Finding the best fake tan remover is HARD WORK. Fans of the best fake tan will know that taking it off is the worst part, especially when we have very important plans coming up. The last thing you want to have to deal with is a patchy fake tan that will just not. come. off. But, is fake tan remover the way forward? Welcome to our guide to the best fake tan removal products because it's autumn now - perhaps we're ready to ditch the bronzed skin and go into pale-Twilight-watching-wrapped-in-jumpers mode instead.
Fake tan removers use exfoliating ingredients (either physical or chemical exfoliants) to break down the structure of the tan you previously applied to your skin, and some can even wipe off your bronze in ten minutes. Whether you're embracing your natural skin colour or want to remove a wonky tan to re-do, fake tan remover is a must-have for your beauty cupboard.
heat's best fake tan remover at a glance:
Editor's Choice: Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser, £17.49 on Boots
Best fast fake tan remover: Rose & Caramel Purity Excel 60 Seconds Tan Removing Scrub, £20.99 on Rose & Caramel
Best vegan-friendly fake tan remover: Tanologist Self Tan Remover, £9.09 on Amazon
For those of us who need the best fake tan for pale skin, we all will have a tanning accident at the best of times. Fake tan remover can be a much quicker fix than soaking in the bath for hours and scrubbing every inch of your body with an exfoliator. So, here are the best fake tan removers out there, including fan favourites like Bondi Sands and Tanologist, to get rid of a stubborn tan.
SHOP: The best fake tan removers at home
Editor's Choice
bootswww.boots.com
The Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser effectively removes fake tan without any harmful ingredients or rough exfoliation in just 5 minutes. The unique cleansing formula from our fave tanning brand Bondi Sands also moisturises and leaves the skin feeling silky smooth. For best results, apply to dry skin, leave on for 5 mins and shower away with warm water, using a cloth to wipe away excess tan.
Pros
- Supposedly good on sensitive skin
- No need for scrubbing
Cons
- Only works effectively on a tan that's a few days old
- Customer review: "Being my favourite tanning brand, I just had to give this tan eraser a go! One word - amazing! I apply this before a bath, leave it on for 10 minutes, wipe it over with a damp towel and it's all removed within 20 minutes! I go in the bath and briefly use the softer side of the mitt just to make sure it's gone and there's no fake tan residue in the bath - so it works. It is brilliant for sensitive skin and it cleanses your skin leaving it super soft."
Best fast fake tan remover
Rose & Caramelwww.roseandcaramel.co.uk
Formulated with a blend of ingredients including natural pearlite, the Rose & Caramel Purity Excel 60 Seconds Tan Removing Scrub includes rejuvenating salts for exfoliating. This vegan-friendly scrub has some fab skin benefits while efficiently removing most fake tan products, and you'll definitely get your money's worth with this 450ml pot.
Pros
- Free from oils
- Free from parabens and sulphates
- Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
Cons
- Some may find the capacity unnecessarily large
- Customer review: "After trying so many tan removers I finally caved into buying this and now I will literally not buy anything else! It’s the only tan remover that works! It’s so quick and easy to do which I love as I always find tan removing a bit of a chore when they leave you patchy etc. but this doesn’t! I mean it’s a little bit more pricey than other tan removers but it’s just worth it for the ease of using it and the fact it removes everything which is what you want! Definitely recommend it!"
Best vegan-friendly fake tan remover
amazonRrp: £26.00
Not only is the Tanologist Self Tan Remover one way to remove your fake tan, but it also primes your skin for the next application. Reviewers can get enough of this stuff, and said it left skin feeling lovely and soft with no unpleasant smell after using this. Powered by glycolic acid, this vegan-friendly formula from Lottie Tomlinson's brand of tanning products might just be a winner.
Pros
- Dermatologist approved
- Clean ingredients
- Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
Cons
- May have to scrub
- Customer review: "Bye-bye to the tiger bread look. This stuff is amazing. Removes fake tan with ease and has a pleasant smell with it. The bottle is massive and you only need a couple of squirts of the foam so it will last ages."
Best fake tan remover with nourishing ingredients
bootswww.boots.com
Skinny Tan's Miracle Tan Eraser is designed to remove old tan and target troublesome areas in a flash. Apply this hydrating scrub to any stubborn tan areas and allow it to work its magic. Combining hydrating ingredients like glycerin with exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid, this fake tan remover improves the appearance of skin while it dissolves tan.
Pros
- Contains salicylic acid and glycerin, non-drying
- Smells delicious
- Vegan-friendly
Cons
- May have to scrub hard on skin on hands and feet
- Customer review: "Tried so many different tan erasers and never found one that does the job like this one. Make sure you use it for the recommended time or more and your tan easily scrubs off. Smells lovely and doesn’t aggravate my sensitive skin."
Best multipurpose fake tan remover
amazonSimilarly, the Tan Luxe Glyco Water Fake Tan Remover is a multipurpose product that works to strip down tan and prime the skin for your next tanning application. Suitable for use on the face, as well as the body, this may be best for getting rid of that face tanner that came out a shade too deep. Made from clean and vegan-friendly ingredients, this multipurpose tanner also contains gentle cleansing glycolic acid.
Pros
- Clean ingredients
- Suitable for use on face
- Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
Cons
- May have to scrub
- Customer review: "I can't count how many times this has saved my palms and feet when I'm fake tanning. No matter what kind of mitt or glove I use I always end up getting fake tan on my palms and it's extremely noticeable. This works so well at taking it off without ruining my tan everywhere else. I definitely prefer a liquid of a foam or a scrub and it's really gentle without drying your skin out when you're ready to take the fake tan off everywhere. I put it in a bottle, spray it on myself and wait like 15 minutes before I shower and my skin is back to normal. Truly a must-have."
Best trending fake tan remover
bootswww.boots.com
We just can't beat the price of the trending St Tropez' Tan Remover Mousse. We're big fans of the St Tropez fake tan, as is Zara McDermott, so we have high hopes for this fake tan remover. Infused with detoxifying extracts and probiotics to purify, prime and rebalance skin.
Pros
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Contains detoxifying extracts and probiotics
Cons
- May have to scrub with exfoliating glove too
- Customer review: "This is the only tan remover that I feel really helps with the scrubbing process, before I started to use I spent HOURS in the bath and after using this it takes me at least 30 minutes, it’s incredible! Although I’m not much for their tanning products with them being green-toned, this remover is good to remove so many other tans that I’ve tried!"
Best affordable fake tan remover
bootswww.boots.com
Looking for a small fake tan remover you can take with you on your hols, or a cheaper bottle you can try out? Then the Bondi Sands Mini Tan Eraser is ideal for you. Throw it in your bag and remove your fake tan in a flash. It contains ingredients like aloe vera and castor oil to soothe skin.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Contains aloe vera
- Supposedly good on sensitive skin
- A compact size
Cons
- Only works effectively on a tan that's a few days old
- Customer review: " I was very impressed that this took my tan almost completely off. You may have to go back and do it a second time just to get the smallest areas left over, but... this stuff works way better than I thought and I'm relieved. I can prep and prime after a week or whenever so I don't have to endure the blotchy inevitable fade of the tanner... The bottom line? Whether you f-ed up recently or even have a very layered, week-old tan it will take it off."
Best scented fake tan remover
sephorawww.sephora.co.uk
When has Rihanna ever let us down (apart from not releasing a new album yet)? Although not technically a fake tan remover by title, our Shopping Editor Aimee Jakes recommends this scrub for the best thing she's tested for removing old tan from the skin. It also retexturises rough, bumpy skin, and best of all, it has a crisp, juicy scent inspired by Barbados Cherry.
Pros
- Brightens and evens skin tone
- Conditions and nourishes skin leaving it soft and smooth
- Rinses clean without leaving any residue
Cons
- Not technically a fake tan remover, just a scrub
- Customer review: "I really like this body scrub. I find that it is not too harsh and the scrub is more fine which makes it feel less abrasive. I also enjoy that it is not overly fragranced. Makes my skin feel amazingly smooth and helps me scrub off my face tan. I would definitely recommend this product!!"
Which is the best fake tan?
As well as Love Island's Zara McDermott favourite fake tan being the secret to a natural-looking and radiant tan, former Love Island contestants such as Molly-Mae Hague and Paige Turley have spoken out about their favourite brands they're using currently.
Of course, Molly-Mae is repping Filter By Molly Mae, which is her very own brand of fake tan. The range includes mists, drops and mousses that are ideal for getting your desired shade of golden glow. Designed to hydrate and nourish the skin as you tan, her products are full of skin-loving ingredients.
As for Paige Turley? She's currently loving a particular bronzing foam that she swears 'doesn't smell like biscuits'. So if you're not wanting to smell like a pack of digestive while you tan, check out Paige Turley's biscuit free fake tan that she swears by.
How to take fake tan precautions?
If you want to avoid tanning stains at all costs, be sure to use an old towel on your flooring to protect it from stains. When it comes to bedsheets, a fake tan sheet protector will help to keep your bedsheets free from orange tan marks. Don't worry, thank us later.
Furthermore, if you want to stop your hands from turning orange, using moisturiser - particularly around your knuckles, the space between your fingers, the sides of your hands and your wrists is best for a more even application. Wearing fake tan gloves might also be a good idea, but if worse comes to worst, a fake tan remover can come to the rescue.
Main image cred: @alice_keay
Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, A Modern Kitchen, Yours and Take A Break. She has been working in the Journalism industry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands including John Lewis, Daily Mirror and Grazia. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle.