How to remove fake tan

A no-nonsense guide on the best way to get rid of an unwanted fake tan.

Tips on how to make a sunless tan fade faster.

Want to even-out a patchy looking tan or remove your existing colour in preparation for a fresh application of self tanner? Exfoliator and water are your best friends. Read on for detailed tips on how to use exfoliator and water to lighten your tan.

Exfoliator

Exfoliating the skin regularly will speed up the rate at which your fake tan fades. This is because sunless tan only reacts with the cells on the top surface of the skin – if you gently remove those skin cells with an exfoliator you’ll promote a faster fade-off. Use our very own Polishing Body Scrub or make a natural exfoliator at home to lighten your tan quickly:

Lemon juice and baking powder: Natural exfoliator. Baking soda is a fantastic non-abrasive exfoliator that leaves the skin feeling super smooth and lemon is an astringent that’s great for stripping away an unwanted fake tan in record time. When both of these ingredients are combined they create a cheap and effective exfoliator for the skin. Squeeze enough fresh lemon juice into some baking powder to form a paste. Warm the mixture up for a few seconds in a microwave until slightly warm. Then use a sponge to rub the warmed paste onto your skin.

Brown sugar and olive oil: Natural exfoliator. Mix a drizzle of olive oil with some brown sugar to make a quick exfoliator that will slough away dead skin cells and lighten your fake tan gently. Rub the mixture onto your skin and wash off in the shower. You can even add some lemon juice to speed up the lightening process or squeeze in some essential oils that will leave behind a fragrant scent.

Water

Good old H2O is also good for removing a fake tan. Taking a long shower every day will remove moisture from your skin, causing your skin cells to dry out and flake off faster. However, for a quicker route you can try out these water cures:

Steam room: Water remedy. Head to your local gym or beauty spa and spend 20 minutes in the steam room. The steamy air and the heat will make you sweat and release some of your fake tan – simply pat the colour off onto an old towel after your session.

Swimming: Water remedy. Chemicals like chlorine found in swimming pools will cause a tan to fade that little bit quicker. If you want to remove your tan then do a few laps of the pool to lighten your colour.