Want a lighter or darker fake tan? Here's how to do it

Sometimes a fake tan takes a little tweaking to get that perfect glow. In fact, that’s one of the biggest perks of fake tan— the ability to adjust the colour to your liking!

Here are our best tips, tricks and expert hacks to tailor your tan to the perfect shade for your body, no matter how light or dark your first application turned out.

How to make a fake tan lighter

Did your fake tan turn out darker than you were anticipating? Don’t panic— this can be easily fixed!

Whether some areas came out a little too intense or you’re far too tan all over, the approach is the same: lift the colour, exfoliate and try again. The best part? This can all be done using things you probably already have in your kitchen.

Even though hydrating your skin is the key to prolonging a fake tan, applying oil to the skin can also lift a tan— given it’s done right.

Cover your body in coconut oil or olive oil and let it soak in for around 15 minutes. Then take a hot shower. If you have a bath, even better!

During your soak, use a gentle but effective exfoliating mitt or product to scrub away those unwanted layers of tan. A great DIY exfoliant to use is sugar mixed with lemon juice. The acidity will help cut through the oil and lift the tan.

After you’ve dried off from your shower or bath, brush away any remaining layers with a cellulite brush. Usually, you’d dry brush before a shower, but this is a great way to get in another round of exfoliation without having to jump in the shower again.

Finally, assess the difference and judge where to go from here. If your tan has been taken down to an acceptable level, congratulations! Apply a layer of much-needed moisturiser and enjoy your new shade.

If you’re ready to reattempt your tan, go ahead and apply another layer but be sure to choose a product that’s not quite as dark as what you chose the first time around. Opt for one shade lighter, or maybe use a Gradual Mousse Tanner for a more controlled outcome.

How to make a fake tan darker

Are you tan, but not quite tan enough? Luckily for you, this is the best possible situation to be in. After all, it’s much easier to build up a tan than to remove one!

Before you slather on another layer, are you sure you’ve left your tan on for long enough? Our tan is designed to develop over at least five hours, with better results from even longer developing times.

If you’re sure your tan is done developing, it’s time to apply another layer. Depending on how much darker you want to go, you can apply either another layer of the tan you already used or something more subtle.

To take your bronze darker, try using a product such as After Glow Gloss or Coconut Water Tanning Mist. You can also use the Coconut Water Mist to prolong your tan, which means your tan will last longer between applications.

Otherwise, kick things up a notch over the following days with our 7-Day Tanner. This product is extra dark and will leave you looking like you’ve been holidaying in the tropics all summer!

We’ve got so many tanning products to help you achieve any level of tan in every way possible. Because you’ve got to have options, right? Find your best tanner online now— and don’t forget to leave a review!