No one wants to have dark and dull skin, but unfortunately, this is inevitable because of various factors like dirt, overexposure to the sun, pollution, medical condition, dry skin, harsh chemicals on skin care products, and poor lifestyle choices.
While we cannot escape the causes of dull and dark skin, there is one thing that we can do—find ways to lighten our skin. And thanks to the hard work that the beauty industry experts have invested, we now have various beauty ways to lighten our skin instantly.
So, enough with the skin lightening fads. Save yourself the time, trouble and money because we have listed down 7 of the most effective ways to lighten your skin below:
1. Lemon
Lemon is known as a natural bleaching agent and has been proven effective in brightening the skin tone. In addition to that, this fruit also contains high amounts of citric acid and vitamin C, both of which can help improve the health and appearance of the skin.
If you wish to use lemons in lightening your skin, there are two ways to choose from. First, you can make a face pack by mixing juice from ½ of a lemon, half teaspoon of baking soda, and a few tablespoons of rosewater. Apply the resulting mixture to your face and let it sit for about 10 minutes. After that, wipe off the mixture using a wet towel. Rinse off afterwards.
The second option is to make a lemon spray. You can make this by placing juice from one whole lemon into a spray then adding enough amount of cold water into it. Apply the spray to your body or face. Let it dry then take a shower afterwards.
2. Shea Butter
We know that shea butter is an amazing moisturizing agent but plenty of experts claim that it is also an excellent skin lightening agent. How can that be? Well, the vitamin E content of this butter helps to nourish the skin and protect it from skin darkening that is caused by sun damage.
To use shea butter for skin lightening, you can create a shea butter body butter. You can do this by heating a half cup of shea butter in a pan. Afterwards, add a half cup of cocoa butter and 10 drops of almond oil and mix everything well. Place the mixture in the refrigerator until it solidifies then whip with a hand mixer afterwards. Apply this to your skin at night before you go to sleep.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural exfoliating agent that can help get rid of the dead skin cells that are making your skin dull and boring.
To make use of baking soda, add a few teaspoons of it to a teaspoon of warm water. Mix it to form a paste. Apply the resulting mixture to your face that is slightly damp. Massage it for a few minutes then rinse off with lukewarm water. You will be amazed at how bright your skin looks.
4. Honey
This is another kitchen ingredient that can make your skin look brighter. Honey is known for its antibacterial and moisturizing properties and can improve the brightness and clarity of your skin.
To use honey, apply pure honey directly to your dry face. Let it stand for 15 minutes. Wipe it off using a wet towel and rinse it with water afterwards.
You can also mix honey with another bleaching agent yogurt. You can prepare this mixture by placing 1 ½ tablespoon of honey in a mixing bowl. Add a tablespoon of fresh yogurt then stir well until the ingredients have fully combined. Using clean fingers, apply the resulting mixture to your skin. Allow it to stay on your skin for 10 to 15 minutes then wash it off using lukewarm water.
If you wish to gently exfoliate your skin 2 to 3 times a week, you can add a teaspoon of oatmeal into the yogurt and honey mixture then use it like you would a facial scrub. This simple addition can help remove dead skin cells and make the skin a lot brighter.
5. Witch Hazel
This is one of the best natural toners on the market. As we all know, toning is one of the most important steps in a skin care regimen because it can help improve skin tone. It can also refine the texture of the skin. It also helps regulate the oil production in the skin without stripping its natural oils.
Make sure to buy a pure, high-quality witch hazel toner and apply it to your skin with the use of a cotton pad. Do this after cleansing the skin and before you apply moisturizer in the morning and at night.
6. Banana
This fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals that can protect your skin from free radical and environmental damage, leaving it brighter, healthier and more beautiful.
To use banana in lightening the skin, mash a banana (make sure to use a ripe one) using a spoon. Continue doing so until the mixture is lump-free. Add a teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice then mix it altogether to form a paste. Rub the mask into your face and let it stay for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it using lukewarm water afterward. This simple trick can make your skin glow in an instant.
Another way to use banana in lightening the skin is to mix it with curd and milk powder. Get a piece of banana and grind or mash it. Take 2 tablespoons of the mashed banana and place it in a bowl. Add a spoonful each of curd, milk powder, honey, and lemon juice. Mix all of the ingredients together and apply it to your face. Let it dry for a few minutes (about 5 to 10 minutes). Wash it off with water afterwards.
7. Papaya
Aside from lemon, this fruit is the next most popular skin lightening home remedy. This is because it contains pa-pain, a natural enzyme which can boost the turnover of skin cells and promote the renewal of the skin by exfoliating it. The enzyme also keeps the skin soft and hydrated.
To use papaya for skin lightening, you can use a fork to mash the papaya until it becomes a fine paste. Apply it to your skin and let it stay for 15 minutes. Rinse off with water afterwards.
Another way to use papaya is to mix it with milk. Mix 3 tablespoons of milk with a cup of papaya, mashing the papaya slices as you do so. Do this until you can form a fine paste. Apply it to your skin and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Wash off the mixture with lukewarm water. Experts recommend doing this for 2 to 3 times a week so you can achieve instant results.
Having a flawless and lighter skin seem like an impossible feat. But maybe it is because we are looking at the wrong solutions. The ways that we have mentioned above are tried and tested and rest assured; these can help you to finally achieve the gorgeous looking skin that you have always wanted.
Author’s Bio-
Daisy Grace is a health and beauty expert. She enjoys writing on different topics related to women health issues and skincare.She also writes on different advanced techniques for skin like microdermabrasion, diamond peel etc.. She is also exploring new things related to general health and beauty.
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