Green People Sun Cream
  • Sun & travel

How does sun tan accelerator work?

Discover how Green People's natural tan accelerator, derived from the Carob bean, helps your skin to tan as we reveal the secret to getting a speedy suntan.

By Alexandra Julian

6 Minute read

Want to find out what a tan accelerator is and how it works to stimulate your skin to tan more quickly? Read on.

You will also discover 2 tan-enhancing natural and organic sun care products that feature our natural tan accelerator, Inositol!

What is tan accelerator?

Tan accelerator is added to skin care and sun creams to increase the rate at which your skin tans.

At Green People, the tan accelerator we use not only helps you tan more quickly but also intensifies your tan and helps it last longer.

Inositol, which is a natural ingredient derived from Carob beans, has been shown to:

  • Speed up tanning by 25%
  • Increase tan intensity by 28%
  • Increase tan duration by 62%

You can find this tan accelerator and tan maintainer in our Edelweiss SPF15 Sun Cream with Natural Tan Accelerator, and its tan-prolonging partner, Hydrating After Sun.

Sun cream tube

How does tan accelerator work?

Unlike self tan, which reacts with peptides on the surface of your skin to give a tan-like appearance, our tan accelerator boosts the rate at which your skin produces melanin.

Melanin is the brown pigment that gives your skin a tanned look after sun exposure, meaning that your skin actually tans rather than simply just looking tanned.

How does it do this? Well, Inositol has the remarkable ability to increase the synthesis of melanin by activating tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for controlling your skin’s melanin production.

Great for getting a faster, longer-looking tan, studies have shown that when applied in conjunction with sun exposure, Inositol speeds up the tanning process by almost 25%.

Better yet, it also activates collagen synthesis, thereby protecting the skin from some visible signs of skin-ageing sun damage. Win-win!

Does tan accelerator help your tan to last longer?

Yes! In addition to giving a speedy tan, Inositol has also been shown to enhance tan depth by 28% and to limit tan fade by 62%. Ideal if you want your summer tan to last longer.

These tan-boosting benefits make Inositol the best natural tan booster for our Edelweiss Sun Cream with Tan Accelerator and our Hydrating After Sun.

Protect by day with tan-activating sun cream, then keep the tan-boost benefits going by applying soothing after sun at sundown.

Infused with a skin-cooling Aloe Vera core, this antioxidant after-sun intensely hydrates to keep skin soft and is perfect for preventing skin from peeling and taking your tan with it.

Shop tan-accelerator sun care

Enhance your sun tan with our natural and organic tan-boost bundle, with both products featuring the tan accelerator Inositol.

Alternatively, you can buy them separately. Our natural and organic SPF15 sun cream is ultra-gentle on your skin and suitable for prickly heat. It is ocean friendly (free from Oxybenzone and Octinoxate) – your perfect holiday companion! 

“This smells amazing and it really does work. I tend to use it on my legs when I’m cycling. It protects me from sunburn, protects me from prickly heat and gives me a lovely glowing tan.” Elaine

If you love having a tan, always apply after sun following sun exposure. Using a hydrating after sun lotion helps moisturise the skin, reducing your chances of peeling and helping you keep your glow for longer.

You can enjoy an extra tan boost with our Hydrating After Sun, enriched with tan-accelerating Inositol.

“The best aftersun ... ever! Smells amazing, cools skin, stops any peeling and really helps prolong the tan. Love this product! ❤” Sarah T

Sunless ways to boost your tan

Want to give your skin a golden glow without sun exposure?

If tan accelerator isn't for you, there are lots of sunless options that you can try to get a soft, sunless skin glow.

Quick shop our natural and organic self tans and enjoy all the confidence of sun-kissed skin without stepping into the sunshine.

We hope that we have answered your questions about how tan accelerator works! For more help choosing the best SPF for you, check out our quick and easy SPF finder or contact our friendly UK customer care team on 01403 740350 or @GreenPeopleUK.

Reviewed by:

This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.

If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to 'How does sun tan accelerator work?' Please do not use an affiliate link.

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