Home Remedy for Skin Lightening: 24 Effective DIY for a Brighter Skin

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Several lightening skin products in the market promise to give you the fair, flawless skin you desire. However, many of these products contain harmful chemicals that can damage the skin. This makes a home remedy the best option for skin lightening.

The ingredients in a lightening skin product may seem to work, but in the long run, they can damage and ruin your skin complexion. To avoid this, you can opt for natural methods that work effectively for skin lightening.

This article presents 24 natural DIY methods to achieve a glowing, lighter complexion. These natural remedies will work on your skin pigmentation, resulting in fair skin. 

1. Gram Flour

Gram flour is a good lightening ingredient that works safely and effectively to lighten your skin, causing no harm to the skin. The flour contains nutrients that help to keep the skin healthy even as it lightens it.

How to make and use it: 

  • Add two tablespoons of gram flour into a bowl
  • Add enough water to make a paste(for better effect, you can make use if rose water)
  • Apply the paste on your face, hands, and legs
  • Wait for it to dry up completely on your skin
  • Rinse it off your skin with warm water

2. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is another natural ingredient that helps to lighten the skin. It works effectively to ensure skin regeneration. This helps to stimulate the regeneration of new skin cells to improve skin tone. There are two ways to use oat as a home remedy for skin lightening.

1. Oatmeal and tomato juice

To do this:

  • Mix 3 tablespoons of oatmeal and tomato juice in a bowl
  • Apply it on your skin
  • Allow it to dry up completely
  • Rinse it off with cold water

2. Oatmeal, turmeric, and lemon juice

To do this:

  • Mix a teaspoon of powdered oatmeal, pea-sized turmeric, and a few drops of lemon juice
  • Apply the mixture to your skin
  • Rinse it off with clean water

3. Tender Coconut Water

Tender coconut water not only quenches thirst, but it also works effectively to lighten skin. Applying it to the skin will help to improve the tone of your skin. 

How to use it:

To do this, simply apply coconut water to your face and other parts of the body. Rinse it off with cold water after. 

You can also mix it with a tablespoon of turmeric. Apply on your skin and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water.

4. Tomatoes

Tomato is one of the best lightening ingredients to use for your skin lightening treatment at home. It contains antioxidant properties that can help to brighten the skin. 

How to use it:

There are two ways to use tomatoes as a lightening treatment. The first is by mixing it with a bit of lemon juice, while the other option is by mixing it with honey.

Simply mix with any of the options and apply to your skin. Let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water.

5. Lemon

It contains a high level of vitamin C—which is an antioxidant that helps to lighten and glow up the skin.

How to use it:

  • Squeeze out the juice from fresh lemons and mix it with milk
  • Use a sponge to take out the mixture
  • Apply it on your skin using circular motions
  • Rinse it off with cold water after about 5 minutes.
  • Pat your skin dry with a towel and apply a moisturizer

6. Banana

Banana is a significant source of vitamin A—which helps to lighten and brighten the skin. You can mix it with another natural ingredient like lemon if your skin is not sensitive.

How to use it:

  • Mix half a ripe banana with the juice of half a fresh lemon
  • Apply the mixture on your face and rinse it off after 15 minutes

7. Cumin Powder

Cumin powder also contains antioxidant properties that can help to lighten the skin. 

How to use it:

  • Add a little amount of honey and turmeric to the cumin powder
  • Mix it to create a paste
  • Apply the paste on your skin and allow it to dry up completely
  • Rinse it off with clean water

8. Honey

Although hard to believe, honey can work effectively to lighten the skin. Especially when mixed with other natural ingredients like cinnamon.

How to do it:

  • Mix unpasteurized honey with pure cinnamon to create a paste
  • Apply the paste on your face and other parts of your body
  • Allow it to sit on your skin for 10 minutes before washing it off with clean water

9. Cucumber

Cucumber contains antioxidants such as caffeic acid, vitamins C and A, which are effective lightening agents.

How to do it:

  • Blend the cucumber to make a juice and add egg white to it
  • Apply the mixture on the skin and leave it for 30 minutes
  • Rinse it off with lukewarm water
  • Do this just once weekly

10. Orange Peels

Orange peel happens to be a natural lightening agent—as it contains vitamin C and citric acid. It also has a great scent and may be the best option for you.

How to use it:

  • Add a tablespoon of orange peel powder with ½ tablespoon of honey and a drop of lemon juice into a bowl
  • Mix the ingredients to create a paste
  • Apply the mixture to your skin and leave for 20 minutes
  • Rinse off with clean cold water

11. Potato Juice

Potatoes contain breaking properties that can help to naturally lighten the skin. Regular application of potato juice with honey will significantly help to lighten your skin in a short period.

How to do it:

  • Mix potato juice with ½ teaspoon of honey
  • Apply the mixture to your skin 
  • Let it sit on your skin for 15 minutes
  • Rinse it off with tepid water  

12. Yogurt

Yogurt contains lightening properties such as lactic acid—which helps to brighten and nourish the skin.

How to use it:

  • Apply yogurt on your skin every morning after your bath
  • massage it into your skin 
  • Rinse off with warm water

13. Egg

The yellow part of an egg is called egg yolk and is used regularly as a home remedy for skin lightening.

How to use it:

  • Get out the egg yolk from the egg 
  • Mix it with a tablespoon each of lemon juice and honey
  • Clean your face before applying the mixture
  • As you apply the mask on your face, cover it up with tissue paper
  • After applying it, let it dry up for 30 minutes
  • Pull out the tissue paper and wash your face with cold water

14. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a great lighting agent that is rich in antioxidant properties. 

How to use it:

  • Mix cinnamon powder and lemon juice to create a paste
  • Apply it on your skin and leave it on for 15 minutes
  • Rinse it off with lukewarm water

15. Rosewater

Rosewater works easily to lighten the skin, especially when it is mixed with honey.

How to do it: 

  • Mix rosewater with honey and apply to your skin
  • Let it sit for 15 minutes
  • Rinse it off with warm water

16. Papaya

Papaya is a natural lighting agent that contains leaching properties. 

How to use it: 

  • Mash some ripe papaya and mix it with freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Apply it on your skin
  • Rinse off with cold water after 30 minutes

17. Carrot

Carrots contain high levels of beta-carotene—an antioxidant that can help in lightening the skin. 

How to use it:

  • Apply organic carrot oil on your skin 
  • Do this at the end of your skincare routine
  • You can also mix the oil with your body cream or lotion

18. Rice Flour

Rice is rich in antioxidants and can help to make the skin brighter and clearer.

How to use it:

  • Extract some green tea by putting a bag in hot water for a few minutes
  • Mix the water with two tablespoons of rice flour and a teaspoon of lemon juice
  • Apply the mixture to your skin
  • Rinse it off after 15 minutes

19. Turmeric

Turmeric is another ingredient that works effectively as a home remedy for skin lightening use for your skin.

How to use it:

  • Mix a tablespoon of turmeric powder with lemon juice to create a paste
  • Apply the paste on your skin and allow it to dry for 20 minutes
  • Rinse off with clean water

20. Milk 

Milk contains lactic acid—which helps greatly in reducing pigmentation. It also contains other powerful antioxidants like vitamin B and calcium.

How to use it:

  • Microwave the raw milk to warm it up
  • Use a washcloth to apply the milk to your skin
  • Rinse your skin after 30 minutes

21. Olive oil

Olive oil contains little skin-lightening properties but can work effectively when mixed with lemon juice. This is because lemon contains natural bleaching properties that help to lighten and glow up the skin.

How to do it: 

  • Mix olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl
  • Apply the mixture to your skin
  • Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes
  • Rinse it off with clean water

22. Almond

Almonds are also a good lightening agent with several antioxidant properties. Mixing it with milk will help to improve the effectiveness of the ingredient.

How to use it: 

  • Soak about five almonds in water for about one hour
  • Mash the almost and mix it with three tablespoons of milk
  • Apply the mixture on your skin at night
  • Rinse it off with warm water

23. Avocado

Avocado is a popular home remedy for skin lightening that is used in creating lightening creams and products. 

How to use it:

  • Mix avocado with honey and lemon juice
  • Apply it on your skin for about 20 minutes
  • Rinse it off with clean water 

24. Saffron

Saffron is a popular lightening agent that works effectively to brighten up the skin. For a more effective result, you can mix it with other lightening properties like milk.

How to use it:

  • Mix the saffron with lemon juice and raw milk
  • Apply the mixture to your skin
  • Massage using a circular motion
  • Rinse it off after 15 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can egg white lighten your skin?

No, it can’t. Using egg white alone cannot help to lighten the skin. It works more to tighten and shrink pores and this contributes to the overall appearance of the skin.

However, mixing lemon juice with egg white will help to lighten up the skin.

Can you lighten your skin permanently with home remedies?

No, you can’t. You cannot permanently lighten or change the original color of your skin. 

However, you can use home remedies to even out your skin tone and get fairer skin.

Does turmeric help to lighten the skin?

Yes, it does. Using turmeric powder on the skin will help to lighten and clear hyperpigmentation.

You can also mix it with honey and other natural ingredients to increase its effectiveness.

Conclusion

Skin lightening products may contain harmful ingredients that can damage the skin. Therefore, if you are looking to get clearer, brighter, glowing skin, it is best to opt for natural home remedies. 

You can use any of the remedies provided in this article. However, ensure that you do a patch test before you use any of them. However, if you notice any irritation, stop using the ingredients on your skin. If signs are severe, contact a dermatologist for help. 

Thanks for reading.

Discover more useful DIYs to enhance the appearance of your skin on Serum101.