Have you skipped wearing sunscreen under the sun and ended up with awful tan lines on your skin?
Getting back in the sun might sound like the best way to even out a tan but it is not 100% safe.
How about a few tips on how to even out a tan safely? Read on to find out.
1. Gently Exfoliate and Scrub
Exfoliating is the best way to get rid of tan lines because it helps remove the outer layer of dead skin cells on your skin and reveals the newer and smoother skin cells underneath.
The mechanism is simple- the more you scrub the faster your tan lines fade.
Be sure to moisturize your skin afterwards to avoid drying out and choose Vitamin E packed moisturizers for the best results.
For more on exfoliating check our article – how to exfoliate before a spray tan.
2. Use a Sunless Self Tanner
Using sunless self-tanners is the safest way to fix tan lines without exposing your skin to harmful rays.
Apply a moisturizer to the already tanned areas of your skin.
Carefully apply the sunless tanning solution to the lighter parts of your skin and leave it to work for at least eight hours. That also mean’s no showering after applying for at least 4-6 hours.
Repeat this procedure until your tan lines are even.
3. Apply Body Makeup
If done right, body makeup is the fastest way to even out a sunburn. Before applying body makeup, remove any clothes near your targeted tan lines to avoid staining.
With the help of a makeup brush, dip your brush into a body foundation that matches your skin tone and apply a thin layer over the lighter areas of your skin.
Give it 15-20 seconds and assess the changes. To avoid smudging, set your makeup with powder and setting spray. Repeat the process until you achieve your desired results.
4. Use Potato Slices
One of the most common benefits of vitamin C is safely brightening the skin. Potatoes are a good option for quickly fading a tan because they are rich in Vitamin C.
Blend raw potatoes into a paste and apply evenly on the tanned areas. Allow the mask to sit for 20-30 minutes before washing it off. This is one of the best ways to even out a sunburn because of it’s naturally cooling effect.
You can still apply slices of potatoes directly to your skin if you do not have a blender. The results are still similar.
5. Use Lemon Juice and Honey Mixture
Lemon juice and honey mixture helps to hydrate skin, brighten skin, and evens out your skin tone.
To make this mixture, extract lemon juice and mix in equal parts with honey.
Apply on the tanned areas and wait for 20-30 minutes before washing it out.
You can skip on the moisturizer if you wish because honey is an effective skin moisturizer.
Take note that undiluted lemon juice irritates the skin. Do not use this method if you have any sunburns.
6. Apply Natural Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel is an effective remedy for evening out sunburn. The gel contains a natural compound called aloin which has anti-inflammatory benefits.
You can extract aloe vera gel by blending the aloe vera leaves and sieving the contents.
Apply the gel on tanned areas and wait for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off. Repeat this routine until you get your desired results.
7. Milk Cream and Turmeric
Turmeric is widely used in India as a skin brightener and can be mixed with milk cream (malai) to even your skin tone.
Mix half a cup of turmeric with milk cream to form a thick paste. Apply the paste along your tan lines and let it sit on your skin for 20 minutes. Wash off the paste and observe the changes.
Be careful when handling turmeric because it can stain surfaces and clothes.
8. Use Baking Soda
Apart from being a kitchen ingredient, baking soda is one of the best ways to get rid of tan lines.
Mix one cup of baking soda and water to form a thick paste.
Apply this paste on dark spots of your skin and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off.
Baking soda has a bleaching effect on tan lines. Stop once you notice the tan lines have disappeared.
9. Wait it Out
Waiting for your tan to naturally even out is a cheap and safe way to remove tan lines.
Your skin regenerates constantly so, as long as you are not exposing your skin to UV rays, your tan lines should significantly fade within a week.
10. Wear Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is one of the best ways on how to avoid tan lines. Sunscreen not only protects your skin from UV rays but also evens out your skin tone.
Prioritize wearing sunscreen every day as part of your skincare routine.
You can adapt the use of sunscreen to even out sunburns. Sunscreen will prevent the tanned areas on your skin from continuing to get tan.
Avoiding tan lines can only be achieved if you avoid long exposures to the sun, wear a wide-spectrum sunscreen, and cover up as much as possible.
Related Questions
Can Tan Lines be Permanent?
No, tan lines are not permanent. The skin naturally sheds off and degenerates itself which helps the tanned skin to shed too.
Your tan lines appear permanent because of re-exposing your skin to sun rays, thus making your tanned skin tan more.
Try wearing sunscreen on the tanned areas and covering as much as possible when under the sun to avoid further tanning of your skin.
How Do You Get Rid of a Tan Line Fast?
Using a self-tanner solution is the fastest and effective way of getting rid of a tan life. Firstly apply some moisturizer to the tan lines, this stops the tan lines taking on as much tan. Then spray your self-tanner solution over the pale-looking areas, give it a few minutes to set in and you are good to go!
How Long Does it Take for Tan Lines to Fade Away?
Tan lines take between 7 to 10 days before they fade away. A lot goes into determining the rate at which tan lines fade – products such as moisturizer quicken the fading process.
Don’t forget to check our article – How Long Do Tan Tines Last.
