Self-tanning is a fun and safe way to maintain gorgeous, glowing skin all year. It has become more popular over the past few decades as skin cancer awareness increases and overall health becomes a priority. As a society, we’re more aware now than ever of the harm UV rays can cause to our skin. Not only does sun exposure increase our risk of skin cancer, but it also prematurely ages skin. Once the damage is done, it can never be reversed. That’s why more people are turning to self-tanner to achieve the sun-kissed look they crave rather than bathing in the sun’s harmful rays for hours at a time. But with more people using self-tanners these days than ever before, there are many questions about application techniques and good self-tanning practices.

One of the most common concerns that people have when self-tanning is how to fix their hands if they put too much self-tanner on them. Maybe you forgot to wash your hands after applying product, or perhaps you failed to blend your tanner well. However it happened, if you are reading this article now and are panicked because your hands are noticeably darker than the rest of your skin, don’t worry! We have several tips and tricks to fix this common self-tanning mishap.

How can I fix my hands if I put too much self-tanner on them?

Step 1: Exfoliate your hands

The first step in fixing your hands is to remove the excess self-tanner. The best way to do this is by exfoliating your skin. This will help to remove the top layer of the self-tanner and lighten the color. You can use soap with a washcloth or loofa, or you can use an exfoliating scrub. Fortunately, we tend to wash our hands more often than the rest of our bodies, so natural exfoliation will occur throughout the day.

If this doesn’t resolve the problem, and your hands are still too tan after exfoliating, you may want to try step two.

Step 2: Apply a lightening product

Once you've exfoliated your hands, the next step is to lighten the color. You can use several products for this purpose, such as lemon juice, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide. Lemon juice is a natural skin lightener with mild exfoliating properties, making it an excellent choice for this process. Squeeze the juice from a lemon and rub it onto your hands, leaving it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off with water. You can also use pre-squeezed lemon juice from a bottle if you don’t have access to fresh lemons. They will both work equally as well, and pre-squeezed juice is often more convenient. Finally, you can soak a cotton ball with the juice and use that to apply it to your hands.

Baking soda is another effective ingredient for lightening self-tanner on the hands. Mix baking soda with water to form a paste and apply it to your hands. Leave the paste for 5-10 minutes, then rinse it with water. This is similar to baking soda paste for whitening teeth; the same lightening properties apply to your skin. If the stains on your hands are extra tricky to remove, you can try mixing the lemon juice and the baking soda.

Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful skin lightener, but it can be harsh. If you use hydrogen peroxide, dilute it with water before applying it to your hands. Applying hydrogen peroxide directly to your skin without diluting it can cause an unpleasant burning sensation. Even diluted hydrogen peroxide can still be an irritant for those with sensitive skin. If you choose this route, it’s best to test a small spot to see how your skin will react before covering your hands thoroughly. If your skin tolerates the hydrogen peroxide, cover the areas you want to lighten, and rinse them after a few minutes.

Whitening toothpaste is also an option. If it can whiten enamel, then it should also be able to lighten your skin. Spread a layer of whitening toothpaste over the areas of skin you want to lighten, and then let it sit for a few minutes before washing it off. If you feel any sensation of discomfort, remove the toothpaste from your hands by thoroughly rinsing them with water.

Step 3: Moisturize your hands

Exfoliating and lightening your hands can be drying, especially if you use harsh lightening agents. It's essential to moisturize your hands well after the process. Use a nourishing hand cream or lotion to keep your skin hydrated and prevent further irritation. Moisturizing is integral to any healthy self-tanning routine, but it’s especially essential after using lightning agents.

Step 4: Wait for the self-tanner to fade

Hopefully, after following these steps, your hands will look better. However, if you still see an unnatural amount of color, you may have to wait it out. This can be difficult, but your hands will fade more quickly than the rest of your body because you wash them more often. In a couple of days, you should be back to normal. Just be patient and avoid reapplying self-tanner to your hands until the color has faded.

Hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you if you ever find yourself with overly tanned hands, but the best treatment method is to avoid the problem from the start. To prevent putting too much self-tanner on your hands in the future, we recommend using a self-tanning mitt. Our Glow by Skalla Bronzing Mitt has been designed especially for the application process. It protects your hands and helps spread and blend the self-tanner evenly to avoid streaks and patches. Not to mention, it is buttery soft!

Self-tanning should be a pleasurable experience. At Glow by Skalla, we’ve designed all our products to ensure you get the best self-tan possible. We spent three years researching the perfect formula, so you can trust that our products will consistently deliver the ideal golden glow combined with an alluring vanilla fragrance that will leave your skin looking radiant and gorgeous!