I have found that most of the skate polishes work on most of the leather skates—I use Harlick boot polish to touch up all of the leather skates that I sharpen. Sometimes I add a little color to it if the boots I’m touching up are closer to ivory than white. I have tan polish for my own boots, and a little tan mixed into the bright white tones it down nicely. According to Harlick, it’s actually acrylic paint, so the colors mix well. I’ve been able to keep my boots looking great for years by touching it the hacked up and worn areas.
There was a period of time, maybe around 2010, when both Riedell and Jackson were having issues with dye migrating out of the foam padding on their mid-level instructional boots. It shows the most along the stitching lines where the leather is perforated and in contact with the foam. I’ve had reasonably good luck camouflaging this on several pairs of boots that have been handed down from skater to skater. First I clean the boot thoroughly and remove the laces, then apply sports shoe whitening treatment in layers, especially along the seams. It soaks into the thread and helps hide the discoloration, and also covers the stained leather. Eventually it will wear off, faster on the tongue and around the laces due to more rubbing. Still, it is a huge upgrade in appearance. After it’s dry and I’m satisfied with the coverage, I apply some clear shine polish with one of those instant polish sponges to give it some sheen (the sports shoe treatment has a matte finish). So far, it has lasted about a year between treatments. Some kids don’t care, but generally no one wants to be the kid with the weird peach-colored skates.
I have not noted any signs of damage to the leather from this treatment, and seeing that it eventually wears off, it appears to be a safe and reversible cosmetic fix.