Soak in oil and buff with an exfoliating mitt
Oils, on the other hand, break down DHA and can fade fake tan faster. It does, so lather up or soak yourself in oil. You can also use coconut or olive oil, which should be left on the skin for 10 minutes before washing off.
Generally, a gradual tan lasts about a week, but with the right preparation, your sunless glow can stick around for up to ten days. The key is to knuckle down on preparing your skin in the weeks and days leading up to your gradual tan, and keeping your skin moisturised once you've applied.
Lemon juice has long been used as a kind-to-skin bleaching agent to remove dark pigmentation and brighten. Make your own lemon exfoliator with a cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of lemon juice before applying it to the skin in the bath or shower. Repeat the process but make sure to be gentle with your skin.
You will still tan after having a gradual tan, the DHA is the active ingredient in self tanning products. This when applied to the skin will cause a chemical reaction to the amino acids present in the skin cells found in the top layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum).
Exfoliate the skin
Another way to fix patchy fake tan is with an exfoliator, as gently scrubbing the skin will tone down the colour. Massage our Tan Enhancing Body Polish and Exfoliator onto the streaky areas until the pigment has faded. Top Tip: The key to an even-looking tan is smooth skin.
Dry patches are a magnet to fake tan which can leave muddy streaks instead of a smooth skin kissed glow. When your fake tan goes wrong in this way, an easy fix is to soak in a bath with a generous glug of bath oil for at least 15 minutes. The warm water and oil will help to soften and loosen the dry patches.
Exfoliate your skin every few days after application with a light exfoliating bodywash, focusing on areas that tend to fade quickest: underarms, neck, and knees. Exfoliation will fade your tan slightly, but this step is essential to preventing colour build-up and removing dead skin cells.
Hop in the shower and use an exfoliating mitt to help lighten those too-dark patches. While regular exfoliating (like with a scrub) can also help fade your tan, Evans recommends using a mitt in small, circular motions for added precision.
Apply gradual tan daily until you achieve your desired skin tone. Then reapply every few days, or more often if necessary, to maintain your tan. Avoid showering for a few hours following the application to allow the product to bind well on the skin - you can do this right before going to bed and shower in the morning.
You can shave after tanning without removing all your newfound colour. Just make sure you wait at least 8 hours, so your tan has had time to develop. Then shave with gentle pressure, using a brand-new razor and an oil-free wash or shaving foam that won't break down your faux glow.
To maintain your gradual tan, it's important to keep your skin hydrated and moisturised. This will help prevent the colour from fading too quickly and will keep your skin looking healthy and glowing. Avoid exfoliating too frequently or using harsh products that can strip the colour and cause it to fade unevenly.
Is it possible to get rid of a tan? Sorry, but no. The tan is due to an increase in melanin, which is basically a defensive reaction from your skin being damaged by the sun. It will slowly fade if your skin is exposed to low enough levels of UV rays (e.g., in winter), but there is no way to speed this.
The initial development of your gradual tan will take place over the first 2–4 hours after application, so you should avoid showering during this initial period to allow your tan to develop properly. After this, showering every day should not make your tan slower to develop.
Oils help break down the tanning agent DHA – making it one of the best methods if you're wondering how to remove fake tan. To supercharge your soak, rub baby oil into your skin and let it sit for 30-60 minutes before bathing and exfoliating.
This is a question many people ponder, and the answer is yes, you can. Fake tanning and sun tanning both alter the colour of your skin, but they do so in different ways. Most self-tanners use an active tanning ingredient called dihydroxyacetone, or DHA.
It is easily applied, smells gorgeous and most of all, it works. My skin feels soft and the tan starts to work almost instantly. After a few hours i have a natural looking golden tan. It doesn't stain bedding either.
After You've Tanned
Use a hairdryer. Once you have the perfect coverage, grab your hairdryer to help it set. Be sure it's blowing cool air and move it along your body. Not only will this help the solution dry faster, but it'll also help to kick the tanning development process into overdrive.
Avoid OILS on the skin!
Oil can break down the colour of self-tanner by loosening the dead skin cells that have been dyed brown by fake tan. When these dead skin cells start to crack and flake off, it can result in a patchy or uneven tan, often referred to as a "tiger bread" tan.
You'll be able to top up your tan with a fresh new layer once your existing tan shows signs of fading. We'd advise waiting until your colour has completely faded away before stepping back in the booth to ensure even coverage and to give your new tan the best chance to last as long as possible.