Beauty How-To: Tips & Tricks To Remove Fake Tan

how to get rid of fake tan

The correct application and maintenance of a fake tan is common knowledge these days. But can you remove it just as well? Or does your tan end up looking like a lacklustre, alligator-y mess after the first four or five days?

Whether you’ve gone for a professional application of bronze for an event, or you’re a dab hand at the at-home golden glow, fake tan is always tricky to remove. Thoroughly removing the product pigment from your skin is essential before reapplying, but even this in itself can be a mission!

Luckily, there are methods out that there to remove your fake tan that use ingredients you likely already have in your cupboard. And yes, they REALLY work (they even offer some fringe benefits along the way!) There’s also a host of ready-made products you can use, which will whip your skin into even shape at a moment’s notice, with extra benefits to boot. We’ll get to those in the second part of this article.

Here are four of the best ways to remove your fake tan (DIY):

Method #1: Baby Oil

Baby oil, or even just a regular body oil is a most effective weapon in your fake tan removal arsenal.

Process – Simply coat the area from which you wish to remove the tan, making sure you work the oil into your skin thoroughly, and leave for half an hour to forty minutes.

Afterwards, run a bath and use an exfoliator and/or exfoliating mitt to scrub away excess. Because fake tan removal is centered around the removal of skin cells rather than the tan itself, baby oil is perfect as it softens the cells and renders them easier to slough off.

As an added bonus, the oil will make your skin feel and smell lovely. However, beware of coming into contact with fabrics/carpets etc whilst waiting for the oil to take effect, as it will permanently stain.

 

42 Comments

  • Reply Chelsea Wednesday 30th November, 2016 at 4:58 am

    Just tried the baby oil… was horrible. It actually made the tan more difficult to remove. Spent exactly 2 hours in the shower which is insane and really bad for your skin and nearly scrubbed my skin off. Don’t try this unless you have nothing to do for an entire day

    • Reply Anonymous Saturday 4th February, 2017 at 8:50 pm

      Said to hop in the bath to soak, not shower.

  • Reply Senorita Sunday 2nd September, 2012 at 9:52 am

    great tips

  • Viggy
    Reply Viggy Saturday 28th January, 2012 at 10:40 am

    Good to know…

  • Reply linhyy Friday 27th January, 2012 at 2:26 pm

    Thanks!

  • karan2386
    Reply karan2386 Friday 27th January, 2012 at 7:54 am

    I struggle with tan removal!! Thanks for these helpful tips 🙂

  • kailaferrelli
    Reply kailaferrelli Friday 27th January, 2012 at 1:28 am

    Wow, awesome tips, thanks

  • Reply Whatthe Thursday 26th January, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    That tan remover looks good.

  • Reply ichigolove01 Thursday 26th January, 2012 at 11:45 am

    Great tips!

  • Reply mandystsai2 Thursday 26th January, 2012 at 9:20 am

    Good tips!

  • Reply leighbonello Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 4:31 pm

    Good to know! 🙂

  • Reply doogs Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 8:19 am

    great tips

  • Reply bardie Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 8:15 am

    thanks

  • Reply whatsupmonkey Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 7:37 am

    But which one works BEST?

  • Reply tessarella Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 6:34 am

    Thanks for the great advice, i had no idea!

  • Reply ethereal Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 6:27 am

    Great tips! I wish I had known this the first time I had a major fake tan disaster!

  • Reply julzjulzz Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 1:31 am

    Awesome tips!

  • ppennylane
    Reply ppennylane Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 1:06 am

    thaaank you!

  • Reply KatP Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 8:41 pm

    fantastic!

  • Reply mandystsai2 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    Useful if I got fake tans, haha

  • chuu_sxy18
    Reply chuu_sxy18 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Great tips.

  • Reply AmberB Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    Great tips!

  • Reply chris Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    caution: j&j’s baby oil has mineral oil in it.

  • Reply sallync Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    Love the lemon idea!

  • Reply bubble_n_squeak51 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    Thanks for the tips

  • Reply candicelee22 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    Thanks 🙂

  • Reply lara2507 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    great

  • Reply kiddo89 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    I do Spray tanning! Bi carb is a great trick you can also put a few spoonfuls in a hot bath and soak for half an hour or so and using exfoliating gloves it works like a charm 🙂

  • Reply JENNIFAARRH Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    thanks for the tips 🙂

  • Reply Tessa Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 11:42 am

    great tips… I had a shocking spray tan on my feet. this would have helped!

  • Reply fifi73 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 11:40 am

    Great tips…. Thanks again…. 😉

  • Reply KNY Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 11:30 am

    great tips, thanks

  • Reply chocolatelace Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 10:56 am

    great tips

  • sbooth29
    Reply sbooth29 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 10:30 am

    thank you for the tips!

  • ivysaurus
    Reply ivysaurus Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 10:06 am

    Great advice! I love baby oil 😀

  • GoodThanks
    Reply GoodThanks Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 10:02 am

    Good tips!

  • beebee2609
    Reply beebee2609 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 9:48 am

    Thanks for that! I am definately going to try the baby oil 🙂

  • Reply aalana Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 9:41 am

    thanks 🙂

    • Reply stels Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 11:39 am

      seconded!

  • Reply darling Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 9:36 am

    great ideas

  • Reply jenniekellett Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 9:28 am

    great tips that i never knew about!

  • flossyfewclothes
    Reply flossyfewclothes Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 8:56 am

    ..Thanks for the hints..I now have another use for all the lemons off my tree 🙂

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