There are many causes for dark and dull complexion, overexposure to sunlight, medical conditions, some medications, pollutions in the environment, stress, unhealthy diet, unhealthy lifestyles, dry skin, genetics, prolonged use of chemical-based skin care products, and some are born with a complexion they don’t like.
These conditions not only cause dull complexion, they also cause uneven skin tone, dark spots, wrinkles, pigmentations, and other skin conditions like acne, sunburn, and other blemishes.
Whatever class you belong to, there are lots of natural ways you can achieve a lighter complexion and even have a flawless skin without causing unnecessary harm to your skin and body.
All these skin-lightening creams and lotions flooding the market damage the skin and they are also expensive, using natural remedies are usually cheap and more effective than all these chemical-based products.
Most skin bleaching products contain mercury and hydroquinone. They inhibit the production of melanin, the compound responsible for the colour of the skin.
Long-term use of these chemicals leads to toxicity, premature aging and other skin problems.
Natural and Home Remedies for a Brighter Complexion
The first step to a brighter complexion and healthy-looking and glowing skin is detoxification and a balanced diet. This will boost the health and appearance of the skin and make these remedies you are about to learn very effectively.
Remember that the skin is the largest organ in the body and it is also part of the immune system, in fact, it is the first line of defense against diseases, parasites, microbes, foreign particles and infections and it protects the internal organs of the body. A proper and regular skin care routine is also needed.
These natural remedies are mild on the skin and will not cause any adverse effect, they also eliminate prolonged skin problems and infections. They fade scars and correct other skin problems.
Below are some of the natural remedies for a bright, healthy and flawless skin.
Papaya
This is a common ingredient in most lightening skin products because papaya also known as paw-paw has natural bleaching properties. It is dense in powerful nutrients that make the skin glow. Eat lots of papaya on a daily basis if possible. It cleanses the skin of impurities that darkens complexion.
You can also rub the inner part of papaya skin on your body, bath with cold water after it has dried, this will give your skin a unique glow.
You can also blend papaya and mix it with lemon juice, apply this mixture all over your skin and wash it off with cold water after thirty minutes. Do this once weekly.
Witch Hazel
This herb brighten complexion, makes the skin firm and it removes dead skin cells and other residues from the surface of the skin.
It soothes the skin and gives a refreshing feeling. You can mix it with aloe vera gel and apply it on your skin and wash it off after some minutes.
Sandalwood
This herb makes your complexion bright, it makes your skin soft and attractive. History has it that ancient queen and princesses used this remedy to brighten their complexion. Mix sandalwood and rose water and apply this paste on your skin, leave it for twenty minutes and then you wash it off.
Kojic Acid
This is a white powder like crystals derived from a fungus, the Japanese have used this for years as a natural hydroquinone. It eliminates pigmentations and skin discolouration, it treats sun damages skin and also sensitive skin. Studies have proved its effectiveness in lightening the skin, it inhibits the protein tyrosinase which help to produce melanin.
Plain Yogurt
Organic yogurt is filled with many nutrients that are beneficial to the skin, lactic acid is found in yogurt and this is a natural bleaching agent. Yogurt is suitable and mild on all skin types, take organic yogurt daily and also apply it on your skin.
Leave it on your skin for sometimes, and then you have your bath with lukewarm water, do this once daily for several weeks and you will notice a great improvement in your complexion.
You can mix the yogurt with raw honey or lemon juice and also some oatmeal or fenugreek seeds and use this mixture as above.
Pumpkin
This is packed full with antioxidants, it also contains lots of exfoliating acids that keeps the skin clean and bright. It is rich in vital nutrients like Vitamin A, C, beta-carotene, all these nutrients keep the skin healthy and fair.
Chop a pumpkin into small pieces and boil them before blending them. You will get a pumpkin puree, add honey and milk to this and mix properly, apply this paste on your skin and wash it off after 20 minutes. Do this thrice a week.
Tomato Juice
Lycopene, the active compound found in tomatoes is a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from damages like harmful UV rays and it is also a natural bleaching agent. Tomatoes also prevent rapid aging.
Juice tomatoes and add turmeric powder and milk powder, apply this mixture on your body and leave it for 20 minutes. Wash it off and do this once daily.
Turmeric
This herb has many amazing health benefits and is also used in skincare products to improve complexion. It stimulates the production of melanin which helps to correct uneven skin tone. It is also loaded with antioxidants and antiseptic properties that boost the overall health of the skin.
Mix turmeric powder with milk cream, make sure it forma a thick paste, apply this all over your body and allow it to dry. Have your bath after that with lukewarm water. Do this regularly and you will see improvement in your complexion.
You can also mix turmeric powder, lemon juice and gram powder thoroughly and apply this mixture to your skin. Leave it for at least 20 minutes or until it gets dried before you wash it off. Do this twice or three times every week.
Sugar
This is a simple home remedy for lightening the skin yet it is very effective. It serves as an exfoilant that removes dead skin cells and other debris from the surface of the skin thus brightening your complexion.
The granules of sugar exfoliate and open clogged skin pores which allows the skin to be moisturized. It cleanses the skin and makes it soft.
Mix sugar with virgin olive oil, and apply it to your skin, gently massage your skin with this mixture for five minutes to remove impurities and dead skin cells which makes your complexion dull and dark. Leave it on your skin for some minutes before washing it away. Do this once every day.
Oranges and Citrus Fruits in General
The main ingredient in most of these skin care products is vitamin C; this vitamin is abundantly present in citrus fruits like limes, oranges, lemons and grapes. These fruits have bleaching properties and they also improve the texture and suppleness of the skin.
Take in lots of citrus fruits daily to improve your complexion, you can make use of fresh orange juice or orange peel powder to also brighten your complexion.
Mix orange juice with a little amount of turmeric powder and apply this on your body. Wash it off after thirty minutes, do these once daily. You can mix organic yogurt with orange peel powder and apply the paste on your skin.
Wash it off after twenty or thirty minutes, do these two times every week. You can make your own orange peel powder, it is very easy. Dry orange peel under the sun till they are hard and break easily, and then grind them into fine powder. Store it in a clean container with lid and keep it in a dry place.
Mint leaves
This remedy brightens complexion and clears spots, scars and blemishes. When you take mint herbal tea, it purifies your blood and prevents acne breakouts that can affect your appearance and complexion.
Mint unclogs skin pores and its rich content of vitamin A controls the production of oil thus fighting oily skin which is a risk factor for acne and spots.
It tones the skin also and clears blackheads. Get fresh mint leaves and crush them till they from a thick paste, add lemon juice and apply this on your body and leave it on for thirty minutes. Wash it away and do this once daily.
Cucumber
Cucumbers help bind collagen and ensure that the skin is firm and supple, it boosts the elasticity of the skin and improves the appearance of skin. It cools the skin and it is suitable for all skin types.
Place slices on cucumbers on areas of the skin that is darker than the rest, leave them on the skin for few minutes and then you remove them and rinse your skin with water. Do this twice daily, this is an effective remedy for dark circles around the eyes.
You can blend cucumbers and mix it with honey and apply it on your skin or on dark areas of your skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then you wash it off with cold water.
You can also combine lemon juice and cucumber juice and apply this on your body and leave it till it dries off before washing it away, do this once a day.
Clay
Also known as fuller’s earth is a natural bleaching agent that can be found in most health stores and cosmetic shops.
It renews the cells of the skin and absorbs excess oil from the skin, it contains magnesium oxide that helps to cleanse the skin, brighten the complexion and eliminate excess fats from the skin.
There are many important nutrients contained in this clay that makes it beneficial for a healthy and glowing skin, it tones the skin and gives it a healthy look.
Mix this clay with rose water and apply it on your skin and wash it off after twenty minutes. Do this once every week.
Gram Flour
This is one of the best home remedies for skin whitening, it is dense in many nutrients that help in keeping the skin very healthy, it removes excess oil from the skin, it retains the moisture content of the skin thereby fighting skin dryness and it lightens complexion.
Mix gram flour and water together or you can make use of rose water in place of ordinary water. Apply this paste on your skin and leave it to get dried before bathing.
Rice Flour
Rice naturally fights aging and it also absorbs excess oils and fats from the skin. This is a good treatment for oily skin which is prone to acne and it fights a dull complexion.
It whitens the skin, it relieves sunburn, and it fights inflammation and gives the skin a smooth texture and a bright appearance.
Mix rice flour with lemon juice and yogurt and apply this paste on your body. Wash it away after 20 minutes, do this once daily.
Rice water (which is the water gotten after parboiling your rice) can also be used to rinse the body and then you use clean water finally to rinse your body. This will give you a younger skin that is glowing with a bright complexion.
Oatmeal
This remedy encourages the growth of new skin cells, it gets rid of old and dead skin cells, and improves skin tone.
It leaves the skin soft and supple and it is a gentle exfoilant. Mix oatmeal with tomato juice and apply this mixture on your skin, leave it for 20 minutes and then you have your bath with cold water.
When you are bathing rub your skin gently so that the oatmeal can remove dead skin cells and particles that clog the pores.
Another alternative is to mix oatmeal, turmeric powder and lemon juice together, make sure it forms a thick paste and apply this on your skin, leave it on till it dries. Have your bath after that and do this once daily.
Pineapples
This fruit is regarded as one of the best solutions for a dull and dark complexion. It makes the skin fair and it also gives it a natural glow. It keeps skin problems like acne, wrinkles, pimples, warts, spots, moles and blemishes at bay.
Juice pineapples and mix it with honey and apply this paste on your body. Wash it off after 20 minutes and do this once daily.
Raw Honey
Honey moisturizes the skin and it is also a natural bleaching agent. It treats dry skin which is a major cause of uneven skin tone, it fights scars and spots on the skin and it contains antimicrobial and antiseptic properties which treat and prevent skin infections.
Apply pure honey on your skin and leave it for some minutes before washing it off. Honey removes dead skin cells and makes your complexion brighter. It makes you look younger and fresher.
To boost the lightening effect of honey, you can add lemon juice to it and apply it all over your body. You can add powdered milk and almond oil to this mixture. Mix them very well and apply this on your body. Leave it for 15 minutes and then you have your bath. Do this once daily.
Kiwi Fruit
The content of vitamin C in this fruit is higher than that of oranges, and it is also dense in hydroxyl acids which boosts and maintains the elasticity of the skin.
It cleanses the skin and expels dead skin cells thus brightening your complexion. Peel kiwi fruits and puree them, add honey and yogurt and mix thoroughly.
Egg Whites
Eggs contain proteins that benefit the skin, they tighten the skin and repairs damaged skin and tissues.
They also contain vitamins which remove dead skin cells, prevent acne, moisturize the skin and make it smooth. They control the production of oil, fight aging and improve your complexion.
Break eggs and separate the yolks from the whites, add lemon juice and turmeric powder to the egg whites and spread this all over your body. Wash it off after 20 minutes, do this once every day.
Potato
This is a natural therapy to treat a dull appearance or lackluster complexion. This super food is dense in vitamin B6, a deficiency in this vitamin leads to a lot of skin problems including a dull and sickly complexion.
Vitamin B6 boosts the health of the skin, improves it complexion and texture and it also exfoliates dead skin cells and removes other impurities from the skin.
Chop the potatoes into smaller pieces and juice them, remove the peels before juicing them. Mix this potato juice with lemon juice and apply this mixture on your body or on the part of your skin that is darker that the rest.
This will give a lighter shade of your original complexion. Let it stay on the skin till it dries off and then you wash it off with water, do this once every day.
Strawberry
Strawberries are storehouses of vitamin C, polyphenols, alpha hydroxyl acids and other vital nutrients that make the skin bright. They clear black spots, they remove wrinkles and treat skin dryness.
They remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and gives lighten the complexion of the skin.
Blend some strawberries till they form a smooth paste, add milk powder and lemon juice and mix very well. Apply this paste on your skin and leave it for thirty minutes before washing it away. Do this once daily.
Lemons
Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent because of its high content of vitamin C and its acidic properties. It stimulates new cell growth and their antioxidants improve complexion, texture and appearance.
Juice large lemons and use a cotton ball or a clean piece of cloth to apply the juice all over your body. Leave it for at least one hour so that the juice will stick to your skin and then you wash it off. This simple remedy will definitely lighten your complexion, fade scars and prevents breakouts and the formation of scars.
You can mix a little quantity of turmeric powder with lemon juice, or you add milk and honey. Apply this mixture on your skin and have your bath after 15 or 20 minutes. Pure lemon juice is not suitable for sensitive skin, so if you have a sensitive skin, dilute the juice with plenty water before using it.
Avoid this remedy if you are sensitive to lemons or if you have open wounds, the acids in lemons cause more pain for those with open wounds.
Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E oil whitens skin and makes it smooth, supple and soft. It does lots of wonders for the skin, it clears the signs of aging like wrinkles, fine line, scars and other blemishes.
It is a powerful tonic for the skin. Mix extra virgin olive oil and vitamin E oil and apply this all over your body. Don’t wash it off. Do this once daily.
Carrots
This is a powerful remedy for blemishes, dull appearance, spots, scars and other skin problems, it makes the complexion even and reduce the production of melanin without causing any health problems or complications. It rejuvenates the skin, it eliminates dead skin cells and forms new skin cells.
Chop carrots and blend them, then extract the juice and mix it with either lemon juice or yogurt. Apply this mixture on your skin and leave it to dry or leave it for at least 20 minutes. Do this once daily.
Licorice Root
Many liken the effects of licorice root on the skin to a “charm”; when it is used in its original form, it makes the skin fairer and clearer, and it is the most used to treat many types of skin problems in Ayurveda medicine.
Mix licorice root powder with oatmeal and honey and mix them well till they form a thick paste. Apply this mixture on your skin and leave it to dry and then you wash it off with water.
Do this once daily to achieve fair skin with a healthy glow and to also keep skin problems at bay.
Aloe Vera Gel
This is a powerful remedy for hyperpigmentation and dull appearance, it restores the original complexion of the skin and treats uneven skin tone.
It helps to regenerate new skin cells and this helps to repair damaged skin. It lightens dark spots and improves the overall complexion of the skin.
Get large aloe vera leaves and use a knife to cut them open, scoop out the gel using a spoon and apply this all over your skin. Leave it on your skin for at least thirty minutes before having your bath. Do this two times daily.
Baking Soda
This is a natural exfoliator, it is not harsh on the skin and it makes the complexion bright and even. It makes the skin smooth and closes large pores, it eliminates pigmentations and skin discolouration.
Make a paste with baking soda by adding ordinary water or rose water and mix them thoroughly. Apply this o your skin and gently massage your skin in a circular motion for few minutes. Wash it off and do this once daily.
Milk Powder
Milk is rich in many important nutrients that are vitamin for a healthy skin, this includes vitamin B, and Vitamin A. It hydrates the skin, fights skin damage, makes the skin glow and makes the complexion lighter, and it also eliminates dead skin cells.
Mix milk powder with lemon juice and honey and apply this paste on your body and wash it off after 30 minutes, do this daily.
Almond Paste
Almonds give a bright and a glowing skin, they improve texture and elasticity also. Soak some almonds in water overnight and peel them in the morning.
Crush them into a smooth paste and add a little honey and mix well. Apply this paste on your body and wash it off after thirty minutes. Do this once daily.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This is a natural toner, it cleans the pores and eliminates dirt, dead skin cells and other impurities from them. Its antibacterial properties fights microbes and skin infections, it treats blemishes and restores the original pH of the skin.
It brightens complexion and makes your skin glow. It tightens skin pores and clears the signs of aging. It corrects uneven skin tone and makes the skin beautiful.
Add two cups of unfiltered and organic ACV to your bath water and soak in it for 30 minutes. Do this once daily.
Essential Oils
There are lots of essential oils with lightening properties, they are Neroli essential oil, rose essential oil, orange essential oil, and lemon essential oil.
Mix them with any carrier oil of your choice (carrier oils like olive, coconut, almond, and jojoba) and apply them to your body and let it stay overnight.
You can add few drops of any of these essential oil or you can mix them and add to your bathing water and soak in it for 20 minutes. Do this daily.
Other natural remedies that can effectively whiten the skin without causing harmful side effects are bearberry extract, extra-virgin olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, bananas, green tea (use in the same way as apple cider vinegar), chamomile flowers, Gigawhite (patented), Indian gooseberry, and white mulberry extract.
With these remedies mentioned above, a dull and sickly complexion should be a thing of the past, there are more effective and safer than those chemical-based products that are not only expensive but cause a lot of health problems for you.
You can mix these home remedies to make them more effective and to hasten results. Some effective mixtures you can try at home are:
- Cinnamon, honey, lemon and nutmeg
- Rice flour and aloe vera scrub (exfoilant)
- Papaya and Honey
- Rice flour and milk
- Dried orange peel and yogurt
- Milk, honey and lemon juice
- Yogurt, tomato juice and oatmeal.
Healthy Lifestyles that Supports a Bright Complexion
Don’t spend much time in high sunlight
The sun is good for the health and even the skin I know, but overexposure to sunlight can darken the skin. It makes the skin unattractive, it forms freckles, brown spots and serious sunburn.
In cases of excess use of chemicals on your skin and malnutrition, excess exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer.
Avoiding sunlight completely is also bad for the skin, so wisdom calls for moderation. Make sure you eat healthy foods always, reduce the number of chemicals applied on your skin or you opt for 100% natural skin care products.
Then you spend at least thirty minutes in the sun every day and the best time to do this is at sunrise and sunset when the heat of the sun is mild.
Quality Nutrition
The kind of foods eaten can either make your skin healthy or sick. Poor nutrition weakens the immune system and by now you should know that your skin is your first immune system and it is a living organ and the largest in the body.
You need to maintain the health, complexion and texture of your protective organ by eating healthy foods every day. Avoid junks and processed foods.
Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells and other debris from the surface of the skin. This act brighten complexion and keeps the skin hydrated.
It also gives the skin a healthy glow and appearance. Some of the remedies mentioned above are good exfoilant like oatmeal and sugar.
Quality hydration
Regular intake of clean water and other healthy fluids like herbal teas, homemade, unsweetened fruit juices, lemon water, smoothies and watery fruits and vegetables all keep the skin hydrated and functioning well.
Water makes the skin glow, you will look younger and healthier. It also rejuvenates the skin and protects it. Water and healthy drinks cleanses the skin from the inside out.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking affects every part of the body including the skin, it gives it a dull appearance and hastens aging. It leads to skin problems and wrinkles, it reduces the flow of blood to the skin thereby reducing the glow of the skin.
Try and quit if you smoke. Avoid second hand smoke too because it has the same effect as if you were the one smoking.
