Exposure to sun rays for a long time can cause the skin to become a few shades darker, called tanning. Harmful UV radiation can strip moisture from the skin, making it look pale and dull. It can cause other skin problems like dark spots, sunburn, premature ageing, and pigmentation. It also puts the skin at risk of certain skin cancers like melanoma.
There are ways on how to de-tan face naturally at home using easily available ingredients like Saffron, Turmeric, and Aloe vera. Let’s find out!
How to Remove Tan From Face
Natural tanning is the result of exposure to UV rays from the sun. It is a protective skin mechanism that shields itself from harmful UV rays. So, when sun rays penetrate the skin, they produce melanin (skin pigment). Therefore, it makes skin darker in appearance. Nowadays, people choose to tan through artificial means, known as sunless tanning. It is done using tanning lamps, tanning beds, and chemical sprays. However, excess exposure can hurt the skin and increase cancer risk.
Suntan vanishes eventually, but if you want to get rid of it immediately, here are 15 easy and effective ways to remove sun tanning from the face.
1. Saffron and Milk
How it helps?
Saffron has been used since ancient times for getting glowing skin. As per a study, It improves texture and fades dark circles and skin pigments. Kesar also delays the signs of skin ageing and lightens the skin. Milk has lactic acid that nourishes and moisturises the skin.
What to do?
- Take a few strands of saffron (Kesar) and soak it in milk for 30 minutes.
- Apply the milk to the face and neck.
- Keep it for some time, and then wash it off using cold water.
Tip - If you have extremely dehydrated skin, you can soak saffron in cream instead of milk. You can also find an ayurvedic oil with saffron, Kumkumadi oil. It is effective and can remove tan quickly in 7-10 nights.
2. Sandalwood and Turmeric
Sandalwood has a calming, cold, and soothing effect on the skin. As per a study, it also lightens the skin tone.
As per studies, turmeric contains curcuminoid pigments that fade skin pigmentation. The healing properties of turmeric, when combined with the exfoliating property of milk, work wonders to remove tan.
How to remove tan from face and neck? Follow the steps:
- Take 2 tablespoons of milk. Add sandalwood powder and turmeric to it. Mix well to make a paste of smooth consistency.
- Apply the paste on the face and neck.
- Keep it for some time, and then wash it off using cold water.
- Use it daily for immediate results.
Tip - Instead of milk, you can also use yoghurt or coconut milk.
3. Multani Mitti and Rose Water
How it helps?
Multani Mitti or Fuller’s earth can soothe the skin and has a cooling effect. In addition, it removes the dead skin cells while making the skin radiant.
Rosewater has an anti-ageing effect on the skin. It improves skin health and reduces suntan. Rosewater also contains antioxidant properties and is useful in reducing skin redness.
How to remove sun tanning using multani mitti and rose water? Follow the steps:
- Mix Multani mitti or Fuller’s earth with rose water to make a smooth paste.
- Apply the paste on the face and neck.
- Let it dry and then wash it off using cold water or mild cleanser.
- Use it daily for immediate results.
Tip - You can also add turmeric, sandalwood powder, lime juice, tomato juice, honey, or milk with rose water. Combined with fuller’s earth, they can remove tan quickly and effectively.
4, Almond Face Scrub
How it helps?
Almonds provide nourishment to the skin due to their vitamin E-rich composition. It can heal the skin from sun damage. Almonds also have a bleaching effect on the skin that helps in tan removal.
How to use it?
- Grind almonds with rose water to make a paste.
- Apply the paste on the face and neck.
- Let it dry and then wash it off using cold water or mild cleanser.
- Use it daily for immediate results.
Tip - You can also squeeze lemon in the paste along with rose water. It provides vitamin C to the skin and increases the effectiveness of the homemade face scrub.
5. Lemon Juice And Honey
How it helps?
Lemon is rich in Vitamin C and citric acid. It has a bleaching effect on the skin that helps in tan removal. Not only this, citric acid removes acne, lightens the marks, removes impurities and pollutants from the skin. It makes skin radiant and improves skin complexion. Honey moisturises the skin and gives a natural glow to the face.
How to use it?
- Squeeze some fresh lemon Juice. Add honey to it.
- Apply the mixture to the face and neck.
- Keep it for 20-30 minutes, and then wash it off using cold water or mild cleanser.
- Use it daily for immediate results.
Tip - In the mixture, you can add sugar; it will slough off the dead skin. Also, if you have oily skin, do not keep it on your face for a long time. Oily skin people can directly apply lemon juice on the skin without using honey.
6. Coconut Milk
How it helps?
Coconut milk nourishes and hydrates the skin. It restores the moisture, and the mild acids present help remove tan from the face naturally at home.
How to use it?
- Soak a cotton ball in coconut milk.
- Dab it over the face and affected area.
- Leave it till the skin soaks it completely.
- Wash it off using cold water or a mild cleanser.
- Use it daily for immediate results.
Tip - You can add sugar or sesame oil to the coconut milk to remove the tan quickly. It will also make skin soft, smooth and clear.
7. Oatmeal and Buttermilk
How it helps?
As per studies, oatmeal exfoliates the dead skin and improves skin tone; it has cleansing properties that remove dirt, oil and bacteria from the skin. Buttermilk has lactic acid, making skin soft, improving skin tone, and removing suntan. It also soothes the skin. This is your answer to how to remove tan from the face.
How to use it?
- Soak 2 spoons of oatmeal in the buttermilk for 5-10 minutes.
- Apply the paste over the face, neck, hands, legs, and affected areas.
- Rub it in a circular motion for a few minutes.
- Let it dry for 20 minutes.
- Wash it off using cold water or a mild cleanser.
- Use it daily for immediate results.
Tip - You can also add honey to the paste for better results. As per a study, it moisturises and nourishes dry and sun damaged skin. The paste can also be used as a soap-free natural cleanser for tan removal from the body.
8. Cucumber
How it helps?
As per a study, cucumber has a cooling effect on the skin. It hydrates the skin and is best for tanned and sunburnt skin. It reduces melanin and gives a bleaching effect on the skin, improving skin tone.
How to remove tanning overnight? Cucumber is the way to go!
How to use it?
- Grate a cucumber and squeeze out the juice.
- Apply it on the face and neck using a cotton ball.
- Let it dry and then wash it off using cold water.
- Use it daily for immediate results.
Tip - You can mix some lemon juice in the cucumber juice for added skin benefits.
9. Lemon and Sugar
How it helps?
Sugar has exfoliating properties. It sloughs off the dead and dark skin cells, making the skin clear. In addition, the citric acid and vitamin C present in the lemon helps remove the tan and fade pigmentation on the skin.
How to use it?
- Mix an equal quantity of lemon juice and sugar to form a face scrub.
- Apply it to the face and neck.
- Let it dry and then wash it off using cold water.
- Use it every alternate day for immediate results.
Tip - Refrigerate the mixture for further use for a week.
10. Aloe Vera
How it helps?
Aloe vera gel has a soothing effect on the skin. As per a study, aloe vera has aloesin that lightens the skin and assists in sunburn. As per another study, it also prevents fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of ageing.
How to use it?
- Cut aloe vera plant leaf and scoop out the gel using a knife.
- Apply it on the face, neck, and tan affected area.
- Keep it for 10-15 minutes, and then wash it off using cold water.
- Use it every day for immediate results.
Tip - You can also use commercially available aloe vera gel. You can also add sugar, lemon juice and coconut oil to it for added benefits.
11. Yoghurt and Tomato
How it helps?
As per a study, tomatoes are rich in antioxidants and lighten skin tan.
Being rich in lactic acid, yoghurt hydrates and protects the skin from further damage. As per a study, yoghurt also enhances skin elasticity.
How to use it?
- Take a tomato and blend it with yoghurt.
- Apply it on the face, neck, and tan affected area.
- Let it dry for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off using cold water.
- Use it every day for immediate results.
Tip - You can use honey and lemon juice instead of tomato with yoghurt.
12. Potato
How it helps?
As per a study, potatoes can soothe skin, remove skin tan, and treat sunburn. It also prevents acne breakouts and assists in dark circles. Potato juice is also a fantastic bleaching agent that makes the skin clear and radiant.
How to use it?
- Take raw potato, grate and squeeze out the potato juice. Apply it on the face, neck and the affected area.
- Keep it for 10-15 minutes, and then wash it off using cold water.
- Use it every day for immediate results.
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Tip - You can also slice down the potato and directly apply it to the affected areas of the face and neck. You can add equal quantities of lemon juice or honey to it for added skin benefits.
13. Papaya De-tan Pack
How it helps?
As per a study, papaya reduces skin pigmentation and suntan. The natural enzymes in it have bleaching and exfoliating effects on the skin. Papaya also prevents acne breakout and reduces the sign of ageing. In addition, honey nourishes, soothes, and moisturises the skin.
How to use it?
- Cut ripe papaya. Mash and mix it well with honey using a fork or spoon.
- Apply it on the face, neck, and tan affected area.
- Let it dry for 20-25 minutes and then wash it off using cold water.
- Use it every day for immediate results.
Tip - You can add lemon juice to it. The riper the papaya is, the better it will be.
14. Strawberry
How it helps?
As per a study, strawberries protect the skin from harmful UV rays; they prevent sunburn and suntan. As per another study, strawberry also reduces fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and other signs of ageing. In addition, being rich in vitamin C, it removes excess sebum from the skin and revitalises it.
How to use it?
- Cut ripe strawberry. Mash and mix it well with a spoon of fresh cream using a fork or spoon.
- Apply it on the face, neck, and tan affected area.
- Let it dry for 20-25 minutes and then wash it off using cold water.
- Use it every day for immediate results.
Tip - It is best to use strawberry with yoghurt if you have oily skin and with fresh cream if you have dry skin.
15. Orange Peel
How it helps?
As per studies, orange peel has a chemical, hesperidin, which reduces melanin pigment from the skin, making the skin tone lighter. It helps in treating suntan skin. Milk in the paste makes skin soft and radiant.
How to remove sun tan from face? Follow the steps:
- Dry orange peels in the sun for a few days. Now, make a fine powder of it using a grinder.
- Mix the orange peel powder with milk to make a smooth paste.
- Apply it on the face, neck, and tan affected area.
- Let it dry for 20-25 minutes and then wash it off using cold water.
- Use it every alternate day for immediate results.
Note - People with sensitive skin should avoid it. It can lead to irritation, redness and inflammation in some. Although it would resolve in some time, it is still better to avoid it.
Summing Up on How to Remove Tan From Face
Prolonged exposure to sun rays can lead to tanning on the skin. It makes skin dull, dehydrated and dark. Although they are temporary, no one wants to wait till it naturally fades away. How to remove tanning overnight is a question many ask, and following the methods mentioned can help.
Whether you get a tan as a result of a city stroll or a relaxing session at the beach, these easy and effective ways can help remove suntan. Besides the de-tan methods, it is advised to keep yourself hydrated.
Consume around 10-15 glasses of water in a day. Eat nutrient-rich nuts, vegetables and fruits. Have juices and smoothies to load up on antioxidants. A healthy diet with home remedies can help you get tan-free glowing skin.
FAQ
Is It Possible to Remove Face Tan?
Yes, suntan fades away with time. You can also apply turmeric, saffron, papaya and lemon juice to remove face tan.
Is Tan on Face Permanent?
No, a face tan is not permanent. It usually fades away with time, and the skin regains its natural colour. But you can also use home remedies to get rid of it faster. You can apply face packs using simple home ingredients to get rid of suntan quickly.
Does Multani Mitti Remove Tan?
Yes, as per a study, Multani mitti or Fuller’s earth removes suntan. It also reduces excess oil, dead skin cells and impurities from the skin. In addition, Multani mitti has a soothing and cooling effect on the skin. You can apply it by mixing it with rose water or aloe vera gel. Apply it on the neck, face and tan affected area. Let it dry for 30 minutes, and then rinse the face using cold water. Use it regularly to remove the suntan quickly.
Can Turmeric Remove Tan?
Yes, turmeric can remove tan from the skin. As per a study, it has a chemical pigment, curcuminoids, that reduces hyperpigmentation on the skin. It also lightens the suntan, reduces wrinkles, fine lines and blemishes. You can use it by mixing it with yoghurt, milk, or tomato juice. Please keep it for 30 minutes, and then wash it off using cold water. Use it daily to see its effect in a few days.
References
- In-Oh Kang, Sun Yeou Kim, October 2011; Clinical efficacy of facial masks containing yoghurt and Opuntia humifusa Raf. (F-YOP) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22152494/
- Niladri Maity, Birendra K Sarkar, January 2013; Phytochemical and therapeutic potential of cucumber - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23098877/
- Dinesh Kumar, July 2011; Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant activities of methanolic wood extract of Pterocarpus santalinus L. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3157138/
- Hamid Rigi, Leila Mohtasham, 2021; Dermoprotective Effects of Saffron: A Mini Review - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34544335/
