How to Remove Spray Tan: 10 Simple Tips & Tricks

Spray tanning is a great solution when you want to get the sun-kissed tan of your dreams without exposing your skin to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays or even worse, UV radiation from tanning beds. 

Spray tanning is easy, fast, and effective – what more could you ask for?

But sometimes things don’t go as planned. While spray tanning is a good way to look like you’ve just spent an entire day on a tropical beach, there’s a downside to it – it doesn’t last forever.

While a fake tan is fading away, it may leave dark patches on the skin and make you want to get rid of it as soon as possible.

But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll talk about the best ways to remove fake tan from your body, face, and fingers. Let’s dive in.

Key Takeaways

  • Spray tans are great when you want to achieve glowing skin without using a tanning bed or exposing your skin to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
  • As much as getting a spray tan sounds ideal, it doesn’t always go as you’d like it to. Whether you’ve forgotten to prepare properly for your tanning session or your fake tan is fading away unevenly, there are plenty of reasons why you’d like to get rid of fake tan from your skin.
  • There are plenty of ways to fix a patchy spray tan and remove unwanted tan from your skin.
  • Exfoliation is one of the best ways to get rid of fake tan quickly and effectively. You can either buy exfoliating scrubs, make one yourself, or use exfoliating mitts.
  • The easiest way to remove spray tan is to use a specialized spray tan remover. Give No products found. a try.

10 Ways to Remove Spray Tan From Your Skin

If you’re wondering how to remove spray tan, here are 10 simple ways to do it. Check them out below.

1. Use an Exfoliating Scrub

Source: depositphotos.com
Source: depositphotos.com

When you spray a self-tanning solution on your skin, what you do is actually apply a fine mist that consists of an ingredient called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA interacts with the outer layer of your skin cells which is what makes the skin look darker and bronzier.

By far the best way to get rid of spray tan from your skin is to exfoliate it. You can gently exfoliate the skin using exfoliating products such as scrubs, gloves, or DIY scrubs.

By using an exfoliating scrub, you will remove the dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin and get rid of self-tan. If you use the right products, you’ll also leave the skin silky soft, and nourished.

Here are some of the best body scrubs to try:

  • No products found.
  • No products found.
  • No products found.
  • No products found.
  • No products found.
  • No products found.

2. Use Exfoliating Gloves

Another way to exfoliate the dead skin cells and remove spray tan from your skin is to use exfoliating gloves. This solution is as effective as using body scrub exfoliants so it’s totally up to you to choose.

You don’t need any additional product when you’re using exfoliating gloves, only water. However, if you want to speed up the exfoliating process, you can use a gel or soap. 

Exfoliating gloves are easily washable and can be reused over and over again. Some people use exfoliating gloves before their tanning session because they help prepare the skin, making it absorb the tanning solution better.

3. Try Baking Soda

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly solution to remove fake tan, DIY scrubs are perfect. You can prepare them by yourself at home using natural products such as baking soda and lemon juice. 

Mix lemon juice and baking soda together to create a scrub. Stir the mixture until you get a beautifully fine paste. Then, use your hands or a sponge to spread this paste onto your skin while you’re taking a shower.

Allow the paste to exfoliate the skin then gently rinse it off. This DIY scrub will remove the dead skin along with your fake tan and leave your skin looking beautifully soft and silky.

4. Try Vinegar

Another home product that beauty gurus swear by is vinegar. The acidity in apple cider vinegar or white vinegar can dissolve and lighten fake tan patches, resulting in a more even tan without unwanted stains. 

The best way to remove spray tan using vinegar is to apply it onto the skin using a cotton ball then leave it for a few minutes until the tan wears off.

5. Take a Hot Bath

Believe it or not, a simple warm bath can help you remove fake tan from your skin. Because warm water softens your skin’s top layer, it can make your spray tan fade right away. 

All you need to do is get in the shower and spend some time under the warm water. Let the hot bath take care of the rest. After some time in the shower, try exfoliating the skin to ensure your fake tan falls off. 

6. Go for a Swim

The swimming pool is typically off-limits for those who want to make their spray tan last longer. However, if you want to remove unwanted fake tan from your skin, you should do the exact opposite.

So, go for a swim and let the chlorine in the swimming pool do the rest. If your tan doesn’t fade right away after one swimming session, you may need to go to the pool a few more times to remove the excess spray tan formula altogether. 

7. Use Baby Oil

Another unexpected way to remove fake tan is to put baby oil on your skin. You probably have some baby oil in your stash. If not, you can use mineral or olive oil instead. 

Source: depositphotos.com
Source: depositphotos.com

Not only does baby oil help remove spray tan solution, but it’s also very gentle on the skin and will leave it beautifully soft. 

All you need to do is take a few drops and massage it in gently. Leave it on for 10 minutes to allow the skin to soak in the product. Then, simply rinse it off and watch your spray tan fade off. 

8. Hit the Steam Room

Half an hour in the steam room can do wonders for your skin. But it can also help ditch the spray tan that’s been bothering you. 

A steam room session can help dislodge tan stains, so hit the steam room a couple of times to let the heat and moisture do their magic. Once you step out of the steam room, rub your skin gently using a wet cloth to deeply exfoliate and get rid of the spray tan formula completely.

9. Use Toothpaste or Nailpolish for Nails and Palms

Use whitening toothpaste and nail polish remover to get rid of fake tan from your nails and palms. Since these areas are not easily reachable, most people tend to forget about them when trying to remove stubborn tan.

So if you want to get the job done right, don’t forget to remove fake tan from these harder-to-reach spots on the body and avoid having to hide those annoying dark patches all over again.

10. Use a Specialized Tan Remover

The easiest way to remove spray tan from your skin is to use a professional self-tan eraser. So if you want to forget about your spray tan troubles in mere minutes, you should buy a specialized tan remover. 

These products typically remove fake tan without excessive exfoliation. Additionally, they consist of other healthy ingredients that can hydrate the skin and leave it silky soft. 

The Best Creams for Tan Removal

If you decide to invest in a specialized self-tan remover, this section of the article will help you find the best product for your skin. 

Check out the best tan removal creams that experts recommend and skincare gurus swear by.

  1. No products found.
  2. No products found.
  3. No products found.
  4. No products found.
  5. No products found.
  6. No products found.
  7. No products found.
  8. No products found.

Final Thoughts

Spray tanning is one of the easiest ways to have a bronzed complexion all year long. However, spray tans can also go terribly wrong, especially if you’re a newbie. 

To get the most out of your tanning session, you need to properly prep the skin first. Then, there are certain things you should do to make it last longer and nourish your skin. But if you still end up with uneven dark patches, don’t despair. 

All of the above-mentioned tips will help you easily remove unwanted tan, even out your skin tone, and look fresh and natural again. 

Once you get the gist of it, spray tanning will be your favorite way of having a faux glow all year round.

Was this story helpful? Why not share?