White, clean, fresh skin has always been highly valued. Today, despite the fashion for tanning, it continues to be desirable for many women. Whitening can be more than just an aesthetic whim. Those who have scars, acne scars, pigmentation, and freckles need lightening. To carry out the procedure, it is not necessary to contact a cosmetologist. This article will tell you how to whiten your facial skin at home and get the desired result.
Why does pigmentation increase?
The color of the skin is given by the pigment melanin, which is produced by special cells - melanocytes. Depending on the amount of pigment, the color of the epidermis ranges from flesh-colored to dark brown. Pigment accumulates in melanophores - cells that absorb heat rays and protect the dermis from ultraviolet and infrared radiation, from overheating and burns. Melanin production is regulated by a neurohumoral mechanism. If one of the functions is disrupted, then the balance established by nature disappears.
Increased melanin content in the skin is caused by various harmful factors. These include:
- endocrine and hormonal changes;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- metabolic disorders;
- intoxication;
- skin inflammation;
- prolonged exposure to sunlight;
- treatment with antibiotics, salicylic acid, St. John's wort extract and other drugs;
- heredity.
The most common areas of hyperpigmentation are the face, chest, and hands, usually in those with very fair skin.
When should you whiten your skin?
Skin tone changes depending on different conditions, and age spots may even appear. In general, snow-white skin is considered standard, even aristocratic.
Home whitening may be required in the following cases:
- Presence of age spots, freckles.
- A tan that lays unevenly.
- Acne marks and redness.
- The presence of red nodules resembling spider veins.
- Presence of traces of salon procedures.
- Skin that has turned yellow or gray from smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle.
Smooth, whitened skin looks attractive and healthy, making your entire appearance more fresh and youthful. Therefore, if you think that you need lightening, you can safely choose a method that suits your situation and skin type.
How to use whitening products?
Before using whitening products, you must familiarize yourself with the general rules for their use.
- Even before they begin to lighten the skin, stop taking medications that cause hyperpigmentation (photosensitization). This point is always mentioned in the instructions for the medicine.
- It is better to get rid of increased pigmentation in the cold season, when the sun is less active.
- Creams must have a sun protection factor of at least 50.
- If whitening was carried out in a salon, you should use skin care products indicated by the cosmetologist.
Attention! During the course of skin whitening, it is recommended to give up coffee from the diet and increase the content of products with ascorbic and nicotinic acid.
Potato juice
Potato juice contains a lot of vitamin C and is also an antioxidant. This is a good way to whiten the skin and remove dead cells. Simply grate or chop the potatoes and leave them on your face for twenty minutes. Repeat the procedure three times a week for optimal results. This product is suitable for any skin type.
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Folk remedies to whiten facial skin at home
Whitening the skin of the face and body at home is successfully carried out using folk remedies with hydrogen peroxide. A variety of masks are prepared for the face - for example, lemon ones. As you know, lemon is rich in ascorbic acid, which quickly eliminates pigment spots no worse than a laser beam. Citrus is included in anti-freckle creams and ointments. Another component is soda, which also has disinfecting, softening, and exfoliating properties.
Cucumber mask
A simple cucumber mask will get rid of freckles. The fruit is cut into circles and placed on previously cleansed skin. The following recipe is also known: finely grate a cucumber and place it on the face, leave for 15 minutes. The procedure is repeated three times at once.
Reference. For girls whose skin is prone to hyperpigmentation, it is useful to wipe their skin with the juice of this vegetable in summer and autumn.
Spoiled milk
Our grandmothers knew about the whitening properties of sour milk and actively used this product to preserve beauty. You can use this recipe. Mix a tablespoon of natural unsweetened yogurt with a teaspoon of lime juice. The mixture is applied to the skin as a mask, left for 20 minutes, and washed off.
Attention! Most products dry out sensitive and dry skin. Therefore, if you experience discomfort from using them, you can first lubricate your face with cosmetic oil.
Yeast and hydrogen peroxide mask
This product will help not only get rid of freckles, but also treat acne-prone skin. To prepare it, take a tablespoon of yeast and add a little hydrogen peroxide (3%) to make a creamy mass. Keep the mask on for 20 minutes, then wash with warm water. For dry and normal skin, yeast is mixed with cosmetic oil and warm milk, respectively.
Lemon soda mask
If the skin is too dry from hydrogen peroxide, then cosmetologists know how to quickly whiten the skin at home using another effective recipe.
This mask is suitable for those who have a naturally dark face and body , as well as people with oily dermis and age spots after acne. In this case, products that are always available at home are used - orange, lemon, soda.
To do this, mix orange and lemon juices, squeezed from citrus halves, with 2 tbsp. spoons of soda. Keep the product on your face for 10 minutes, then wash it off. Using the same product, you can eliminate dark spots on your hands and whiten tanned skin.
Lotions
Special lotions will speed up the elimination of age spots. Here the same sour milk will come to the rescue. Sour milk (50 ml) is mixed with lemon juice (20 ml). Wipe your face with this solution morning and evening. The drug is stored in the refrigerator for no longer than 48 hours.
The second lotion is prepared like this. Take:
- parsley - 4 sprigs;
- elderberry blossom - 2 tbsp. l.;
- milk and water - 100 ml each.
The parsley is chopped and placed in a saucepan along with the elderflower flowers. Add liquid there, cook for 5 minutes, let it brew for another 3 hours, filter. Apply like the first lotion.
Two scrubs
Chopped parsley (2 tablespoons) and sprinkle with fine sea salt, wait for the juice to come out. Massage the face with the mixture.
According to another recipe, 50 ml of yogurt is mixed with 15 ml of liquid honey, 30 ml of lemon juice. Wheat flour is added to the liquid. The product is applied to the face, kept for 15 minutes, washed, gently massaging the skin.
Strawberry compress
A handful of strawberries are ground to a puree, which is then placed on cheesecloth. The mass is applied to the face for 30 minutes. Wash with linden blossom infusion.
Reference! Strawberries help restore whiteness to teeth, for which it is enough to wipe the enamel with the berries.
Congee
Rice has bleaching properties. To prepare a decoction, pour a tablespoon of cereal into a glass of water and boil. Then the liquid is filtered and poured into ice trays. Rub the affected areas of the skin with cubes of frozen water.
Essential oils
Essential oils will help get rid of freckles. These include esters of basil, lemon, ginger, grapefruit, and rosewood. For use, they are combined with base oils - jojoba, almond, peach.
Precautionary measures
Lightening your facial skin should be done with certain precautions. In order not to worsen the condition of the skin, you need to:
- Be sure to moisturize and nourish the skin after whitening procedures.
- Pre-test any cosmetics and home remedies for an allergic reaction.
- Protect bleached skin from direct sunlight: it becomes more sensitive.
- Avoid procedures if there are open wounds or inflammation on the face.
If you have very sensitive, thin and inflammation-prone skin, consult a cosmetologist first. It's better not to risk making bleaching products at home.
It is possible to whiten your skin at home. It is not necessary to buy expensive creams or sign up for laser cleansing at a cosmetology office. There are many recipes available that you can use at home. But you should also not forget about precautions and possible individual negative reactions.
Ready-made skin lightening products
Cosmetics manufacturers offer a fairly wide selection of skin whitening products. Such products should contain hydroquinone, arbutin, beta-carotene, glycolic, kojic, ascorbic acid, and tretinol.
Masks
How to make your skin white for sure? At home, a dark complexion will become lighter if you use ready-made care cosmetics. For example, like this:
- Whitening mask, Vitex. It is based on “smart lightening” technology and has a local effect on hyperpigmented areas. The composition includes plant components - Valteria indica extract, peach oil, rice flour. Quickly eliminates dark spots caused by age-related changes, exposure to the sun, etc. The product affects the production of melanin.
- TXA and Pearl Algae Mas, Arkana. Anti-aging product for the 35+ category. Contains tranexamic acid, which gently brightens the skin, and also soothes and relieves inflammation. Pearl extract creates a reflective effect, giving the face a beautiful glow.
- FluorOxygen+C Soothing & Bleaching Mask, Christina. Aloe vera extract is used as an active ingredient. Agave not only softens and moisturizes, but also whitens.
Crema
In a cosmetic store or pharmacy you can buy a ready-made skin whitening cream against pigmentation on the face, which will quickly eliminate dark spots. Such lightening agents act in two ways: they gradually destroy melanin in cells, thereby whitening the pigmented area, and normalize the functioning of melanocytes, preventing the appearance of age spots. What lightening creams do manufacturers offer for better skin whitening?
- Ultra Whitening Night Care, Laura Beaumont. The product is enriched with plant extracts obtained from beech, grapes, Japanese mulberry and saxifrage. The vitamins presented in the product not only lighten the skin, but also fight age-related changes in the dermis, make the oval shape clearer, and smooth out wrinkles.
- Ultimate W+ Whitening Cream, Mesoestetic. The cream acts in three directions - it inhibits the production of melanin, improves cell renewal, and protects against the sun and free radicals. Whitening is achieved through [meso] White Complex technology.
- Achromin. Its developers know how to make skin pale. A popular and inexpensive cream based on hydroquinone. Removes letigo, chloasma, freckles, post-acne marks. At home, it is important not to overdo it, so as not to make the color very pale, so that the face does not look like a vampire
Serums
Serums, in which the active ingredients are presented in concentrated form, are considered one of the most effective drugs. The most popular include:
- Ultimate W+ Whitening Essence, Mesoestetic. Serum based on [meso] White Complex is used in addition to the above-mentioned cream, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the latter.
- Bright Facial & Intimate Serum, Depil. Used for the face and intimate areas. Contains plant extracts of citrus fruits, poppy oil, deeply moisturizes and nourishes the skin.
- Le Blanc Illuminating Brightening Concentrate, Chanel. The product contains a form of vitamin C, which makes the skin snow-white. Pearl extract gives the face a healthy shine and radiance.
Essential oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated oils. They are obtained from a variety of plants. Such products have been used since the time of Cleopatra to get flawless and radiant skin. Since the product is very concentrated, you need to know how to use it correctly. You may have an allergic reaction, so apply the oil to a small area of skin first. You can use rose essential oil, it has a surprisingly pleasant smell and can make your skin very soft. This mask whitens, removes acne and signs of inflammation, and also smooths out wrinkles. Simply add ten drops of essential oil to a glass of cool milk and apply the mixture to your skin all over your body. Repeat the procedure every day. Orange essential oil stimulates collagen production, which helps fight signs of aging, from wrinkles to age spots. In addition, it protects the skin from ultraviolet rays. As a result, your face will become brighter and more attractive. Mix equal amounts of orange oil and jojoba oil, apply to face and wash off after a couple of minutes. This method can be used daily. Lemon essential oil is universal, it has antiseptic, antibacterial properties, in addition, it is an antioxidant and rejuvenates the skin. Mix it with water or jojoba oil, you can even apply it daily! The main thing is not to go out into the sun with such a mask, so as not to get burned. Neroli essential oil will help whiten the face of those with oily skin. Add it to another vegetable oil and apply for twenty minutes. Repeat the procedure daily.
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Lightening the skin of the hands and feet
To lighten the skin of your feet, prepare a mask of orange juice (200 ml) and an egg (1 pc). The components are mixed and applied with a brush along the entire length of the lower limb twice. Cover the skin a second time when the first layer dries. The exposure time after the second application is 25 minutes. Then the mixture is washed off with cool water. The effect is achieved due to the vitamin C content of oranges.
A soda-salt mask will help deal with spots on elbows and knees. For it, take a tablespoon of salt and baking soda, a teaspoon of any cosmetic oil. Mix the ingredients, apply to the skin of the elbows and rub in for 2-3 minutes, leave on the skin for another 5-10 minutes. Then the mixture is washed off with warm water and the cream is applied.
Baking soda
If you rub baking soda on your face in gentle movements, you will get rid of dead skin cells and kill bacteria that are present on your face. The skin will become fresher and brighter. For maximum results, you can add a couple of drops of lemon juice. Just mix baking soda with water and do this scrub every day for a week. This option is suitable for everyone except those with very sensitive skin.
For body and armpits
How to whiten skin from tanning? At home, the body and armpits after a long stay in the sun are quickly lightened with the help of special preparations. For example, the Polish company Eveline offers a universal cream Extra soft Whitening with cucumber extract, avocado oil, allantoin, which is also used for the face and hands.
Poppea, the wife of Emperor Nero, took baths with donkey milk for the same purpose. You won’t find such an exotic product now, but you can use its cow analogue. To prepare a bath you will need:
- heated, but not hot, milk - 1 liter;
- natural honey - 100 grams.
The components are mixed and added to water at 38 °C, which is filled with the bath. They are immersed in it for 20 minutes. Then rinse the skin without using soap and wrap it in a towel.
Important! For best results, take a shower first and do a salt scrub once a week.
Healers know how to lighten the skin and how to eliminate excessive tanning not only on the face, but also on the body. At home, this is facilitated by baths with lemon, which quickly removes tanning and is effective even with naturally dark skin color.
To do this, cut off the yellow peel from the lemon, fill it with water and leave until the water cools down, pour it into a warm bath. After that, the procedure is carried out as described above.
The same lemon and hydrogen peroxide will whiten your armpits. To do this, prepare the following lotion: mix lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide (3%) in a ratio of 1 to 2.
Dip cotton pads into the liquid and apply them to the pigmented area for 5-7 minutes, rinse with warm water, and apply a nourishing cream.
Another option is to use baking soda. A paste is prepared from the product by mixing with water. The scrub is carefully rubbed into the epidermis of the armpits, then washed off and blotted with a towel.
Causes of hyperpigmentation
In many ways, the choice of how to whiten facial skin at home depends on the causes of hyperpigmentation, which can be both external and internal. Among the most common are the following:
- exposure to UV radiation;
- use of low-quality cosmetics;
- injuries and damage to the skin;
- violations of vitamin-mineral balance;
- liver and kidney diseases;
- taking certain medications;
- use of oral contraception;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- sudden changes in hormonal levels;
- intoxication of the body;
- genetic predisposition.
Combating hyperpigmentation caused by external causes is easier and faster. It usually disappears after the provoking factors are eliminated.
Pigmentation caused by internal changes in the normal functioning of the body can be completely removed only by completely eliminating the problem that causes it. Otherwise, any of the ways to lighten your face at home will only bring minor and temporary relief.
Intimate area whitening products
Skin whitening in intimate places is carried out in beauty salons using a laser. This is a very effective procedure that helps get rid of age spots on the hands and face. You can buy a good pharmaceutical preparation for your home - zinc ointment. It is sold in pharmacies without a prescription.
Vegetable juices and oils will help with this. In addition, they will make sure that the skin looks soft, moisturized and elastic. Cosmetic creams are also created for this purpose. For example, Lakshma MAXXI not only effectively copes with dark spots on the skin , but is also so gentle that even pregnant women use it.
Attention! Before using an unfamiliar product, especially in intimate areas, you need to conduct a sensitivity test and carefully read the instructions.
Aloe and rice flour
Aloe vera is an excellent solution to all skin related problems. This plant is rich in antioxidants and components that heal, nourish and protect the skin. Coarse rice flour will remove dead skin cells and all the impurities accumulated on the face. Repeat the procedure every other day and you will quickly notice the effect. This scrub is good for any skin type. The main thing to remember is to rub gently: too much force can damage your skin.
How to make a lightening lotion from the leaves of the golden mustache plant
The recipe for this cosmetic product is as follows: - leaves of the golden mustache plant; - vodka; - Apple vinegar. A liter jar is half filled with leaves and topped with vodka (to the edges of the container). Leave the dishes for 2 weeks in a dark, cool place, while vigorously shaking the contents of the jar every day. After half a month, the infusion is filtered and diluted with apple cider vinegar (ratio 2:1). This lotion is poured into a glass container, covered with a lid and placed in the refrigerator (shelf life - 1 month). It is recommended to wipe your face with it twice a day. The effect will be amazing: after 1-1.5 weeks, the skin will become elastic and elastic, and age spots will be only barely noticeable.
It is better not to overuse alcohol lotion if you have dry skin: it dries the skin too much.
