How to Fix a Self-tanner
- 1). Stand in a hot shower for a few minutes to open your pores. Opening your skin's breathing source is the first step to removing either your entire tan or just a single, blotched portion. Dry off, then rub lemon or lime on your skin. The acidic juices help break down the tanning lotion.
- 2). Pour baking soda into your hands and massage vigorously over any previously tan areas to exfoliate the self-tanner color away. For those with sensitive skin, baking soda may be too harsh. Try granulated sugar. Continue scrubbing for a few minutes or until you see the color begin to fade. Wash off the paste in a cool water shower.
- 3). Fill in streaky spots using a tanning mousse, which is lighter and fluffier than tanning cream and spreads more easily in a thin layer. If you don't mind going a deeper shade of tan, apply the tanning mousse over the affected area and allow to dry. If you don't want to turn darker with an additional shade, simply remove the entire streaked application using citrus or sugar, give your skin a few hours to recover and use the tanning mousse again.
- 4). Conquer those hard-to-reach spots, like between your shoulder blades, with a spray tanner. Opt for an aerosol spray for more even coverage rather than a spritzer, which can leave runny streaks. Reach behind your head while looking in the mirror and make controlled circular motions. Overlap your new tanning application with your already-tanned skin to avoid white spots.
