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Sunless tanner has allowed people everywhere to have a beach-ready tan without damage from the sun’s harmful rays. You can be a beautiful bronze beauty without having to worry about the risk of skin cancer from sun damage. However, the quest for a safe, sun-kissed look can sometimes end in disaster. What started as a desire for a subtle bronze can leave you looking like an orange mess! Whether your tan looks splotchy, too dark, or caused orange palms or problem areas, there is hope! There are many quality products to save you from the embarrassment of showing up looking like an Oompa Loompa.
Even experienced self-tanners may run into situations where they need to remove an old tan quickly. Putting a new coat of sunless tanner on an existing sunless tan can make you look patchy, dry, and uneven. A quality remover may be just what you need to keep your sunless tanning regimen looking fresh and flawless. No matter what your situation is, these hand-selected products will get you looking back to normal safely and quickly.
What to Look For in a Tan Removal Cream
When shopping for a new a sunless tan remover cream, there are many factors to consider to make sure you’re getting a quality product that actually works. Be cognizant of the ingredients, effectiveness, intended area of use, price, and ease of use. This will help you get a product that truly remedies your situation, rather than wasting money on something ineffective.
Ingredients
Safe ingredients are imperative to a good self-tanner remover. It is very important to check the ingredient list before using a new remover to ensure that it doesn’t contain anything that you have a known sensitivity or allergy to. There is nothing worse than going from a self-tanning disaster to an itchy red rash! If your someone who values gentle, nature-made ingredients over man-made chemicals, look for an all-natural product that takes advantage of Mother Nature’s remedies.
Some products, such as self tanner removing mitts, use the power of exfoliation rather than potentially harsh chemicals to help perfect your tan. This may be a great option for those who have an adverse reaction to chemicals. There are also many self-tanner removal products on the market that are vegan and cruelty-free.
Effectiveness
Many self-tanner removal products are made for very specific situations. To ensure the product you purchase will actually be effective for the predicament you find yourself in, make sure to read the usage instructions before using the product.
There are products that only work well on tanner applied more than 3 days prior. There are also products intended for situations when tanner was applied recently, within the past 12 hours. Some removers work only on dry skin, while others work only on wet. Whatever your situation, the effectiveness of the product will depend on if it’s being utilized for its intended purpose.
Intended Area of Use
Sunless tan removers are sometimes formulated for application only on one part of the body. Something made for all-over body application may be too harsh for facial usage, and something specifically for the face may not be formulated quite right, or may come in too small of a container to be effective on your whole body. Using your self-tanner remover on the correct intended area of use will help to prevent adverse skin reactions and ineffective results.
Price
Products for removing self-tanner can range widely in price. Our hand-picked list has self-tanner removers that are reasonably priced to fit every budget. Everyone’s situation is different. Some may find that a cheaper product may not do a good enough job, and an expensive product may not be worth the cost.
When ordering online, make sure to check the product size, to ensure that you are getting a good amount of product for your dollar. It would not be a fun surprise to wind up with a tiny bottle of product and only have enough to remove half of your sunless tan and not the other! Luckily, there are any of quality products in the medium price range that will suit a variety of needs.
Ease of Use
If you’ve already made a mess with your self-tanner, then the last thing you need is for your sunless tan remover to create an even bigger mess. Some products require special methods of application, which can make things more or less difficult. When making your decision on which remover to buy, make sure to get something that you feel confident in applying, or that you have someone handy around to help you get the remover applied.
There are a variety of product styles such as creams, foams, mists, lotions, and more, so hopefully one of these will work best for you. Some products require scrubbing, while others require only rinsing or gently wiping away. There are some removers that come in a kit that gives you everything you need to apply the product easily and efficiently. Others may require things that are not included, so it is very important to read the instructions ahead of purchase so you are not caught off-guard!
Bondi Sands Instant Self Tanner Remover
Who’s it for: Someone who just got tired of their fading, existing sunless tan or who needs a clean start before reapplying.
Why you’ll love it: Bondi Sands Self Tanner Remover allows you to wash off your tan in the shower with a washcloth without harsh scrubbing or chemicals that could irritate your skin. It also leaves your skin feeling soft because it contains Aloe Vera.
This product takes 5 minutes or less to work. I love the foam-styled formula over runny creams or oils. It is effective on all skin tones and can also be used on face AND body, so there is no need to buy two different remover products.
It should be noted that this product works best if used to remove tanner that was applied 3 or more days prior, so if you are wanting to correct tanner that was just applied, this may not be the product for you.
Unreal Tan Eraser Gel Self Tan Remover with Coconut Oil
Who’s it for: People who want to remove their self-tan with no harsh scrubbing.
Why you’ll love it: This alcohol-free remover gel is made specifically for people who tan frequently, and it contains multiple moisturizing ingredients, including coconut oil, to soften skin as it works.
The directions recommend to use on wet skin and wait 10-15 minutes before wiping it away, meaning you can even use it while relaxing in the tub. People who have used this product have been particularly impressed by its ability to remove splotchy dark spots with ease.
This product is, however, one of the more expensive choices on the list and there were users that reported having to use more than one coat to get their desired effect.
Tanwise Tan Remover
Who’s it for: Those who are experiencing a tanning emergency or who have immediate tanner’s regret after application of sunless tan.
Why you’ll love it: Have you ever applied tanner, looked in the mirror and realized you’d make a big mistake? Don’t worry, we feel your pain! Tanwise Tan Remover works best when applied within one hour of putting on sunless tanner.
It’s less effective on older tanning mishaps. This product is definitely best to order before applying a self-tanner. That way, you’ll be prepared for any situation, whether using a new sunless tanner or using sunless tanner for the first time. Users reported success with this product on those hard to fix spots on hands and between the fingers.
It also falls in the mid-range price-wise, so you don’t have to spend a fortune on this fix!
Selfie Sunless Tan Remover and Primer
Who’s it for: A seasoned tanner who needs a fresh start to prepare their skin for their next coat of sunless bronze.
Why you’ll love it: Not every self-tanner remover has to be made just for disasters. Selfie Tan Remover and Primer is made especially for frequent sunless tanning product users to add to their tanning routine. Adding this product to your tanning regimen is sure to keep you looking your best. Not only does it remove old self-tanner, but it primes the skin to get ready for the next coat of product, which allows you to have the freshest bronze possible with every new tanning session.
This product is meant only to be applied to tanner that was applied at least three days prior, so it will be ineffective on self-tanner you just applied. It should be used on dry skin and left on for 5 minutes before wiping away with a washcloth or exfoliating mitt in the shower. A bonus to this product is that it has a wonderful scent that leaves you smelling great!
Tan Eraser Exfoliating Fake Tan Remover Mitt
Who’s it for: Someone who wants something with no chemicals and isn’t afraid of a good scrub down.
Why you’ll love it: This exfoliating mitt provides an alternative to using creams with chemicals to remove your unwanted self-tan. The mitt has two sides that each serve a different purpose. The pink side is for a light, gentle scrub and black side for those more challenging areas that require a courser exfoliation.
While this product is a wonderful alternative for people who don’t want to apply any additional chemicals to their skin, some users found that they had to scrub pretty hard to get their desired results. It may also be too harsh to use on your face.
If you already own a remover cream that you love, this could also be a great accessory to use in conjunction with it to maximize your results.
Sunkissed Dual Purpose Self Tan Remover
Who’s it for: Those looking for a more cost-effective tan remover and priming product that won’t break the bank.
Why you’ll love it: Sunkissed Dual Purpose Self Tan Remover has many of the benefits of Selfie Tan Remover and Primer, yet it is over $10 cheaper!
This lotion was made to get your skin ready for your next self-tan by buffing away patches of old tanner and dry skin. It has been noted by customers, however, that this product does require a bit more scrubbing than other products to remove your old tan.
So if you’re not worried about a little extra scrubbing, this one is definitely worth checking out for the price!
Smooth Summer Tan Remover and Primer with Skin Exfoliator
Who’s it for: Sunless tanning fans that want to purchase a complete removal kit, rather than a stand-alone product.
Why you’ll love it: Smooth Summer Tan Remover and Primer comes with an exfoliating mitt that gives you everything you need to remove that stubborn sunless tan. There’s no need to purchase exfoliating cloths and remover creams separately when you can get them both in a convenient bundle.
This is another tan remover that works best on tans that were applied three days or more prior, so it is not meant for your emergency tanning mistakes. The removal foam can be used with or without the exfoliating mitt and it is specially formulated to balance the skin’s pH to provide a more even, glowing tan.
This product is also 100% vegan and cruelty-free, so you don’t have to feel guilty when using it!
St. Tropez Tan Remover Prep and Maintain Mousse
Who’s it for: People who need a versatile sunless tan remover for any situation.
Why you’ll love it: What sets St. Tropez Tan Remover Prep and Maintain Mousse apart from the rest of the crowd is that it is one of the only products that will work for any tanning situation. It can be used to remove tanning disasters on the day that they happen. It can also be used as part of your regular tanning maintenance to exfoliate and prep for your next tan.
One of the best things about this product is it’s suitable for use on everyone! It works great for even the most sensitive skin types and removes dark tans in just minutes.
Bronze Tan Self-Tan Remover
Who’s it for: People who want a cruelty-free, vegan product that comes with a money-back guarantee.
Why you’ll love it: Bronze Tan Self-Tan Remover removes those annoying self-tan streaks. If you don’t like it, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
This product really has a lot going for it, as it is vegan, cruelty-free, reasonably priced, and it smells great! No exfoliation is required for this remover. It’s recommended to use when your tan is at least 3 days old. It’s also best not to reapply tanner for 24-48 hours after using. So if you have an important event coming up, make sure you keep this in mind.
Norvell DHA Stop Antiseptic Hand Cleanser
Who’s it for: Those who are tired of having those orangey-brown hands after each fake tanning session.
Why you’ll love it: Norvell DHA Stop Antiseptic Hand Cleanser is a product that has one very specific purpose and does a great job at it. Made by one of the top professional spray tan companies, it’s designed specifically for the removal and prevention of tanner developing on your hands.
This product requires some scrubbing. It won’t completely remove already developed tanning stains, but no other product on the list stops further development on palms quite like this one.
It should be noted that this product only has a shelf-life of about 5 months, so if you are not a frequent tanner than this cleanser probably isn’t worth the money for you.
Conclusion
Whether you are experiencing a Code Orange tanning emergency, or you are a veteran tanner who just wants to exfoliate for a clean slate before your next tan, this list contains a product for you.
If you’re a frequent tanner, you may find it best to opt for a less expensive product, rather than shell out money for something you won’t use much. Read the directions before using any self-tanner remover. If faced with a big tanning mistake, remember to stay calm because there is a solution for you!