Monoi or Tanning Butter: Is it good to use for tanning?

If sunbathing in the summer is such a widespread practice, it is partly for the lovely tan it provides. However, while achieving a sun-kissed skin is indeed aesthetic, it is not without risks to the skin: sunburn, brown spots, melanomas, carcinomas... Indeed, as an emitter of UV rays, the sun has harmful effects on the skin and promotes the production of free radicals. These reactive species damage DNA and can cause mutations and the formation of cancerous cells. They also react with the fatty acids of cell membranes and disrupt their organisation.

To protect the skin from these inconveniences, it is crucial to apply a sunscreen before each exposure.

Despite the benefits it brings to the skin, monoi oil cannot fulfil this protective role. Even though substituting a traditional sun protection with a vegetable oil may seem like an interesting natural alternative, it is in fact a misguided idea. Indeed, monoi oil does not contain any UV filters and therefore cannot be used to protect the skin from the sun and the burns it causes. The only positive consequence of using monoi in summer: this ingredient is antioxidant and can prove useful in combating oxidative stress induced by UV rays. Moreover, it can act as an after-sun and compensate for water loss, re-lipidise the epidermis and alleviate inflammation.

The same applies to the use of milking grease for tanning: this ingredient offers no UV protection to the skin. On the contrary, dermatologists believe it acts like a magnifying glass on the skin by intensifying the reach of the sun's rays, hence the belief that it would be a tanning accelerator. However, far from providing the desired tanned complexion, milking grease increases the risks of burns and developing the aforementioned problems. Even though everyone is at risk, the danger is particularly present for those with light phototypes who, disappointed by not tanning much tanning, are tempted to apply milking grease. However, just like monoï oil, it can potentially be used as an after-sun, due to its emollient and nourishing properties.

Key Takeaway : The application of monoi oil or milking grease cannot protect the skin from UV rays, nor can it accelerate tanning. On the contrary, it may promote burns.