Homemade Remedies to Lighten Skin
In 1 tablespoonful of yogurt add 8-10 drops of lemon juice. Mix well and apply as a night cream. You can add a drop of Lavender or Rose oil to this. Apply on the neck as well. Lemon juice is great for lightening skin, if your skin cannot tolerate lemon juice use tomato puree instead.
Take a small slice of ripe papaya and mash it well with a fork. Add a spoonful of fresh cream or yogurt to this, squeeze a few drops of lemon juice and mix well. Apply on the face and neck for 20 - 30 minutes.
Crush 2-3 fresh strawberries; add a drop of honey to this and a few drops of lemon juice. Leave on the face and neck for 15 - 20 minutes and wash off.
Extract the juice of half an orange - around 2 teaspoons, mix a teaspoon of thick cream or milk powder to this and apply for 20 minutes before washing off.
Apply a thick layer of mashed bananas, leave it on the neck and face for 20 minutes before washing with tepid water.
Take 1tablespoon of cooked oats - well mashed, to which a teaspoon of lemon juice is added. Let this paste dry on the face before washing off it in a scrubbing motion. It makes the skin lighter and rejuvenated.
Add a pinch of turmeric powder to a tablespoon of gram flour with a few drops of lemon juice. Mix well and apply. Wash off in half an hour.
Make a paste with 1 tablespoon of milk powder, half a teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lemon juice. Mix well and apply on the face and neck. Wash well after 20 minutes.
The water got from a tender coconut is very good when used to rinse the skin. It removes scar marks and blemishes too. Rinse your face with this water morning and evening – leave it for 15 minutes before washing.
Boil 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds in a glass of water. Cool. Rinse face and neck with this concoction for a glowing complexion.
When you don’t have time for any of the above, halve a lemon and gently rub in a circulation motion on the face, arms and legs. Wash after half an hour.
Eat the Right Vitamins
Eat foods rich in vitamin C as this lightens skin tone as well as maintains suppleness of the skin. Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and gooseberries are great for the skin. Strawberries, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupes and green peas are good sources of vitamin C.
Vitamin A is also beneficial in keeping the skin healthy, tight and clears up tan and blemishes, foods which contain beta-carotene help by minimizing effects of the sun. Foods rich in vitamin A include carrots, watermelon, papaya and tomatoes. Foods like oysters, egg yolk and non fat milk are also good sources of vitamin A.
Lightening and making the skin look fairer takes very long - a few months. Consistent facials and patience is all that it takes. Added to this, a healthy diet, proper exercise and enough sleep should work wonders.
