Skin lightening cream helps reduce the appearance of age spots, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone and various other skin discolorations. Expensive store-bought products are readily available on drugstore shelves, but you can also make your own natural skin lighteners at home with easily obtainable ingredients. These remedies yield results slowly over time, but with consistent use, your skin tone will improve. For the best results, use the following creams once or twice daily until the desired results are achieved.
Lemon Oatmeal Skin Lightener
Lemon juice contains natural acids that help slough away the top layer of skin, leaving a fresh, lighter layer of skin behind. Combined with yogurt and oatmeal, two other natural bleaching agents, lemon juice gradually fades skin discoloration, refines the pores and increases smoothness. This skin lightening cream is suitable for all skin types except the very sensitive.
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp. ground oatmeal
- 1 tbsp. plain whole yogurt
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl to form a thick, spreadable paste. Allow the mixture to stand and thicken for 1 minute. Add a bit of water if the paste seems too thick. If it seems too thin, add a bit more ground oatmeal until you reach the correct consistency.
Apply the cream directly to the affected area, and leave on for 20 to 30 minutes, or until dry. Rinse clean with cool water, and pat your skin dry. Apply a light moisturizer to prevent dryness, as lemon juice can dry out the skin when used regularly. Repeat once or twice daily, as needed, making a new batch of the cream each time.
Wine & Yogurt Skin Lightening Cream
A skin lightening treatment that hails from Italy, the combination of chianti wine and plain yogurt helps lighten hyperpigmentation spots, resurfaces dry skin and even diminishes fine lines and wrinkles over time. The lactic acid in the yogurt and the tartaric acid in the wine are responsible for the cream's ability to even out the skin tone. These acids accelerate the removal of the top layer of skin, revealing the younger skin beneath. It's also gentle enough for all skin types.
- ½ cup chianti wine
- 1 cup plain whole yogurt, as fresh as possible
Combine wine and yogurt in a medium sized mixing bowl, and whisk together with a wire whisk until you have a smooth, creamy consistency. Store any unused portion in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to two days. After this, discard the cream and make a fresh batch.
Apply the lightening cream while standing in the shower or bathtub for the best results, as it can be quite messy. Rub gently on your skin, and allow the cream to remain for about 15 minutes. Rinse off with cool water that has a splash of chianti wine added to it. Pat your skin dry, and follow with a light moisturizer. Traditionally, Italian women rub a small amount of olive oil into their skin following this treatment.
Gram Flour & Turmeric Skin Lightener
Of the many skin lightening home remedies in circulation, the combination of gram flour and turmeric is perhaps one of the most popular. Gram flour is made from ground chickpeas, and the substance is rumored to have skin whitening properties. Brought to us from India, this homemade cream is believed to lighten and tone even the darkest complexions. Use on any skin type, except the very sensitive.
- 1 tsp. gram flour
- 1 pinch turmeric powder
- 3 to 4 drops lime juice
- ¼ tsp. olive oil
- ¼ tsp. whole milk
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, stirring well to combine. Apply the resulting cream directly onto the affected areas, and leave on for at least 30 minutes. Rinse clean with tepid water, pat the skin dry, and then apply a light moisturizer to prevent dryness. Repeat once or twice daily, as needed.
Sources:
Kumar, Vijaya. Secret Tips to Ultimate Beauty. Chicago: New Dawn Press, 2005.
Tourles, Stephanie. Naturally Healthy Skin: Tips & Techniques for a Lifetime of Radiant Skin (Herbal body series). 1 ed. North Adams: Storey Publishing, LLC, 1999.
Tourles, Stephanie. Organic Body Care Recipes. 1 ed. North Adams: Storey Publishing, LLC, 2007.
Cindy Ausbrooks - Cindy Ausbrooks is a freelance writer living in the beautiful Hot Springs, AR. She enjoys herbalism, natural medicine, animals, crafts, ...
