How to Naturally Whiten Skin at Home: 11 DIY Remedies (2024)

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Co-authored byLydia Shedlofsky, DOand Dan Hickey

Last Updated: October 11, 2023Fact Checked

Things You Should Know

Lemon Juice

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1. Dab your skin with equal parts lemon juice and water. Squeeze 1 whole lemon into a bowl, then add an equivalent amount of water. Stir the mixture and dab a cotton ball into it. Rub the cotton ball on your face or any other area of your skin and let the juice sit for 20 minutes. Rinse it away with water (no soap).^[1]

   • Do this 3-4 times a week to lighten your skin, fade dark spots, and even out your skin tone. You’ll start seeing result in 3-4 weeks.
   • If the lemon juice is irritating, dilute the solution with more water.
   • Lemon juice might react to sunlight and cause irritation, so make sure it’s thoroughly rinsed off before you go outside.

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Milk and Tomato Juice

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1. Wear a mask of milk and tomato juice 3 times a week. Mix equal parts milk and tomato juice (about 3UStbsp (44mL) of each) in a bowl, then use a brush to apply the mixture evenly all over your face. Let it sit on your skin for 15-20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Use larger quantities to make a bigger batch for other areas of skin on your body.^[2]

   • The lactic acid in milk gently exfoliates your skin and removes tanned or blemished skin cells. The acidity of tomato juice helps it act even faster.

Yogurt and Honey

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1. Make a hydrating yogurt and honey mask 1-2 times a week. Mix 2UStbsp (30mL) of plain, unflavored Greek yogurt and 1tsp (4.9mL) of raw honey in a bowl. Then add 1UStbsp (15mL) of fresh lemon juice and stir thoroughly. Rub a thin, even layer all over your face and leave it for 20 minutes, then rinse it off with cool water.^[3]

   • Moisturize your skin afterwards if it feels dry.
   • Use extra honey to make the mask even more moisturizing.
   • Wear this mask 1-2 times a week and give your skin a break for a few days or weeks if you notice any irritation.

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Gram Flour and Curd

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1. Make a paste of gram flour, curd, and lemon juice daily. Mix 4 tsp (19.2 g) of gram flour with a pinch of turmeric, the juice of 1 lemon, and 1tsp (4.9mL) of curd in a bowl. To make it more exfoliating, add a pinch of salt, too. Rub the paste onto your skin daily for 20 minutes, then rinse the paste away with lukewarm water.^[4]

   • Substitute milk for curd if you don’t have any.
   • Use this paste on your face or any other areas that you want to lighten.
   • Gram flour has been used as a traditional whitener for centuries and leaves your skin looking fresh and cleansed.

Turmeric

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1. Mix turmeric, honey, and milk to make your complexion glow. Stir 0.25 tsp (1.2 g) of turmeric, 1tsp (4.9mL) of honey and 1tsp (4.9mL) of milk into a paste. Rub it onto your skin and let it sit for 25 minutes before rinsing it off with clean water. Repeat 3-4 times a week until you see results.^[5]

   • Add a few drops of lemon juice to make the mixture a little more intense if desired.
   • Alternatively, add a few drops of turmeric essential oil to your favorite cream or oil-based moisturizer.^[6]

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Potato

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1. Use potato juice on large areas or target dark spots with potato slices. Grate a small potato and squeeze all of the juice out of the little bits. Use a towel or cotton pads to rub the juice onto your face, neck, or other areas, then wait for it to dry completely. Afterwards, rinse the area with lukewarm water. Potato is very mild, so repeat this up to twice a day.^[7]

   • Alternatively, cut your potato into thin slices and wet them with a few drops of water. Place the slices over spots you want to lighten for 10 minutes daily.^[8]
   • The starches and sugars in potatoes act as exfoliants. They also have vitamins C and B6, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus to boost your collagen.

Cucumber and Aloe Vera

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1. Blend a cucumber with aloe vera and lemon juice for a soothing remedy. Throw a whole cucumber (sliced), 0.5tsp (2.5mL) of aloe vera, and 1UStbsp (15mL) of lemon juice in a blender and mix it all into pulp. Apply it to your skin with your hands and leave it for 30 minutes, then wash it away with water (no soap).^[9]

   • Use this mixture daily until you start seeing results. Cucumbers have a high water content and lots of vitamins and minerals that fight skin discoloration.
   • To target dark spots, slice up a cucumber and rub the juice on dark pigmented areas. Leave the slices on each spot for 20 minutes.
   • Aloe vera is rich in vitamins A, C, E, and B12, all of which are helpful for skin lightening (especially when combined with cucumber).^[10]

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Honey

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1. Rub raw or organic honey onto your skin daily until you see results. Use your fingertips to rub the honey (preferably with 80% sugar or more) into your skin and leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse it away with lukewarm water. Use raw or organic honey to get all of the nutrients, antioxidants, and antibacterial agents that benefit your skin and slow down aging.^[11]

   • The sugar in the honey acts as a natural exfoliant to remove dead, pigmented skin and stimulate new cell growth.
   • Honey has been used in cosmetics and medicine for thousands of years.

Orange Peel Juice

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1. Put the juice from orange peels directly on your skin. Save up your orange peels and run them through a juicer to make orange peel juice. Use a cotton pad to dab the juice directly onto your skin, especially on age spots or dark spots. Let the juice sit and dry for about 20 minutes, then rinse your skin with water.^[12]

   • Alternatively, place orange peels over dark pigmented areas to draw toxins and impurities out of your skin.
   • Orange peels have lots of vitamin C, calcium, and antioxidants that rejuvenate skin and fight free radicals, which helps create new skin cells.

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Papaya

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1. Make a papaya paste to brighten your complexion. Mash up a few pieces of ripe papaya in a bowl and add 1UStbsp (15mL) of fresh lemon juice. Mix it thoroughly and then apply the paste to your skin for 10-20 minutes. Rinse it off with lukewarm water.^[13]

   • Use this paste 2-3 times per week to get rid of an unwanted tan or dull skin.
   • Papaya contains enzymes and minerals that remove dark spots. The lemon juice adds vitamin C and citric acid which brighten your complexion.^[14]

Rice Flour

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1. Nourish and de-tan your skin with a rice flour paste 2-3 times a week. Combine 2 tbsp (15.6 g) of rice flour with 1UStbsp (15mL) of milk and 3-4 strands of saffron in a bowl. Mix until the ingredients are fully blended and then set the paste aside for 5-10 minutes. Then, rub the paste onto your face, neck, or other areas you want to lighten.^[15]

   • Leave the paste on for about 20 minutes, then rinse it away with lukewarm water. Pat your skin dry.
   • Use this mixture 2-3 times per week until you see results and moisturize after each use if your skin feels dry.

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