tissue.
This relationship between microcirculation, oxygen and the tanning process is why tingle technology has become so popular in tanning products aimed at experienced users.
However, it's worth separating the established science from tanning-industry claims: nicotinates are well established to increase skin blood flow, but claims that this necessarily produces a specific percentage increase in tanning results shouldn't be treated as guaranteed.
So Why Does Increased Blood Flow Matter for Tanning?
This is where you'll often hear people talk about tingle lotions helping them move beyond a "tanning plateau."
Tanning itself happens when UV radiation stimulates cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin – the pigment responsible for tanning.
Tingle products don't contain some special ingredient that simply turns your natural skin pigment darker.
Instead, their defining action is that temporary increase in circulation at the skin.
This is why they're generally marketed towards experienced tanners who have already been using standard accelerators or bronzers and want to try a different type of tanning lotion.
Why Does Your Skin Go Red?
This is probably the biggest surprise for somebody using tingle for the first time.
Redness after applying a tingle lotion doesn't necessarily mean you've suddenly developed a much darker tan.
Because blood vessels have dilated and blood flow has increased, the skin can temporarily appear red or flushed.
Think about how your cheeks can become red when you're hot or after exercise – increased circulation can visibly change the appearance of your skin.
The same principle is involved with a tingle lotion, although here the response is being deliberately triggered by ingredients applied to the skin.
The redness should therefore not be confused with the eventual colour of your tan.
What Does Tingle Lotion Feel Like?
There's no single answer because both tingle strength and individual sensitivity vary.
A relatively mild formula might simply feel pleasantly warm.
A stronger tingle can feel considerably hotter, pricklier or more intense.
And someone standing next to you could use exactly the same lotion and experience it differently.
That's one of the reasons we wouldn't recommend buying the strongest tingle you can find for your first attempt.
Who Are Tingle Lotions For?
Tingle lotions are generally designed for experienced tanners, particularly people who already know how their skin responds to UV tanning and conventional tanning lotions.
You might consider exploring tingle if:
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You already have experience with UV tanning
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You've previously used accelerators or bronzers
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You want to try a more intense tanning lotion
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You're comfortable with temporary warmth, tingling and redness
- You've reached the point where you want to experiment with a different type of tanning product
If you're new to tanning lotions, there's no need to jump straight into tingle.
A good accelerator or bronzer is generally a much more sensible starting point.
Tingle vs Bronzer – They're Not Opposites
One thing that can be confusing when shopping for tanning lotions is that Tingle and Bronzer aren't mutually exclusive categories.
They describe different things.
Tingle describes the circulation-stimulating, warming action of the lotion.
Bronzer means the product contains ingredients designed to add cosmetic bronzing colour.
So you can have:
- A tingle without bronzer
- A tingle lotion with bronzers included
Some of the more advanced tanning lotions combine both.
Always check the individual product description rather than assuming every tingle formula works in exactly the same way.
New to Tingle? Start Sensibly
If you've never experienced a tingle lotion before, don't immediately reach for the hottest product available.
Start with a milder tingle and see how your skin responds.
A patch test according to the product's directions is also a sensible idea before covering a large area of skin.
Avoid using tingle products on delicate facial skin unless the manufacturer specifically states that the product is suitable for facial use, and always follow the instructions and warnings supplied with the individual lotion.
It's also important to remember that the active effect can potentially transfer through skin contact shortly after application, so take particular care around children and pets.
Ready to Turn Up the Heat? 🔥
If you're already an experienced tanner and you're ready to try something different, explore the Tan Touch Tingle collection.
From an introduction to tingle through to seriously hot formulas for experienced tingle lovers, there's plenty to discover.