How To Remove Fake Tan At Home: 10 Easy Ways
You can wait for the fake tan to fade away naturally or try these quick and easy tips to remove it as quickly as possible.
1. Use A Fake Tan Remover
This is the first (and the most important) way to undo your tanning mishap. Apply generous amounts of the tan removal foam on the tanned areas and wait for the duration mentioned on the product. Remove it before taking a shower. This is the best way to get rid of a stubborn fake tan. You can use fake tan remover on the face, body, hands, and feet. Otherwise, you can try these home remedies listed below.
2. Exfoliate
Take a shower and then use an exfoliating agent. This helps remove dead skin cells from the skin surface that are dyed by the fake tanning solution. For exfoliation, you may use a store brought exfoliant or a natural exfoliant like sugar. Use a sponge, a scrub, or an exfoliation mitt to rub off the fake tan. Ensure that you do not over-scrub as it may irritate and worsen your skin condition. You can use exfoliators to remove fake tan from the face, body, hands, and feet.
3. Take A Warm Bath Or Spend Time In A Steam Room
This step is usually overlooked as it does not take your tan off. However, it can aid the removal process. When you spend time in a steam room, the moist hot air opens the skin pores to loosen the trapped tanning pigments. This ensures easy tan removal without rubbing and scrubbing. The same principle applies to warm showers or a relaxing warm bath. Before you exfoliate, spend some time in a steam room or shower to prepare your skin. This process is best for removing fake tan from the body and, to some extent, from the face. Make sure to moisturize afterward to avoid drying of the skin.
4. Moisturize Your Skin With Baby Oil
Moisturizing your skin with baby oil can help remove fake tan. It feels soothing on the skin and may reduce your fake tan disaster. Slather the tanned area with baby oil and let your skin absorb it for at least half an hour. Gently exfoliate while showering. This not only removes fake tan but also makes your skin smooth. You can also use olive oil instead of baby oil to remove fake tan. This is a gentle and effective way to remove fake tan from the face, body, hands, and feet.
5. Lemon Juice Can Also Help
A few drops of lemon juice can help you get rid of your natural summer tan as well as your fake tan. Lemon juice has bleaching properties and is a common ingredient in skin brightening creams like Lucederm, Meladerm, and Skin Bright (1). It may also help minimize the appearance of dark spots. Dilute some lemon juice in water and apply it directly to the affected area. You can also cut a lemon in half, dip it in granulated sugar, and rub it as an exfoliator on the affected area. However, using lemon can increase skin photosensitivity (as it contains vitamin C) and cause irritation. Therefore, use sunscreen when you step out and limit your sun exposure. This remedy effectively removes the fake tan from the hands and feet. Ensure you avoid using lemon on your face as the facial skin is delicate and thin compared to the skin on your body.
6. Go For a Quick Swim In The Pool
Water in swimming pools contains chlorine. Anecdotal evidence suggests that chlorine may have an abrasive effect on your skin and can bleach it. So, after your trip to the pool, jump into the shower and gently exfoliate the areas to see all your fake tan fading away slowly. Follow up with a moisturizer as the chlorine may dry out your skin. Chlorinated water can remove fake tan from the body, including hands, feet, and face.
7. Remove Fake Tan With Baking Soda
Baking soda is abrasive and can slough away the dead skin cells from the skin. This may help remove fake tan from your skin. You can mix baking soda and coconut oil, massage the tanned area with the paste, and wash it off after a few minutes. However, be careful while using baking soda on your skin. It has a high pH value and is highly alkaline. Do not leave it on your skin for more than several minutes. Do a patch test before using it to confirm that your skin doesn’t have a negative reaction. Also, avoid using baking soda on your face. Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist, says, “Dish soap + baking soda is a good combination to remove fake tan. You can mix them in a 1:1 ratio and stir well to make a paste. You may then use a loofah to apply and scrub it. You may want to apply a moisturizing cream afterward to avoid dry skin.”
8. Try Toothpaste
Toothpaste contains baking soda that may help remove fake tan from smaller areas, such as your fingers, toes, and the space between the fingers. Gently rub the tanned area with toothpaste and a toothbrush. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before washing it off. Do not use toothpaste on your face as it contains ingredients that may irritate the delicate facial skin.
9. Use A Vinegar Rinse
Anecdotal evidence suggests that apple cider vinegar or plain white vinegar can effectively remove fake tan. Dilute vinegar with an equal amount of water. You can either use a spray bottle for application or use a cotton ball. Leave it on for a minute and rinse with cold water. This remedy is perfect for removing fake tan from all body parts, including your face. However, do a patch test to avoid an allergic reaction.
10.Gram Flour
Gram flour (besan) is used in traditional skin care recipes because of its mild exfoliating properties. It can brighten the skin and reduce tanning (2). You can mix some gram flour with yogurt or water and apply it over the tanned area. Gently massage the mix and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. This remedy can gradually remove the fake tan and is perfect for removing tan from your face, body, hands, and feet. Some people believe that face washes are excellent options for removing fake tan. According to Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist, “Not all face wash can be used in removing fake tan. I will recommend using a sulfate-free facial wash to gently cleanse and remove the substance, especially on the face, which is very sensitive.” You can also check out this video for a quick guide to fake tan removal at home: Now, you don’t need to worry about the patchy brown or orange marks of fake tan on your knees, ankles, and elbows. However, if you take a few precautions, you can pass off your bronzed sun-kissed glow as a natural tan. You don’t even need to put much effort into convincing your co-workers that you had an extraordinary beach holiday and were not sitting at home, binge-watching your favorite TV series. Here is how.
How To Avoid A Fake Tan Disaster
First and foremost, prepare your skin before you get a fake tan to avoid any tan-related mishaps. Here are all the things you need to do the day before your fake tanning session:
Remove all your body hair to create a smooth canvas for your tan. Exfoliate your skin with a gentle scrub. Apply an oil-free body moisturizer to your skin to prevent dryness. Shave 24 hours before you apply a fake tan. This will give your skin pores a breather to seal themselves up and prevent the dye pigments from accumulating inside them.
Right before you start tanning, moisturize your skin, especially the wrists, elbows, hands, feet, and ankles. These areas are more prone to dryness than the rest of your body. Moisturizing creates a barrier on your skin and prevents it from absorbing excess color pigments.
Can Vaseline remove fake tan? Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist, says, “Vaseline is not really an option to remove fake tan. Vaseline is made from a mixture of hydrocarbons developed from petroleum. It is essentially grease. It is used to hydrate the skin and sometimes acts as a barrier cream as well. It is a good skin moisturizer, though. Will coconut oil remove fake tan? Coconut oil, along with other ingredients like baking soda, are used to remove tan. In addition, you can prepare scrubs, face masks, and de-tan packs with coconut oil with brown sugar, honey, yogurt, and turmeric. Do hot baths remove fake tan? Soaking in a hot bath will not remove tan on its own. But the moist air and heat from hot baths help open the pores and can make the tan removal process easier. Does fake tan age your face? Fake tanning involves an oxidation process that is linked to aging. The ingredients used in fake tanners may cause wrinkles, fine lines, or skin sagging. However, limited research is available to prove these claims. Can fake tan make moles darker? Yes. Fake tan darkens the surface of the skin, which can cause the moles to appear darker.
