Welcome to your go-to guide for gentle, fast self tan removal.
As experts in sensitive skin, we’ve some great tips for removing self tan without damaging your skin.
Key points:
- You can’t remove fake tan immediately
- Exfoliation can speed up self tan removal and blur streaks and mistakes
- We recommend Green People Exfoliating Hand & Body Scrub to remove fake tan from your hands and body
- We recommend Green People Fruit Scrub to remove fake tan from your face
How to remove self tan at home
Looking for a quick way to remove your fake tan at home? You’ve found it!
The brilliant thing about fake tans is that they tend only to colour the top layers of your skin, meaning that with a little exfoliating encouragement from a scrub or exfoliating mitt, you can shed that tan fast.
- Wet your skin in the bath, sink or shower
- Gently massage your skin with a scrub or exfoliating mitt
- Rinse skin with warm water and moisturise
- Repeat every 2-3 days
Fake tan colour will not disappear immediately – but with gentle exfoliation you can encourage tan fade and make harsh lines and streaks less apparent. Don’t exfoliate too often or scrub too hard though.
Try a natural scrub for self tan removal
Designed to buff the skin, Green People natural exfoliators gently lift away skin cells from the top layer of skin. Crucially, they’re ever-so gentle, meaning that you can effectively remove your fake tan without worrying about damaging your skin.
Here are three reasons why we think they’re the best exfoliators for quickly and effectively removing self tan without damaging your skin.
- Kind to skin: Our natural exfoliators pair refining actives like Bamboo and Cranberry with soothing Aloe Vera to keep your skin calm and comfortable as you scrub.
- Non-abrasive: Instead of scratchy grains, we pack our skin scrubs with natural actives that support barrier health.
- No ethyl alcohol or artificial fragrances: Made with gentle ingredients, our scrubs are kind to sensitive and allergy-prone skin.
How to remove fake tan from the face
Need a gentle exfoliator to remove fake tan from the face. Look no further than Fruit Scrub Exfoliator.
Best massaged into the face using light circular motions, ultra-fine exfoliating particles of Bamboo and Bilberry lift hardened skin cells away while soothing Shea Butter and a refining blend of 5 AHA natural extracts enhance that naturally fresh, soft skin feeling.
And there's no need to worry about agitation. This certified organic scrub has been dermatologically tested and clinically proven to be gentle on the skin.

Fruit Scrub Exfoliator 50ml
Reveal a smoother complexion with this certified organic exfoliator
254 kr
How to remove fake tan from hands and body
Our Exfoliating Hand and Body Scrub is your best bet for effectively removing fake tan from your hands and body. It utilises an exfoliating enzyme action from Pineapple and Bamboo to gently accelerate cell renewal and reveal a natural, radiant glow.
We love to use it to prep our skin ahead of fake tan, and it’s a pro at removing tan too!

Exfoliating Hand & Body Scrub 200ml
Treat your skin to berry bliss with this invigorating hand and body scrub
216 kr
If you prefer to use an exfoliating body mitt, you’ll love our Exfoliating Mitt. Crafted with natural fibres, which scrub without scratching, its gentle touch leaves skin oh-so smooth.

Exfoliating Mitt
Instantly smooth your skin with this gently exfoliating body mitt
72 kr
4 tips for removing self tan
Circle: Gently massage your chosen scrub into the skin using light, circular motions to encourage cell turnover. Focus on stubborn areas, such as the elbows, where the tan may cling.
Cleanse: Rinse the scrub thoroughly to release the tan
Soothe: Protect your skin barrier after exfoliation by applying a generous amount of body lotion. We love Scent Free Body Lotion, which locks in hydration and softness with its calming blend of Chamomile and moisture-protecting Jojoba.
Reapply: Tanning mishaps happen to the best of us, but they don't have to put a stop to your skin glow. Discover our natural self tans now.
We hope you have found our guide on how to remove self tan helpful. For more help choosing a natural face scrub or body scrub for removing tan, please contact our friendly UK customer care team at 01403 740350 or on social via @GreenPeopleUK.
REVIEWED BY CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
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