Sure, you can get an attractive glow with self tanner. But how do you get it off?

One of the benefits of many self tanners is that they don’t wash off in the shower. Instead, they fade over time. But as self tanner fades, it can result in a patchy tan. At that point, you might want to remove the tanner and apply a fresh layer. While it may be tricky to fully remove self tanner before it fades on its own, there are a few things you can do to speed up the process.

Removing self tanner doesn’t need to be overcomplicated or expensive. All you need is: You probably have most of these tools at home. While you can get by without a bath, you can’t scrimp on moisturizer. This is because self tanner and the exfoliation required to remove it dries out the skin. If your self tanner application was very recent, you might want to try a instead.

Trying to remove self tanner shortly after application can result in noticeable patches left on the skin. Even after following the steps below, you may be left with faded patches of self tanner on drier areas of skin, such as the elbows or wrists. If that’s the case, simply follow the same steps the next day to remove the last traces of self tanner.

While filling your tub with warm, soapy water, take a generous dollop of moisturizing shower gel in one hand and mix it in, rubbing your hands under the flowing tap water. Adding shower gel or body cleanser to the bathwater helps soften the skin, letting tan come off easier. Soak in the tub for 15 minutes, then rub a patch of skin vigorously with your thumb.

If you start to see the tan coming off, it’s time to move to the next step. Once the shower is on, apply exfoliating shower gel to your hands, loofah or sponge. Next, scrub deep into the skin in a circular motion to remove the top or loose layers of tan. It’s best to start from your hands and feet and work your way in.

You can keep the shower on or off while you scrub. Either way, rinse thoroughly before moving on to the next step. After you have rinsed off, grab an exfoliation cloth or glove and move over each tanned area until you see your natural skin tone return. Exfoliate vigorously, but not so hard that you break or damage the skin.

Start at your feet and progressively move up your legs. Similarly, start at your hands or wrists and move up your arms to make sure you cover all areas. Both the self tanner and its removal can dry out your skin, so moisturize after you dry off from the shower. Cover all body areas so your skin can rehydrate and repair consistently.

If any patches of tan remain, try baby oil to remove them. Just apply some oil to the skin and gently rub it with your exfoliator. Moisturize thoroughly for four or five days after the process so your skin fully hydrates. Some people like to remove tan to put more back on. If that’s you, apply moisturizer to your skin before applying a new layer of self tanner.

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