What can i use to lighten my skin

Having fairer skin has subconsciously become the standard of beauty in this modern era. With a wide range of whitening skincare products that claim to deliver positive results within ‘X’ number of days, how can you be a wise consumer to ensure that a product contains the right ingredients to effect its claims over a period of time?

For most Asian women, a porcelain-like white face is the feminine ideal. They will go to great lengths to avoid the sun – fighting to preserve or enhance their pale complexions with expensive creams, masks, gloves, professional face scrubs and medical procedures. ‘Whitening’ or more accurately skin lightening products are also known as bleaching creams, whiteners and skin brighteners, which work by reducing a pigment called melanin in our skin.

Melanin determines the colour of our hair, eyes and skin. Therefore, people with more melanin will have a darker skin tone. And tyrosinase is a type of enzyme that controls the production rate of melanin. The common uses of lightening products are to treat age spots, acne scars, or discoloration related to hormones.

Dr Paul Chia, Specialist in Dermatology, Raffles Skin & Aesthetics, sheds some light on decoding some of the common ingredients in whitening products, and dispenses tips on how we can achieve naturally brighter skin.

Hydroquinone (HQ)

HQ is the agent of choice for skin lightening. Combining HQ with a steroid cream and tretinoin have superior efficacy when compared to HQ alone. Although it’s considered safe, there may be side effects and is subject to pre-market approval by Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Retinoids

Retinoids have been used topically in the treatment of acne, photoaging and hyperpigmentation. Tretinoin enhances skin turnover by dispersing pigment granules. Combination creams comprising of a steroid, HQ, and tretinoin has been shown to be more efficacious.

4 Easy Tips to Achieving Fairer Skin

1.Hydrate the skin using moisturisers and hydrating creams

2. Gentle exfoliation treatment using various methods (eg AHA, gentle facial scrubs, exfoliation creams like Retin-A, microdermabrasion and chemical peels)

3. Meticulous sun protection – avoid going outdoors during the sunniest period of the day, use umbrellas, hats and protective clothing, and apply sunscreen regularly

4. Adopting a healthy lifestyle – have sufficient sleep, manage stress and eat healthily

Arbutin

It is derived from cranberry, blueberry and bearberry leaves. Arbutin acts by competitively inhibiting tyrosinase and inhibiting melanosome maturation

Azelaic Acid

This naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid is derived from a lipophilic yeast called pityrosporum ovale. It works by inhibiting tyrosinase.

Glycolic Acid

It is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from sugarcane. In low concentrations, glycolic acid produces desquamation of pigmented skin cells. About 30 to 70 per cent of glycolic acid can enhance the penetration of other skin lighteners such as HQ.

Kojic Acid

This hinders tyrosinase and is found in the Aspergillus oryzae fungus. It is used as a skin-lightening agent in concentrations of one to four per cent.

Paper Mulberry Extract

A popular skin-lightening agent used in Europe and South America. It is isolated from the root of the Broussonetia papyrifera tree. It produces little to no skin irritation.

Niacinamide

A form of vitamin B3 that inhibits the transfer of melanosomes to the skin cells. It is also a popular ingredient included in skin-lightening products.

Natural Soybeans

They contain enzymes that reduce melanin transfer, and soy has proven to be both efficacious and safe.

Vitamin

This is popularly included because it interferes with pigment production, which leads to hindering tyrosinase activity. Magnesium L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (MAP) is a stable Vitamin C derivative and has shown to lighten pigmentation.

Natural Ingredients

The use of natural ingredients for skin-lightening has gained popularity because ‘natural’ products are often perceived as safer alternatives. Ingredients such as arbutin, azelaic acid, glycolic acid, kojic acid, licorice extract (glabridin), mequinol, paper mulberry, soy, vitamin C, niacinamide, and melatonin are natural agents used to induce hypopigmentation.

Among them, many people may have an imbalanced skin tone like the darker skin on the neck but the lighter skin on the face, while others may experience the pigmentation problems related to sunburn. By and large, contacting with sunshine for a long time can make your skin dry, dull and dark. What’s more, using some specific chemical skin care products in a long time can lead to the same problems.

There are a lot of skin whitening products available in the market, but over half of them are made from chemicals which are harmful to your skin if used for a long time. Also, these chemicals may cause many side effects to your skin, such as dullness, uneven skin tone or acne breakout. But, don’t worry because there are many natural home remedies to lighten your skin that you can use right now!

Today article is going to give to top 10 home remedies to lighten your skin safely, naturally, effectively and simply.

1. Yogurt

Yogurt, a probiotic food, is a by-product of milk which contains many essential nutrients critical to your skin. Particularly, lactic acid in yogurt has moisturizing and bleaching features which make this probiotic a great skin care remedy when applied to your skin. It helps prevent the appearance of freckles and blemishes in your skin, give you a fresh, youthful and glowing skin.

There are many ways to apply yogurt to your skin. You can gently rub a plain of yogurt on your skin and leave it for some minutes before washing off it with lukewarm water. You should do this remedy once every day for couples of weeks to get a satisfying result.

Alternatively, you can apply the mixture of a half tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of fresh yogurt onto your face and neck skin and let it dry naturally for 10 – 15 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water. Do it every day. You can also make a thick yogurt paste to use as a mask by adding some oatmeal and a little lemon juice. This mixture helps moisturize your skin and keep it supple.

2. Oranges

Oranges are very rich in vitamin C which is the essential nutrient for skin care. Moreover, this fruit contains bleaching properties which are extremely powerful in lightening the skin tone. Consuming fresh orange juice regularly can improve the texture of the skin and keep it supple. You can use oranges in 2 ways to lighten your skin.

Read Also: 4 simple ways to use orange peels for skin

The first way is to apply the mixture of two tablespoons of orange juice with one pinch of turmeric powder onto the face and neck before bedtime. This mixture can also be used for hands and legs. Leave it for 20 – 30 minutes before rinsing it off. Do it daily.

Alternatively, you can make a paste by mixing one tablespoon of the powder ground from dried orange peels with one tablespoon of plain yogurt and apply it to your skin. Wash off the paste after 15 – 20 minutes. This remedy helps lighten the marks and spots on your facial skin. You should do it once or twice per week. Don’t do more than that.

3. Gram Flour

Another home remedy to lighten your skin is gram flour. It is one of the greatest solutions to lighten your skin safely, effectively and naturally which will not cause harm to your skin health like chemical skincare products on the market. Gram flour is a nutrient-dense ingredient which not only helps lighten your skin but also keeps it extremely healthy. The remedy given below is very useful in removing excess oil in your skin while keeping it moisturized naturally.

To make the solution, you need to create a thick paste of some gram flour combined with a little rose water or fresh water and apply this paste onto your skin in the face, hand, and leg areas. Let it dry before rinsing off the paste with water.

4. Honey

Honey is a wonderful skin-care ingredient which has great bleaching and moisturizing properties. It helps to treat the problem of imbalanced skin tone related to dryness. Also, this ingredient is rich in antibacterial properties which help fade acne scars and age spots on your skin. There are many ways to use honey to lighten your skin, but the article will give you two most simple-but-effective remedies below.

The first way is to directly apply pure honey onto your face and leave it for some minutes before rising off it with lukewarm water. This remedy helps draw out dead skin cells and give you a fresher and brighter skin. You should do this remedy once a day.

Another way to use honey is to make a skin-lightening mask. You need to mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of lemon juice, a half teaspoon of almond oil and one teaspoon of milk powder. Gently apply the mixture to your skin. Leave it for 10 – 15 minutes before rinsing off it with cold water. Do it daily.

5. Lemons

Lemons contain an acidic property which helps bleach your skin. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C which stimulates the production of a new cell.

Moreover, this fruit has antioxidants which are very essential for skin complexion. You can squeeze lemons to take the fresh juice, dip a cotton ball into it and apply the fresh juice onto your face. Or you can directly rub a slice of lemon on the affected skin and let the fresh juice stick to your skin. Leave the lemon juice for at least one hour before rinsing it off with water and do it every day. This method helps prevent the scars development on your face and lighten your skin tone.

Read Also: 2 inexpensive ways to get radiant skin at home

Alternatively, you can make a mixture of three teaspoons of lemon juice and one teaspoon of powdered turmeric to apply to your skin. Leave the solution for 30 minutes before washing off it with water, and do it every day. Or you can apply the mixture of one teaspoon of lemon juice, one teaspoon of milk powder and one teaspoon of honey for 15 – 20 minutes and then rinse it off. Do it every day.

Don’t use lemon juice for your skin when having open wounds, sensitive skin or any allergies.

6. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera is active in relieving hyperpigmentation, one of the main factors leading to imbalance skin tone, and restoring the original color of your skin. It also had the cooling effect which helps restore damaged tissue and regenerate new cells, keeps your skin healthy.

Take some leaves of aloe vera and peel the outer layers off. Squeeze out to get the thick, jelly-like gel and apply it to your skin. Leave it for 30 minutes before washing off it with water. Do it twice a day for two weeks to improve your skin tone.

7. Papaya

This ingredient is regularly used in a lot of beauty treatments, including lightening your skin tone. Thanks to its natural bleaching properties and many other essential nutrients, papaya will give you a glowing and healthy skin. The simplest way is eating papaya fruit. Alternatively, cut to take the inner part of papaya skin to rub on your face and leave it till dry. Then, use cold water to rinse your face and pat it dry. Do this treatment every day.

8. Turmeric

Turmeric is regularly used to lighten the skin tone. It maintains the balanced skin tone by building up the type of melanin content. It also contains antioxidant and antiseptic properties which keep your skin healthy. There are two powerful remedies that you can follow.

Read Also: 5 natural remedies to help you get rid of belly fat

First and foremost, you can make a thick paste of milk cream and powdered turmeric to apply to your skin. Let it dry and clean again with lukewarm water. Another way is making a mask by mixing a half teaspoon of powdered turmeric with one teaspoon of lemon juice and two teaspoons of gram flour and apply it on your skin. Leave the mask for 20 – 25 minutes till dry. Take off the mask and wash your face again with lukewarm water.

9. Cucumber

This vegetable binds collagen to keep your skin firm, supple, and light. It also contains cooling effect when applied on your skin. You can use this remedy for every type of skin, even sensitive skin.

The most common way is putting cucumber slices on your face and leaving them for some minutes, then taking them off and washing your face with warm water. You should follow it twice a day. Another way is making a spot-reducing mask by mixing honey and grated cucumber and applying it on the neck and face, leaving the mask for 15 – 20 minutes and then using cold water to wash it off.

Do it twice a day. You can also apply the mixture of one teaspoon of cucumber juice and one teaspoon of lemon juice, leave it for 15 – 20 minutes and then rinse off the mixture with water. Do it once a day.

10. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is the best ingredient to stimulate new skin cells’ growth, avoid old cells and improve the skin tone. It also exfoliates your skin, keeps it soft and supple. You can follow two remedies below to take care of your skin with oatmeal. First, make a mixture of oatmeal and tomato juice to apply onto the skin and leave the dough for 20 minutes before washing off it with cold water.

When washing, rub the skin gently to pull the dead skin cells out from your skin. Do it every day. Alternatively, make a paste of one teaspoon of powdered oatmeal, a pinch of turmeric and some drops of lemon juice to apply to your skin and allow it dry. Then, rinse off the mask with water. Do it once a day.

The article has given you top ten home remedies to lighten your skin naturally that you can use right now. Hope these remedies will help you treat the problem of uneven skin complexion and give you a healthy, light, fresh and glowing skin.

Written by Emily Pham

This guest post is by Emily Pham, a blogger with many years of experience in searching the best natural for beauty and health issues. All contents provided are for informational and educational purposes. We recommend you consult a healthcare professional to determine which method is appropriate for you.

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