Tanned patchy face

[user1495484765]

I have been on leave this week and have been out in the sun for hours each day. I have not worn a particularly high SPF (I know, I am bad). The result is a very tanned face but some areas are darker than others (i.e under corners of mouth). I should look all gooey and healthy - I look muddy hued and patchy. I am not burnt though.

How can I get rid of the tan or tone it down a bit? I am going to use a gentle manual exfoliator later - not sure my sun ravaged skin can take a more powerful one at the moment. Is there anything else I can do?

I have some facial fake tan I can put on some of the paler areas, but I don't want to look this tanned, just a bit less white than I normally do, so that is a last resort.

Not gooey but glowy!

You might have the beginnings of melisma which can be more pronounced in the sun - are the marks symmetrical? Exfoliating won't do anything, and might make your sun sore if you have recently got a lot of sun. I manage mine with bronzer and foundation to even up the skin tone.

OP here wth name change.

I used a gentle exfoliator, then put on Avene moisture mask which soaked in, and then another layer of moisturiser on top. It looks much better than it was and I don't look as tanned and it has evened out a bit.