Self tan disappears on its own in about a week as your skin renews itself. But sometimes you want to speed things up – dark knuckles, a patch that went wrong or old uneven colour before a fresh application.
The good news: the colour can be removed gently with warmth, oil and mild exfoliation. You do not need anything harsh.
Why the colour can be removed
The colour from DHA only sits in the outermost layer of your skin – the same cells your skin sheds naturally anyway. Removing self tan is simply about speeding up that process.
That also means you never need harsh chemicals. Gentle exfoliation, repeated over a couple of days, removes virtually all the colour.
Removing self tan from your hands
Hands and knuckles are the most common problem area. The skin there is drier and thicker than on the rest of your body, so it absorbs more colour – and your hands often pick up extra product during application.
Here is how: soak your hands in warm water for about ten minutes, massage in an oil and let it sit for a moment. Then exfoliate gently in circular motions with an exfoliating mitt or mild scrub, rinse off and moisturise thoroughly.
Expect to repeat once more the next day rather than scrubbing hard in one go. The colour releases gradually – and your skin is better off.
Fixing patches and streaks
A single patch or streak does not mean everything has to come off. Exfoliate gently on the patch only and blend the edges into the surrounding colour for a soft transition.
For smaller streaks, for example around wrists and ankles, a little oil on a soft cloth and careful circular motions is often enough.
Always moisturise the area afterwards – exfoliated skin without moisture absorbs new colour unevenly.
Removing old colour before a new application
New colour on top of old patchy colour rarely gives an even result. Wait until the old tan has faded evenly, or help it along.
Take a warm bath or a longer warm shower to soften the skin, then exfoliate your whole body evenly – not just where the colour shows most.
Moisturise afterwards and let your skin rest until the next day before applying new colour. That gives you the smooth, even surface that delivers the best result.
What to avoid
Do not scrub until your skin is red and irritated. A worn skin barrier absorbs the next application unevenly – you would just be trading one problem for another.
Skip harsh home remedies such as lemon, baking soda and acetone. They dry out and irritate the skin more than they remove colour, and gentle exfoliation with oil is both kinder and more effective.
On the face, take extra care: use oil and a soft cloth or a mild facial exfoliant, never a coarse body scrub.
How to avoid the problem next time
Most patches can be prevented. Exfoliate and moisturise dry areas the day before application, and use an application mitt when working with mousse.
Apply minimal product to hands, feet, knees and elbows – what is left on the mitt is often enough. Wipe knuckles, wrists and ankles with a damp cloth right after applying.
Wash your palms as soon as you are done, and moisturise daily so the colour fades evenly instead of in patches.
How to remove the colour – step by step
- 1Soften your skin with a warm bath or shower.
- 2Massage in oil and let it sit for a moment.
- 3Exfoliate gently in circular motions – focus on patches, knuckles and edges.
- 4Rinse off and moisturise thoroughly.
- 5Repeat the next day instead of scrubbing hard in one go.
- 6Wait until the tone is even before applying new colour.