Heat and humidity will help with removing fake tan. Spend some time in a sauna or a steam room to open up the pores and exfoliate in the shower afterwards. If going to a steam room is not an option, a hot steaming shower would do the trick too.
Lastly, while water won't wash away your gradual tan, it may dry out your skin (which is the next worst thing). To prevent your skin from flaking and making your gradual tan patchy, make sure to moisturise straight after you shower.
Use Dish Soap
Dish soap can not only cut through grime and grease but can also get rid of your spray tan.
Although steaming your face and body is excellent for cleansing your skin, opening up your pores and removing blackheads, it can also make your tan fade a little quicker. This is because treating yourself to a steam actually encourages your older skin layers to flake away to reveal fresh, smooth skin.
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 quickest steps are the basic (olive, coconut or baby) oil, soak in the tub, then use an exfoliating body mitt and body scrub or the specialist products designed to remove fake tan efficiently.
It may be difficult to instantly remove all of your fake tan, especially if you have applied it recently. However, you can try applying a hydrating body oil or baby oil onto the tanned areas. Let it sit for a few minutes, then use a damp cloth or exfoliating mitt to gently wipe away the tan.
Try using lemon and sugar to create a DIY tan removing scrub, or combine lemon or lime juice with baking soda for a fast-acting fake tan remover. Rub onto your body with a warm washer, then rinse thoroughly. Another winning kitchen combo? Olive oil and sugar.
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.
Yep! Oil in all its forms — think baby oil, coconut oil and olive oil — loosens dead skin cells, which can help break down tan build-up. Grab the oil and apply a generous amount to your palms before massaging it into the skin. Let it soak for at least half an hour (the longer you keep it on, the better).
Mix baking soda with a little water to make a paste and rub all over your hands. Leave on for a few minutes and wash off. This trick can be used when removing fake tan from feet as well!
Rubbing Alcohol can remove spray tans and self-tanners from your skin. Apply to rub Alcohol to a cotton ball, then rub it onto your skin. Rinse it off with water and pat dry before applying lotion or moisturizer.
Keep in mind NEVER USE WINDEX OR A MAGIC ERASER to remove a fake tan, it can leave you with a chemical burn. To remove self tanner from your face: Use a liquid exfoliator, I like Paula's Choice. A retinol, this is also an exfoliator and will help your fake tan come off.
To remove sun tan from your hands, you can dip your hands in a warm bowl of honey and lemon juice for 20 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly and apply a nourishing body or face moisturizer afterward. Cucumber has a cooling and soothing effect on sun-damaged skin.
Combining baking soda with just enough water to make a paste is a very effective way to remove excess tan buildup or streaking from the skin. Gently scrub in a circular motion to reduce the streaking appearance without irritating the skin.
The St. Tropez Tan Remover Mousse is the quickest and easiest way to remove tan or build up and prime skin for a fresh tan application. Suitable for sensitive skin, this luxurious fake tan remover mousse effectively gets rid off all traces of even the darkest tan in minutes.
When looking for the best soap for tan removal, you should opt for a formulation <br />of skin-brightening agents such as Vitamin C, Turmeric, Saffron, Coffee, etc. It is best to choose a toxin-free soap with the above properties. For example, you may try Mamaearth Ubtan Soap.
Instead of using the tan remover mousse, reach for skin-specific exfoliating acids or scrubs and apply as directed to the skin. Repeat every 3 days to help your tan fade faster.