Top 10: Simple and Quick Home Remedies for Fair Skin in a Week
We, as a country, are guilty of being obsessed with fair skin. While international fashion circuit is inviting dusky Indian models like Lakshmi Menon and tan beauties like Freida Pinto are gaining acclaim in Hollywood, our very own Bollywood is still portraying the ideals of fair skin. Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor. While such comparisons are ‘unfair’, one cannot blame people looking for a brighter glowing complexion simply due to the fact that each one of us has a different beauty ideal. A lot of fairness creams and lotions in the market promise fair skin within weeks but they do more harm than good. While lightening and brightening your skin, it is important to use natural ingredients so that your skin stays healthy over the years. Here, I have listed the best home remedies for getting fair skin quickly in 7 days.
The quickest home remedies to get fairer skin:
1. Chickpea flour mask
Chickpea flour, also known as ‘besan’ in Hindi, is an excellent exfoliant and removes old and dead skin cells. Mix it with rose water to get soft and moist skin. Alternatively, you can also mix it with milk. Milk contains lactic acid which is a proven lightener. Adding a pinch of turmeric helps to keep skin ailments like acne at bay. Turmeric also heals old scars. Chickpea flour mask makes your skin very soft and even makes you look younger! Follow this for a week to get a fairer and glowing you.
2. Curd mask
For all those who love eating curd for its pro-biotic properties, there’s good news. It is not just good for your stomach. Curd, like milk, contains lactic acid. As mentioned before, lactic acid is a lightener and helps to give you that fair skin. Simply applying curd on your face can make it glow. Like stated previously, you can add turmeric to this mask as well. Curd gives you an instant glow and makes your face look bright. Apply this face mask daily for a week to get fair skin.
3. Papaya mask
Papaya contains the enzyme ‘Papain’, which helps in attaining a lighter complexion. Papaya is the most popular ingredient in beauty products used in Korea and Japan. Papaya soaps are very popular in Philippines. A simple recipe for using this potent ingredient is to take some slices of papaya and mash them. Apply liberally on your face. This fruity paste smells good, too. After about 20-25 minutes, wash off. You will be able to notice a glow immediately. Do this daily for 7 days for fair skin.
4. Oatmeal mask
Oatmeal is healthy for the body. This is a well-known fact. However, oatmeal is also an excellent scrub and exfoliant. Take a handful of oatmeal in a bowl and add some cold milk to it. Mix well and apply this paste on your face. Slowly, scrub your face with this thick paste. Make sure that you do so with a gentle hand as scrubbing too hard can damage your skin. After 5-10 minutes of scrubbing, wash off. Wipe your face with a clean towel. Your skin will feel fresh and look fair. Its one of the best ways to get fair skin.
5. Milk cream mask
Milk cream is an excellent moisturizer. This mask is especially useful for women with dry skin. Milk cream, also known as ‘malai’, again contains lactic acid like curd and pure milk. Apply liberally on face and wash off after 20 minutes. This mask will leave your skin extremely soft. Fairness in 7 days is an added advantage of this mask.
6. Crushed almonds mask
Almonds are considered as one of the healthiest foods in the world. These nuts are rich in vitamin e which helps keep the skin soft and supple. A simple ritual of soaking almonds in milk overnight and crushing them the next morning to make a grainy almond and milk paste can keep beauty woes away in giving you a clear snow white skin. This mix also acts as a scrub. What you can do is that you can apply this as a mask and before washing off, scrub your skin with the help of almond grains. This mask will not only give you fair skin but also remove dead cells.
7. Lemon mask
This is one of the easiest masks and the simplicity of this beauty ritual amazes me. Simple squeeze a lemon and apply the juice to your face. Leave for 15-20 minutes and voila- you get whiter and lighter skin in no time. However, two things must be kept in mind. Firstly, lemon is very acidic. Initially, you should not apply it for more than 2-3 minutes. You can increase the time with every passing day. Also, this mask may not be suitable for people with dry skin. I would say that this mask is best suited for oily skin but women with normal skin can also give it a try. The added bonus with this mask is that it helps clear old scars as well.
8. Sandalwood mask
The lovely fragrance of this mask will awaken your senses! Sandalwood has been an age-old ingredient in skincare and has been used by generations of Indian women. This mask is very gentle and is suitable for all skin types and helps you get a fair skin in just 7 days. It is also very soothing and is excellent for Indian summers when you want to apply something cool to your skin after a day under the hot glare of the sun! If you can get hold of a genuine sandalwood stick, you can grind it against a flat stone or a grind stone with some water to get a runny paste. You can also buy pure sandalwood powder and mix it with rose water (another cooling agent) to make a paste. Apply this on your face and leave for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with cold water.
9. Honey mask
This one is especially beneficial for mature women. Honey has antioxidant properties that help in getting rid of fine lines and also preventing future ones. Honey contains peroxide that helps in lightening the skin. Pure honey can be applied on its own and left on the skin for 15-20 minutes for a visibly fair skin.
10. Saffron mask
The women of Kashmir are known for their lily white skin. While climate does help in maintaining their fair skin, homemade recipes containing saffron or ‘kesar’ are very popular among the women of the valley. The purity of pure saffron can be testified by dropping a few strands of it in milk. If the milk turns golden or red, you can be rest assured that your saffron is real. To get the most out of this expensive herb, soak it in milk for half an hour and then, apply this milk on your face everyday for a fair glow in 7 days. Wash off after 15-20 minutes to get a bright and fair complexion.
11. Potato mask
Potatoes are rich in vitamin c and niacin, both effective skin lighteners. Simply grate a potato and add some milk to it. You can also mix them in a food processor to get a creamy paste. Use daily for best fairness results.
12. Fuller’s earth
Fuller’s earth or ‘multani mitti’ mask is beneficial for women with oily skin and one of the best ways to lighten skin fast. It is also a cooling agent. This summer must-have can be left on the skin for 15-20 minutes and washed off to get an oil-free look.
13. Orange peel
Dried orange peels can be grinded into fine powder and mixed with milk or rosewater. Oranges are rich in vitamin C that helps in skin lightening.
14. Apple mask
Apples contain maleic acid that helps lighten skin tone in a week. Mash an apple and add milk or honey as per your choice and leave on skin for some time. This fruit is rich in alpha hydroxy acids that help in brightening and lightening the skin.
15. Glycerin mask
Contrary to the popular motion, glycerin is not just a softener. It is very effective in skin lightening. This mask, however, is best suited for those with dry or oil skin.
These tips will not only help you achieve a fair look but also make your skin soft and blemish-free.
By Contributor: Kanika
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What are your favourite home remedies for fair skin? Share your reviews with us.
