How To Get Self Tanner Off Face

Let's face it: fake tan is a product few people could live without. Providing the promise of tanned limbs without having to leave the house, hey, who wouldn't love it. For every pale-skinned person, there's a bottle of fake tan just waiting to envelop their pasty limbs.

As glorious as fake tan is, things can and do go wrong. Case in point: patchiness. Ask any avid tanner about their number one bronzing bugbear and they'll likely mention the dreaded patches. The bad news is, unless you encase your skin in some sort of protective shield, your tan will start going patchy at some point. It's inevitable because DHA - the active ingredient in fake tan that enables it to darken the skin - breaks down in a few days and wears off in random areas, leaving patches.

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So, what can you do about it? No one wants to walk around looking like they are shedding a second skin. The good news is there are several simple steps you can take to ensure you remove your tan as seamlessly as possible. Read on to discover them all...

How to remove fake tan at home

First things first: you should be applying your tan as evenly as possible to prevent areas lifting earlier than others. To ensure this, make sure you always use a fake tan mitt like this one from Bondi Sands, £4.99. Fast forward to a week later and your tan is looking a little worse for wear.

It's time to get it off, pronto. Start by running a hot bath and be sure to add in some oil. If you're a seasoned faux-glow-er you already know that oil is fake tan's arch-nemesis because it breaks down DHA.

Treat yourself to a long soak in an oily tub to make sure you take off as much old tan as possible. Then, reach for a scrub. It's important not to use one that's too harsh as this can cause damage to your skin, leaving it red and irritated. Instead, go for an oil-based scrub, preferably one using natural ingredients and massage into the skin. Using an exfoliation brush daily can also help speed up the removal process, just make sure you save it for the end of your tan's life.

Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil

REN cultbeauty.co.uk

£32.00

Herbivore Coco Rose Coconut Oil Body Polish

Herbivore Botanicals lookfantastic.com

£33.00

Professional Dry Skin Body Brush With Cactus Bristles - Hard Strength

Hydréa London feelunique.com

£10.99

How to use fake tan remover

If you've followed all of the above, most of the hard work has been done for you. However, some pesky patches can be hard to budge. In this instance, we suggest reaching for a tan remover. Every formula is different, but they all work in the same way: chemical exfoliation. Follow the instructions and use a sponge or flannel to ensure maximum takeoff.

Glyco Water Self-Tan Eraser Exfoliating Tan Remover and Primer

Tan-Luxe lookfantastic.com

£17.60

Tan Remover Mousse

St. Tropez lookfantastic.com

£13.05

Over It Magic Self-Tan Eraser

Isle Of Paradise boots.com

£17.95

How to remove fake tan from your face

With your face, it's a little different, so don't start smothering your skin in remover or scrubbing it to shreds. As we briefly mentioned above, removers use chemical exfoliants to take off old tan. Beauty buffs will already know that chemical exfoliant is just the science-y term for acids - something you're most likely already using in your skincare routine (If you're not you should be so more on the best exfoliating acids, here).

Take your go-to liquid exfoliator - be it AHA or BHA - dispense a few pumps onto a pad and sweep across your skin. These acids slough off the build-up of old skin cells, taking your tan off, too. Bonus points for the fact that they also boost radiance and improve skin tone and texture. Follow up with a nourishing face oil, like Disciple's Good Skin Face Oil, £23 to break down any leftovers.

Exfoliating Night Water

Starface starface.world

US$10.79

Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Paula's Choice cultbeauty.co.uk

£10.00

Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator

Goop cultbeauty.co.uk

£38.00

How to remove fake tan from your hands and feet

These areas are the most stubborn, as tan tends to gather in the dry crevices between your fingers and toes. They're also the biggest giveaway that you got your bronze from a bottle. For this reason, gloves and mitts are essential every time you're applying tan. But, we know how life goes, sometimes you're in a rush, or you cant locate them. So, the damage is done and your fingers look like Cheetos. Now what?

If you've exhausted everything mentioned above and you STILL resemble Tony Tiger, you can use nail varnish remover SPARINGLY and only as a last resort. Apply a small amount to a cotton pad and rub it over any tell-tale areas on your hands and feet. Leave it to work its magic and then wash your hands thoroughly using soap and water.

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