Exclusive | Tanmaxxing influencers are teaching teens how to maximize color with body oil, a high UV and no SPF

Sun’s out, phone’s out.Valerie Calderon loves to tan beside her family’s pool in Riverside, California — and while she reapplies her favorite body oil, the 17-year-old keeps 34,000 Instagram and 50,000 TikTok followers up to date on her routine.

Her fans? “Everyone is within 13 to 17 years old,” she told The Post.“I want to make sure that I have a positive, girly platform and that people look up to me as like a big sister,” said Calderon, who graduated high school earlier this year.She’s one of thousands of creators posting about their tanning habits online.And young people are soaking it up.Tanning as a “trend is very, very popular right now,” she said.

It’s relaxing, and “it makes girls feel more confident in their skin.”That said, she emphasizes moderation and protection.“I limit my time in the sun.You know, it’s very important, especially UV routine,” she said. She only recently learned that UV is “really bad” for your skin, after she looked it up online.

“I wanted to make sure that tanning is safe, you know, before I recommend it.”Not all creators, though, are concerned.Online, you’ll find a number of users talking to the same young audience Calderon speaks to — but spreading misinformation about the sun and proper protection while overselling the “benefits” of tanning. These so-called “tanmaxxers” share multi-step routines with tan-accelerating products, often admitting openly to skipping sun protection and baking when the UV is high.“I’m very picky about my tanning oils — trust me, I’ve tried them all,” one 17-year-old told her 234,000 TikTok followers — adding that she likes to lay out during “peak UV hours.”“I always check the UV and try to go out when it’s the highest,” a 23-year-old teacher said in a video with a million views.

So is there a healthy way to tan? The Post spoke to two experts to find out.Some tanmaxxers encourage seeking the sun to get a “base tan” or “...