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There's nothing like peeling off a tank top to reveal a stark stripe where the sun stopped and your strap began. Tan lines are the classic summer souvenir — and while they're harmless, they can be frustrating when you want a smooth, even glow for a dress, a wedding, or a pool day. The good news: you can fade and blend most tan lines with a little patience. Here's how to get rid of tan lines, step by step.
Why Tan Lines Happen
Tan lines form wherever clothing, straps, or accessories block UV rays while the surrounding skin keeps darkening. The covered skin stays pale while exposed skin produces more melanin, creating that sharp border. Because the color lives in the outermost layer of skin cells, the fix is usually about either fading the darker side, adding color to the lighter side, or both.
1. Exfoliate the Edges
Exfoliation is the most reliable way to fade a tan faster than it would disappear on its own. Since tan pigment sits in the top layer of skin, gently buffing away those dead cells reveals the more evenly toned skin underneath. Use a soft body scrub or exfoliating mitt two to three times a week, focusing on the darkest areas and feathering toward the lighter skin. Don't scrub raw — gentle, consistent effort works better than one aggressive session.
2. Even Things Out With Self-Tanner
The fastest way to erase a tan line is to bring the pale skin up to match the tan, not the other way around. Apply a gradual self-tanner only to the lighter areas using a tanning mitt or small brush, feathering the edges into the already-tanned skin so you don't create a new line. Build slowly — it may take two or three light applications to match — and let it develop fully before showering. A spray tan from a professional is the express version of this trick.
3. Moisturize Daily to Speed Fading
Well-hydrated skin sheds its outer cells more evenly, which helps a tan fade in a smooth gradient instead of patches. Moisturize head to toe every day, especially right after showering when skin is still damp. Hydration also keeps any remaining tan looking healthy and glowy rather than dry and ashy.
4. Spend Smart Time Evening Out in the Sun
If your tan lines are mild, you can sometimes blend them by giving the lighter skin a little controlled sun exposure while shielding the already-dark areas. The key word is controlled: keep sessions short, avoid peak midday hours, and never push to the point of burning — a fresh burn will only create a new, worse line. A low-SPF tanning oil like our Summer Body SPF 4 Tanning Oil helps the paler skin pick up color gradually while keeping it conditioned, so the transition looks natural.
5. Use Makeup or Body Bronzer for a Quick Fix
Need to look even tonight? Body foundation, bronzing lotion, or a swipe of waterproof concealer can blur or fully cover a tan line in minutes. This won't fade anything, but it's perfect for a same-day event while your longer-term methods do their work.
6. Be Patient — Tans Fade Naturally
Skin naturally renews itself roughly every few weeks, so even if you do nothing, most tan lines soften and disappear on their own. Exfoliating and moisturizing simply speed up a process that's already happening. If your tan line is from a one-off afternoon, time alone may be all you need.
7. Prevent Tan Lines in the First Place
The easiest tan line to fix is the one you never get. Consistent, generous sunscreen is the single best prevention — when your whole body is protected evenly, you don't develop those sharp borders in the first place. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF before you go out and reapply every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.
Our lightweight Summer Body SPF 30 makes full, even coverage easy because it doesn't feel greasy or sticky, so you're more likely to actually reapply. Don't forget your face: pair it with Summer Face SPF 50, or grab the Summer Duo to keep face and body protected together. Reapplying around straps, necklines, and waistbands — and shifting your swimsuit slightly between sessions — keeps color blending smoothly instead of stamping in hard lines.
The Bottom Line
To get rid of tan lines, work from both directions: gently exfoliate and moisturize to fade the darker skin, and use self-tanner or a little careful sun to bring up the lighter skin. For anything urgent, body makeup bridges the gap. And next time, even, consistent sunscreen coverage will keep those stripes from forming at all — giving you the smooth, all-over glow you're after.
