How to properly remove fake-tan

Shift that flaky faux glow

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Naomi May21 May 2020

Perhaps you're drenching your body in an assortment of tanning lotions and potions.

Or maybe your application didn't quite go according to plan initially, and you've been left with a waterfall of fake tan streaks on your legs. Or maybe, just maybe, this week's sweltering temperatures have caused your faux glow to fade.

"I’ve found that streaks are actually less likely to come from the product itself, they appear after incorrect application," says Mark Elrick, founder of Tan-Luxe. "My advice is to ensure with any self-tanning product that you’re applying enough to completely saturate the skin. This means you avoid missing out on any areas when you’re applying, which is one of the main factors that leads to the appearance of streaks on the skin."

"Dry skin can also play a factor when it comes to streaking," Elrick adds. For the ultimate glow, he recommends hydrating the skin both before applying tan and once a fake tan is re-applied.

And for anybody who's sweating like a pig in a blanket (cc most of the British population at the moment), Elrick has sad news. "Excessive sweating is going to cause any self-tanning product that you’re using to fade more quickly- unfortunately there’s nothing that can be done about this."

He recommends re-applying tan post-sweaty session, whether that's post-workout or post-sunbathe, to help prevent tans from fading or streaking.

If you're still wanting to slough off the tan you've currently got slathered on though, then these are the products that'll do the job for you.