These home remedies will help to lighten particularly orange patches. Oil Up – Yep, oil works wonders. Apply baby oil or coconut oil to the affected areas and let it soak into the skin for about half an hour. Then, take a bath or shower and gently exfoliate.
Use an exfoliator mixed with a touch of olive oil to gently remove the dead skin cells sitting on the surface of your skin and in turn lighten the fake tan. Avoid using a harsh exfoliator because it might take your tan off in patches.
``If you do get too dark, slather on coconut oil or baby oil and sit for 10 minutes then jump in the shower and exfoliate,'' Hilliard tells me. ``Oil lifts the top layer of color and makes skin easier to exfoliate so it will lighten your tan. You can also soak in a baking soda bath.
Add a small amount of baking soda to a moistened washcloth, and rub across self tanning splotches. Not only will the baking soda bring a bleaching effect, but it also exfoliates the skin.
Sunless tanning lotions affect the top layer of your skin, so removing dead skin cells will cause the effects to fade away. Gently rub a pumice stone on your palms to eliminate tanning lotion residue.
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.
Consistent use of exfoliants, skin lightening products with vitamin C or Kojic acid, and professional treatments such as chemical peels or laser therapy can significantly fade tan over time for brighter, more even skin.
If a dark tan is what you're looking for, we do recommend waiting a few hours before rinsing it off so that the product has longer to develop with your skin. Note: after rinsing, your skin will continue to deepen over the next 24 hours, so if your skin does not seem that dark, give it time!
Exfoliate regularly
For a tan that fades evenly, it's important to start gently exfoliating three days after you have applied your tan – and then every day until your tan has been buffed away completely. Our Exfoliating Body Scrub , is the perfect refreshing exfoliant.
Before we dive into tips on how to extend your sunless tan, you're probably wondering, “Just how long does a fake tan last?” On average, your skin retains self tanner for 5-7 days, but this period of longevity can vary based on many factors. Expired self tanning products, sensitive skin, and skin types are a few.
Mix Baby Oil and Baking Soda
This mixture is a good option if lemon juice irritates your skin. The oil will soften your skin and break down the DHA in the spray tan. Scrub the mixture over your body and watch the color begin to fade.
Shaving Before or After Spray Tan FAQ
Spray tan may fade slightly when shaving, especially if done immediately after the session. Waiting 8-12 hours before shaving and using gentle strokes can minimise the impact on the tan.
If your tan feels too dark the following day, try having three hot showers to help bring it down to a more natural colour.”
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Our Miracle Tan Eraser is formulated to remove old self-tan and target troublesome areas in a flash; apply this jelly-like hydrating scrub to your old self tan and let it work its magic!
Most Spray Tan solutions contain bronzer, so this instantly gives the skin a tanned, bronze color before the actual Spray Tan ingredients develop on the skin. During your first shower, this bronze tone will wash off, so don't panic if your skin lightens, it is just the bronzer washing away.
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.
Yes, it's possible to lighten a too-dark tan.
“What you always tell people not to do is take hot showers or be in any kind of jacuzzi because that will take your tan off faster,” Burdge added. “So if it's too dark, you're going to tell them to do the opposite you'd normally do.”
Lemon juice contains citric acid and Vitamin C, which aids in lightening the skin and removing excess spray tan color. You can use it directly on your hands or feet or combine with baking soda to create a mild exfoliant aimed at cutting through patchy color.
Even though hydrating your skin is the key to prolonging a fake tan, applying oil to the skin can also lift a tan— given it's done right. Cover your body in coconut oil or olive oil and let it soak in for around 15 minutes. Then take a hot shower. If you have a bath, even better!
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.
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.
Take an oily bath
My favourite way to do this is to either pour some bath oil (or olive oil!) into a warm bath before soaking for 15 minutes, or applying coconut oil liberally to my body and leaving it to soak in for 15 minutes before jumping in the tub and soaking for a further ten minutes.
Oil Up – Yep, oil works wonders. Apply baby oil or coconut oil to the affected areas and let it soak into the skin for about half an hour. Then, take a bath or shower and gently exfoliate. The oil will help to loosen the skin cells that have absorbed the tan.