Clearing out impurities and applying natural ingredients if done in the right way can lighten the skin tone, easily and effectively. Here is a list of both common and not-so-common ingredients that can help you lighten your skin tone, by cleaning the skin and working on the dark spots, pigmentation, etc.

• Almond powder

Make a paste of almond powder with raw milk or buttermilk and a tablespoon of honey. Apply this paste on your skin for 10-12 minutes. Once dry, scrub for 2-3 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.

• Almond with yogurt

Soak a few almonds with some yogurt overnight. Grind to a fine paste and apply on the skin. Once dry, scrub for a few minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

• Baking soda

Scrub a runny paste of baking soda and water on your skin for 5-6 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water once dry.

• Carrot with lemon and milk cream

Cook few carrot pieces till tender. Puree them and mix with some milk cream and lemon juice. Apply this on your skin for 15-20 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water once dry.

• Charcoal

Make a paste of activated charcoal with water. Leave it on your skin for 10-12 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

• Chocolate

Mix together some melted dark chocolate (with the lowest sugar content) with some honey and maize flour; add some milk if the paste is too thick. Leave it on your skin for 7-8 minutes, then scrub for 5-6 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water.

• Coconut and rose water

Mix equal amounts of fresh coconut water and rose water. Dab this on your skin using a cotton pad. Wash after 15-20 minutes.

You can also store this in an ice tray and rub a cube on your skin whenever required.

• Coconut oil

Heat about a litre of pure coconut oil and mix in 1/2 teaspoon crushed peppercorns, 3-4 dried Indian gooseberries and 10 curry leaves. Steep these in the oil for 10-12 minutes. Strain the oil and store in a bottle. Massage your skin with this oil for a few minutes before taking a bath.

• Coffee

Mix good quantity of coffee powder with pure coconut oil. Scrub this on your skin for 10-12 minutes before taking a bath.

• Epsom salt

Take some Epsom salt and add to it some lemon juice and few drops of lavender oil. Scrub this on your skin for 10-12 minutes before washing with lukewarm water.

• Fuller’s Earth

Make a smooth paste with Fuller’s Earth and rosewater. Apply it on your skin for 10-12 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water once dry.

• Gram flour

Take some gram flour, a pinch of turmeric, juice of half a lemon and mix with yogurt to make a paste. Scrub this on your skin for a few minutes, and wash with lukewarm water.

• Mango

Mix some mango pulp with sugar granules. Scrub this your skin for 10-12 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water.

• Mint

Boil a cup full of chopped mint leaves in 2 cups of water till only half water remains. Once cool, dab this on your skin using a cotton pad or ball. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

• Oatmeal and eggs

Grind some oatmeal with a whole egg to make a smooth paste. Scrub this on your skin for 7-8 minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

• Orange peel

Soak a tablespoon or two of powdered orange peel (grind them once they are dry) in some milk to make a fine paste. Apply this pack on your skin for 15-20 minutes, and wash with lukewarm water once dry.

• Papaya and honey

Scrub your skin with a paste made of fresh papaya puree and a tablespoon of honey for 10-12 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

• Potato

Finely grate a small potato. Mix in some milk cream and a tablespoon of almond oil. Apply this on your skin and wash away once dry.

• Sandalwood powder

Mix some sandalwood powder with tomato & cucumber juice and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Scrub this paste on the skin for 10-12 minutes and wash away with lukewarm water.

• Yogurt

Make a paste of yogurt with a tablespoon of lemon juice and honey each. Leave this on your skin for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water.

These home remedies can be used once or twice every week. But if your skin tone is darker due to negligence, you must opt for a skin lightening treatment.

Available in almost every city in India like Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Kochi, etc., these treatments are performed under medical supervision, and help with many skin problems apart from darkening, like blemishes, pigmentation, scars, wrinkles, etc.

A skin fairness treatment is safe and affordable contrary to belief, and when taken from an expert like Medlinks in Delhi, affects the deeper layers of the skin giving the desired effect much sooner than natural ingredients.