9 Natural Ways To Lighten Your Skin Tone
Natural remedies and hacks to help your skin become brighter and even-toned.
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There are multiple organic, medical, and cosmetic ways to lighten your skin tone, but the homemade natural (ways) never get old with their soothing, safe, and sure results.
To guide you in the right direction, we have put together a list of DIY methods to whip up solutions for your skin care and glow up for deeply nourished and smooth skin. Scroll down to find a remedy made for you!
9 Natural Methods For Skin Lightening
1. Lemon
Vitamin C is one of the major components of lemon and is known to exhibit anti-pigmentary effects (1). This may help eliminate any spots or blemishes on your face and neck.
You Will Need
- Ripe lemons
- Cotton pad
What You Have To Do
- Squeeze the juice of ripe lemons into a bowl.
- Using a cotton pad, apply the lemon juice onto your face and neck.
- Leave it on your face for at least 15 minutes before washing it off.
How Often Should You Do This
Do this two times a week.
Caution: Do a patch test before you try this remedy as lemon juice can cause irritation. Also, apply sunscreen before you step out as lemon juice can make your skin photosensitive.
2. Honey
Honey contains alpha-hydroxy acids and other bioactive compounds that help decrease the effects of excessive pigmentation on your skin, thereby reducing the appearance of dark spots (2), (3).
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 ripe lemon
What You Have To Do
- Squeeze the juice of a ripe lemon into a bowl.
- To this, add honey and mix well.
- Using a brush, apply it to your face and neck.
- Wash off with plain water.
How Often Should You Do This
Repeat this two times a week for best results.
Caution: Lemon juice can cause a stinging or a burning sensation on your skin. Please do a patch test before trying this remedy.
3. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera contains aloin, a bioactive compound that has an inhibitory effect on melanin synthesis (4). This may help lighten your skin tone and impart a natural radiance to it.
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
What You Have To Do
- Extract the gel from the aloe vera leaf.
- Add brown sugar to the gel and mix well.
- You can apply this to your face and neck.
- Rinse your face thoroughly with water.
How Often Should You Do This
Repeat two times a week.
4. Yogurt
Yogurt is very commonly used as a remedy to eliminate excessive pigmentation. It is rich in a bioactive compound that can effectively reduce dark spots and other signs of pigmentation (5), (6).
You Will Need
- 1/2 cup of fresh yogurt
- 1-2 teaspoons of honey
What You Have To Do
- Add the honey to half a cup of yogurt.
- Apply this face pack to your neck and face.
- You must leave it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off thoroughly with water.
How Often Should You Do This
Do this at least two times a week to see a visible change.
5. Cucumber
Cucumber is a rich source of cucurbitacin D and 23, 24-dihydro cucurbitacin D. These compounds can reduce melanin synthesis and possibly reverse the effects of pigmentation (7).
You Will Need
- A fresh cucumber
- Freshly extracted aloe vera gel
What You Have To Do
- Slice a cucumber and blend it.
- Prepare a fine paste by adding some aloe vera gel to it.
- Apply this paste to your face and neck.
- Leave the pack on for 15-20 minutes and wash off with plain water.
How Often Should You Do This
You may do this once a week.
6. Turmeric
Curcumin is the major component of turmeric. This compound is effective in preventing the appearance of signs of aging, such as blemishes and spots (8). It also imparts a natural glow to your skin.
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
- Honey
- Fresh yogurt
What You Have To Do
- Prepare a face pack by mixing the ingredients mentioned above.
- Apply the face pack and leave it on until it dries.
- Rinse your face thoroughly with lukewarm water.
How Often Should You This
Use this face pack once a week.
7. Papaya
Papaya has been used as a remedy to lighten skin. Its extracts are known to increase the production of collagen in your skin. This, in turn, improves complexion and reduces the appearance of scars and blemishes (9), (10).
You Will Need
- 1 ripe papaya
- 1 ripe lemon
What You Have To Do
- Make a puree by blending the slices of papaya and add a few drops of lemon juice to it.
- Leave it on for about 10-15 minutes.
- Wash off thoroughly.
How Often Should You Do This
You can repeat this two times a week.
8. Orange Peel
The tannins, antioxidants, and polyphenols in orange peel make it an effective remedy to lighten skin tone. These compounds can eliminate dull skin and impart a natural radiance to it (11).
You Will Need
- 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon of powdered orange peel
- 1 teaspoon of honey
What You Have To Do
- Make a fine paste by mixing the ingredients.
- Apply this face pack and leave it on until it dries.
- Rinse off with a mild facial cleanser.
How Often Should You Do This
Use this face pack two times a week.
9. Potato
Potato is rich in phytochemicals, such as potassium, sulfur, and chloride (12). It can help lighten scars and acne blemishes, thereby promoting clear skin and an even skin tone.
You Will Need
- 2-3 tablespoons freshly extracted potato juice
- Lemon juice
What You Have To Do
- Mix the potato and lemon juices well.
- Use a cotton pad to apply this mixture to your face and neck.
- Leave it on for about 10 minutes before washing it off.
How Often Should You This
Apply this juice to your face two times a week.
Caution: Conduct a patch test on your skin before trying this remedy as it can cause an allergic reaction.
Using these tips and tricks diligently for a few weeks can not only lighten your skin tone but also rejuvenate your skin and make it smooth.
You can choose from different methods to lighten skin, starting from cosmetic products to procedures to home remedies. Home remedies to lighten skin can give you a safe and cost-effective option to get rid of uneven skin tone, remove blemishes and spots and naturally reveal radiant skin. Lemon, honey, aloe vera, turmeric, cucumber, papaya, orange peel, and potatoes are the most effective natural ingredients that you can apply in different home remedies to brighten your skin. You need to combine the right ingredients in correct proportions to get optimum benefits for your skin and apply them for a week or two at least.
Sources
- Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications, The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605218/ - Honey as a Complementary Medicine, Integrative Medicine Insights, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5406168/ - A Fairer Face, a Fairer Tomorrow? A Review of Skin Lighteners, MDPI.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/48d7/6c8cea60d6873d73ddf8d173cb1b4b70271b.pdf - On the novel action of melanolysis by a leaf extract of Aloe vera and its active ingredient aloin, potent skin depigmenting agents, Planta Medica, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22495441 - Skin whitening agents: medicinal chemistry perspective of tyrosinase inhibitors, Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6010116/ - Systemic skin whitening/lightening agents: What is the evidence?, IJDVL.
http://www.ijdvl.com/article.asp?issn=0378-6323;year=2013;volume=79;issue=6;spage=842;epage=846;aulast=Malathi - Exploring cucumber extract for skin rejuvenation, African Journal of Biotechnology.
https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380726732_Akhtar%2520et%2520al.pdf - Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence, Phytotherapy Research, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27213821 - Wound-healing potential of an ethanol extract of Carica papaya (Caricaceae) seeds, International Wound Journal, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22296524 - Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Carica papaya, Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies.
http://www.plantsjournal.com/vol1Issue1/Issue_jan_2013/2.pdf - Evaluation of Skin Anti-aging Potential of Citrus reticulata Blanco Peel, Pharmacognosy Research, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4908842/ - Health Benefits and Cons of Solanum tuberosum, Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies.
http://www.plantsjournal.com/vol1Issue1/Issue_jan_2013/3.pdf
