Maybe you want to get rid of those ugly and unsightly signs of the costume or you have decided to abandon the ideal of a "golden" body now out of fashion; either way, your goal is to get rid of the tan. It is not an easy task, but you can quickly and effectively fight the action of the sun's rays by following the instructions in this tutorial.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Exfoliate
Step 1. If you have burned yourself, stop immediately
You may be tempted to eliminate sun damage even more aggressively, but be aware that the methods described here only apply to sunbathing. If you exfoliate sunburned skin, not only will you not get any results, but you will feel a lot of pain.
- Apply aloe vera to soothe the pain and moisturize the skin.
- When the skin has healed and has stopped peeling, you can reread the article and put these tips into practice.
Step 2. Start with a proper exfoliant
You don't have to be aggressive on the skin, but the general idea of the method is to accelerate the cell renewal process of the epidermis. You need to get yourself a good body scrub.
Products with retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids are perfect for this purpose. These are specific active ingredients to accelerate the cellular regeneration of the skin and get rid of the tan
Step 3. Use a vegetable sponge and not a mesh one
Vegetable sponge is a dried tubular gourd, the fibrous fruit of the loofah plant. The mesh sponge, on the other hand, is made of synthetic material, not very abrasive, whose function is to maximize the formation of foam. For this you need a more aggressive product like loofah.
Step 4. Moisten the area of the skin you want to treat
Take a shower and then pat dry; alternatively you can use a wet cloth only on the areas you need to lighten.
Step 5. Apply the scrub to the loofah and massage the scalp in circular motions
The scrub and sponge are already pretty abrasive, so don't overdo the pressure. Just rub your body in a circular pattern, rinse off at the end and repeat the process every day.
Method 2 of 3: Lighten the Skin with Commonly Used Products
Step 1. Dab some dairy on the skin
The lactic acid in milk not only fights skin pigmentation problems but stimulates the production of collagen which, in turn, improves skin tone and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines. You can get good results by dipping your hands in pure milk or a mixture of it, or buying products that contain lactic acid.
- Whole Greek yogurt is a popular choice. Massage it into tanned skin and let it sit for 20 minutes. At the end you can rinse yourself with warm water; repeat the process every day and remember that the fat in the yogurt hydrates the skin!
- There are also lactic acid-based peeling products, in case you need a more aggressive and continuous treatment (for example if you have unsightly or irregular hyperpigmented spots). However, know that the skin needs time to adapt and tolerate this kind of application; in general, it can be said that this is not the most suitable product for the purpose of this article.
Step 2. Mix lemon juice with aloe juice
The first dries the skin, but has excellent lightening properties. Aloe juice, on the other hand, hydrates the skin and counterbalances the effects of lemon creating a perfect mix.
- Do not pay excessive attention to the relationship between the two products. You can prepare a mixture in equal parts to apply on the skin for 20-30 minutes; at the end rinse the treated area.
- Remember not to expose yourself to sunlight when applying lemon juice to the skin, as it makes it extremely sensitive to UV rays.
Step 3. Make a buttermilk and tomato juice mixture
Tomato is a natural whitener, while the properties of dairy products have already been described above. Apply a mixture of two parts of buttermilk and one part of tomato juice to tanned skin using a cotton ball. Washed off after half an hour.
Step 4. Remove the "fake" tan with baby oil
If you've mostly used a spray self-tanner, then you can try lightening the top layer of color with baby oil. Exfoliation is also very important for this method, so after spreading the oil on the area and leaving it on for 30-40 minutes, take a shower and exfoliate carefully.
Method 3 of 3: Avoid Unwanted Tan
Step 1. Cover your body with sunscreen
If your goal is fair skin, then you don't run the risk of overdoing this method! SPF 30 is the minimum recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology, but a higher level product certainly doesn't hurt.
It is easy to forget that, in daily life, we often involuntarily expose ourselves to sunlight, even if for a short time. Remember to apply the cream every day if you are trying not to tan. When you go to get mail from the box or stroll on the beach, you always expose yourself to the same sun
Step 2. Cover up even on cloudy days
In hot weather, it's no fun to wear long-sleeved clothing, but you have to cover the maximum area of cute while outdoors. Clouds have very little influence on the effects of the sun on the skin and are able to block only 20% of ultraviolet rays.
Even if you think you are safe on the ski slopes, try to re-evaluate the situation: snow reflects 80% of UV rays, thus increasing exposure. If, for some strange reason, you are planning to ski shirtless, rethink your decision
Step 3. Open the umbrella
There's no denying this will make you feel a little silly at first, but it's a surefire way to shield yourself from the sun as you stroll around the neighborhood. If you want something more chic, you can consider buying a parasol.
Don't rely totally on beach umbrellas, though. Just like snow, sand also has a high reflectivity and exposes you to UV rays. It's not a strong effect like snow (sand reflects 17% of the sun's rays), but it's enough to leave you with tan lines
Step 4. Stay indoors
Of course, staying at home allows you to keep your complexion as pale as possible. Life as a hermit is certainly not within everyone's reach and remember that it is not necessary if you have followed the previous tips in this tutorial.
The body needs vitamin D, and medical science recommends that people 1 to 70 years of age take 600 IU per day. This quantity is guaranteed by a normal exposure of the body to sunlight. Fatty fish, beef liver, eggs, cheese and mushrooms provide a good dose of vitamin D; there are also products, such as milk, which are artificially enriched with this nutrient
Advice
- While this advice goes against the general intent of the article, remember that sometimes the best technique for removing swimsuit marks is to get a targeted tan and use self-tanning products.
- For the tan obtained with self-tanning creams, remember that products are available to remove it or reduce it in intensity. Generally they should be applied within a few hours after spreading the tanning product.
