Summers are great and we love it because we get to wear all the floral cute dresses. But not everything is great about summers, especially the suntan or sunburns which can make your skin look dull and damaged. When your skin is exposed to sunlight for a long period of time, it starts producing melanin, the pigment which gives your skin it's colour and protects it against the harmful effects of the UV rays of the sun. So the more you stay out in the sun, the more melanin is produced. Over time, this results in skin tan.

Tanning due to the harsh sun can be pretty stubborn and it may take months to get rid of it. So, while it will fade out eventually you can accelerate the process by using some simple home remedies that have been a part of our grandma’s “nuskhas” and ayurveda for thousands of years.

1. Lemon

There are endless ways to use lemon for removing tanning. You can use it alone or mix it with a number of other ingredients to get a tan-free smooth skin. Lemon contains citric acid and is known as a great bleaching and skin lightening agent.

1.1 Lemon Juice

Slice a lemon into half and rub it directly or squeeze out the juice and apply it on the tanned skin. Avoid applying too close to the eyes. Let it stay for a few minutes and then wash it off with cold water. Lemon juice alone could be a little harsh for your skin if you have dry skin.

1.2 Lemon Juice and Honey

Add equal quantities of lemon juice and honey in a bowl. Mix the two and apply on the tanned skin. Wash it off with cold water after 30 minutes. You can even add sugar to this mixture to use it as a de-tan scrub. This is great for people with dry skin as honey is an excellent moisturiser.

1.3 Lemon, Cucumber, and Rose Water

Mix 1 tablespoon of each of the three ingredients and apply this pack for 15 minutes before washing it off with cold water. Cucumber juice and rose water have a soothing effect on sunburnt skin.

1.4 Lemon and Potato Juice

Grate a small potato and squeeze out its juice. Mix it with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Apply this mixture for 30 minutes and then rinse off with cold water. Potato is also known for its mild bleaching and cleansing properties.

1.5 Lemon and Cornmeal

Mix 2 tablespoons of cornmeal with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and massage the mixture on your face. Now let it stay for 20 minutes. Wash it off with cold water. Cornmeal acts as an exfoliator and absorbs excess oil from the skin.

Also Read: 40 DIY Face Masks For Every Skin Problem

2. Yogurt

Yogurt contains lactic acid which soothes and softens the skin. Yogurt itself is a powerful anti-tanning agent. Along with a number of other de-tanning agents you can make an excellent face pack to remove that stubborn tan and get a soft and smooth skin.

2.1 Plain Yogurt

Apply plain yogurt over the tanned region for 15-20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water.

2.2 Yogurt and Tomato Juice

Mix 1 tablespoon of each yogurt and tomato juice. Apply the paste for 30 minutes and wash off with cold water. Tomato is known to reduce spots and pigmentation along with de-tanning.

2.3 Yogurt and Orange Juice

Mix 1 tablespoon orange juice with 1 tablespoon yogurt. Apply this paste for 30 minutes and then rinse with water. Just like lemon, orange juice contains citric acid that acts as a natural bleaching agent. Its vitamin C content also helps in rejuvenates the skin.

Also Read: How To Create Your Perfect Skincare Routine

3. Turmeric

Turmeric is known for being a common ingredient in many beauty products. It evens out the skin tone and helps in removing tanning.

3.1 Turmeric and Milk

Mix a small amount of turmeric powder in milk. Apply this mixture generously on the affected area and let it dry. Wash it off with water. The lactic acid in milk along with turmeric is known to lighten skin.

3.2 Turmeric and Bengal Gram Flour

Mix 2 tablespoons Bengal gram flour, a pinch of turmeric, 1 tablespoon rose water, and 1 tablespoon milk. Apply this pack on the affected area and leave it for 20 minutes. Once the pack is dry, scrub your face in anticlockwise direction with wet hands. Wash it off with water. Gram flour exfoliates dead skin cells, making the skin appear fresh and rejuvenated.

Also Read: Top 14 Tips For Summer Skincare

4. Papaya

Papaya is not just a great fruit but one of the best tan removers that you can find in your kitchen. Use either a raw papaya or a ripe one you will certainly see some good results with both.

4.1 Raw Papaya

Grate or make a paste of raw papaya and apply it on the affected area. Let it stay for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

4.2 Papaya and Honey

Mash half a cup of papaya and mix with 1 tablespoon honey. Apply the mixture on tanned areas and let it dry for 30 minutes before washing the area with cold water.

Also Read: 70 Beauty Hacks- The Ultimate Guide

5. Aloe Vera

Apart from being a soothing agent, this ingredient is also very effective to treat spots and uneven skin tone. Mixing it with a few other ingredients or even using it alone can give amazing results.

5.1 Aloe Vera Gel

Instead of opting for the commercially available packaged gels, grab an aloe leaf and cut it open in half. Scoop out the gel using a spoon. Apply this gel on your face for 15 minutes before washing it off.

5.2 Aloe, Tomato, and Red Lentil

Soak 1 tablespoon of red lentil in a bowl for 15 minutes. Now grind it to make a paste. Add 1 tablespoon each of tomato juice and aloe vera gel. Apply this mixture on the tanned region for 30 minutes. Wash it off with cold water. All the three ingredients are known to remove tan and together they form a powerful de-tan pack.

Also Read: How To Buy Yourself The Perfect Sunscreen

6. Milk

The lactic acid present in milk helps get rid of sun tan in a matter of few days. We have already seen that milk can be used along with turmeric to do that. However, milk alone is also equally effective.

6.1 Plain Milk

Apply plain milk using a cotton ball on the affected area and let it dry naturally. Now wash it off with water. If you are allergic to milk stay away from this remedy.

6.2 Milk and Strawberry

Mash 4-5 strawberries and mix them with 2 tablespoons of milk. Apply this paste for 30 minutes before washing it off. Strawberries are natural exfoliators and also lighten the skin.

Also Read: 15 Sunscreen Myths You Need To Stop Believing

7. Coconut

Coconut is available in a number of forms such as coconut water, coconut milk, coconut oil, etc. All form of coconuts are widely used in DIY beauty products and home remedies.

7.1 Coconut Milk

If you are a vegan and are strictly against even applying milk, use coconut milk instead. The mild acids in coconut milk are also useful to reduce tanning. Just dip a cotton ball in the coconut milk and apply it. Let it dry naturally and then wash it off with water.

7.2 Coconut Water

Mix 1 tablespoon sandalwood powder and 1 tablespoon coconut water and form a paste. Apply it on the face and neck, and let it dry. Now wash off with water.

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