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20 Homemade Skin Lightening(whitening) Remedies And Treatments

We all want bright, healthy, and glowing skin. Well, who doesn’t!
And we also want effective results with minimal expense. Your skin care specialist or beautician might shun such a possibility, but wait, what if it is really possible?
We have come up with 20 amazing homemade skin lightening remedies that can give you the skin you wanted and also save your money. But, before we get into that, let us know the popular ingredients found in skin lightening products and how they work.

How To Lighten Skin Naturally

Given here are the popular skin lightening ingredients. Melanin is the key chemical substance found in our body that is responsible for giving our skin its color (1). The more the melanin is produced, the darker is our skin tone. For this melanin to be produced, an enzyme called tyrosinase is essential. Hence, most skin whitening treatments target this enzyme and block its activity (2). Some of the commonly used ingredients are as follows:

1. Hydroquinone

This is a primary ingredient that inhibits melanin production. However, a lot of controversy revolves around its involvement in increasing the risk of skin cancer. Due to this, most skin lightening creams and lotions are opting for other ingredients (3, 4).

2. Arbutin

It is a natural alternative to hydroquinone and is extracted from bearberry or mulberry leaves. It is known to have melanin-inhibiting properties (5).

3. Kojic Acid

During the manufacturing of the Japanese rice wine, kojic acid is produced as a by-product. It has been proved to slow down tyrosinase activity, hence aiding in skin lightening (6).

4. Azelaic Acid

This chemical is present in grains like wheat and rye, and it is a known tyrosinase inhibitor. It was initially used for acne treatment, but it is now used in skin lightening lotions as well (7).

5. Vitamin C

Fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C have been used since ancient times for getting rid of tan and lightening the skin color. It is also an excellent antioxidant for the skin (8).

6. Glutathione

Glutathione is an antioxidant and protects the skin from damage. Studies have proved that taking it orally lightens skin color and improves skin texture (9).

7. Cinnamomum subavenium

It is a Chinese herb that has been proved to inhibit tyrosinase activity. Hence, it is suggested to be used as a skin whitening agent (10).

8. Alpha Hydroxy Acids

These do no directly interfere with the production of melanin. They act as exfoliants and remove the dead and unhealthy layer of cells to bring the lighter layer to the top. They also increase the cell turnover rate (11).

9. Niacinamide

This chemical has been proven to be safe for topical application for skin lightening. It also reduces wrinkles and fine lines (12).
Here are some safe and reliable methods for skin lightening. They need just a few ingredients from your kitchen that contain effective skin whitening agents. Sounds great? Keep reading!

Top Skin Lightening Home Remedies

  1. Dried Orange Peels And Yogurt
  2. Tomato, Yogurt, And Oatmeal Mask
  3. Papaya And Honey Pack
  4. Milk, Lemon Juice, And Honey Mask
  5. Gram Flour And Rosewater
  6. Glowy Pumpkin Mask
  7. Citrus Mask
  8. Blueberry Brightening Peel
  9. Gram Flour And Curd Mask
  10. Licorice Root Extract
  11. Mulberry Leaf Extract
  12. Baking Soda
  13. Rice Flour And Milk Powder Mask
  14. Coconut Milk Whitening Mask
  15. Natural Skin Whitening With Sandalwood
  16. Essential Oils For Skin Whitening
  17. Bearberry Extract
  18. Potato Juice
  19. Skin Whitening Milk Bath
  20. Grape Seed Extract

1. Dried Orange Peels And Yogurt



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • A few dry orange peels
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh and unflavored yogurt
What You Have To Do
  1. Grind the orange peels till they turn into powder.
  2. Mix one tablespoon of this powder with the yogurt till you get a smooth paste.
  3. Apply the paste to your skin (after cleansing it) and keep it on for about 15-20 minutes.
  4. Rinse with warm water.
When You Need To Do This
You can do this regularly before going to bed.
Why This Works
Orange is a commonly used household ingredient that can whiten the skin (13). It is also rich in vitamin C that acts as a good depigmenting agent (14).

2. Tomato, Yogurt And Oatmeal Mask

What You Need
Get Skin Care Tips from Top Dermatologists on Lybrate. Click here to ask your query
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 teaspoon of yogurt (fresh and unflavored)
  • 1 teaspoon of oatmeal
What You Have To Do
  1. Cut the tomato in half. Take a teaspoon of its juice.
  2. Take the oatmeal in a bowl, and add the juice and yogurt to it. Mix well.
  3. Apply the mask to cleansed skin and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
  4. Rinse with warm water.
When You Need To Do This
Regularly before going to bed in the night.
Why This Works
The lycopene in tomatoes (that gives the fruit their characteristic red color) has photoprotective properties that can protect the skin from aging and other age-related issues (15). Due to the abundance of antioxidants, tomatoes are one of those foods that can make your skin glow (16). In a Germanic study, the lycopene in tomatoes was also found to protect the skin from cancer (17).
Oatmeal acts as a gentle exfoliant and improves skin health (18).

3. Papaya And Honey Pack



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • ½ cup of ripe and fresh papaya pieces
  • 1 teaspoon of honey
What You Need To Do
  1. Mash the papaya pieces till you get a smooth and thick paste.
  2. Add honey to this paste and mix thoroughly.
  3. Apply the paste to your face and keep it on for about 20 minutes.
  4. Wash your face with warm water.
When You Have To Do This
Every night before sleeping.
Why This Works
Fresh papaya is known to have the ability to dissolve dead cells, which gives one glowing skin (19). Honey has antibacterial properties that can protect the skin (20).

4. Milk, Lemon Juice, And Honey Mask



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 1 tablespoon each of milk and lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon of honey
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Apply the paste to your face (after having cleansed your face) and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
  3. Rinse your face with warm water.
When You Need To Do This
Do this every night before going to bed.
Why This Works
Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C that has been found to have skin lightening effects due to its ability to reduce the production of melanin (a pigment responsible for skin tanning) (21).

5. Gram Flour And Rosewater

What You Need
  • 2 tablespoons of gram flour
  • A few teaspoons of rosewater
What You Need To Do
  1. Mix the ingredients till you get a smooth paste.
  2. Rub the mask all over your face and let it stay on for about 30 minutes.
  3. Rinse with warm water.
When You Have To Do This
You can do this thrice a week before going to bed.
Why This Works
Gram flour has been found to possess antimicrobial properties that can protect the skin from infection. Rosewater can revitalize and moisturize the skin, and give it a refreshed look (22).

6. Glowy Pumpkin Mask



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 2 teaspoons of pumpkin puree
  • ½ teaspoon each of honey and milk
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix two teaspoons of this pumpkin puree with the honey and milk till you get a uniform paste.
  2. For the pumpkin puree, first cut a pumpkin into several pieces. Later, boil them and put them in an immersion blender.
  3. Apply this paste to your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
  4. Rinse with warm water.
When You Need To Do This
You can try this before going to bed in the night.
Why This Works
Pumpkin is a powerhouse of antioxidants and exfoliating acids. It consists of beta-carotene and vitamins A and C, all of which help in lightening and brightening the skin (23).

7. Citrus Mask



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon each of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons of sour cream (should not be fat-free)
What You Have To Do
  1. Beat the egg white in a bowl till it is fluffy.
  2. Take the sour cream in another bowl and mix the juices of grapefruit and lemon with it.
  3. Now add this mixture to the egg white and mix thoroughly.
  4. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes.
  5. Rinse your face with warm water.
When You Need To Do This
Thrice a week, before going to bed in the night.
Why This Works
The proteins found in egg white are found to have antibacterial properties (24). These can help protect the skin from external infections.

8. Blueberry Brightening Peel



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • A handful of fresh blueberries
  • ½ cup of plain yogurt
What You Have To Do
  1. Crush the blueberries and blend the paste with the yogurt.
  2. Mix well and apply the mask to your face.
  3. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then, wash off with warm water.
When You Need To Do this
During the night before going to bed.
Why This Works
Blueberries have excellent immunity-boosting properties that can help your skin glow (25).

9. Gram Flour And Curd Mask



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 1 tablespoon of gram flour
  • 1 tablespoon of curd
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl.
  2. Apply the paste on your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
  3. Rinse your face with warm water.
When You Need To Do This
In the night before going to bed.
Why This Works
Yogurt has been found to improve the brightness of skin (26). The probiotic bacteria in yogurt have also been found to keep your skin healthy and make it glow (27).

10. Licorice Root Extract



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • Few drops of licorice extract
  • Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
  1. With the help of the cotton ball, apply the licorice extract evenly in a thin layer all over the area, for example, the face and the neck.
  2. Leave it overnight and wash in the morning.
When You Need To Do This
Repeat this two to three times a week.
Why This Works
Licorice extracts have melanin-inhibiting properties. They can also help reduce dark circles and other dark spots on your skin (28).

11. Mulberry Leaf Extract



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 1 cup mulberry leaves
  • 1 1/2 cup of virgin coconut oil
What You Have To Do
  1. Wash the leaves thoroughly and soak them in the coconut oil for four days.
  2. Use this oil to massage the skin for a few minutes. Leave it on for five to 10 minutes.
  3. Wash with warm water.
Alternatively, you could add a few drops of the mulberry leaves extract available in the market to your water-based night cream and use it regularly.
When You Need To Do This
Do this two to three times a week.
Why This Works
Arbutin, a key tyrosinase inhibitor, is present in mulberry leaves. It also contains flavonoids like gallic acid and antioxidants which is beneficial for skin health.
Caution
Mild itchiness is possible because of the mulberry leaves.

12. Baking Soda



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 1-2 tablespoons baking soda
  • Water
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix the baking soda in the water to make a paste.
  2. Apply this paste on the areas you want to lighten and scrub for five minutes.
  3. Wash with water. Moisturize the area.
When You Need To Do This
Repeat this every day for a week to see a difference in your skin color.
Get advice on skin care from Dermatologists at Lybrate for free. Click here.
Why This Works
The scrubbing motion will remove dead cells and kill bacteria present on the skin to reveal fresher and lighter toned skin (29). You can also add a few drops of lemon juice for better results.

13. Rice Flour And Milk Powder Mask



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 1/2 to 1 cup of raw rice
  • Milk
What You Have To Do
  1. Grind the raw rice to get a fine powder. Mix this powder with the milk to make a paste.
  2. Apply this paste onto your skin and leave it on for 20-30 minutes.
  3. Wash with warm water.
When You Need To Do This
Repeat this two to three times a week.
Why This Works
Rice water and rice powder have been used since long by Asian women for softer, lighter, and healthier skin. Studies have proved that rice can protect the skin against UV rays and also possesses anti-aging benefits (30). Milk soothes the skin and gives it nourishment (31).

14. Coconut Milk Whitening Mask



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 4 almonds
  • 2 teaspoons coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon milk powder
What You Have To Do
  1. Soak the almonds overnight. In the morning, peel their skin and grind them to a smooth paste.
  2. Add coconut milk, lemon juice, and milk powder to this, and mix well.
  3. Apply this mask on clean skin and leave it on for 20-30 minutes.
  4. Wash with fresh water.
When You Need To Do This
Apply this mask two to three times a week for best results in skin whitening.
Why This Works
Coconut milk, in combination with the almonds and milk powder, provides the skin with essential vitamins and minerals and cleanses it the at the same time (32). The lemon juice acts as a bleaching agent (33). All the ingredients work together excellently to lighten and brighten your skin.

15. Natural Skin Whitening With Sandalwood



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 1 tablespoon sandalwood powder
  • 1 tablespoon almond powder
  • Milk
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix the sandalwood and almond powders in the milk to make a smooth paste.
  2. Apply this to clean skin and leave it on for 20 minutes.
  3. Wash with lukewarm water. If you feel any dryness after washing, moisturize your skin well.
When You Need To Do This
Apply this mask two to three times a week.
Why This Works
Sandalwood has skin brightening and lightening properties. It inhibits the activity of tyrosinase, hence reducing melanin production (34). The almond powder and milk provide essential nutrients and cleanse the skin, giving you a healthier and lighter skin after a few applications (35).

16. Essential Oils For Skin Whitening

Essential oils are basically highly concentrated oils that are extracted from plants (36). They have been used by the likes of Cleopatra to have and maintain flawless and glowing skin. Because of their high concentrations, it is highly important to know how to use them. Keep reading for how you can use the best essential oils for skin lightening and brightening.

a. Rose Essential Oil

What You Need
  • 1 cup chilled milk
  • 10 drops of rose essential oil
What You Have To Do
  1. Add the essential oil to the milk and mix well.
  2. Apply this mixture all over your body and keep it on for a few minutes.
  3. Wash with water.
When You Need To Do This
Do this every day for a couple of days.
Why This Works
Rose essential oil has a pleasant fragrance and makes your skin supple and soft. Apart from its skin lightening properties, it also reduces acne, scars, and wrinkles (37).

b. Orange Essential Oil

What You Need
  • Few drops of orange essential oil
  • Few drops of coconut or jojoba oil
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix the two oils and massage for four to five minutes onto the area to be treated.
  2. Leave for a few minutes and wash with warm water.
When You Need To Do This
Do this every day for a week or two.
Why This Works
This essential oil is known to promote the production of collagen, hence fighting signs of aging such as wrinkles and dark spots. It also protects the skin from UV damage. The overall outcome of these is brighter and healthier skin tone (38).

c. Lemon Essential Oil

What You Need
  • 3-4 drops of lemon essential oil
  • 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil or water
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil or water and apply on your skin.
  2. Massage for a few minutes and wash with water. You can also use a damp cotton pad to wipe it off.
When You Need To Do This
Apply this oil every day for a week.
Why This Works
The essential oil extracted from the lemon is multipurpose in its activities. It has antiseptic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and astringent qualities. It also rejuvenates your skin and lightens its color (39).
Caution
Do not go out immediately into the sun after applying lemon essential oil as it can sunburn.

d. Lavender Essential Oil

What You Need
  • 3-4 drops of lavender oil
  • 1 tablespoon of carrier oil
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil and apply onto your skin.
  2. You could keep this on overnight, or atleast for 20-30 minutes.
When You Need To Do This
Do this every night, before going to bed.
Why This Works
The wonderful healing properties of lavender essential oil can remove marks and scars from the skin. With regular application, it can brighten the skin tone and make it radiant (40).

e. Neroli Essential Oil

What You Need
  • Few drops of neroli oil
  • 1 tablespoon of carrier oil
What You Have To Do
  1. Blend both the oils and apply onto your skin.
  2. Massage for a few minutes and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Wipe with a damp cloth or cotton pad.
When You Need To Do This
Repeat this every day for a couple of days.
Why This Works
Neroli oil works well for skin lightening for people with oily skin. Apart from making your skin brighter, it also has anti-aging properties (41).

f. Cedarwood Essential Oil

What You Need
  • Few drops of cedarwood essential oil
  • 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil or bergamot oil
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil and apply on the affected area.
  2. Leave it on for a couple of minutes and wash with lukewarm water.
When You Need To Do This
Do this every day till desired results are obtained.
Why This Works
Cedarwood oil is another oil that suits oily to combination skin. It is antiseptic and antifungal as well (42).

17. Bearberry Extract



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • Bearberry extract
  • Daily cream or lotion
What You Have To Do
  1. Add five to 10 drops of pure bearberry extract per ounce of cream or lotion and use it regularly.
  2. Apply the cream or lotion twice a day for best results.
When You Need To Do This
Religiously apply the bearberry extract and cream mixture for a few weeks to notice a difference in your skin tone.
Why This Works
Bearberry extract contains arbutin, which is major tyrosinase activity inhibitor. Continuous usage will help you lighten your skin tone.

18. Potato Juice



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 1 potato
What You Have To Do
  1. Peel the potato and cut it into inch-sized pieces.
  2. Rub the pieces of potato on the skin areas you want to lighten, so that the juice is spread onto your skin.
  3. Leave for 15-20 minutes and wash with water.
You can also grate the potato, squeeze out the juice, and apply it with the help of a cotton pad.
When You Need To Do This
Repeat this twice a week.
Why This Works
Potato juice is rich in vitamin C and has antioxidant properties. It is a mild bleaching agent that whitens your skin and also removes dead cells (43, 44).

19. Skin Whitening Milk Bath



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
  • 2-3 cups of raw milk
What You Have To Do
  1. Add the milk to warm bath water and let your body soak in it for 15-20 minutes.
  2. Wash your body with just water after the soaking.
When You Need To Do This
Do this two to three times a week.
Why This Works
Milk is a natural skin bleacher, and at the same time, it also nourishes the skin making it glowing and healthy (45, 46). You can also add the juice of one lemon or a few tablespoons of honey to your milk bath routine.

20. Grape Seed Extract



Image: Shutterstock
What You Need
Few drops of grape seed extract
What You Have To Do
  1. Wet your skin. Take a few drops of the extract in your hands and apply this on the skin.
  2. Massage for a minute or two. Wash with water.
When You Need To Do This
Repeat this every day.
Why This Works
Grape seed extract is rich in antioxidants, essential vitamins, and minerals. It also has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. It helps in maintaining the overall health of the skin and making the skin lighter and brighter (47).
Caution
If you have sensitive skin, please do a patch test on your forearm before using grape seed extract.
You can gain a lot by just utilizing the simple ingredients lying in and around your kitchen. And that includes getting healthy, glowing skin too!
Now that you know how to lighten skin naturally at home, what are you waiting for? Give these skin lightening home remedies a try and let us know how it has helped you. Do comment in the box given below.
(With additional inputs by Kushneet)

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Comments

  1. shaan watson29 December 2021 at 14:32

    skin lightening treatment in Mumbai I am impressed. I don't think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. You are truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog you have got here.

    ReplyDelete

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