When you get home from a long day in the sun, your first instinct might be to figure out how to get rid of those tan lines you accidentally picked up. Of course, you were wearing sunscreen and covering up as much as possible, but even those of us most dedicated to sun safety slip up every once in a while—and pay the price in sun damage and annoying tan lines.
You might assume that, to even out your skin tone, you need to get back in the sun or into a tanning bed. But that will only expose you to even more sun damage—and there are plenty of ways to get rid of tan lines without that. In fact, as SELF explained previously, tanning is the direct result of UV exposure to the skin. Over time, that kind of UV exposure can lead to more permanent damage to the skin as well as skin cancer, the CDC says.
So, while it’s understandable that you’d want to address the cosmetic concerns of tan lines, it’s important not to use intentional tanning—indoor or outdoor—to do that. Below, check out how to get rid of tan lines with a few safer tips. Not only will your skin tone even out, but your skin might also feel smoother, more moisturized, and more nourished after taking on some of these tips.
1. Wear sunscreen.
If you’re looking to lighten a tan or even out your skin tone, sunscreen is undoubtedly the most important part of your skin-care arsenal. Wearing sunscreen every day—yes, every single day—will help protect you from UV damage and therefore prevent the parts of your skin that are already tan from continuing to get tan.
Products to try:
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 100 ($27, Amazon)
- COOLA Mineral Body Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 ($36, Dermstore)
- Banana Boat Simply Protect Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ ($15, CVS)
2. Gently exfoliate.
Exfoliating your skin helps remove the outer layer of dead skin cells so that the newer, smoother skin cells underneath are revealed. You can do this with a physical exfoliant, like a scrub, or with a chemical exfoliant, a product containing something like glycolic acid or lactic acid. Over time, this will help your tan to fade, and it’s an important step before using a self-tanner, if that’s something you’re interested in. But be careful not to do this too often because exfoliating with products like these can irritate those with dry or sensitive skin.
Products to try:
- Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash ($38, Amazon)
- Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA ($29, Paula’s Choice)
- Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Skin Renewal Recipe Body Scrub ($12, Ulta)
3. Moisturize and use self-tanner.
After exfoliating in the shower, dry off well and load your fave moisturizer onto the already tanned areas to help create a barrier for when you apply the self-tanner. Then dip a makeup sponge into a quality self-tanning gel and blend color evenly into the paler skin; hang tight until it feels dry. You can use a self-tanning cream, but I like gel because it's easier to apply on smaller areas of skin. Repeat the exfoliate, lotion, tan routine daily until lines aren't noticeable.
