Fake Tan Fail!? Here's How To Fix It!

by BR Amelia

I don't remember the last time I heard someone say 'my goal in life is to rock an Oompa Loompa like tan', yet for some of us it's been a reality. The natural looking tan promised on the can has resulted in an orangey hot mess. Alternatively, the colour's been fine but it's become patchy and obvious looking rather than fading evenly. So what's a person to do when they find themselves having a fake tan fail?

Here's five fab ways to remove it at home using products you have in your pantry! 

Fun fact: Oil helps break down the tanning agent that creates the colour on your skin. If you've a whole body's worth of colour you want to get rid of then an oil bath is a great way to go about it. Simply add an oil (coconut or olive oil is ideal) to a warm (not hot!) bath, then hop in, lie back and soak for a good twenty to thirty minutes. After that grab an exfoliating mitt and get scrubbing in circular motions. 

No bath? No problem! A shower option is to cover yourself in coconut or olive oil, wander about the house for twenty minutes letting it soak in, then jump in the shower with an exfoliating mitt and get to work sloughing it off!

If you don't have an exfoliating mitt, or the time to be hanging around for half an hour waiting for the oil to do its thing, you can always create your own exfoliant in the form of a sugar scrub. Combine brown sugar and olive or coconut oil, then jump in the shower and get exfoliating! Not only will it help fade the tan, you'll step out of the shower with silky, smooth skin!

Sometimes it's not a case of getting rid of a full body tan, but more dealing to those areas where things can get patchy - like the hands, elbows, ankles and knees. For times like these baking soda or lemon juice can be your best friend!

Take a good scoop of baking soda, add water, then apply it to the areas that need to be sorted. After a couple of minutes massage it into your skin to get the exfoliating action going, then wash it off! Alternatively, cut a lemon in half, squeeze the juice out and apply that with a cotton ball to the areas of your skin that need a little help. The juice will work to bleach away the discolouration.

Want to go next level? Mix lemon juice and baking soda together for a boosted self tan removing experience.

You know that apple cider vinegar you bought intending to drink it on the daily because that's the thing to do... but then didn't? It's perfect for dabbing onto areas like your finger webbs where self tan can accrue. Just apply to a cotton ball then get dabbing and let the ACV work its dissolving magic.

Of course, before trying any of the above - especially the lemon juice trick - we do recommend you spot test your skin first. The last thing you need is to add to your streaky tan woes by having a skin reaction!

So, my lovelies... Have you had a fake tan fail? Did you just live with it until it faded? Or did you find other ways to rid yourself of it? Sharing is caring so chat below!