Bleaching the skin to appear lighter and whiter is desired to remove coloration, freckles and even age spots. A flawless complexion with even-toned skin is desired by both men and women. Some people choose to avoid harsh ingredients containing a variety of chemicals and go the natural route when lightening their skin. A variety of home remedies use items commonly found in most kitchens. Though not scientifically proven, the home remedies are popular, inexpensive and simple to incorporate into your skin care regimen.
Lemon Juice
Slice open a lemon and squeeze the juice into a clean container. Dip a cotton ball into the juice and massage onto the skin. The acidic components in lemons gently slough away the very top layer of skin. Create a lemon scrub by combining lemon juice with sugar; add enough lemon juice to create a thin paste. Add a small amount of olive oil as a moisturizer if desired. Rub the sugar scrub onto the face to help exfoliate and remove dead skin cells; the lemon juice in the scrub will continue to act as a bleaching agent.
Orange Peel
Peel an orange and allow the rind to dry out. Cut the dried rind into small pieces. Place in a clean coffee grinder and pulverize into a fine powder. Add a small amount of milk to the orange peel powder to create a fine paste. Apply to the skin area and allow to dry. Wash off using warm water.
Potatoes
Potatoes can be cut open and rubbed onto the skin for whiting effects according to I Love India, a lifestyle website. Slice open a potato and rub onto the skin twice daily. Alternatively, grind the raw potato into a pulp to create a mask. Apply to your face or other areas where whitening is desired. Add a small amount of honey if the pulp is not sticking well to the skin. Leave potato mask on for 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
Honey and Almond Paste
Soak ½ cup of almonds in water overnight. Peel the almonds the next day or when they are soft. Mash the almonds until a fine pulp forms. Add honey to make a paste and apply to desired skin area. Allow paste to sit for 10 minutes.
