Forgetting to moisturise daily is one of the key reasons that your sunless tan has faded faster than you'd hoped. While many of us moisturise daily already as part of your normal skincare routine, moisturising when you have a tan is important to help maintain that glow for longer.
Yes, you can naturally fade a suntan. The best way to do this is to exfoliate your skin regularly with a gentle scrub. This will help remove the top layer of tanned skin cells, revealing lighter and fresher skin beneath. You can also use natural ingredients like lemon juice or yogurt to lighten your tan over time.
``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.
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.
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.
Raw oils like coconut (which boasts tons of skin benefits) or sunflower will do, but Evans says baby oil is your best bet. Slather your skin in the stuff, leave it on for a few minutes, and then rinse it off in the shower with a loofah or nubby washcloth.
Lemon Juice – The acidity within lemons works wonders for lightening fake tan. Apply lemon juice to the affected areas, or add slices of lemon to your bath water and soak away. It can be helpful to rub lemon on your hands if you have those all-too-common orange palms.
AFTER THE TAN
Shower lightly in cold – lukewarm water for 45 seconds ONLY after your desired development time. Use plain water, don't use shower gels, scrubs, shampoos or loofah during the first 24 hours after your treatment. Pat your skin dry. Do not rub or scrub your skin.
Yes! Moisturising is key to a long-lasting, streak-free tan. Moisturise daily post-tanning to lock in hydration and leave your skin buttery smooth.
For quick sun tan removal, exfoliate with a scrub or alpha hydroxy acid to shed pigmented surface cells and apply natural lightening agents. For more immediate results, consider professional treatments that can remove the top layers of tanned skin.
Why won't my tan go away? When the cells become damaged with pigment, discoloration that doesn't fade occurs, leading to a tan that doesn't fade. In fact, it tends to stay dark unless you choose to have this hyperpigmentation treated professionally.
Yes, there are over-the-counter treatments that are meant to erase sun tan. Creams, lotions, serums, and masks containing liquorice extract, vitamin C, kojic acid, glycolic acid, or vitamin C to help lighten and reduce pigmentation.
To get rid of fake tan quickly, try soaking in a warm bath with baby oil, followed by exfoliating with an exfoliating mitt.
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Your fake tan needs time to develop before your next shower, and we recommend waiting for at least four hours but no more than one day. Remember to pat yourself dry and avoid hot water or harsh shower gels as they will strip your tan and dry out your skin.
In general, your spray tan should last around a week, usually 5-7 days. This is pretty standard for professional spray tans, but still gives you plenty of time to get a tan booked in around other plans. While a spray tan lasts for around a week, you will start to see it fading before this time gradually.
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.
Baking soda is a great option when you need to remove a full-body tan quickly. Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with some water or coconut oil. This will form a paste. Rub the paste over the area and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes.
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! During your soak, use a gentle but effective exfoliating mitt or product to scrub away those unwanted layers of tan.
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.
Arnold shares that she specifically likes to use it on more stubborn areas, like the palms and bottoms of the feet, to remove self-tanner easily. "Dawn dish soap (especially the DAWN Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray) with a pumice stone works amazing,” Arnold says.
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.