If you ask any woman about the kind of skin that she dreams of, more often than not the answer is going to be ?skin that is fair and flawless?. But the catch here is that the color of a person?s skin is mainly determined by the genetics. They rule the production of the pigment called melanin which is present in the skin cells. The more the melanin, the darker the skin color. While it is not possible to change the amount of melanin in the skin, it is possible to work on other factors that cause darkening and dullness of skin. We show you exactly that today – ?how to get fair skin with home remedies that are safe and effective.
Causes of Skin Darkening
In order to treat the skin with home remedies for fair skin, it is important to understand the underlying cause of skin darkness. There are three main causes of skin darkening which lead to dull and lifeless skin.
Dead Cells
Skin that is not taken care of starts showing signs of neglect in the form of dullness. The moment dead cells start accumulating on the skin, they hide the natural complexion with a layer of darker cells that make your skin appear lifeless. The moment you get rid of the dead cells, you will find skin that is renewed and rejuvenated.
Oiliness
Another culprit that makes your skin appear darker is oil or sebum that is produced by your skin cells. Oil in turn attracts dirt and dust, leading to skin that loses its natural glow. Get rid of the grease and you will naturally find your skin to be a tone lighter.
Sun Damage
One of the biggest enemies of fair skin is the damage caused by the sun. Venture out without sunscreen and you will automatically find your skin darkening. Treating this sun damage helps you get back your natural complexion that is lighter and more lively.
Now that you have seen the three main causes of dullness that can be treated, let us see how they can be treated.
Home Remedies: How to get fair skin
Citrus fruit peel (orange, lemon)
The rich source of Vitamin C in citrus fruits like oranges and lemon are most preferred sources in skin lightening. Vitamin C is essential to maintain good skin health, moreover lemon is an active ingredient that works on most tough skin tan. You can use simple homemade citrus fruits peels to brighten skin tone.
- Sun dry orange and lemon peel.
- Grind the dried peel into a fine powder.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of the dried peel powder with 1 tablespoon of curd.
- Apply the paste on face and neck. Wash off after 15 minutes.
Aloe vera
Supple moisturized skin is a great way to bring a healthy glow to the skin. Aloe vera helps to keep skin supple, soft and glowing. This can also be used to lighten scars, tan, pigmentation and to add a glow to the skin.
- Remove the pulp from fresh aloe vera branch.
- Use the pulp directly on the skin. Massage slightly.
- Wash off after 20 minutes.
Papaya
Another fruit that provides natural skin exfoliation and a chemical peeling reaction is papaya. The fruit has an enzyme called papain that promotes mild chemical peeling, exfoliation, clarifies skin and smoothens it. It de-tans skin and makes it glowing and bright. Vitamin A, C and B complex will restore skin?s youthfulness. This could be a way to makes your skin bright and glowing.
13 Simple Papaya Face Packs for Amazing Skin
- Remove the pulp of papaya.
- Add one tablespoon of honey to the pulp.
- Add the paste to skin cleansed with milk; let it stay for 30 minutes.
- Rinse with cold water and finish off with rose water.
Or You can try this face scrub.?Biotique Bio Papaya Revitalizing Tan-Removal Scrub.
Yogurt
A simple and efficient home ingredient that helps to brighten skin complexion is yogurt. It contains various compounds that are beneficial for skin health. Vitamin B5 helps to add a glow to dull skin and work on scars and dark spots, while Vitamin B12 in yogurt lightens skin discoloration. This is also one of the easiest ways to make skin glowing and dewy.
- Blend together 3 tablespoons of yogurt, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of oatmeal.
- Massage skin gently using this paste as a scrub.
- Wash off after 30 minutes. Repeat thrice a week to remove sun tan and other skin disolouration.
Lemon-Honey Pack
Lemon and honey, both work as bleaching agents which lighten the skin tone. Apply a mixture of equal quantities of lemon and organic honey on your face and leave it on the skin until it dries out. It does not just remove suntan and pigmentation, but also works on the facial hair to give it a bleached effect – naturally making your skin appear fairer and lighter.
Potato
An excellent way to get natural bleaching is with the use of potato. The packed Vitamin B complex and minerals aid skin brightening. You can either use raw potato slices to rub the skin, use finely ground potato as a face pack, or use potato juice in combination with other skin brighteners like lemon and honey. The bleaching properties of potato make it the most favorite choice to make skin fair and clear.
Tomato Pack
Tomato juice works like an astringent that fights blemishes and skin darkening. Wash your face and apply a couple of teaspoons of tomato pulp in circular motions. Wipe it with a wet cloth once it dries. The juice will work on your spots and pigmentation and give you skin that has an even tone. Regular application lightens your skin tone, making it one of the most effective home remedies for fair skin.
Find more tips to get rid of dark spots and blemishes here.
Turmeric Pack
Turmeric has been one of the most widely used home remedies for fair skin since ages. Depending on your skin type, you can apply a mixture of turmeric with curd (for oily skin) or turmeric with milk (for dry skin). The pack will fight blemishes, skin infections and also strip away skin dullness to give you brighter skin with a golden glow. Remember to not overuse it since you do not want to look yellow and jaundiced.
Multani Mitti Face Pack
We?ve enunciated the benefits of Multani Mitti time and again and by now you know that it is the extremely effective in getting rid of oiliness. One of the simplest home remedies for fair skin is to apply a pack of Multani Mitti mixed with rose water. Wash it off after fifteen minutes for skin that is glowing and shine free.
Sandalwood
A good old ingredient that promises to give fair skin and glowing complexion is sandalwood. This is the most beloved beauty product of ancient ayurvedic gurus. This completely natural agent helps to keep skin soft, glowing, moisturized, youthful and fair! It adds a healthy glow to the skin that increases each day with regular use of sandalwood. Pure sandalwood powder is available in almost all local markets. Try this simple and effective sandalwood face pack for fair skin.
- Mix together 1 tablespoon of sandalwood powder, 3 tablespoons of milk and 2 strands of saffron.
- Apply the paste to skin and let it dry for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse with cold water.
We recommend Etheric’s Pure and Natural Sandalwood powder.
Rosewater
The most trusted natural skin toner and catalyst in every beauty regimen- rosewater. It is a natural toner and clarifying agent that adds an instant glow to the skin. Moreover, rosewater smoothens skin instantly and makes it soft.
You can use rosewater directly on skin post face wash to brighten skin complexion.
Saffron Oil
If you are familiar with Ayurvedic home remedies for fair skin, then you must have definitely come across ?Kumkumadi Oil?.
This Ayurvedic concoction made from saffron has been used since decades to lighten skin tone. If you do not have access to the oil, you can apply a mixture of toned milk, saffron and almond powder as a scrub. The almond removes dead skin, saffron lightens it while the milk moisturizes it and makes it supple. Using the scrub once a week will give you fair and glowing skin that will make heads turn!
You might want to read,?Kottakal Kunkumadi Tailam Review.
Coconut oil
This wonder working oil is often taken for granted. Coconut oil is also blessed with the goodness needed to maintain healthy skin. It contains a big boost of vitamins and essential fatty acids that keep skin smooth, soft, youthful and moisturized. Regular facial massage using coconut oil has the ability to fade dark spots, scars, uneven skin tone and skin darkening. You will soon notice glowing fair skin within few weeks of using coconut oil.
Lemon-Sugar Scrub
Lemon is a bleaching agent that gets rid of suntan and also counters oiliness in the skin. Mix the juice of half a lemon with some coarsely powdered sugar and you have an amazing face scrub that will gently slough away dead skin. Applying this scrub once a week will give you lighter and fresher skin.
Almond scrub
The beauty vitamin that helps in skin moisturization and rejuvenation is Vitamin E. Ample amounts of this is found in almonds. Making the best use of almonds will also help to get fairer complexion by hastening skin renewal and health. You can use ground almonds, powdered almonds, etc., as face packs or face scrubs. Consuming almonds every day is the best way out to maintain youthful and glowing skin.
- Soak 5 to 6 almonds overnight in milk containing 2 strands of saffron.
- Next morning, grind together the milk, almonds, and saffron.
- Apply over face and neck; let it dry slightly.
- Scrub in upward movements. Wash off when completely dry.
- Instantly glowing and lighter skin is yours!
Kojic acid
The recent safer and better ingredient in skin whitening product is kojic acid. This is an extract from the fungi Aspergillus oryzae and is becoming popular in the cosmetic industry. Kojic acid penetrates into cellular layers and hinders melanin production; as a result, less of skin darkening and fairer skin.
?Everyday Tips for fair Skin
Stay hydrated- water
Brighter skin and fairer complexion require good skin functioning. Often we forget that skin is the largest organ in the body that is well deserving of consistent care. To stabilize skin functioning and regulate proper melanin production, staying hydrated at all times could be a good first step. Water helps skin to a great extent by flushing out toxins, taking care of dry skin problems, minimizing acne and breakouts, keeping whiteheads at bay, etc. Always remember to drink sufficient amount of water to maintain proper functioning of all systems. This will consequently boost skin health and add a glow to the skin that will be visible in few days time.
Fruit juices
Drink a tall glass of fruit juice every day to get fairer skin. All fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals. One day at a time, you will revive skin. Consuming whole fruit and fruit juices on a daily basis improves skin tone and gives clear and bright complexion.
Tender coconut
Get all the essential nourishment for your skin from tender coconut. The extremely nourishing potency of coconut milk and coconut water work on the skin inside out and provides a soft glowing complexion.
Exercise
20 minutes of dedicated exercising every day improves overall health and works on skin?s well being too. Exercising opens up the skin pores and the sweating improves blood circulation. Better blood circulation means beautiful skin complexion. You will have the benefit of reduced skin problems and glowing complexion.
Sleep
Another smart way to maintain good skin health is by getting sufficient amount of beauty rest; after all, they don’t call it beauty sleep for no reason. Adequate sleep and rest will enable proper skin functioning. Your skin will glow from within and you will soon notice your complexion getting better.
Diet
Consuming a light and healthy diet will also have an impact on skin complexion.?Fresh fruits and vegetables will work best to improve skin complexion. Include food items that cool down the system. You will be surprised by how much your skin benefits through this. Proper diet will make skin fair and glowing; lassi, buttermilk, watermelon, muskmelon, etc., are food items that cool the system.
Antioxidants
The best gift you can give yourself and your skin is youthfulness. A youthful and bouncy skin full of life is free from dullness, dryness, age spots and premature signs of ageing. Antioxidants are the magic compounds that combine with free radicals in your body, nullify their effect and send them out of your system. All kinds of berries are filled with antioxidants and are also proven agents that make skin glowing and fairer. Chew on few strawberries, grapes, blueberries, raspberries and other fruits from the berry family to get fairer and healthy skin.
Skincare routine
Can?t emphasize enough on this! A consistent and proper skincare routine is very much essential to retain your skin complexion.
- Wash face thrice a day with a mild soap or face wash.
- Scrub skin twice a week to exfoliate dead skin cells and tanning.
- Keep skin moisturized at all times! This will show significant results in few days time.
Bleaching and Facials
Bleaching is the best way to make skin fair immediately. It removes tanning (even the most stubborn ones), almost instantly. Regular facial bleaching removes sun tan, dullness and dark spots. It makes skin fairer and glowing. For the best results, follow it up with a good facial to make your skin rejuvenated and full of life.
Less makeup
Keep your skin bare as much as possible. Most makeup products contain ingredients that are not just harmful to your skin, but also cause skin darkening when they react with the sun, humidity and other climatic and biological reactions. Avoid using makeup products as much as you can. And remember to remove makeup completely before you hit the bed to prevent tan and dullness.
Stay away from the sun
Obvious isn?t it? The more you stay protected from the sun, the safer your complexion will be. 9 am to 4 pm are the timings within which sun rays are most harsh. If you spend most of your time out during these hours, take all measures to guard your skin against the sun.
Umbrella, scarves, sunglasses
Make these your must-have handbag essentials. Umbrella, scarf to keep your face covered and sunglasses to protect eyes and keep away dark circles. Do everything that you know of to stay protected when one is outdoors.
Moisturiser with SPF
As already mentioned, keeping skin moisturized at all times is a great way to improve skin tone. Get fair complexion with moisturized ad hydrated skin that is well maintained. Remember to moisturize face, neck, hands, legs, feet (ample amounts here!) and the whole body! Mositurizing skin immediately post bath with a simple and good body lotion has proven results to make skin fair. Parachute Body Lotion is one that has surprisingly given fairer skin for some (strange fact, but true!). Neutrogena Fine Fairness range is another good series that works to give fair skin.
Sunscreen
Last but not the least, a good sunscreen with SPF 20 and above is a must (especially in places with tropical climate). However, the catch is to use it right. Re-apply every 20 minutes and when you think you have sweated it all out. Hands and feet tan slowly for most people but it takes a long time to get rid of (unlike face). Carry a small tube of sunscreen and re-apply as and when needed to keep tan away and to get fair skin. Also, remember to use a sunscreen when you sit before the laptop, computer, TV and other electronic devices that generate heat. It is not just the UV rays that cause tanning, the heat is more than enough to do the damage. Biotique sunscreen lotion comes with choices like carrot and sandalwood and is a good option to fall back on.
Now that you have seen some effective home remedies for fair skin, do give it a try and tell us how it worked for you!