How to Remove Tan from Your Face? A List of Remedies that Work in 2023
With the 2023 summer season inching closer, it’s time to ditch the warm hoodies and embrace sunny beaches, straw hats, and floral prints. Even as the weather gets warmer and the drinks get colder, the risk of your skin getting tanned can throw a damper on your plans.
Tanning is when the skin increases the production of melanin due to sunlight exposure. It helps to absorb sun rays and protect the body from getting damaged.
While sun tans are usually temporary, if you are wondering how to remove tan from your face quickly, here are some natural home remedies that you can try.
15 Remedies that Work in 2023 to Remove Sun Tan
1. Coconut Milk
When you are thinking about how to remove tanning from your face, coconut milk may not be high on your list of go-to remedies. But its nourishing and hydrating properties make it a viable method to reverse the effects of sun damage. It also has small amounts of Vitamin C that can help in skin brightening.
Soak a cotton ball in fresh coconut milk and dab it on your face. Leave it to dry before cleansing your face.
2. Buttermilk and Oatmeal
Known for its exfoliating and cleansing properties, oatmeal can be combined with buttermilk to get rid of a stubborn sun tan. Buttermilk is rich in lactic acid and this helps improve skin tone.
Soak 2 teaspoons of oatmeal in water for five minutes and add fresh buttermilk to form a paste. Apply the mixture to the areas affected by tanning and rub in circular motions. Wash it off after 20 minutes to reveal fresher and brighter skin.
3. Cucumber Extract
Famous for their cooling properties, cucumbers can also help counter the effects of tanned skin. You can use their extract to achieve these results.
Grate a cucumber and squeeze the juice into a container. Use cotton to soak the juice and apply it all over your skin. Allow it dry and then wash your face thoroughly.
4. Potato Juice
This versatile vegetable has yet another use. Potato juice is known to have bleaching properties. You can extract the juice from the vegetable and apply it directly to your face. Alternatively, you can peel the potato and place thin slices on the affected areas for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Milk and Saffron
Take a few strands of saffron and soak it in a bowl of fresh milk. After some time, use a cotton ball to apply this concoction on your face. Saffron is a staple ingredient in most Indian households and is well-known for its benefits. It improves skin texture and lightens areas affected by the sun.
6. Papaya and Honey
Honey is rich in antioxidants and can help soothe and smoothen your skin. When you combine this with papaya, you have a fantastic way to remove sun tan. Papaya contains an enzyme that is known to bleach and exfoliate the skin.
Take some mashed papaya and mix it with honey to create a thick mixture. Apply this on your face and keep it for 20 minutes before washing it off.
7. Lemon Juice
Lemon can help answer your question on how to remove the sun tan from your face. Its bleaching properties can put an end to your skin woes. Add a few drops of honey to the lemon juice and apply it to the affected areas of the skin. Keep this juice pack for 20 to 30 minutes and wash it off with water.
If you do not have access to honey and are wondering how to remove the tanning from your face, you can make a homemade scrub with lemon juice and sugar. This not only helps to remove tanning but also gets rid of your dead skin cells.
8. Fuller’s Earth Mask
Also known as ‘multani mitti’, fuller’s earth contains anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe sunburns. It also helps to reduce the effects of sun tan. Mix some fuller’s earth with rose water to make a paste. Apply this layer on your face and allow it to dry. Finally, wash it off with water.
Fuller’s earth is also diverse as you can make a mask by combining it with other ingredients like lemon juice, aloe vera, or clay.
9. Tomato Juice and Yogurt
Peel a raw tomato and blend it with yogurt until it becomes a smooth paste. Use this on tanned areas and wash it off after 15 to 20 minutes.
The Vitamin C in the tomatoes will help brighten the skin while the yogurt can help smoothen it.
10. Aloe Vera Gel
If you are searching for how to remove that persistent tan from your face with only one ingredient, look no further than aloe vera. You can either scoop the gel from a leaf or get it over the counter.
All you need to do is apply the gel to your skin. Aloe is not only known for its anti-inflammatory properties but it also helps to reduce pigmentation and suppress the production of melanin.
11. Sandalwood
Commonly known as ‘chandan’ in India, sandalwood is known to have multiple benefits when it comes to skin. It not only aids in reducing pimples and improving texture but it also counters your sun tan.
Mix two teaspoons of sandalwood powder with rose water to make a paste. Apply this on your face and neck. Leave it out to dry for 20 minutes and wash your face with lukewarm water.
12. Almond Scrub
These nuts are not just a good source of nutrition as they can be used to brighten your face. They not only help with exfoliation but also with skin lightening due to the presence of Vitamin E.
In order to make a scrub, grind fresh almonds and add rose water to the blended paste. Apply this on your face to remove that stubborn tan.
You can also mix almonds with oatmeal, lemon juice, or honey to achieve similar results.
13. Orange Peel Powder
Orange peel’s antioxidant nature and its ability to reduce the production of melanin make it an attractive option to remove tan.
Mix the powder with either water or milk and apply it to your face. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse with water.
14. Turmeric and Bengal Gram
The age-old query on how to remove tan from your face can be remedied by making a mixture of Bengal gram (besan), turmeric, and yogurt. In a bowl, add a tablespoon of the powder, a teaspoon of turmeric, and some curd to make a thick paste. Leave this on your skin for 30 minutes before washing it off with warm water.
This preparation is quite mild and turmeric is also known for protecting your face against sun damage.
15. Strawberry and Cream
Strawberries contain AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) and ascorbic acid, making them a practical natural remedy for tan removal.
Mash a few strawberries and mix them with fresh cream to make a paste that is free of lumps. Apply this to your tanned skin and keep it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Finally, cleanse your face with water.
Tips to Prevent Your Skin from Getting Tanned
While home remedies can help combat the existing tan on your skin, here are some tips that can help you prevent sun damage and tanning:
1. Use a Sunscreen
A sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is the best way to prevent sun tan and damage. For Indian summers, a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or above is usually desirable. Apply it on your face, neck, and other areas of your body that are at risk of sun exposure.
Sunscreens should ideally be reapplied every two hours for maximum coverage and protection. Consistent usage of sunscreen will also help prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and skin texture issues. Moreover, it inhibits the formation of certain types of skin cancer.
2. Consider Investing in Products with Brightening Actives
Actives are ingredients that help tackle specific concerns that your skin might be facing. Ingredients like Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Kojic Acid, and Azelaic Acid help to lighten skin and counter the production of melanin. Using them appropriately can be beneficial in fighting tan and preventing further damage to the skin.
3. Build a Skincare Routine
The best way to protect your skin is by taking care of it at all times. Creating and following a skincare routine will not only offer your skin overall protection but will also address and resolve its specific concerns.
A basic routine comprises cleansing, toning, treating, moisturizing, and protecting the skin. You can build your routine by using cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and sunscreens suited for your skin type. This will leave you with healthy and brighter skin.
4. Use Sun-Friendly Accessories
Despite being old-school, using big hats, sunglasses, and stoles can offer protection against sun damage. While they do not do much on their own, they give an additional layer of protection to your skin.
5. Avoid Peak Sunlight Hours
The best way to prevent getting tanned is to avoid going out during times when the sun is at its peak in your area. Not only is the temperature very hot but this time can also do the most damage to your skin. If you must go out during this time, apply liberal amounts of sunscreen to protect yourself.
Winding up
Natural home remedies can always be your go-to choice for achieving tan-free and smooth skin. Remember, the sooner you treat your tanned skin, the more effective the results.
Besides home remedies, it is essential to keep your body nourished and hydrated. The best way to have healthy and glowing skin is to drink enough water and consume a nutritious diet.
Lastly, never underestimate the power of SPF. Protecting yourself from the harmful effects of UV rays begins with the regular application of sunscreen and following a suitable skincare routine.
