How to get a spray tan off your body, feet, face, or hands? In short, to get a spray tan off your body, feet, face, or hands, you can exfoliate using a gentle exfoliant or a tan-removing product or use natural ingredients such as baking soda or lemon juice.
It’s crucial to be gentle and avoid overuse to prevent irritation. Additionally, moisturizing the skin afterward is essential to avoid dryness and irritation.
In this guide:
How to Remove Spray Tan from Your Body, Hands, and Feet
Spray tans are a convenient way to achieve a bronzed, sun-kissed look without the sun’s harmful UV rays. However, one of the downsides of spray tans is that they can be difficult to remove, especially from areas like the hands and feet.
This article will explain some practical methods for removing spray tan from your body, face, hands, and feet.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. The accumulation of these dead cells can make the tan appear patchy or uneven. However, by eliminating these cells, exfoliation can help to reveal the healthy, untanned skin underneath.
It’s critical to use a gentle exfoliant, such as sugar or sea salt scrubs, or chemical exfoliants like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) and to avoid over-exfoliation, as over-exfoliation can cause irritation and inflammation.
Tips for selecting the right exfoliant and avoiding over-exfoliation: When selecting an exfoliant, it’s vital to choose one that is suitable for your skin type. For example, people with sensitive skin may want to avoid physical scrubs and opt for a chemical exfoliant instead.
It’s also essential to avoid over-exfoliation, as this can cause irritation and inflammation. A good rule of thumb is to exfoliate once or twice a week, depending on your skin type.
Suggestions for exfoliating specific areas of the body:
- Feet: Dead skin cells tend to accumulate on the feet, so it’s necessary to exfoliate them regularly. Use a pumice stone or a foot file to remove dead skin cells gently, and then moisturize the feet to keep them soft and smooth.
- Face: The face is a delicate area and requires a gentle exfoliant. Chemical exfoliants like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) are a good option for the face as they are less abrasive than physical scrubs. Avoid using physical scrubs on the face, as they can cause irritation and inflammation.
- Hands: Hands also tend to accumulate dead skin cells, making the tan on the hands appear patchy or uneven. Use a gentle exfoliant, such as a sugar or sea salt scrub, to remove dead skin cells and reveal the healthy, untanned skin underneath. After exfoliating, moisturize the hands to keep them soft and smooth.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a natural exfoliant that can help to remove spray tan from your hands and feet. In addition, the acidity in lemon juice acts as a natural bleaching agent, helping to lighten the skin. To use lemon juice, mix equal parts lemon juice and water in a small bowl and apply to the affected areas using a cotton pad.
Leave the mixture for about 5 minutes, then rinse with warm water. It’s essential to remember that using lemon juice may cause redness or dryness on the skin, so it’s recommended to do a patch test before using it on larger areas of the body.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another natural exfoliant that can remove spray tan from your hands and feet. Baking soda’s abrasive nature can help remove dead skin cells and lighten the skin. To use baking soda, mix equal parts baking soda and water in a small bowl to create a paste.
Apply the paste to the affected areas and use a gentle, circular motion to scrub. Rinse off with warm water. As with lemon juice, it’s essential to be soft and avoid overuse, as baking soda can cause irritation or dryness.
Vinegar
Vinegar can also remove spray tan from your hands and feet. The acetic acid in vinegar acts as a natural bleaching agent, helping to lighten the skin. To use vinegar, mix equal parts vinegar and water in a small bowl and apply to the affected areas using a cotton pad.
Leave the mixture for about 5 minutes, then rinse with warm water. As with lemon juice and baking soda, it’s significant to test the combination on a small skin patch before using it on larger areas.
Using Baby Oil or Olive Oil
Baby oil and olive oil can also remove spray tan from your hands and feet. These oils act as a lubricant, helping to loosen the color and make it easier to remove. To use baby oil or olive oil, massage it into the affected areas and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.
Avoiding Hot Water
When removing spray tan from your hands and feet, it is essential to avoid hot water. Hot water can cause the color to penetrate deeper into the skin, making it more difficult to remove. Instead, use lukewarm water when showering or bathing.
Nail Polish Remover
Nail polish remover can also remove spray tan from your hands and feet. The acetone in nail polish remover can help break down the spray tan’s color. Simply saturate a cotton pad with nail polish remover and apply it to the affected areas.
Leave the remover for about 5 minutes, then rinse with warm water. It’s fundamental to note that nail polish remover can be harsh on the skin, so it’s best to test it on a small patch before using it on larger areas and avoid contact with the eyes and mouth.
Professional Tanning Solutions
If the above methods do not work, you can also try using a professional spray tan remover solution. These solutions are specially formulated to remove spray tan and can be found at most beauty supply stores.
Be sure to follow the instructions on the product carefully. It’s also a good idea to consult a professional or a dermatologist before trying any new method.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, removing spray tan from your hands and feet can be a bit of a hassle, but with the proper techniques, it can be done quickly. Exfoliation, lemon juice, baking soda, baby oil, or olive oil, and avoiding hot water are all effective methods to remove the tan from your hands and feet.
