The color of our skin is determined by the amount of a pigment present in our skin called the melanin. Whether you are fair, brown, black, honey, amber or olive colored, it depends upon the genetic makeup that signals our skin to take the directed code. Now we cannot control the genetic commands to take up the color of our choice for our skin, but we are surely in control of the appearance and grooming of our skin tone.
The following article is not about how to change your skin color from brown or black to a fair tone, rather it would give you some guidelines about how to keep your skin a fair glow and remove blemishes, spots or any other discolorations with simple home-based remedies. Of course, individuals with a fair skin tone would benefit the most with the skin lightening techniques as they have a less amount of melanin in their bodies.
The skincare market is loaded with products that claim to make your skin fairer, not in weeks but days. Many of them contain ingredients that are not safe and sometimes can cause irreparable damage to your skin.
The beauty of DIY remedies is that you know what you are putting on your skin and being natural; they will not harm your skin though they may take some time to deliver results. So be patient with a remedy and if it suits your skin, stick to it and you will surely see pleasant results. Some of the home remedies for a fairer skin are
1. Lemon
Lemon has natural bleaching properties and its juice is a customary item to a skin regime aimed at the lightened skin. Extract some fresh lemon juice and apply it to the affected area, as a sunburn, with acne marks etc. Individuals with a sensitive or broken skin should avoid this remedy altogether or use it with yogurt or milk.
2. Milk and honey
Milk is recommended for bone health but it can do some wonders for your skin too because it contains enzymes that render a skin lightening effect, thereby making your skin blemish-free. Mix 2-3 tablespoons of milk with honey to make a paste. Apply this mixture on your face for 10 minutes and wash with warm water. This remedy is gentle enough to be used on dry, oily and sensitive skin types every day.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric has a 4000 years old history of being used as a spice in cuisines, as an herb in traditional medicine, a natural dye in industrial use, and even in some religious and cultural ceremonies. Being the focus of modern research for its role in treating cancer, turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and is a marvelous ingredient for skin.
Mix a little turmeric powder with rose water for sensitive skin and with lemon juice otherwise to make a paste. Apply it on alternate days all over your face and leave it for fifteen minutes or until it dries out. Wash it with lukewarm water and you should be able to observe the glow and shine within a week or so.
4. Tomatoes
Blend half a tomato and add a few drops of lemon juice. Apply it to your face for at least 15 minutes and wash with cold water. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is a great ingredient to remove skin pigmentation. The tomato paste delivers an exfoliating effect, thus it gets rid of dead skin cells and further enhances the skin tone.
5. Fuller’s earth
Fuller’s earth or Multani mitti is another age-old remedy used for glowing skin and a fairer complexion. Use it with rose water, milk, yogurt, orange juice or simple water and see the results yourselves. Used twice a week only, this face pack soaks up the dirt, grime and excess of oils from the skin, increases the blood circulation and clears the skin of any spots or unwanted marks.
6. Aloe vera and brown sugar
These two ingredients make the best scrub ever because of their exfoliating and soothing effects at the same time. Use it twice a week; aloe vera with its skin lightening ingredients soothes away any inflammation and brown sugar gently exfoliates. The result is a smooth, hydrated and fair skin within weeks.
