How to Make Your Skin Lighter

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The best home remedies and products for skin lightening
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Though many people work hard to make their skin look darker, some prefer to lighten it to hide scars, even out blemishes, undo the effects of over-tanning, or simply to achieve a fair-skinned look. To have light skin, try the following tricks and techniques.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

In Your Fridge

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  1. Apply lemon juice. Lemon juice is commonly used to lighten hair and can even be added to the white cycle of your laundry as a bleach alternative. You can spot-apply lemon juice to dark spots as a lightening agent, but note that the citric acid is harsh and can irritate your skin. If you want to use lemon juice regularly or over large areas, consider diluting it or creating a gentler paste by mixing it with honey or yogurt.
    • You can mix lemon juice with water in a spray bottle, rub the rind on your skin, or make masks and lotions. No specific way is guaranteed to work faster than any other. Be patient; lightening your skin with lemon takes time. [1]
    • Don't use lemons on areas that have been recently waxed, shaved, or have cuts.
  2. In addition to the fact that yogurt is a very gentle bleaching agent, it contains lactic acid that moisturizes, zinc that combats sunburn, and active cultures that attack harmful bacteria and fungi.
    • In comparison to formulated, exfoliating products, yogurt doesn't exactly come up to snuff. It contains about .9% free acid; it's Alpha Hydroxy Acid levels are considerably lower than most other alternatives. [2] It won't hurt you, but it may not give you the results you're looking for. At the very least, certainly not quickly.
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  3. Baking soda is commonly used as a household cleaner and tooth whitener, but it can also lighten skin. Though it is relatively gentle, note that over-applying can have a drying effect; to create a more skin-friendly paste, mix baking soda with honey, apply it as a mask, and let it sit for at least ten minutes.
    • Baking soda is used as an exfoliant. It won't lighten the skin you're in, but it can remove sun-damaged skin cells that have darkened.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Creams, Exfoliants & Powders

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  1. This helps remove the outermost layer of skin that is darkened and/or damaged by contact with the sun. Avoid over-exfoliating, however, as this can interfere with you skin’s natural oil production and cause greasiness. [3]
    • One cheap and effective homemade exfoliant is brown sugar mixed with honey. On its own, honey can make skin feel remarkably soft; coupled with the gritty sugar texture, the two make for a very effective scrub. As a bonus, honey is an antibacterial agent [4] that can help keep you from breaking out.
  2. By scattering light, the powder will not only make your skin appear brighter, but also even out blemishes.
    • Baby powder can do this, too. It's light enough to fill in your pores like a powder foundation, but heavy (and white) enough to subtly affect your skin tone. Make sure not to apply too much, though, or you'll end up looking like an 18th-century Geisha.
  3. Be forewarned, however, that hydroquinone – the active ingredient in many bleaching creams – has been banned in many countries due to studies suggesting that it is carcinogenic.
    • Bearberry (Beta-Arbutin) and kojic acid are also recent trends in skin lightening. However, recently bearberry has been linked to hydroquinone and has also been deemed unsafe [5] ; kojic acid, on the other hand, has passed its tests. Used at levels of 2% (no higher) in cosmetic products, it's safe. [6] Note: in lab testing, skin lightening results were seen at 4%. [7]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

For Your Body

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  1. If you have to exercise, join a gym or hit the road before dawn or after dusk. Wear a brimmed hat when necessary and don’t forget to wear sunscreen daily – even if it’s cloudy outside. [8] Up to 80% of the sun's rays can pass through clouds. [9]
    • Don't forget your lips! Slather on a lip balm that has built in SPF 15 in addition to your daily moisturizer.
  2. A healthy glow is important to any skin tone. While you're working on the getting your skin a bit fairer, keep to a routine that will let your skin radiate brilliance.
    • Don't smoke. It causes a sallow, uneven skin tone that can easily show up in young people. The habit can also increase the likelihood of developing sun spots, a mark usually reserved for the elderly. [10]
    • Keep a nutritious, healthy diet. In particular, up the vitamin C. It's key to the production of collagen, a protein that aids in the growth of cells and blood vessels and gives skin its firmness and strength. [11]
  3. A professional will be able to run you through all your options if you're dead-set on altering your skin tone. There are over-the-counter and prescription products they may be able to set you up with that are safe and more effective.
    • In addition, they can debunk the myths that abound about skin care and provide knowledge that no website can parallel. Talk to your doctor before you take any serious action.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What products can I use to lighten my skin?
    Kimberly Tan
    Licensed Esthetician
    Kimberly Tan is the Founder & CEO of Skin Salvation, an acne clinic in San Francisco. She has been a licensed esthetician for over 15 years and is an expert in mainstream, holistic, and medical ideologies in skin care. She has worked directly under Laura Cooksey of Face Reality Acne Clinic and studied in-person with Dr. James E. Fulton, Co-creator of Retin-a and pioneer of acne research. Her business blends skin treatments, effective products, and education in holistic health and sustainability.
    Kimberly Tan
    Licensed Esthetician
    Expert Answer
    You can use an exfoliant such as kojic acid to help your skin appear brighter.
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  • Question
    How many times should I use it per day?
    Community Answer
    Just once a day is sufficient so you don't harm your skin. It's better to do it at night so your skin isn't affected by sunlight.
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  • Question
    How long will it take for my skin to lighten?
    Community Answer
    This will depend on your current skin tone and your desired skin tone. It will also depend on the strength of the material you are using as well as how much sunlight you are getting. On general, it will take about 1 to 4 weeks.
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      Tips

      • Use the natural methods first as the effects of the lightening creams are usually reversible.
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      • Hydrogen peroxide can be found in many skin lightening creams, so when all else fails, you can at your own risk mix a very little amount in a face mask. Be careful, though. Hydrogen peroxide has many possible side effects.
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      • Be reasonable. If you are naturally chocolate brown, be happy for your skin color. Many people would do anything for tanned skin.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Know that you are beautiful no matter what. You might have some spots that are darker than others and that's okay.
      • Wear long pants for sun protection. If an occasion requires skin exposure, apply plenty of sunscreen.
      • Wearing a cap or sunhat also helps prevent tanning or sun damage on the face.
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      Warnings

      • Overuse of any product can dry out your skin, leading to flakiness and irritation.
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      • Avoid putting hydrogen peroxide on your skin. Though it will temporarily bleach it, it is an oxidizing agent (i.e. the opposite of those healthful antioxidants we use to keep our skin from aging prematurely) and can have a corrosive effect. [12] For this reason, hydrogen peroxide is no longer even recommended for treating wounds.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://answers.webmd.com/answers/1197681/can-i-use-lemons-to-lighten
      2. ↑ https://www.foodsci.uoguelph.ca/dairyedu/yogurt.html
      3. ↑ Kimberly Tan. Licensed Esthetician. Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.
      4. ↑ Conventional Use of Honey as an Antibacterial Agent
      5. ↑ https://www.premiumbeautynews.com/en/german-institute-says-beta-arbutin,5224
      6. ↑ Kimberly Tan. Licensed Esthetician. Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.
      7. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21164073
      8. ↑ Kimberly Tan. Licensed Esthetician. Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.
      9. ↑ https://www.skincancer.org/healthy-lifestyle/outdoor-activities/essential-sun-safety-information-for-skiers-and-snowboarders
      1. ↑ https://podcasts.ufhealth.org/teen-smokers-do-damage-early-on/
      2. ↑ https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/information/nutrition/vitamin-c-benefit-skin.htm
      3. ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1067-1927.2005.00072.x/abstract;jsessionid=A40C415B13358668B39864AA45C05E55.d03t04
      4. Organic Authority on yogurt’s effects on skin

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to have light skin, you can try some home remedies, like lemon juice or baking soda. Try mixing lemon juice with honey or diluting it with water in a spray bottle. Then, apply it to your skin regularly. Alternatively, combine baking soda with honey to make a mask and apply it to your face for 10 minutes. You can also lighten your skin by exfoliating it. For example, use a homemade scrub of honey and sugar on your face to remove the outermost layer of skin, which will be darker due to exposure to the sun. Remember not to exfoliate more than once or twice a week, because doing it too often can irritate your skin. For tips on how to use skin lightening creams, keep reading!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Pooja Rathore

        Oct 30, 2018

        "It really helped me to lighten my skin tone. I really love wikiHow articles, thank you so much."
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