How To Remove Spray Tan

There’s nothing better than having a sun-kissed glow all year round, and this is possible and harmless to your health thanks to spray tans.

An added benefit is that spray tans are done for you by professionals, so you haven’t got to worry about missing that spot on your back when applying fake-tan yourself. 

However, that doesn’t mean that accidents don’t happen, and there’s a chance you’ll need a fast tan removal in an emergency. 

Perhaps the color is wrong, or you just don’t like how it sits. If this is the first time you’ve had a spray tan, you may not be used to it and just don’t like how it looks

Maybe you loved it for the first few days, but you’ve now become patchy and desperately need to go back to being one color.

If you’re due for a new tan, you may still have remnants of your last one in places you’d rather not. You need to make sure your old tan has been completely scrubbed off before going for a new one. 

No matter the reason, knowing how to get rid of unwanted tan is crucial. This article is going to provide you with some tips and tricks on how to can get rid of that tan. 

Oil 

Oil is effective at removing tan from your skin. You can use baby oil, coconut oil, and even olive oil. Soak yourself in it for around 10 minutes before exfoliating your skin with a mitt or a cloth in the shower. 

Oils can plump up the surface of your skin, making it more susceptible to exfoliation, which makes it easier to get rid of tan and other unwanted products that may be lingering on the skin. 

Steam 

While the key to maintaining a tan is to avoid sweating, this is reversed when it comes to getting rid of it. If your gym has a sauna, head inside for a few minutes and let your sweat do the magic. 

Once you step out, you can rub yourself with a towel in circular motions, giving your body some exfoliation. This will get rid of the dead skin cells that have held onto your tan. 

The same goes for doing a workout. If you don’t have access to a sauna, then get involved in a heavy workout out session that will make you sweat! 

Get into a steamy hot shower afterwards and exfoliate your body with a towel as you finish. 

Exfoliate 

You may have gathered from the previous two options that exfoliating is key for getting rid of a tan.

There are countless exfoliating scrubs out there, but if you find yourself in an emergency and haven’t got one at hand, you can make your own! 

• Buttermilk and Oat Scrub: Fun fact for the day is that oats are a natural exfoliator! When you mix them with buttermilk, it can reduce the discoloration when scrubbing off your tan. Combine 2 tablespoons of oatmeal with 3-4 tablespoons of buttermilk until you achieve a thick consistency. Massage onto your skin for around 5 minutes and wash it off. 

• Sugar Scrub: Sugar also works very well as an exfoliant. Mix some granulated sugar with a few drops of water to create a paste. If you want to level up your experience, you can add a few drops of lavender essential oil, making this a wonderful pamper session. If you’d like some more moisture, you can replace the water with coconut oil

The reason why exfoliating is such a good way to get rid of your tan is because you need to remove the dead skin cells and shed the first layer of skin where the tan is lingering. Exfoliating will do exactly that.   

Vinegar 

It seems as though the uses for vinegar just keep on growing. It is a useful cleaning product, good for cooking, and now it is useful for your beauty regime.

Simply rub some vinegar on the patches of tan that are lingering, and let it sit for around 10 minutes. Rinse it off with water, and you should notice the tan has disappeared. 

Lemon Juice 

You are bound to have an old bottle of lemon juice in the fridge or hiding in your pantry. This is a simple way you can even out any blotchy patches.

Just soak a cotton pad or cotton ball in some lemon juice, and dab away at the areas you want to be evened out! 

Toothpaste 

It may surprise you, but it actually works! This is good if you’ve got any areas that are likely to be patchy, usually your fingers and toes.

Just scrub some toothpaste on these areas with an old toothbrush, and let it sit for around 30 minutes. Wash it off with some lukewarm water, and your stains should be gone! 

Go For A Dip In The Pool 

If there’s a pool nearby, then head over and go for a nice swim.

While you should avoid chlorine when you are trying to keep your tan on, chlorine can have an abrasive effect on your skin, which aids in tan removal.

Be sure to shower afterward and exfoliate with a scrub, or with just a towel so that the tan wears off evenly throughout your body. 

Tan Remover 

This St. Tropez Tan Remover is a mousse that will remove all lingering remnants of your old tan. Just apply it evenly on dry skin and leave it on for around 5 minutes.

Wash it off in the shower with warm water, and your tan should have vanished! 

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Final Thoughts 

While having a tan is wonderful and can boost the confidence of many, spray tans don’t always run smoothly and can end up being patchy, especially if it has been on your skin for some time. 

Related: Best Self Tanning Products

While tan removers are effective as they have been made to do just that, not everyone has them readily available. 

These alternatives are just as effective as a tan remover and are items that you are likely to have in your fridge or pantry. Happy scrubbing! 

Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API