How to remove fake tan with natural ingredients

As the weather warms up the layers of winter clothing come off, exposing arms, legs, hands and feet to the world. For those of us gifted with English rose skin that burns at the first sign of summer, the only safe tan is a tan in can, but achieving a streak-free faux glow can be tricky.

One of the most common mistakes people make when attempting a layer of fake tan is over-tanning the skin on hands, knees, ankles and elbows, where the skin is rougher and drier, therefore absorbing more of the product.

If your fake ta hasn't gone according to plan, there are a few ways you can remove the evidence.

#1
If it’s your hand or feet that have turned an unsightly shade of orange, soak them in some warm water for a few minutes, then add a couple drops of body or massage oil to an exfoliator and give your digits a scrub. This will lift the excess build up.

#2
Lather up a loofah with some salt or sugar body scrub and rub it in circular motions over the offending areas. If you don’t have any on hand, mix a quarter of a cup of raw sugar with some moisturiser instead. Be careful not to rub too vigorously as you’ll end up with sore skin. If you do it once in the morning and once in the afternoon you’ll see results by day three.

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#3
Squeeze lemon juice straight from the fruit onto the tan and let it sit on your skin for an hour, then ash it off. The natural acids in lemon will lift the tan after a few attempts. You can repeat this up to three times a day.

#4
Run yourself a bath and mix in some baking soda then have a quick soak. Try this once or twice, on separate days.

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#5
If you’ve just applied a faux glow to your pins and it’s turned out streaky and you want to get rid of the effect as soon as possible, waxing or shaving you legs has been reported to remove some of the tan.

#6
Turn a cup of sugar and three quarters of a cup of lemon juice into a paste and rub it over particularly patchy spots of tan, leave for a few minutes, then wash off with warm water. This will work to its maximum ability after just 2 to 3 applications.

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#7
If all else fails head to your local Priceline, supermarket or chemist and pick up a tan remover.

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Laura Barry

Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.