Coco & Eve Wants to Fix the Step Everyone Skips Before Self-Tanning

One of the trickier parts of applying a fresh self-tan can happen before you even open the bottle.

Putting new color over patchy remnants of an older tan may make an application look less even, particularly around drier areas where color can linger. Coco & Eve is targeting that in-between stage with its new Tan Prep & Erase Scrub, launching October 13.

The dual-action body scrub is designed to help remove old self-tan in as little as 60 seconds while exfoliating skin ahead of the next application. Coco & Eve is positioning it as a way to combine old-tan removal and skin prep into one quicker step before a fresh application.

Regular self-tanners will probably know the awkward stage well. Most of the color may have faded, while areas around the hands, elbows, knees, ankles or wrists still look darker or more uneven. Going straight back in with another application can sometimes make those differences more visible.

Tan Prep & Erase Scrub is meant for that window. Apply it to dry skin before you shower, leave it on for 60 seconds, then buff it away under the water with an exfoliating mitt. Starting from bare skin? Skip the wait and simply massage it in as a regular exfoliating scrub. Results may vary depending on skin type, the original product and how much color remains.

The Tan Is Only Part of the Routine

Self-tanning formulas get most of the attention once the color develops, but the condition of the skin beforehand can affect how the next application appears.

Exfoliation may help create a smoother-looking base by loosening dry skin and remnants of a previous tan. That can be especially useful in areas where self-tanner tends to catch more easily. It does not guarantee an even result, since application technique and individual skin still matter, though starting without obvious patches can make the process easier to manage.

There is also a practical timing issue. If old color is still hanging on unevenly, people may be more likely to delay reapplying or spend extra time trying to correct certain areas before they can start again.

That is where the new launch fits into Coco & Eve’s existing tanning range. The brand is already known for products such as its Bali Bronzing Foam, which has previously appeared in self-tanner coverage from publications including Good Housekeeping and People. Tan Prep & Erase Scrub focuses on the step before products like that go on.

The formula pairs glycolic and lactic acids with fine perlite and pumice to loosen dry skin and lingering color, while urea and coconut and papaya oils help keep skin soft, so it doesn't feel stripped afterward. It comes in a Golden Mango Melt scent (with notes of mango, pineapple, coconut milk, vanilla and sandalwood), keeping the product closer to the feel of a body-care step than a harsh removal treatment.

That may be useful for people who tan often enough that prep can start to feel like the most inconvenient part of the process. Vigorous scrubbing can be uncomfortable for some users, and setting aside a separate removal day is not always realistic. A quicker prep step could make it easier to deal with fading color before the next application without adding much more time to the routine.

The new scrub also reflects a broader shift in self-tanning toward treating prep as part of the result rather than an afterthought. The tanning product still does the visible work, but the way skin is prepared beforehand can influence how that color settles and fades.

For Coco & Eve, that makes Tan Prep & Erase Scrub less of a side product and more of an attempt to fill the gap between one tan and the next. Scrub today, tan tomorrow!

Coco & Eve Tan Prep & Erase Scrub is 6.7 oz / 200 ml and retails for $30. It launches Oct. 13, 2026, on Coco & Eve and Amazon.