Dark, dull, and uneven skin tone can be caused by a lot of factors such as overexposure to the sun, pollution, poor lifestyle choices, medical condition, or even stress. But there are natural ways to lighten skin and make it really alluring.
Skin lightening will help you achieve an even skin tone by getting rid of dark spots or pigmentation.
The good news is that this can be achieved using simple skincare products and home remedies, without the harsh side effects that come with most chemical whitening products.
Here are 8 surefire ways on how to lighten skin naturally that you can try at home, and get that flawless look.
1. Cleanse And Moisturize Your Skin Daily
Ensuring your skin is always moisturized will prevent dead skin cells from building up, leaving your skin looking dull and feeling caky.
For brighter skin, use a daily moisturizer as soon as you get out of the shower. Choose a creamy, alcohol-free moisturizer, since alcohol can actually dry out your skin.
Moisturize with a product suited to your skin type. If you have oily or blemish-prone skin, consider going for light lotions, while individuals with very dry skin should go for heavier creams.
Coconut oil is a great moisturizer that keeps skin glowing and looking youthful. It can lighten skin.
Spread coconut oil on your arms and legs after getting out of the bath. Jojoba oil, Olive oil or Almond oil, also have moisturizing properties and are great for the skin also.
2. Exfoliate Your Skin 1 To 2 Times Weekly
The buildup of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin can leave the skin feeling rough and appearing dull.
Skin exfoliation is important as it removes the darker, dead skin cells and reveals the new, lighter skin underneath.
An excellent way to exfoliate the skin is to wet your skin and rub the scrub in a gentle circular motion over your entire body.
In this way, you can ‘polish’ your skin until it has a healthy gleam. Sugar/salt makes great body scrub choices.
If you have acne-prone skin, consider a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid, which will dissolve dead skin cells without over stimulating the skin.
To exfoliate your face, however, consider using a gentler facial scrub. Ground-up oatmeal or almonds have good exfoliating properties that won’t irritate your fragile facial skin.
Using a dry (soft) brush to brush the dead skin cells from your body is another wonderful exfoliating method.
Get a brush made from natural fibers, and brush your body before you get into the bath or shower.
3. Drink More Water And Follow A Healthy Diet
Drinking water and eating right of course can’t magically make lighten skin, but it will help the skin to rejuvenate itself.
And when skin rejuvenates, the old, pigmented layers fade off to reveal fresh, new, brighter and healthier-looking skin. Drinking more water speeds up this process, so your goal should be to consume between six and eight glasses of water a day.
A good diet will also help to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy by providing it with the vitamins and minerals it needs.
Seek to eat as much fresh fruit and vegetables as possible (especially the ones high in vitamins A, C, and E) and cut down on processed foods.
You should also consider taking a nutritional supplement containing ingredients that have antioxidant benefits, and Flaxseed or Fish oil, both of which contain Omega-3 and are excellent for healthy hair, skin, and nails.
4. Always Wear Sunscreen
It is vital you protect your skin from the harmful radiations of the sun every time you step out of the house and even when indoors, as sun rays can penetrate glass as well.
Put on sunscreen lotion or spray generously all over your body and carry sunglasses, cap or a scarf to shield your skin from sun and pollution.
If you want your skin lighter, you have to care for it properly. Sun exposure can cause all sorts of havoc on your natural skin tone- from freckles and brown spots to serious sunburns and even skin cancer. Using a sunscreen with a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating like 30 or higher is good.
However, be careful not to stay out of the sun completely, as our body depends on some sun exposure to produce vitamin D, which is essential for glowing skin and other vital functions.
5. Yogurt And Gram Flour Can Lighten Skin
Using yogurt as a home remedy for skin rejuvenation is a popular practice.
External application or the consumption of yogurt can help in achieving a supple and radiant skin.
The lactic acid present in yogurt acts as a natural bleaching agent; and being a dairy product, yogurt is full of nutrients that are great to the skin.
A mixture of gram flour and yogurt can help moisturize your skin and get rid of excess oil.
Mix yogurt and gram flour, massage the paste into your skin and let it sit for 30 minutes, before washing it off with lukewarm water.
To get rid of a suntan, use this remedy daily for 2-3 weeks.
6. Papaya and Banana
Due to its high nutritive properties, papaya is a widely sought after skincare essential.
It provides a healthy glow to the skin and lightens the complexion. It also acts as a natural bleaching agent.
Directions:
- Chop and blend a banana and papaya together.
- Add 2 tablespoons of honey to the mashed fruits.
- Mix well and apply the paste to the skin.
- Leave it on for 20-30 minutes, and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
7. Turmeric
Turmeric represses the production of melanin and gives the skin an even complexion. Curcumin is one major compound found in turmeric.
The use of turmeric or curcumin-containing products and supplements are used for improving skin health.
It also acts as a skin lightening agent as it has antioxidant and antiseptic properties.
Combine turmeric powder and yogurt to make a paste. Apply the paste to your skin and leave on for about thirty before washing it off.
8. Lemon juice solution.
Lemon juice has been used for hundreds of years as a natural skin lightener.
This is because it contains acids that lightly bleach the skin and exfoliate the top layer of darker skin cells.
Since undiluted lemon juice can be too harsh on the skin, make a lemon juice solution by mixing one-part lemon juice to one-part water.
Take a cotton ball and dab the solution on your skin. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off with lukewarm water.
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