How to Achieve the Viral Fake Tan Lines Without the Sun

If you’ve scrolled through TikTok recently, (and now even Instagram) you might have seen the latest viral beauty trend to take over this summer. There’s only one way to describe them, crisp, sharp tan lines that scream "I just spent the day baking in the sun." Young females are showing off their tan lines, with some even showing off their "tanning routines". In one video, a user says: "Sometimes, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to get the tan". Basically these TikTok users are asking the sun to burn their skin in order to get a tan and interestingly the hashtag #sunburnttanlines has more than 200 million views on the app. The videos are also encouraging users to tan during high levels of ultraviolet radiation (UV), including clips titled, "come and UV tan with me".

But here’s the unfortunate catch—many women and young girls are achieving these results by literally burning their skin under the harsh Aussie sun. Not only is this extremely unsafe, but it can cause long-term damage let alone have an aging effect on the skin. 

You can get the same look without the sun damage or risk of sunburn with some decent fake tanning products and a little bit of creativity (if you can find your bikini). The inventive technique still leans into controversial beauty aesthetics, sure – but most importantly, it’s created a safe way for people to acquire the viral tan lines without putting their skin at risk. 

Why Ditch the Sunburn?

Before we dive into our step-by-step guide, let’s talk about why you should avoid getting ‘sun’ tan lines the traditional way. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and sunburn is one of the leading contributors to premature aging, pigmentation, and increased risk of melanoma. Instead of roasting your skin under UV rays, opt for a safer alternative—by faking it with self tan.

How to Achieve the Perfect Fake Tan Lines

Want those crisp fake tan lines without damaging your skin? Here’s a step-by-step guide to nailing the trend 

Step 1: Prep Your Skin Before Tanning

Start with smooth, exfoliated skin to ensure an even tan. Use a gentle exfoliating mitt with a tan eraser to remove dead skin cells and old tan if your've it on. Highly recommend GlowOFF Eraser mousse here (we have two other removers also) as this Eraser Mousse removes tan and exfoliates the skin within 5 minutes and the BONUS is you can tan immediately after it unlike any other remove containing oils. 

Also don't forget to focus on the dry areas of the body like elbows, knees, and ankles. This will help your tan apply evenly and last longer.

Step 2: Apply a Barrier for the Tan Lines - I recommend a bikini

To create those sharp tan lines, use a bikini top (and bottoms if your going full body) or tape if you wanna get even more accurate lines and your willing to put in a bit more work. If you’re using tape, ensure it’s placed securely but not too tight, so the tan doesn’t bleed underneath. I have used the bikini method and it works perfectly fine. I recommend a thin bikini too rather than thick straps.

Step 3: Apply GlowDry’s Self-Tan Mousse

Using a tanning mitt, apply GlowDry’s Self-Tan Mousse evenly over your skin using a self tan mitt and blend out with a blending brush. The lightweight formula blends seamlessly, giving you a streak-free, bronzed finish. The key here is to work in sections and blend well for the most natural-looking results. Avoid tanning along the tan lines of the bikini and you can move your bikini around a bit to check on your progress.

Step 4: Speed Up the Drying Process with GlowDry’s Drying Powder

Nobody likes that sticky tan feeling! Dust on GlowDry’s award-winning Fake Tan Drying Powder to set your tan quickly and comfortably. This ensures your tan develops evenly without transferring onto your clothes or bedsheets if your sleeping in your self tan. Remove bikini and you can get dressed. I used a make up remover wipe to go over my tan line to make it even more crisp.

Step 5: Reveal Your ‘Sunless’ Tan Lines

Once your tan has fully developed, rinse and reveal your defines self tan lines - sans the sun damage! Now time to on out a sleeveless top and rock those glowy lines!

Step 6 Maintain Your Fresh ‘Fake’ Tan Lines

To keep your tan looking fresh, mix a few drops of GlowDry’s Face Tan Drops into your daily moisturiser. This will enhance your glow and keep your skin hydrated, ensuring a longer-lasting, even tan.

Sun damage is never in style, but achieving a sun-kissed glow safely is! Wile this tan line trend is fairly controversial, there are so many amazing products these days so you can rock the viral tan line look without putting your skin at risk. Whether you’re heading to a summer festival, beach day, or just want to recreate the viral aesthetic look at home, this hack is the safest way to get those viral tan lines.

Ready to glow the safe way and wanna see more of our products? Shop GlowDry’s collection today and get the perfect bronzed look without the burn!