Why does my tan look splotchy?

Author: Leilani Braun  |  Last update: Saturday, October 4, 2025

Often, patchy results are due to one of three things: improper skin prep, the application technique, or how you care for your skin post-bronzing. Typically, you'll want to cleanse and exfoliate your skin before applying self-tanner or getting a spray tan. You'll also want to moisturize prior to application.

Why does my natural tan look splotchy?

Unfortunately, sometimes the sun causes the melanocytes to increase unevenly, which can then result in darker and lighter patches of skin. The good news is that there are a number of ways to reduce the appearance of blotchy skin, and help prevent the dark patches from recurring or worsening.

How do you fix a splotchy tan?

How to fix patchy tan
  1. Gently buff away excess tan. Excess tan often settles onto dry areas, like the elbows, knees, ankles, hands and feet, causing patchiness. ...
  2. Exfoliate the skin. ...
  3. Fill in the gaps. ...
  4. Always use a tanning mitt. ...
  5. Opt for a gradual self tanner.

Why does my fake tan look spotty?

What are the common causes of a blotchy St. Tropez tan? Not blending your tan enough. Not using a dry tanning mitt. Not ensuring your skin is clean and dry. Hopping around different areas of your body before completing one area. Using too much product at once.

Why is my skin not tanning evenly?

This happens because “Each of us produces a different quantity and quality of melanin. Melanin is a pigment produced by our cells found in the basal layer of the skin,” explains Dr Puig. The cells that produce melanin are called melanocytes.

How To Fix & Prevent: PATCHY PEELING SPRAY TANS

How do you fix an uneven sun tan?

Using body products with either vitamin C or coconut oil (or both!) are good products to apply onto the skin. All types of natural oils are extremely healthy for your skin. Simply take some coconut oil (mixing other natural oils is okay as well), apply it on the uneven tanned areas, and leave it on overnight.

What ethnicity tans easily?

Type IV – Brown skin color, brown hair, and brown eyes, tans more than average, rarely burns, and rarely freckles. Common ethnic background: the Mediterranean, Southern European, Hispanic.

Why does my tan go patchy after a few days?

Often, patchy results are due to one of three things: improper skin prep, the application technique, or how you care for your skin post-bronzing. Typically, you'll want to cleanse and exfoliate your skin before applying self-tanner or getting a spray tan. You'll also want to moisturize prior to application.

Should I moisturize after fake tan?

Once you have washed off your fake tan moisturise your skin daily to increase the longevity of your tan. Dry, dehydrated skin will cause your dead skin cells to shed quicker, taking the fake tan you worked so hard for with it. Use an oil-free moisturiser as oil can break down the product [2].

How to apply self-tanner so it's not splotchy?

How to apply self-tanner without streaks
  1. Exfoliate. Remove dead skin cells from your body and face by exfoliating your skin in the shower with a facecloth. ...
  2. Shave the day before, not just before you apply the self-tanner. ...
  3. Use day/night cream. ...
  4. Consider where your tan should start and end.

Can I put new fake tan over old tan?

Add a layer of radiance

A single application can extend your colour for a few more days and balance out an uneven fade off. Once your special event is over, allow your tan to fade away in full and exfoliate your skin a day before your next spray tan. This creates the perfect base for a new application of tanner.

Why does my tan go streaky after a shower?

One of the biggest causes of a streaky tan is due to rinsing off the tan incorrectly after development. First and foremost, you should only rinse in a lukewarm, 45-second shower with no lotions, gels or soaps as a long, hot shower with all of your favourite body washes will simply strip the tan.

What is the best self-tanner?

After extensive testing, we determined the highest rated self-tanner to be the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse. It's an airy mousse that's easy to apply and blend and leaves you with a natural-looking glow. You can also customize the depth of color based on how long you leave it on your skin.

How do you fix fake tan blotchy?

- Lemon juice can help to dissolve uneven patches of self-tan on small areas, such as your ankles, wrists and palms. - Mixing lemon juice with a tablespoon of sugar or bicarbonate of soda will gently exfoliate the area which will further help to pull out any excess tan.

Can fake tan ever look natural?

So yes, a fake tan really can be natural.

How to fix blotchy skin?

Treating blotchy skin involves identifying the underlying cause, whether it's environmental, related to skin conditions, or exacerbated by lifestyle factors. Implementing a gentle skincare routine, protecting the skin from sun damage, and consulting a healthcare provider for persistent issues are effective strategies.

What not to do after fake tanning?

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.

How to fake tan evenly?

Again, take your time with the circular and vertical strokes in order to cover the area evenly. Miss out the knees and stop just above the ankles. Starting from your shoulders apply the fake tan to both shoulders and arms using the same circular and then vertical movements as above.

Why does fake tan go patchy on my chest?

A patchy, streaky or dotty fake tan often means you've missed a 'prep step' in the run up to your treatment. Preparing your skin for your fake tan encourages an even, long-lasting glow so it's well worth examining your pre-tan routine to check where you might have gone wrong.

How do you fix a patchy natural tan?

Exfoliate darker areas

Oops, you've done it again – and your tan is a patchy or streaky mess. Your first course of action to even things out is to exfoliate any darker areas. Exfoliating with a mitt and gentle body scrub will help lift away those dead skin cells that have absorbed a touch too much colour.

Can you tan twice in two days?

Moderate tanning of 2-3 sessions a week is OK for everyone else but ensure you rest the skin for a minimum of 24 hours between each session and at least 48 hours for skin type 2.

Which skin tone is most attractive?

According to a study called “Shades of beauty,” light brown skin tones are often the most physically attractive skin color (Frisby et al., 2006). They used four models for that study. They did not change the skin tone, but they imaged each model to three different skin tones: light, medium, and dark.

What race has the oiliest skin?

The most prevalent fatty acid in sebum, sapienic acid (16:1, n10), is significantly higher in African Americans and correlated with the higher sebum output in that ethnic group.

What race has olive skin?

It is frequent among select indigenous populations of Latin America, parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. It ranges from olive to brown skin tones. This skin type very rarely burns and tans quite easily.

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