6 Best Tanning Oils with SPF, Reviewed by Glamour Editors

While slathering yourself with oil and laying out in the sun is highly (and rightfully) frowned upon in the beauty community, there is one type of oil that dermatologists stand by: the best SPF tanning oils. These much safer options give you the look and feel of a traditional body oil with the addition of sunscreen to help protect your skin.

“An SPF oil is a sun-protective product that combines moisturizing oils with sun-blocking ingredients. It works by forming a thin film over the skin, which both hydrates and shields the skin from harmful UVA/ UVB rays,” says Dendy Engelman, MD and board-certified dermatologist in NYC. To find the best SPF oils on the market, we polled Glamour editors, reviewers, and dermatologists for their favorites, then put them to the test. Our top overall pick, the Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Shimmering Body Oil, came derm-recommended, has a high SPF of 50, and leaves behind a glossy, shimmering finish. We also found options that firm the skin and can be used as a scalp sunscreen.

Best SPF tanning oils, at a glance

Best Overall: Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Shimmering Body Oil

This pick made it to the top of our list because it’s one Dr. Engelman highly recommends. “This formula is lightweight yet truly effective. It absorbs quickly, leaving a smooth finish, while delivering high SPF 50 protection that’s perfect for daily use,” she says. We love that it also has patauá oil for a hydrating finish and antioxidant-rich pongamia seed extract to gently yet effectively brighten the skin.

“I’m simply obsessed with this shimmering body oil,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “It’s supersilky and smooth to the touch, and doesn’t feel greasy after application. It makes the skin feel and look smooth like butter, and it’s also not too sparkly either—the shimmer is subtle yet noticeable, but doesn’t read ‘glitter.’ I love slathering this on before a day out in the sun thanks to its SPF of 50.”

Best Firming: Coola Firming Body Oil Mist SPF 30

If you’re looking for an option that can firm the skin and improve rough texture, we love this body oil mist that features SPF 30 and a slew of antioxidants. It blends sea buckthorn, kalahari, moringa seed oils and bakuchiol extract to help soften and smooth uneven skin texture and improve resilience.

“I have some uneven divots on my thigh area,” Glamour’s Kilkeary notes, “so whenever I’m in a bathing suit I like to use a touch of a firming cream to make them look a little smoother and even-textured. This SPF oil actually allows me to skip that step, and instead, I apply it all over my thighs and legs to help firm up the area all while getting UV protection from sun exposure. It’s light as a feather and totally nongreasy, and I like that it does double duty of nourishing the skin inside and out. The mist format also makes it easy to spray on and blend in.”

Best Shimmer: Vacation Shimmer Oil SPF 30

So you want something a little more sparkly? This body shimmer oil might just be the formula you’ve been looking for: it’s glowy and glassy and leaves behind eye-catching gold flecks for the perfect hint of shimmer on your décolletage, arms, or legs. Not to mention, it also has vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and peptides to deeply hydrate and plump the skin, which Dr. Engelman says is key. “This formula replenishes the skin’s lipid barrier and helps reduce water loss while offering broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection. I like that the light-reflective shimmer adds a luminous, sun-kissed glow, enhancing the appearance of healthy skin,” she notes.

“This absolutely gorgeous (and quite retro, might I add) shimmer oil has warm, gold flecks that visibly pop off of my olive skin tone and catch the light beautifully. The formula itself is shimmering but not overly glittery, and sinks right in for an ethereal glow. Not to mention, it also makes me buttery soft and hydrated (thanks to coconut and jojoba oil), and it’s sun-safe, too, with SPF 30. Seriously, I’ll be dunking myself in this for the foreseeable future,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.

Best for Arms and Legs: Supergoop! Glow Oil SPF 50 Body Oil

If you want to add a touch of sheen to your arms and legs while out and about on vacation, we highly recommend this glowing oil that is perfect for combating dryness in these areas. It has argan oil, grapeseed oil, and meadowfoam seed oil to help keep skin looking and feeling smooth and moisturized for hours.

“My legs tend to get a bit dry and bumpy in the summertime, so I like adding a few drops of this oil on my knees and calves to give them extra hydration and luminosity. This one also smells delicious with notes of coconut, vanilla, and fig—perfect for a date night or even just a trip to the beach,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.

Best for Scalp and Hair: Undefined Beauty R&R Sun Elixir SPF 30

We’re here to let you in on a little secret: it is possible to use an SPF oil on your hair and scalp. We know it might sound daunting (greasy strands are pretty much the bane of our existence), but trust on this one, it won’t make you feel like you need to reach for your shampoo for oily hair. The formula is lightweight, and has vitamin C plus milk thistle to gently and effectively soften and protect the hair and scalp from UV rays.