Not that there is anything wrong with using tanning as a skin treatment. Not at all. In fact, a great deal of research this past decade points to a number of great benefits derived from tanning.

One, however, is not necessarily saving money whenbuying tanning productsat the salon. A great comparison can be applied when discussing buying golf products at your local country club pro shop. When golf exploded as a sport for the not-so-rich, a plethora of discount golf retail shops sprouted up throughout the world offering similar, if not the same, golf products at costs far lower than the country club sticker price.

Similarly, although one doesn’t find retail tanning lotion shops sprouting up on every corner, online merchants have taken advantage of the increasingly popular rise in tanning by offering the same high-end tanning products found at commercial salons for unbelievably low prices. A bottle of a popular designer-like tanning lotion offered for $100 at a chic salon may go for as low as $10-15 online.

Keep in mind that although tanning sessions at your local salon may be quite affordably attractive, operators are banking on the sale of tanning lotions, skin conditioners, cool-down lotions and other tanning memorabilia to cover that high-priced location, equipment, décor and utilities. Most salon personnel are compensated on a commission-type basis compelling them to hawk high-priced wares to earn their daily fare.

Go ahead. Check the online price for that product hawked at your local salon. You’ll be amazed at the difference – sometimes as much as 50-70 percent lower. Sure, when you travel to manufacturer websites like Supre, Designer Skin and others you’ll find big, bold disclaimers stating their products can only be found through participating salons. Don’t believe it. Some savvy salon operators are the very website owners hawking these high-end products at discount prices because they have incredible contracts providing them with inexpensive buys. The mark ups on the retail end are unbelievably high.

Yes, these professional salons can offer an attractive ambience, staffed by professionals who do possess the ability to counsel, but this will never make up for exorbitantly charging for a lotion that one can affordably find online.