Stocksy
Tan lines can be quite polarizing. Some love the remnants of a faint bikini outline while others will do everything in their power to avoid them. But sometimes, no matter how much SPF we slather on or how dedicated we are to buffing in that fake tan, were left with streaks and dramatically contrasting tan lines in all the wrong places. Its in these drastic situations where were left with a farmers tan or zebra-like stripes courtesy of that strappy, new bathing suit that were left frantically searching the internet for a quick fix to diminish the appearance.
For cases exactly like this, we reached out to a couple of skin and tanning experts to learn how to minimize tan lines. From traditional methods like applying body makeup with a kabuki brush to less conventional practices like rubbing potato slices on your skin, here are some tan line–earasing hacks thatll make those stripes disappear in no time.
Meet the Expert
Sophie Evans is a self-tan expert and St. Tropez skin-finishing brand ambassador.
Graceanne Svendsen is a licensed esthetician and health coach.
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Exfoliate to Fade
The first step to fading a tan line (whether sun-kissed or the result of self-tanner) is exfoliation, says celeb facialist Joanna Vargas. To do this, she recommends using a clean washcloth and body scrub.
If you dont have time to run out and get a scrub, you can quickly make one at home with equal parts brown sugar and olive oil, plus a bit of raw honey.
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Lighten With Baking Soda
Is there anything baking soda cant do? Apparently not, as the kitchen staple is also a well-known tool for toning down a tanning mishap. A thick paste of baking soda and water is great for spot-treating singular problem areas, but for a full-body fade head to the tub. Just like those dreamy foot baths at your local nail salon, dropping into a steamy baking soda-infused bath will soften even the deepest of tans.
Hot water will also open up pores to release any leftover self-tanning agents.
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Balance Out With Self-Tanner
To fix traditional tan lines, St. Tropezs skin-finishing expert Sophie Evans says to "paint [self-tanning] lotion heavily onto your tan lines, being as meticulous as possible. Leave on for eight hours (or overnight), and then shower it off." Once dry, look to see if your lines are even. If so, leave them be. If not, she says to use a gentle exfoliator to soften the lines appearance. When filling in your tan lines, she recommends using a kabuki brush for large lines and a concealer brush for smaller areas and edges.
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Fade With Potato Slices
Vitamin C has been proven to lighten skin.1Vargas claims potatoes, which are rich in vitamin C, are great for fading a tan. In order to do this, she recommends blending potatoes into a mask and applying it to the outer edges of your line that tend to be darker. Let the mask sit for 20 to 30 minutes before wiping it off. Dont have a blender? Vargas says you can also apply slices of potatoes to your skin for similar results.
Not into DIY treatments? Look to body and skincare products that dont skimp on vitamin C for similar results.
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Conceal With Body Makeup
When all else fails, reach for foundation, says esthetician Graceanne Svendsen. Simply fill in the tan line with a camouflaging foundation like Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation ($66), which is gentle enough to use on irritated, sun-tanned skin. Set the makeup with powder to avoid smears and smudges, and youre good to go.
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Break Down With Oil
If youre a true self-tan devotee, you may already know one of the basic principles of the practice: Oil breaks down DHA (the main ingredient that causes the skin-darkening effects were after). So if youre trying to clean up a self-tan mistake, we suggest you start breaking the rules and slathering on all of the oils. Once the skin is slippery and supple, buff away the tan with an exfoliating mitt for extra power. We like Loving Tan Tan Removing Glove ($30). But time is of the essence, Evans explains that leaving oil on for longer than 10 minutes can actually help the tan settle in more.
Article Sources
Sanadi RM, Deshmukh RS. The effect of Vitamin C on melanin pigmentation - a systematic review. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2020;24(2):374-382. doi:10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_207_20