Several centuries ago the beauty standard of the day amongst the Victorians was pale, alabaster skin. They considered a pallid appearance to be the height of fashion as it denoted a person of leisure who had never known a day of actual labor under the sun.
To achieve this look many smeared their faces with a lead based powder which, we have since learned, was a very bad idea.
Our modern day sensibilities consider a tanned appearance to be more in vogue, but this naturally comes with its own set of challenges. Anyone who knows anything about fashion understands that the straps on dresses, bathing suits or tops rarely match up.
That’s to say nothing about the cuts of these various pieces of clothing. Uneven tan lines criss-crossing your body at all angles might give you pause about wearing that new backless dress you bought just for date night.
So what are you to do?
When you’re outside and soaking up the sun, your skin starts creating a lot more melanin to protect itself from the more harmful effects of the sun. This blocks out more of the damaging rays but also necessarily darkens your skin.
Your skin is made up of a number of layers and the cells containing the increased levels of melanin will eventually make their way to the surface where they will be shed in time, but the process takes several weeks to complete naturally. So what are you to do if you have a few patches you would like to lighten, or at least blend?
Luckily we know of several ways to speed up the process using household products that can restore your skin to its usual shade, without needing to resort to chemical peels or anything drastic.
The scrubs we will describe below work by acting on your skin in a number of different ways. One of the key things that needs to happen is exfoliation. The top layer of dead skin needs to be removed first. It was likely damaged by the sun and may appear somewhat drier as a result. The skin below that will also need to be lightened and rehydrated to restore the smoothness and sheen of a healthy skin tone.
Below are several recipes for homemade scrubs that can be made with items most of us keep in our cupboards. With each recipe, you’re going to combine the various ingredients into a paste before spreading it onto your skin and rubbing in small circles.
Leave the scrub on for between 5 and 10 minutes before rinsing it off. While part of the aim of the scrub is to rehydrate your skin, it’s never a bad idea to use a quality moisturizer after completing a scrub, just to make sure the hydration is locked in.
Lemon and Sugar Scrub
What you need:
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- Juice from half a lemon
- 1 tablespoon of honey (optional)
Why it helps: The sugar scrubs away dull skin, while lemon juice gently lightens it. Honey helps soothe and moisturize, especially if your skin feels dry from the sun.
Coffee and Coconut Oil Scrub
- 2 tablespoons used coffee grounds
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Why it helps: Coffee not only exfoliates well, but its caffeine content also helps improve blood flow and reduce dullness. Coconut oil keeps your skin soft and helps reduce any irritation from scrubbing.
Oatmeal and Yogurt Scrub
- 2 tablespoons finely ground oats
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
Why it helps: Oats are super gentle, making this scrub a good choice for sensitive skin. Yogurt contains lactic acid, which naturally lightens dark spots and softens the skin. Honey adds extra hydration.
Tomato and Rice Flour Scrub
- 1 small ripe tomato (blended or mashed)
- 2 tablespoons rice flour
Why it helps: Tomatoes are packed with antioxidants that help reverse sun damage. Rice flour gives you a fine, natural exfoliation that removes dull, dead skin.
Gram Flour and Turmeric Scrub
- 2 tablespoons gram flour (besan)
- A pinch of turmeric
- Enough milk or curd to make a paste
Why it helps: Gram flour has been used for ages to cleanse and exfoliate the skin. Turmeric helps brighten skin tone and reduce inflammation. Milk or curd adds a dose of lactic acid for gentle lightening.
Semolina and Milk Scrub
- 1/4 cup semolina (sooji)
- 1/2 cup raw milk
Why it helps: Semolina gives you a very mild scrub, perfect for days when your skin feels a little sensitive. Milk helps lighten sun-darkened areas gradually.
Important to know
These scrubs are all completely natural but there should always be some caution taken when trying out new treatments. You may have a previously unknown allergy to some of the ingredients for example. Therefore it is advised that you do a “patch test” first with a scrub to make sure there isn’t any irritation or sensitivity.
Additionally, some of the ingredients like the turmeric can stain your skin if left too long. In that eventuality, soak a cotton pad in some milk and rub it over the affected areas to lighten the staining.
As with any exfoliating treatment, it should not be over-used. Exfoliating more than once or twice a week can damage and irritate your skin even more than the sun, as you will be effectively scrubbing your healthy skin off as well as the dead skin after a time.
Quality skin care can’t be rushed; even with the best of products it will take at minimum two weeks to see a difference, attempting to speed up the process too much will simply result in damage to your skin.
Final tips
To make sure you see the best results for your effort, make sure to drink plenty of water so your skin has more hydration to pull from. Avoid hot showers after a scrub as this may dry your skin out again; rather dial the temperature down.
A bit of aloe vera get at night can go a long way and of course, make sure to wear sun screen whenever going out. If you can build this into your regular skin care routine, you will have a natural glow whether inside or out