Short answer: To use ubtan for tan removal, mix the powder into a smooth paste with water, milk or curd, apply it to clean skin for ten to fifteen minutes, and rinse before it dries hard. Twice a week is enough. Ubtan makes tanned skin look fresher; it does not bleach. Skip it for babies.
Key takeaways
- Mix ubtan to a smooth paste, leave it 10 to 15 minutes, rinse before it dries hard, twice a week at most.
- It lifts dull surface cells so skin looks fresher; it does not bleach, and a tan fades gradually.
- Brides: start weeks ahead and try nothing new in the last few days.
- Caution: patch test first, and do not use ubtan on a baby without your paediatrician's advice.
Does ubtan really remove tan?
Partly. A tan is extra pigment that skin makes after sun exposure, and it fades on its own as the skin renews itself. Ubtan helps the look of it by loosening the dull, dead cells on the surface, so skin appears brighter and more even.
It cannot bleach skin, and the result will not hold if the sun keeps re-tanning you.
Our Face Ubtan (100 gm) is a dry powder led by turmeric and hibiscus, with pomegranate seed, grapeseed, lemon peel and rose powders, rosehip oil and sweet lime essential oil. Hibiscus brings natural fruit acids that act as a very gentle exfoliant. All eight ingredients come from plants, with no added preservative, talc, dye or microbeads.
Face Ubtan
100 gm · ₹660
If you would like a ready mix: turmeric and hibiscus-led powder, 100 gm, for adult faces.
Not for you if you are choosing for a baby. It contains an essential oil and citrus peel, and is for adult faces.
Honest note: for adult faces only, not babies. Turmeric can stain, so patch test and rinse well.
How do you use ubtan on the face for tan removal?
Use it in the evening, on clean skin, and rinse it off within fifteen minutes.
- Patch test on the inner arm before your first use. Turmeric can stain, and any plant powder can irritate.
- Mix a small amount into a smooth paste. Prepare it fresh each time.
- Apply evenly to the face, keeping it away from the eyes.
- Leave it for ten to fifteen minutes, and no longer.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water before it dries hard.
- Follow with a moisturiser or face oil while your skin is still slightly damp.
The next morning, use an SPF-rated sunscreen. Our own Sunscreen is a plant-oil cream with no tested SPF rating, so please do not rely on it for measured protection.
What should you mix ubtan with: water, milk, curd or rose water?
All four work. Choose by skin type.
| Mix with | Suits | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Plain water | Oily skin | The simplest option |
| Rose water | Oily skin | Choose a pure, steam-distilled rose water with no added alcohol or fragrance |
| Milk | Dry skin | Gives a creamier paste |
| Curd (yogurt) | Skin that wants extra softness | Adds a mild lactic softness |
You do not need to add lemon juice. The powder already contains lemon peel, and raw lemon juice can sting.
Can you use ubtan daily to remove tan faster?
No. Twice a week is the sweet spot. Ubtan exfoliates, so daily use can leave skin feeling sensitive. On ubtan days, skip any other scrub.
How should brides use ubtan before the wedding?
Start weeks ahead, and do not try anything new in the last few days.
- Patch test first, then use it twice a week in the evening.
- Keep to ten to fifteen minutes. A faint yellow tint can appear on very fair skin; it rinses away with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser.
- Do not apply it on skin that has just been waxed, threaded or treated at a salon.
- Expect a gradual change. Skin usually looks fresher after the first rinse, but a steadier lift in tone comes slowly, and we will not pin a number to it.
Is ubtan safe for babies?
We do not recommend it, and our Face Ubtan is not made for babies. It is an exfoliating product for adult faces, with turmeric, lemon peel, fruit acids and an essential oil.
A baby's skin barrier is thinner than an adult's and loses moisture faster, so rubbing a paste over it can cause dryness, redness or a rash. Many families use besan ubtan hoping to remove a newborn's fine body hair. That hair falls away on its own. FirstCry Parenting advises against using ubtan to remove it, suggests waiting until a baby is at least six months old, and asks parents to consult a paediatrician first.
For the daily routine, our Natural Gangajal Baby Soap (100 gm) is cold-processed from coconut, olive and sesame oils with shea butter and goat milk, for use no more than once a day. Our Baby Massage Oil (150 ml) contains only Daspushpadi herb-infused oil and Kashmiri lavender essential oil. Both pages ask you to patch test and to check with your paediatrician for a newborn.
Frequently asked questions
Will turmeric ubtan leave my face yellow?
A faint tint can appear on very fair skin, and it rinses away. The turmeric is blended with other powders, so it is not applied at full strength.
How soon will my tan fade?
We would rather not attach a number to it. It depends on your skin and on how well you keep the sun off it.
How long should I leave ubtan on my face?
Ten to fifteen minutes, and no longer. Rinse with lukewarm water before the paste dries hard.
Can I use ubtan on oily or sensitive skin?
Oily skin often does well with plain water or rose water as the mixer. For sensitive skin, patch test on the inner arm for 24 hours first.
Can I store a mixed ubtan paste?
No. Prepare a small amount fresh each time. The dry powder has no added preservative.
Can I use a face scrub on the same day?
We suggest skipping other scrubs on ubtan days, because ubtan already exfoliates.
What mistakes should you avoid with ubtan?
- Leaving it on until it cracks. Rinse within fifteen minutes.
- Using it daily, or on top of another scrub.
- Applying it on skin that is sunburnt, broken, or freshly waxed or threaded.
- Skipping sunscreen the next morning. Use an SPF-rated product, or the tan will return.
- Adding raw lemon juice. The powder already has lemon peel, and raw juice can sting.
Is it safe? Patch test and when to ask a doctor
Patch test first. Ubtan is a cosmetic, not a treatment. Try it on the inner arm for 24 hours before using it on your face, and stop if you notice burning, itching, redness or a rash. Do not use it on broken or sunburnt skin. See a dermatologist about dark patches that are spreading or changing. Do not use ubtan on a baby without your paediatrician's advice.
In short: twice a week, ten to fifteen minutes, rinse well, protect from the sun, and keep ubtan away from babies.
If you would like a ready mix, our Face Ubtan, or browse all GraceYes products.
Our motto: to make the cleanest beauty products
If you'd like to pair ubtan with a gentle everyday routine, browse our face care range.
Browse our face care range →Sources
- FirstCry Parenting, "Ubtan for babies: benefits and recipe". parenting.firstcry.com
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