Summer is upon us and it brings with it the threat of a tan that is unattractive, mainly because it leaves your skin in different shades of your skin tone! While three-quarters of your arm is one shade, the rest is another! It’s really unseemly and not at all appealing. Additionally, if you don’t apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, your risk of skin cancer increases.
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Home remedies for tan removal
Yes, a sun tan is not appealing, but it is not irreversible either. With a bit of care and patience, your skin can go back to its original tone. No, you don’t need to shell out insane amounts of money on expensive cosmetic products. You can raid your kitchen for certain ingredients and get rid of the tan effectively. Take a look at some easy, simple yet effective home remedies for tan removal here:
1. Almonds
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Almonds are extremely nourishing for your skin, while also helping cleanse, scrub, and lighten your skin tone considerably.
Remedy
- In a cup of water, soak 6 almonds overnight. The following morning, blend them with some milk in a food processor to make a fine paste. Apply this paste on the affected areas before going to bed, letting it sit overnight. The next morning, rinse it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy every day for about 2 weeks, followed by twice a week for best results.
2. Aloe vera
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Aloe vera is highly effective in reversing a sun tan. Additionally, it not only cleanses and nourishes your skin, it also helps soothe and calm irritated and inflamed skin.
Remedy
- Slice open an aloe vera leaf and squeeze out the fresh gel into a clean bowl. Apply this on the affected areas before going to bed and leave it on overnight. The following morning, wash it off in the shower. Repeat this remedy as needed through the week to get rid of the tan.
3. Cucumber
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Cucumber has long been used to get rid of a sun tan. It has a cooling effect on tanned skin, while soothing and healing sunburned skin. It is rich in vitamin C, which helps keep your skin moisturized.
Remedies
- In a clean bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with 2 tablespoons of cucumber juice. To this, add a pinch of turmeric powder and mix well. Apply this on the affected areas of skin. Let it stay for half an hour, before rinsing it off with plain water. Repeat this remedy thrice a week for best results.
- Take fresh cucumber slices and rub them gently on the affected areas. Do this as needed to reverse sun tan.
4. Gram flour
Gram flour is another easily available ingredient that is extremely helpful in getting rid of a sun tan. It also helps in removing dead skin cells and excess sebum, leaving your skin bright, youthful-looking, and soft.
Remedies
- In a clean bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon of gram flour with enough water to make a smooth paste. Slather this on the tanned areas of your skin. Let it air dry for about 20 minutes, before washing it off with plain water. Repeat this twice a week for a few weeks to get rid of tanned skin.
- Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to 1 tablespoon of gram flour and mix well to form a smooth paste. Smear this on the affected areas, leaving it on for half an hour, before washing it off with cool water. Use this remedy thrice a week for best results.
5. Lemon juice
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Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent, which helps in lightening your skin tone considerably. Additionally, it also helps in lightening dark spots, acne scars, and blemishes while helping evening out your skin tone.
Remedies
- Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into a clean bowl. Apply this directly on the affected area and let it air dry for about 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Repeat this thrice a week for best results.
- Add 1 teaspoon of sugar to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and mix well. Apply this on the affected areas and scrub gently in circular motions to help cleanse it thoroughly. Repeat this remedy thrice a week for positive results.
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6. Milk
Milk and/or milk cream are both highly effective in treating sun tanned skin.
Remedies
- Add 1 tablespoon of raw milk to a clean bowl, along with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and a pinch of turmeric. Mix all the ingredients well to form a smooth paste. Smear this on the tanned skin, letting it air dry completely for about 20 minutes. Then, wash it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy thrice a week for desired results.
- Soak a pinch of saffron in 2 tablespoons of fresh milk cream overnight. The following morning, mix well and apply this on the affected areas of skin. Leave it on for half an hour, before washing it off with lukewarm water. Use this remedy twice a week for best results.
7. Oatmeal powder
Oatmeal powder has a soothing effect on your skin, while also being an excellent exfoliant. Not only will it help reduce a sun tan, it also helps in cleansing your pores by removing dead skin cells, excess sebum, dirt, grime, and other impurities from your skin.
Remedies
- In a clean bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal and enough buttermilk to make a fine paste. Gently rub this on the tanned areas, using your fingertips in circular motions. Let it stay for 20 minutes, before washing it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy twice a week for best results.
- Add 1 tablespoon of ground oatmeal to 2 teaspoons of ground almond, ground orange peel powder, and 2 teaspoons of raw milk. Mix all the ingredients well to make a smooth paste. Smear this on the affected areas, letting it stay for half an hour, before rinsing it off with cool water. Use this remedy thrice a week for desired results.
8. Papaya
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Papaya contains the compound papain, which possesses skin lightening properties, thus helping in getting rid of a sun tan.
Remedy
- Mash half a cup of ripe papaya in a clean bowl, with the back of a fork, so that there are no lumps or chunks in it. To this, add 1 tablespoon of honey and mix well. Slather this on the affected areas of skin, letting it stay for about half an hour. Rinse it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy thrice a week to reverse a sun tan.
9. Potato
Potato is known to be extremely helpful in reversing a sun tan. It is rich in vitamin C, which works as a natural bleaching agent that helps in lightening your skin tone. Additionally, it also helps in soothing a sunburn.
Remedy
- Take 2 peeled medium-sized potatos and put them in a food processor to make a paste. Scoop it out into a clean bowl. Apply this on the affected areas of skin. Leave it on for half an hour, before rinsing it off with cold water. Repeat this remedy thrice a week for best results.
10. Sandalwood
Sandalwood is another excellent ingredient that helps in reversing a sun tan, thanks to its skin lightening and anti-aging properties. Additionally, it also cleanses your skin, while helping maintain a natural glow and radiance.
Remedies
- In a clean bowl, mix together equal amounts of turmeric and sandalwood powder. To this, add enough rose water to make a smooth paste. Slather this on the affected areas, leaving it on to air dry for about half an hour. Then, wash it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy twice a week to reverse a sun tan.
- Add 1 tablespoon of sandalwood powder to 1 teaspoon each of coconut oil and almond oil and mix well. Apply this on the affected areas of skin, letting it stay for 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Use this remedy twice a week for desired results.
11. Strawberries
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Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. It is extremely helpful in lightening your skin tone, thus helping get rid of a sun tan.
Remedy
- Make a paste out of 5 ripe strawberries in a food processor. Scoop it out into a clean bowl and add 2 tablespoons of fresh milk cream to it. Apply this on the affected areas of skin, leaving it on for 30 minutes, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy thrice a week for best results.
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12. Yogurt
Yogurt is naturally nourishing for your skin, while also possessing mild bleaching properties. It also helps in cooling the tanned and irritated skin, thus reducing the redness and tightening the pores.
Remedies
- Apply some fresh plain yogurt on your skin every day before taking a bath to help reduce the skin discoloration caused by a tan. You can use this remedy even if your skin hasn’t tanned much as it is super nourishing for your skin.
- In a clean bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt, 1 teaspoon each of tomato juice and lemon juice to form a smooth paste. Slather this on the affected areas, keeping clear of the eyes. Let it stay for 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy thrice a week for best results.
- Extract fresh cucumber juice from half a chilled cucumber. To this juice, add a quarter cup of plain yogurt and 1 mashed tomato pulp. Mix well to form a smooth paste. Smear this on the affected areas, avoiding your eyes. Let it sit for 20 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water. Use this remedy twice a week for desired results.
These are all the superbly effective home remedies for tan removal that actually work! For more updates on skin care, beauty secrets, and makeup tips and tricks, subscribe to our newsletter today!
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
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