Oil nourishes and moisturizes the skin. Therefore, it is a vital ingredient in many skin care and make-up products. Different types of tanning oil are available commercially. Some have anti-aging properties and contain sunscreen material to protect the skin from the ultraviolet rays of the sun; others come without sunscreen and are meant only to enhance suntans.

Tanning oils that contain a mixture of grape seed, coconut, and sesame oils, among other ingredients, have revitalizing, anti-aging, and sun protection properties. They can be applied liberally on the skin, including the scalp, to filter out ultraviolet rays when basking in the sun for a few minutes. However, doctors advise that it is best to stay indoors when the sun