If you’re looking to remove stubborn fake tan but aren’t sure how, we’ve got the best tips and tricks on getting rid of self tan quickly and gently, plus the £20 remover our writer swears by
After the long and dreary UK winter, you’re probably looking to add some colour back into your complexion. And if you’re not blessed with the ability to tan very well or prefer to avoid it for health reasons, it’s likely you’ll use fake tan to bronze your skin up.
We already have an extensive list of the very best tried-and-tested fake tans. But today, we’re providing the best tips and tricks on how to remove your fake tan quickly (and gently), as well as a few of our favourites (including the £20 tan remover I swear by).
We’ve all been there: when you’ve had a fake tan disaster and are looking to urgently remove the patchiness. Equally, sometimes you just want to start afresh with a new layer of tan and need to remove your old tan before doing so.
So, what’s the best process? There are a few different ways, and each will depend on personal preference and how your skin reacts. Firstly, the easiest and cheapest way is to use products you’re likely to have at home. We recommend rubbing a gentle exfoliator or scrub combined with a small amount of baby oil on the skin.
The body oil helps to break down the fake pigment, and the body polish helps to exfoliate and remove dead skin. Some of our favourite body scrubs include the Q+A AHA Exfoliator Body Scrub, £7.50; the Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Scrub, £39; and the Dove Scrub Brown Sugar & Coconut Butter, £14.22.
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Secondly, if you haven’t had much luck wiht the first method and have some stubborn tan to remove, you can up you body scrub game a step further with a specific tan remover polish. Our shopping writer Faith swears by Rose & Caramel’s Tan Remover, £19.99 .
Faith says: “The Rose & Caramel Tan Remover was so straightforward to use that I was convinced it wouldn’t do the trick. You simply slather it all over your skin, wait 60 seconds, then use an exfoliating mitt to wipe it off, and it’s supposed to eradicate every trace of your self tan, regardless of how dark, patchy or long it’s been on your skin. i‘m thrilled to say it did exactly that. “
A few other physical exofilators to try out are: the Skin & Tan (formerly Skinny Tan) Miracle Tan Eraser, £19.99, and the St. Tropez Tan Body Polish and Exfoliator, £10.
However, if you’re like me and find physical exfoliators or tan remover polishes irritate your skin, you’ll want to try a tanning remover or mousse that sits on the skin for 5 to 10 minutes, and then washes off.
Shop our favourite tan removers below:
Isle of Paradise Over It
My all-time favourite tan remover (and fake tan) comes from Isle of Paradise. I find this the most effective and most gentle way for me to remove tan. My skin can be quite sensitive, so if I go in with sugar scrubs or harsh mitts, I tend to feel pretty red afterwards. This is a glycolic and micellar-infused self-tan remover exfoliates the skin and removes the fake tan pigment.
To use, simply saturate the skin completely, leave it for five minutes and then jump in the shower and gently buff off the product with a flannel, mitt or sponge.
Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser
Bondi Sands’ tan removing gentle foaming cleanser works to remove tan in just five minutes. With soothing aloe, and innovative technology, this product lathers up into a foam and works to exfoliate off dead skin cells and the top layer of fake tans.
You’re left with a fresh, moisturised base afterwards, the perfect canvas if you want to re-apply.
Tan Luxe Glyco Water Tan Remover & Primer
This water acts as a tan remover, cleanser and primer to prep your skin for tan re-application. As with Isle of Paradise, Tan Luxe’s water uses glycolic acid to to break down any self tan remnants. It’s also formulated with a unique blend of Vitamins B, C & Plus Raspberry Seed Oil & Aloe Vera that leaves the skin feeling brighter and refreshed.
