Although a little sun exposure is good for your skin, overdoing it and allowing your skin to burn is something you’ll obviously want to avoid. Good protection is important to protect skin cells and maintain elasticity. This is why tanning oils are popular for enhancing a sun tan while helping to protect the skin at the same time.
Lighter skin converts UV rays into vitamin D more readily than darker skins. If you think about it, it makes more sense that lighter skins need less sun exposure to get vitamin D. Darker skins absorb more rays due to their higher melanin levels, but still need adequate protection from the sun.
Regardless of your skin type, it is important to first cleanse and exfoliate your skin before applying any kind of lotion or oil. This way, they are absorbed easier and faster, and will provide better results. This will also give your skin an even base when tanning.
Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, a naturally occurring antioxidant with soothing properties to not only moisturize the skin, but help to develop that golden tan and sunkissed look. Mix olive oil with a few drops of carrot juice if you are looking for a darker tan, and a few drops of iodine to help prevent skin from burning.