How to Tone Down a Fake Tan (2024)

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

by John Doe

How to Tone Down a Fake Tan (1)

You know the drill – get in, strip down and get sprayed. You do everything as you’re told and your fake tan seems fine. Until you get home and you start noticing little problems. Whether you’ve turned orange or you just have a few blotches, we have the tricks you need to fix a bad fake tan.

Let’s start with the easy stuff – getting rid of the oompa loompa orange. It the orange is isolated in a small region, like the face or hands, just try using make-up remover to get off. If you are willing, you could even try bleach – not domestic bleach, only use the hair bleach that you would use for your upper lip. Apply this to your hands and feet, but be extremely careful as the bleach could whiten the areas you apply it to. Lemon juice is another good remedy to reduce the “orangeness” of your tan. Squeeze a couple lemons and apply the juice using a cotton wool pad to smaller blotches and streaky areas.

For an orange that goes all over your body, keep bathing and exfoliating until the fake tan fades. You could even try swimming in a pool to let the chlorine help. Also a good idea is to rub baby oil to help grab the tanning solution then bath an hour later.

When it comes to blotches do not panic, these are easy enough to fix. Nail varnish remover is your trusted friend here. Use a little bit on a cotton swab and damp lightly over the blotches. This will lighten them and help them better blend into the tan. You could also try scrubbing them off with body wash in the shower and exfoliate a few hours later.

Streaks can be a little tricky and there are multiple tricks to remove uneven lines. The first thing you should try is evening your fake tan. Try to cover up the streaks with tanning solution. You will need to massage a generous amount of moisturiser mixed with tanning solution into your streaks. If that doesn’t work, try using toothpaste (in small areas) to lighten the skin and better blend the streak. Nail varnish remover works the same as well. If there are too many along your body, try swimming or bathing to completely remove your fake tan, exfoliate for two days, and try tanning again.

There you have it. The next time you end up with a bad fake tan, do not panic. These tips should help minimise the damage. And remember, it’s not permanent. Even if you do nothing, in a few days your tan will settle down on its own.

How to Tone Down a Fake Tan (2024)

FAQs

How to Tone Down a Fake Tan? ›

- Rub the affected areas with baby oil which should help tone down orange streaks on your hands. - Lemon juice can help to dissolve uneven patches of self-tan on small areas, such as your ankles, wrists and palms.

How do you tone down fake tanner? ›

- Rub the affected areas with baby oil which should help tone down orange streaks on your hands. - Lemon juice can help to dissolve uneven patches of self-tan on small areas, such as your ankles, wrists and palms.

What to do if your fake tan is too dark? ›

When a spray tan ends up darker than intended, it looks fake and unnatural. The Solution: For dark or orangey spray tans, put baby oil on the skin, let it set and then soak in a hot bath for a while. The oil and hot water will help to break down the tan.

How to fade a fake tan fast? ›

Baking soda is a great option when you need to remove a full-body tan quickly. Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with some water or coconut oil. This will form a paste. Rub the paste over the area and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes.

How do you get rid of too much fake tan? ›

Try these tips to get fake tan off fast:

Here's what you need to do: Take two tablespoons of baking soda and mix it with a little bit of coconut oil, olive oil, or water to make a paste consistency. Gently scrub in a circular motion, leave for a few minutes and rinse off.

How to dull a spray tan? ›

My favourite way to do this is to either pour some bath oil (or olive oil!) into a warm bath before soaking for 15 minutes, or applying coconut oil liberally to my body and leaving it to soak in for 15 minutes before jumping in the tub and soaking for a further ten minutes.

How do you dilute fake tan? ›

If you're worried about self tanning your face, you could try mixing a little of your self tanner with your favourite moisturiser to dilute it slightly for a lighter application.

How do you make self-tanner less dark? ›

Even though hydrating your skin is the key to prolonging a fake tan, applying oil to the skin can also lift a tan— given it's done right. Cover your body in coconut oil or olive oil and let it soak in for around 15 minutes. Then take a hot shower. If you have a bath, even better!

How to fix a bad self tan? ›

How to fix patchy fake tan
  1. Gently buff away excess tan. Excess product often settles onto dry areas, like the elbows, knees, ankles, hands, and feet, causing an uneven, patchy tan. ...
  2. Exfoliate the skin. ...
  3. Fill in the gaps. ...
  4. Always use a tanning mitt. ...
  5. Opt for a gradual tan moisturiser.

How to make fake tan lighter? ›

Use an exfoliator mixed with a touch of olive oil to gently remove the dead skin cells sitting on the surface of your skin and in turn lighten the fake tan. Avoid using a harsh exfoliator because it might take your tan off in patches.

What removes self-tanner? ›

8 Ways To Remove Self Tanner
  • Baby Oil.
  • Baking Soda and Lemon Juice.
  • Whitening Toothpaste.
  • Self-Tanner Removal Products.
  • A Pool, Hot Tub, or Sauna.
  • Sugar Scrub.
  • Hair Removal Cream.
  • Exfoliating Mitt.
Jul 25, 2023

How long will fake tan take to fade? ›

In some cases a sunless tan can last for more than a week when cared for properly. Simply avoid using harsh shower gels that can strip the colour and stick to gentle products like Balance Body Wash.

How to tone down fake tan? ›

Mix some lemon juice with a touch of baking powder and dab it onto your skin to help lighten your fake tan. This method won't work instantly but if you continue to apply this mixture over the course of a day or two you will see results. Again, target darker spots to balance out streaks and patches. Relax.

How do you fix extreme tan? ›

People can try the following methods to help remove or fade a tan from the sun or a sunbed:
  1. Exfoliation. Gently exfoliating the skin will help remove pigmented dead skin cells from the outer layer of skin. ...
  2. Skin lightening products. ...
  3. Take a shower or bath. ...
  4. Baking soda. ...
  5. A gentle nail buffer. ...
  6. Self-tanner removers.
Sep 5, 2019

How do you get rid of too much tan? ›

Yoghurt and Gram Flour. For effective tan removal at home, add Yoghurt to a spoonful of Gram Flour and combine them to form a thick paste. Apply the mixture all over your body and leave it on for 20 minutes before hopping into the shower.

How do I make my fake tan lighter? ›

Even though hydrating your skin is the key to prolonging a fake tan, applying oil to the skin can also lift a tan— given it's done right. Cover your body in coconut oil or olive oil and let it soak in for around 15 minutes. Then take a hot shower. If you have a bath, even better!

How do you even out a bad fake tan? ›

Exfoliate the skin

Another way to fix patchy fake tan is with an exfoliator, as gently scrubbing the skin will tone down the colour. Massage our Tan Enhancing Body Polish and Exfoliator onto the streaky areas until the pigment has faded. Top Tip: The key to an even-looking tan is smooth skin.

How do you make fake tan subtle? ›

10 fake tan tips for beginners
  1. Exfoliate 24 hours before. ...
  2. Remove hair 24 hours before. ...
  3. Avoid deodorants and perfume. ...
  4. Choose the right tan for you. ...
  5. Moisturize just before tanning. ...
  6. Always Use A Tanning Mitt. ...
  7. Allow Your Tan To Dry Before Dressing. ...
  8. Wash Off Your Tan In Cool Water.
Mar 31, 2020

How to lighten self tanner on face? ›

baking soda with about 1/4 cup coconut oil. Apply this mixture to your face. Let it absorb, then use a wet washcloth to remove it. Repeat this twice per day until your skin reaches its typical color.

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