How to Remove Self-Tanner
As much as I love self-tanner, when I want it off, I want it off immediately – especially if it’s come out patchy, streaky, or too dark. I’m always trying out new formulas, which means I’ve also gotten really good at removing self-tanner without irritating my sensitive skin. For all of my tips and tricks on removing self-tanner, keep reading.
how to remove self-tanner
how to remove self-tanner immediately
If you notice patchiness as you’re applying self-tanner or accidentally apply too much to one area, it’s absolutely fixable. This is easier to notice if you’re using a self-tanner with a color guard (tint to the product), but works on clear self-tanners, too.
Wet a washcloth with warm water. It doesn’t have to be boiling hot, but cold water doesn’t work as well. I use these exclusively because they’re cheap, easy to bleach the self-tanner out, and have enough texture to remove self-tanner without hurting my skin.
Apply the wash cloth to where you are trying to remove the tanner; I mix between circular motions and up-and-down light scrubbing, but nothing too harsh - this is more about repetition, rather than harder pressure.
Repeat as necessary; sometimes I have to go over the area again, but never more than three times typically.
Most importantly, in order to prevent streaks, go back over the area with a light coat of self-tanner, blending it in with where you did not wash off. I like to use a blending brush, which allows for a more precise application (especially to smaller areas like wrists and hands), whereas it’s a little harder to control the mitt.
how to remove self-tanner from hands the next day
Removing self-tanner from your hands feels frustrating because you can’t really cover your hands and it feels like everyone can notice. First, not everyone notices it as much as you do, so please don’t panic. Another thing to keep in mind is we wash our hands a lot, and that really speeds up the removal process. You may not get all of the tanner removed in one go (and you can repeat the process below as often as you need to), but the regular practice of washing your hands will make a big difference, too.
Start with washing your hands using warm water and a sugar scrub, targeting the areas where you need to remove the tanner. I like this scrub because it’s grainy while also leaving you really hydrated - there’s nothing worse than dry, cracked hands. If you do not like the feeling of coconut oil, I like and use this scrub, too. I like to really work the scrub into my hands for a couple minutes.
If it doesn’t seem like all of the tanner is gone, finish by washing your hands with normal soap to remove the coconut oil/ hydrating agents.
Pat your hands dry; your pores should still be open from the warm water. While they are meant for your face, these exfoliating wipes will remove a lot of excess tanner, particularly if your knuckles or palms are stained. Skincare can be expensive and you never want to waste product, but I like that you get 38 wipes for less than $20, and even though I use them infrequently and just for removing tanner from my hands, they do not dry out in the jar over time.
If you’re removing tanner from your knuckles, make a first instead of leaving your hand flat - this allows you to really get in there better.
Always finish by applying moisturizer or hand cream. Dry hands can snowball and get worse quickly (especially with how often we wash our hands) and exfoliating can take a toll if you’re not careful. I don’t love a greasy residue, so I stick to my normal body lotion.
how to remove self-tanner streaks
Self-tanner streaks require spot exfoliation, since you only really want to target the streaks.
In the shower, let your pores open up with warm water (not too hot, as that dries out your skin). Use an exfoliating mitt to target the streaks, switching between circular and back-and-forth light motions. You might feel compelled to really scrub, but it’s more about repetition than pressure. You’ll get better results going over the area consistently for 5 minutes than scrubbing so hard you’re out of breath for 2 minutes.
After your shower, if you still see remnants of the streak, lightly take a dry washcloth and repeat your circular/ back-and-forth motions. Be careful with this, as too hard of exfoliation with the towel can leave redness. Regarding what washcloth I use, these are best because they’re cheap, easy to bleach the self-tanner out, and have enough texture to remove self-tanner without hurting my skin.
At this point, I’ll let my skin dry and settle completely. When you’re removing a streak, you might still have tanner on the rest of your body that you want to keep, and you don’t want to go so overboard that you’re left with a pale streak instead.
Finish with applying a thin layer of lotion. You always want to hydrate after exfoliation. Don’t worry about undoing your progress or prolonging the appearance of the streak; it’s more about protecting your skin barrier and avoiding dry patches.
If the streak is still showing and you need it gone ASAP, these exfoliating wipes will usually do the trick. Wet your skin with warm water again to open up your pores, then pat dry, then apply the wipe to the streaky area.
Because my skin is really sensitive, I’ll wash off any residue leftover from the exfoliating wipe (especially if I’ll be in the sun, as chemical exfoliants make your skin more sensitive), and then apply moisturizer, plus sunscreen if it’s daytime.
how to remove self-tanner from face
When it comes to removing self-tanner from your face, you want to prioritize your skin type and protecting the barrier over removing the self-tanner. This may sound counterintuitive, but going too hard can damage your skin, leading to micro-cuts, breakouts, or cuts that scab and take time to heal.
I recommend following your skincare routine, focusing on the exfoliation. While my skin is really sensitive, I can use both physical and chemical exfoliators without drying out my skin, but everyone is different. If you can only use one method, use a chemical exfoliator.
Start by washing your face with warm water (not hot). Hot water won’t remove the tanner better; it’ll just dry out your skin.
I like to use a physical exfoliator before face wash when I’m removing self-tanner. This exfoliating polish is the best on the market; I use it weekly as part of my skincare routine, too. It’s still grainy but ultra-fine; it effortlessly removes the dead skin without causing irritation. My skin feels clean and soft after using, not tight or dry, which is a sign that the product isn’t the best fit for you.
After, I’ll wash my face, just like normal. Don’t scrub your face during this step or over-wash it; this is really just to remove any dirt or makeup that’s leftover.
Pat your face dry, and before applying any toners, oils, or moisturizers, use a chemical exfoliant. These alpha-beta wipes really remove all self-tanner in one go.The reason you wash your face first instead of just applying these wipes from the start is that the first step really allows your pores to open up, making these wipes more effective.
There are a couple different chemical exfoliant wipes available on the market. I like this two-step version when I’m removing tanner because they seem to give me the best results. Let the product dry for a minute or two before applying the second wipe.
A quick note on the Dr. Dennis Gross wipes: my skin is extremely sensitive, and I’ve worked my tolerance up to the extra strength version. Start with the normal version if you’re new; there is an ultra gentle option, which is great skincare-wise, but doesn’t do as great of a job at removing self-tanner.
These are a great cost-effective option, and only one step. I also like these for a mid-range option.
Follow-up with the rest of your skincare routine, focusing on adding hydration back into the skin. I like to use this toning facial spray, followed up with this hydrating oil (which also has Vitamin C, known for evening skin tone), and a calming moisturizer. If you’re going into the sun, please use sunscreen as the exfoliating wipes contain ingredients that make you more sensitive to sun exposure.
how to remove fading self-tanner
Fading self-tanner is easy to remove; the hardest part is not going overboard with the exfoliation as that can damage your skin barrier. I typically remove my self-tanner every week, making it part of my Sunday reset routine.
Unless your skin is extra sensitive, start by dry brushing before you get in the shower. This has lots of health benefits, but I find it also removes some areas (arms, legs, and ankles) of self-tanner right away. If you don’t have a dry brush or don’t respond well to it, you can use a really light sugar scrub in the shower instead.
Your shower should be warm; you don’t want it too hot as that will damage your skin, but cold water doesn’t open up your pores as well. I recommend doing the rest of your shower routine (minus body wash) first; this gives your skin a chance to really soften and open up, making the removal process easier.
You can also take a bath. If I have a special event or need every trace of self-tanner removed by the end of this one shower, I start with a quick soak.
If you didn’t dry brush, start the self-tan removal process by using a sugar scrub on larger body parts – arms, legs, and stomach. I avoid my chest because it’s more sensitive, but that’s a personal preference.
While you’re in the shower (or bath), use this exfoliating mitt to lightly buff out the self-tanner, alternating between circular and back-and-forth motions. I like an exfoliating mitt more than a loofah because you have better control of how hard you scrub, and it works better for smaller or more difficult areas like elbows, collarbones, and underarms.
I do this step before body wash because I use a hydrating body wash, and that seems to protect my skin from the full-effect of exfoliation.
Once you’re done exfoliating, you can use body wash as normal.
Once I get out of the shower, pretty much all of my self-tanner is gone. If I notice there are still a couple of patches (my sternum is a trouble spot), I will lightly take a dry washcloth to get that last layer off. Be careful with this, as too hard of exfoliation with the towel can leave redness. Regarding what washcloth I use, I only use these because they’re cheap, easy to bleach the self-tanner out, and have enough texture to remove self-tanner without hurting my skin.
Always finish exfoliation with hydration. This lotion is cheap, not fancy, and from the drugstore but it’s the only one that hydrates my skin without causing itchiness or a reaction. If you have sensitive skin, I really recommend using a fragrance-free lotion after exfoliating; fragrance is an unnecessary ingredient and you really just want to focus on nurturing the new layer of skin instead.
Most of the time, it only takes me one shower to remove fading self-tanner. Even so, I like to give my skin at least one day before applying self-tanner again. It gives me one more chance to remove any leftover patches, and lets my skin breathe and reset before I start the process all over again, but if your skin type is more normal, you have a little more leeway.
