Over the weekend, I had an unfortunate encounter with a spray-on tanner. Even though I followed the many steps very carefully, I ended looking up less sex kitten, more striped kitty. I've been up to my blotchy knees in research for tips on how to make the patchwork look a little less obvious. We're going (un)streaking! For my findings, just read more.
- Think fast: I wish I had done this, but the faster you see the streaks developing, the easier they'll be to remove. Consider using a fast-developing self-tanner so you can see the "oops moments," or use a gradual tanner so that bad results are less obvious. I like the Jergens Glow Daily ($7.50 to $8.50) line of tanners for that reason.
- Exfoliate: Since tanners dye your skin, try to get those pigments out by sloughing off skin cells through exfoliation. Whether you use a loofah, body scrub, or plain old baking soda on a washcloth, this method will help newer (untanned) skin cells to surface more rapidly.
- Prepping power: To avoid streaking in the first place, exfoliate first and make sure your body is not damp when applying. Wear gloves as you work the tanner into your skin, and take a towel or paper towel to gently blend over all areas evenly, avoiding excess application to the ankles, in between the toes, the elbows, and knees.
- Tan removers: Several companies offer tan remover pads or creams, like: Tanwise Exfoliating Self Tan Remover ($9); St. Tropez Self-Tan Remover Sachets ($13) for your palms (see the reader review here); or Flavours Freedom Self-Tan Remover ($10)
- Go suck a lemon: Not literally, of course. Applying lemon juice to those splotches is a natural way to help exfoliate the skin. Use a cotton pad to apply, and scrub away.
- Hit the bottle: Of rubbing alcohol. Dunk a cotton pad in rubbing alcohol and apply the spotty areas. It can be somewhat drying, so be sure to moisturize.
Triumph
Tibi
Tara Matthews
I just stick with Jergens Natural Glow--it's so subtle and pretty, and best of all, close to impossible to mess up!
1Lemon juice!!!
2I can't be bothered with self tanners-they all have a funky odor, stain and end up looking ick. And who can ever do their own back?!
3I tried an "airbrush" (read: spray can) tan last year, and the results were frigging catastrophic. I was STRIPED. Apparently I didn't hold the can far enough away from my skin. I scrubbed the living daylights out of my legs in the shower, then wore pants til it wore off. Whooh that was bad.
So now, I leave the self-tanner in the hands of the pros!
4You can also scrub with Comet or for orange hands try a cream facial bleach!
5i just went throught that
i used Boots No7 tan spray. It is pretty good, but I was
expecting less work, i thought it'd be just a spray, but noooo - the next morning i was blotchy all over. And it stayed on for 12 days 
So kudos for the long life, but if exfoliating for 12 days streight was
exhausting and somewhat painful at that point.
6comet, are you for real? maybe we should use industrial strenght bleach next time?
7Comet? Oi. I'll deal with the splotches!
8I like to get a small spray bottle and mix 2 parts lime juice and one part rubbing alcohol. It works wonders.
9I find the most difficult part to do evenly are the feet, especially on the sides and the toes. The results are horrible no matter what I try.
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