Self-tanning can be extremely hit or miss. As Who What Wear beauty director Erin Jahns once said, self-tanning formulas have come a long way, but it’s still possible to overdo it if you’re not careful. Don’t worry, for those times that does occur—we’ve got you covered. It’s not the end of the world if your tan turns out patchy or streaky, according to Tan-Luxe Global Tanning Expert Lex DiMarchi. Self-tanner is actually much easier to remove than you think. Even if you’re just looking to slough off an older tan to make way for a fresh one, there are ways to do that too!
For all the deets, keep scrolling. We asked DiMarchi for the best ways to remove self-tanner and included a few recommended items to do so below.
After applying your self-tanner, there are a few DIY ways you can remove it from your hands, but one quick way is to simply use a washcloth to clean your palms and hands right after. The washcloth will provide a light exfoliation to your hands and if you do this quick enough, your hands shouldn’t appear stained. If it has been longer than a few minutes, DiMarchi recommends using a soap that lightly exfoliates like Ouai’s Hand Wash ($32).
DiMarchi also says a few other handy skincare items can help you remove self-tanner from your hands. “If you’ve already tanned your hands as the last step of application, then I would recommend using a peel pad or makeup wipe to remove any residue from your palms,” she shares.
If you’d like to remove self-tanner from your entire body, DiMarchi says that you can do the same thing as above. “My favorite way [to remove self-tanner] is to dry exfoliate with my towel immediately after stepping out of the shower while my skin is still soft,” she says. “I will scrub my body with my towel, and it literally strips all my self-tanner away.”
Although physical exfoliation can remove quite a bit of your tan, a good old fashioned tan remover can also be the way to go. Most self-tanner removers are made with chemical exfoliants like AHAs to help remove any lingering color. DiMarchi recommends Tan-Luxe’s Glyco Water Self-Tan Eraser ($35). Pro tip: Most self-tanner removers can also act as a primer for a fresh tan due to the exfoliating properties. A good exfoliation can both remove an unwanted tan, but provide a smooth canvas for a fresh one if you want to use it that way later.
Up Next: I’ve Self-Tanned Since Middle School, and I Swear By These 8 Drugstore Formulas.
