PERMATAN® Skin Tone Corrector Lotion

PERMATAN® is a cosmetic product. Its main active ingredient is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a molecule that temporarily colors the surface layer of the skin, with no effect on melanocytes.

The full INCI list is published higher up on this page, in the “Formula & safety” section, and you are welcome to show the formula to your doctor; it is registered with the poison control centers in Paris, Lyon and Marseille.

PERMATAN® is designed to conceal vitiligo and depigmentation patches: it evens out your skin tone on the face and the body, with a natural finish. Important: it conceals, it does not cure. It is a skin tone correction cosmetic.

Do a simple test: apply the lotion to a small square on your forearm and wait 20 minutes, long enough for the colour to start developing. That lets you judge the shade on your own complexion before treating a larger area. You can build up layers to deepen the result.

On clean, dry skin, in a thin, even layer: use the precision brush for the face and edges, and the glove or sponge for larger areas of the body. Start from the centre of the patch and repeat for a deeper shade.

Let it develop for 4 to 6 hours, avoiding water and rubbing during that time. Remember to wash your hands with soap within 20 minutes.

The colour develops over 4 to 6 hours and lasts several days. It then fades gradually, in step with the skin’s natural renewal (shedding slowly removes the coloured cells). That is normal: a fresh application keeps the result going. How quickly it fades varies from one person to another.

Yes, the lotion can be applied anywhere on the body, including intimate areas, to conceal depigmented patches. Its advantage: it leaves none of the sticky feel of a covering cream.

Yes, a light note of vanilla and ylang-ylang that masks the natural smell of DHA and fades quickly after application. Like any fragrance, it contains one declared allergen (isoeugenol): if you are sensitive to it, do a patch test on a small area of your forearm first. You can put on your usual perfume afterward, simply letting the lotion set for 20 minutes.

No, the lotion does not give an orange cast: it aims for a natural tan, close to the final colour of a real one.

No. DHA has no effect on hair, whether on the head or the body. If your hair is thick, simply wipe away the excess lotion with a tissue: any remaining particles come off naturally at the first wash.

It is better to wait a little: the lotion contains alcohol (for quick drying), which can sting freshly shaved skin. Let the razor burn settle, or mix the lotion with a moisturising lotion before applying it to your chin.

While it is developing, avoid contact with light-coloured fabrics and go for loose clothing. In your first shower you will see coloured pigment come away with the warm water: that is the temporary guide colour, not the tan. Any marks on fabric come out in a normal machine wash.

The lotion keeps for 18 months from the date of manufacture (the use-by date is printed on the bottle). As DHA is sensitive to light, air and temperature changes, close the bottle tightly and keep it away from heat.

The PERMATAN® Skin Tone Corrector lotion is made in Spain. Orders are processed and dispatched from La Seyne-sur-Mer, in France.

Yes, from the bottle to the package. The PERMATAN® bottle has a plain design, with no mention of vitiligo and no medical imagery: sitting in your bathroom, it looks like an ordinary skin tone product. You order from your phone, wherever you are: nothing on screen gives your purchase away. Everything ships within 1 to 2 business days in a plain package, with no logo and no revealing label, by tracked Colissimo: delivery in 48 to 72 hours in mainland France, a few more days depending on the country, to your door or a pickup point. 30-day money-back guarantee on your first bottle: if the result is not right for you, email us within 30 days of opening and we refund the product (shipping costs excluded).

Secure card payment (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal, with PayPal buyer protection included.

Yes. The very same bottle works as a self-tanner: a natural tan, with no orange cast and no visible edges, even under the artificial lighting of photo studios and TV sets.