Use These Products To Remove Your Old Tan
One of the key factors to achieving a great tan is to exfoliate the skin 24 hours in advance. Preparing the skin by exfoliating and removing all traces of old tan ensures a smooth canvas for the new tan to develop evenly. We suggest exfoliating the day before you either get a spray tan or apply self tanner as exfoliating raises the skin’s pH level, and waiting at least 24 hours will allow the skin to return to its neutral state making it a perfect canvas for your next tan. If you apply a tan immediately after exfoliating while the pH level is still high, you run the risk of your tan developing unevenly and splotchy.
Why is it so important to remove your old tan and create a smooth canvas, you ask? There’s a few reasons. First, tan buildup — especially on places like the neck, chest, and ankles — can make the tan appear darker in those spots, thus very uneven. Secondly, when the old layer of tan begins to flake off, it will take the new layer of tan with it, resulting in a patchy-looking tan that doesn’t last as long as it should.
So to help you efficiently yet safely exfoliate your skin and remove old tan, we’ve rounded up the following products to use before your next sunless tanning session.
mitts & accessories:
Dermasuri Deep Exfoliating Body Mitt
good for: a deep exfoliation that will remove everything.
Dermasuri Deep Exfoliating Body Mitt, $20
As someone who tans every single week, I would not be able to achieve a flawless without Dermasuri’s Deep Exfoliating Body Mitt. The uniquely-designed texture of the fabric ensures that all dead skin is completely removed. I have tried all sorts of loofahs, wash cloths, mitts, and sponges but they all pale in comparison. I prefer to first use an exfoliating scrub on the mitt, rinse, then apply a tan remover to the skin and scrub with the mitt, but I’ve also just used the mitt before and it got the job done. Dermasuri also has scrubbers designed specifically for the back and face, which also work great, but its body mitt is the true hero product.
Face Halo Body Exfoliate & Polish
good for: prepping and priming sensitive skin.
Face Halo Body Exfoliate & Polish Mitt, $22
Does your skin get red and splotchy at the thought of deeply exfoliating? Face Halo’s plush, double-sided circular mitt gently yet effectively removes dead skin cells on one side, and soothes the skin on the other. The exfoliating side of the mitt is gentle and non-abrasive yet effective enough to remove build-up, while the polish side uses a soft microfiber surface to wipe away any excess impurities and soften the skin.
CleanLogic Wooden Handle Bath Brush, $11
good for: use on dry and wet skin.
CleanLogic Wooden Handle Bath Brush, $11
CleanLogic’s Wooden Handle Bath Brush is an exfoliating bath brush that can be used on wet or dry skin. The brush has a long handle to exfoliate hard-to-reach areas of the body, and also has a removable head for more focused scrubbing. The soft bristles gently yet effectively remove dead skin, toxins, and old sunless tan making it the perfect tool for prepping the skin for a fresh layer of tan.
scrubs & exfoliants:
Q Sciences Q reFINISH Salt Srub - Cashmere Cocoa
good for: exfoliating and nourishing with natural ingredients.
Q reFINISH Salt Scrub in Cashmere Cocoa, $40
Q Sciences’ Q reFINISH Salt Scrub not only thoroughly exfoliates and detoxifies the skin, but it nourishes it and leaves it feeling super soft thanks to its all-natural ingredients. Gone are the days of having super tight, dry skin after exfoliating.
The salt scrub is made up of only four ingredients: magnesium sulfate (the salts) for exfoliating, shea butter for softening and hydrating, coconut oil for moisturizing, and a natural fragrance oil (a soothing lavender scent). And as all natural beauty connoisseurs know: the less ingredients, the better. So if a product can gently yet efficiently exfoliate the skin while leaving it soft and moisturized using just four ingredients — then it’s definitely worth incorporating into your sunless tanning routine.
For best results: soak the skin in water for at least ten minutes, use a dollop of the salt scrub for each body part and apply using a wet exfoliating mitt by rubbing in long circular motions. Because the exfoliator does include coconut oil, be sure to exfoliate at least 24 hours before applying your sunless tan so that the coconut oil is no longer on the skin. (Truth be told, you should be exfoliating 24 hours in advance anyways.)
St Moriz Skin Primer, $12.99
St Moriz’s soft scrub is packed with essential vitamins and nutrients to gently scrub the skin and then nourish it for the healthiest canvas ever pre-tan.
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Body Scrub
good for: an affordable drugstore option
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Body Scrub, $7
For a deep, exfoliating scrub, SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Body Scrub is made up of large grains of sugar to deeply and effectively exfoliate the skin, while the infusion of coconut, shea, and olive oils nourish and soften the skin. Pro tip: make sure you thoroughly wash this scrub off before applying a tan as any leftover residue can clog your pores and prevent a tan from developing.
Olay Exfoliating Powder Pitaya & Cranberry Seed
good for: a gentle exfoliation
Olay Exfoliating Powder Pitaya & Cranberry Seed, $8
If you loathe the feeling and grittiness of sugar and salt scrubs on your skin, Olay’s new Exfoliating Powder turns from a powder to a liquid when wet to exfoliate the skin in the softest way possible. You can apply the powder directly to wet skin in the shower, or sprinkle on to a wet mitt or cloth, and scrub the skin. The powder is made of Pitaya and Cranberry seeds to make the skin visibly firmer.
Australian Glow Tan Removal Mousse, $20
When it comes to tan removers, you can opt for a lathering mousse or a lightweight spray. If you prefer a foamy-texture, Australian Glow Tan Removal Mousse should be applied after exfoliating, let sit for around five minutes, and then scrubbed off with an exfoliating cloth or mitt. The mousse is virtually scentless, balances the skin’s pH levels, and is packed with vegan ingredients for an ever safer tan removal process.
X-Tan Remover
good for: a professional-grade solution that literally erases your tan.
If lightweight mists are your jam, professional spray tan artists swear by (and often retail) X-Tan’s Sunless Tan Remover Spray. Countless reviews on the internet compare X-Tan’s spray to the Magic Eraser of spray tans. And as effective as it is, it’s equally good for your skin. The mist is packed with Hyaluronic Acid to moisturize, vitamins C & D for bright, rejuvenated skin, and White Water Lily Extract to work as a natural astringent that soothes the skin.