What to Bring to the Beach for Tanning: 3 Onyx Essentials for a Golden Summer Glow
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Quick Answer: If you are packing for a beach day and want your skin to look smooth, radiant, and beautifully bronzed, your beach bag should include both a tanning product and proper sun protection. Start with a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, then choose a tanning product based on the texture and finish you prefer. Onyx Dark Tanning Accelerator is our pick for a lightweight, bronzer-free lotion and natural-looking tanning support. Onyx Tanning Butter is the richer option for tanners who prefer a more indulgent, buttery texture. And La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray is the easy beach-ready choice for a lightweight spray and satin glow. All three tanning products should be used with a separate SPF when spending time outdoors.
A perfect beach day has its own formula: warm sand, cold water, your favorite swimsuit, something good to read, and a beach bag packed with everything you actually need.
And if getting a golden summer glow is part of the plan, choosing the right tanning product matters too.
The problem? Tanning lotions, butters, oils, bronzers, and accelerators can all sound similar when you are standing in front of your beach bag wondering what to take. In reality, they offer different textures, finishes, and application experiences.
One rule, however, applies to every option in this guide: your tanning product does not replace sunscreen. Whether you choose Dark Tanning Accelerator, Tanning Butter, or La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray, use a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher when spending time outdoors.
So instead of bringing three products that do essentially the same thing, choose the tanning formula that matches how you want your skin to feel and look at the beach — and keep your SPF as a separate essential.
Here are three Onyx options worth packing this summer.
Your Beach Tanning Essentials at a Glance
| Product | Texture | Best For | Finish | Separate SPF? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Tanning Accelerator | Lightweight white lotion | Natural-looking, bronzer-free tanning support | Smooth, clean, non-greasy | Yes |
| Onyx Tanning Butter | Rich butter texture | Tanners who prefer a richer application experience | Soft, nourished-looking skin | Yes |
| La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray | Lightweight dry-oil spray | Fast application and a luminous beach glow | Satin, golden-looking radiance | Yes |
Our quick recommendation: Choose Dark Tanning Accelerator when you want the simplest lotion-based routine. Pick Tanning Butter if texture and a richer skin feel are your priority. Take La Playa when you want a convenient spray application and a visible satin glow. Whichever formula you choose, use it as part of a beach routine that also includes separate SPF protection.
1. Dark Tanning Accelerator — Best All-Round Beach Tanning Lotion
If you want one straightforward tanning lotion that feels easy to apply as part of your outdoor tanning routine, Dark Tanning Accelerator is the most versatile place to start.
Unlike a traditional bronzing lotion, Dark Tanning Accelerator is a white, bronzer-free formula. That means it does not rely on DHA or a dark guide color to make your skin look instantly darker. Instead, it is designed as a tanning accelerator for people who prefer gradual, natural-looking color development.
For a beach day, its texture is one of its biggest advantages. The lotion is lightweight and designed to leave skin feeling smooth rather than heavily coated. That makes it practical when you want a comfortable lotion-based tanning routine instead of a heavier oil texture.
The formula also contains conditioning ingredients that help support a soft, moisturized skin feel while tanning.
Best for: Someone who wants a bronzer-free tanning accelerator, an easy lotion texture, and gradual natural-looking color rather than an instant cosmetic bronze.
Choose it if: Your ideal beach tanning product feels more like a comfortable body lotion than a traditional tanning oil.
SPF reminder: Dark Tanning Accelerator is not a replacement for sunscreen. When using it outdoors, apply a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher according to the sunscreen directions and reapply as needed throughout the day.
2. Onyx Tanning Butter — Best for a Richer Beach Ritual
Some people want their beach tanning product to feel as lightweight as possible. Others love a richer, more indulgent application experience.
That is where Onyx Tanning Butter fits into the beach bag.
The butter format is the choice for tanners who prefer something more substantial than a lightweight lotion or mist. It turns product application into more of a body-care ritual — especially when you want to take your time applying product evenly over the legs, arms, shoulders, and torso.
It is also a useful alternative for anyone who simply does not enjoy spray oils. A butter gives you direct control over application because you can work section by section and pay extra attention to areas where you want an even, smooth-looking finish.
Best for: Tanners who prefer a richer texture and a more luxurious, hands-on beach routine.
Choose it if: Skin feel matters just as much to you as convenience and you prefer a butter over a traditional tanning lotion or oil.
SPF reminder: Onyx Tanning Butter does not replace sunscreen. Use a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher when spending time outdoors and follow the sunscreen's reapplication instructions.
3. La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray — Best for the Ultimate Beach Feel
If you love the look and feel associated with beach tanning oils but prefer a lighter application experience, La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray is an easy choice.
It offers the luminous, satin-looking finish people often want from a tanning oil while avoiding the excessively heavy feel associated with some traditional oil formulas.
The dry-oil spray format makes application especially convenient. Shake the bottle, spray over the body, spread evenly, and blend carefully around areas such as the ankles, knees, elbows, and wrists.
La Playa combines tanning-support ingredients with beta-carotene, carrot-derived ingredients, caramel, botanical extracts, and conditioning oils. The combination is designed to support a golden-looking, radiant finish while helping the skin feel soft and conditioned.
Caramel contributes immediate cosmetic warmth, while the oil-based format creates the signature satin finish that makes La Playa particularly suited to a summer beach routine.
Best for: Beach lovers who want quick spray application, a lightweight dry-oil texture, and an immediate golden-looking glow.
Choose it if: You love the appearance of tanning oil but do not want an excessively heavy or greasy skin feel.
SPF reminder: La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray does not replace sunscreen. Its golden finish, tanning-support ingredients, beta-carotene, caramel, and botanical oils should not be treated as UV protection. Always use a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher during outdoor exposure.
Dark Tanning Accelerator vs. Tanning Butter vs. La Playa: Which Should You Bring?
You do not necessarily need all three tanning products.
The easiest way to choose is to stop asking, “Which one is strongest?” and instead ask, “Which experience do I want at the beach?”
- You want a clean, lightweight lotion: choose Dark Tanning Accelerator.
- You want a richer, more indulgent texture: choose Onyx Tanning Butter.
- You want a fast spray and satin beach glow: choose La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray.
Then add the product that belongs in every version of that routine: a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher.
This product-chooser approach is much more useful than selecting a formula based only on how dark you hope to become. Texture, application style, bronzer preference, and skin feel all matter when you are spending time outdoors. But sun protection should remain part of the routine regardless of which tanning product you prefer.
Do You Need Sunscreen with Dark Tanning Accelerator, Tanning Butter, and La Playa?
Yes — with all three.
This is one of the most important things to remember when packing tanning products for a beach day.
Dark Tanning Accelerator requires separate SPF protection during outdoor use.
Onyx Tanning Butter requires separate SPF protection during outdoor use.
La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray requires separate SPF protection during outdoor use.
None of these products should be treated as a substitute for sunscreen.
Use a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin according to the sunscreen manufacturer's directions. Reapply regularly, especially after swimming, sweating, or towel drying.
This matters particularly at the beach, where you may spend several hours moving between direct sunlight, shade, water, and sand.
Also remember that darker-looking or more golden-looking skin does not mean your skin is protected from UV radiation. Cosmetic bronzers, caramel, tanning accelerators, beta-carotene, butters, and botanical oils all have different cosmetic functions from sunscreen.
What Else Should You Pack for a Beach Day?
Your tanning product may be the fun part of your beach routine, but it should not be the only thing in your bag.
A smart beach setup includes:
- Broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30+ for exposed skin
- Your preferred Onyx tanning product — Dark Tanning Accelerator, Tanning Butter, or La Playa
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- A wide-brimmed hat
- A beach umbrella or another source of shade
- Water to help you stay hydrated throughout the day
- A towel and an extra dry layer of clothing
- SPF lip balm
- A moisturizer or after-sun product for your post-beach routine
The key distinction is simple: your Onyx tanning product is there for your tanning and skin-conditioning routine, while your sunscreen is there for UV protection. Pack both.
How to Prepare Your Skin Before the Beach
1. Exfoliate Ahead of Time
If your skin feels rough or flaky, gently exfoliate before your beach day rather than aggressively scrubbing immediately before sun exposure. Pay special attention to knees, elbows, ankles, and other dry areas.
2. Keep Skin Moisturized
Consistent moisturizing helps the skin look smoother and can make your overall bronze appear more even. Do not wait until the morning of your beach trip to start thinking about dry skin.
3. Pick One Tanning Formula
More tanning product does not automatically mean better results. You generally do not need to layer Dark Tanning Accelerator, Tanning Butter, and La Playa on top of one another.
Choose the texture that fits your routine and apply it evenly.
Then make sure your outdoor routine also includes a separate SPF product. This applies no matter which of the three tanning formulas you choose.
4. Follow Your Sunscreen Directions Carefully
Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher and follow the directions on the sunscreen label regarding application amount, timing, and reapplication.
Swimming, sweating, and towel drying can all affect your sunscreen layer, so reapplication is an important part of a full beach day.
5. Do Not Forget Easy-to-Miss Areas
The tops of the feet, shoulders, ears, neck, hands, and hairline are easy to forget during a rushed beach morning. Be methodical when applying sun protection and make sure all exposed areas are covered.
The Onyx Beach Bag Verdict
The best tanning product for the beach is not automatically the darkest or heaviest formula. It is the one that fits the experience you want.
Dark Tanning Accelerator is our all-round pick when you want a lightweight, bronzer-free lotion and gradual, natural-looking tanning support.
Onyx Tanning Butter is the texture-first choice when you prefer a richer, more indulgent product application.
La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray is the beach-style option when convenience, satin glow, and a lightweight dry-oil finish are at the top of your list.
But there is one product category that belongs next to every one of them: sunscreen.
Whether your tanning formula comes as a lotion, butter, or dry oil, use a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher during outdoor exposure.
Your tanning product and your sun-protection product have different jobs. For a well-prepared beach bag, bring both.
FAQ: What to Bring to the Beach for Tanning
What is the best tanning lotion to bring to the beach?
If you prefer a lightweight lotion texture without cosmetic bronzer, Onyx Dark Tanning Accelerator is a strong all-round option. When using it outdoors, always include a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher in your routine.
Do I need SPF with Dark Tanning Accelerator?
Yes. Dark Tanning Accelerator does not replace sunscreen. Use a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher when spending time outdoors.
Do I need SPF with Onyx Tanning Butter?
Yes. Onyx Tanning Butter should be paired with separate sun protection during outdoor use. Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher and follow the sunscreen label directions.
Do I need SPF with La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray?
Yes. La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray does not replace sunscreen. Use a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher whenever you are spending time outdoors.
What is the best tanning oil for the beach?
La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray is a good option for people who want the glow of a tanning oil with a lighter, dry-oil feel and convenient spray application. However, it must still be used alongside separate SPF protection outdoors.
Can I use Dark Tanning Accelerator at the beach?
Dark Tanning Accelerator can be included in an outdoor tanning routine, but it does not replace sunscreen. Pair it with a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher.
Is tanning oil the same as sunscreen?
No. Tanning oil and sunscreen serve different purposes. Unless a finished product is specifically labeled with a tested SPF, do not treat it as sun protection. La Playa Dry Tanning Oil Spray should be paired with a separate SPF product.
Does a tanning accelerator protect you from the sun?
No. A tanning accelerator should not be assumed to provide sun protection. Dark Tanning Accelerator, Tanning Butter, and La Playa should all be used with separate SPF during outdoor exposure.
Should I choose tanning lotion, tanning butter, or tanning oil for the beach?
Choose lotion if you want a lightweight and familiar texture, tanning butter if you prefer a richer application experience, and dry tanning oil if you want convenient spray application and a satin, luminous finish. Whichever texture you choose, use separate sunscreen outdoors.
What SPF should I use with a tanning product at the beach?
Choose a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and follow its directions for application and reapplication. Your sunscreen should remain a separate step regardless of which tanning product you use.
Can I skip sunscreen if my tanning lotion makes my skin look darker?
No. A darker or more golden cosmetic appearance does not provide reliable UV protection. Continue using a separate broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher.
What should I pack in my beach bag for a full day outside?
Bring broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30+, sunglasses, a hat, a source of shade, water, a towel, SPF lip balm, your preferred tanning product, and something moisturizing for your post-beach routine.