If you have gone over tanning, you have left spots on your face, or you are a fan of facial care, here we bring you 17 of the best masks to lighten the skin that you can make with ingredients that you will indeed have at home.
We will explain the ingredients you need for each one, the step by step to make it when to apply it, and other tips that will help you have radiant skin with an even tone.
Recommendations before using masks:
- Attend your trusted doctor first to make sure that stains are not a medical problem beyond aesthetics. Conditions such as lupus, pregnancy, vitiligo and melasma are just a few that should be seen with a specialist.
- Do not use ingredients that cause allergy. For example, if you’re allergic to cow’s milk, use substitutes that don’t hurt you. Although the masks are for external use, the measures must be extreme.
- Do not use masks to lighten the face and neck more times than recommended per week, nor exceed the maximum time of exposure to the skin. This could damage your dermis. Not being natural means that it is 100% harmless.
- Always try new masks behind one of your ears or in a small section of your hand, and leave them as long as possible to prove that you will not have any adverse reactions when placing them on your skin. If it were to pass, it would be in a non-visible place.
After following all the recommendations above, we will leave you the list with 10 of the best masks to lighten the skin.
1. Turmeric and lemon juice
This mask to lighten the skin and remove stains is perfect for those who have oily skin since both lemon and turmeric have antibacterial, antiseptic, and lightening properties that help to:
- Reduce the secretion of fat without leaving the feeling of dry skin.
- Fight acne and pimples; both cause spots on the face.
- Reduce the signs of aging by unifying the skin tone and providing a natural luminosity.
- It can also be used as one of the best masks to lighten sunburned skin. It helps the dermis heal and, in addition, relieves the burning sensation.
- It helps to remove dead cells.
How and when to apply it?
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
- A few drops of lemon juice
Mix both ingredients in a clean container until you get a creamy paste. Apply it to the face with the help of a brush and leave it on for 20 minutes or until it dries.
Then wash your face (or bathe so as not to stain everything yellow) and apply your usual moisturizer.
This mask should be done at night and use sunscreen the next day, as lemon juice can cause blemishes if the skin is exposed to the sun just after the mask.
In addition, it should be done 1 or 2 times a week at most depending on your skin type.
2. Bicarbonate and its variants
Masks to lighten the face with baking soda have been used for many years and have many variations depending on skin type. Here we leave you some of the most common, their uses and mode of preparation:
Bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1/2 tablespoon 3-volume hydrogen peroxide (for medicinal use)
Mix the ingredients in a clean cup. Wash your face with soap and water. Apply the mask in circular motions. It will feel like an exfoliant. Let it dry, and then rewash your face.
This mask to whiten the face instantly is one of my favorites to apply at night since the results are noticeable when washing your face. The only thing is that you should use it only one time per week, as it can dry out the skin.
Baking soda and lemon juice
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- Lemon juice in necessary quantity
Mix the ingredients until they form a paste. Apply it to your clean face, avoiding the eyes and lips.
Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash with plenty of soap and water. You should only apply this mask at night and once a week.
It is as effective as the previous one; it will also fight acne and pimples by reducing fat production and acting as an exfoliant.
You should not use it during the day or leave it longer than indicated if you have sensitive skin or an open wound.
Bicarbonate and liquid milk
This mask is indicated for dry skin but suffers from pimples, acne, and spots.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1/2 tablespoon cold liquid milk
Mix the ingredients in a clean container and apply it to your face with the help of a brush. Leave it until it dries, then wash with neutral soap and warm water. Apply your usual moisturizer, and you’re good to go!
This mask can be used up to 3 times a week, depending on the severity of your case and your skin’s sensitivity. The effects are not usually seen as fast, but it is very effective. If you decide to use it during the day, apply sunscreen before leaving your house.
Baking soda and honey
With antiseptic, moisturizing, antioxidant, and emollient properties, this mask is ideal for women of any age and skin type, as it balances the skin’s pH.
Ingredients:
- At least half a tablespoon of honey
- A spoon of baking soda
Mix both ingredients in a container until you get a creamy texture and apply it on the clean face with the help of a brush or fingertips.
Leave on for 5 to 30 minutes, and rinse with plenty of fresh water and neutral soap. Then continue with your usual beauty routine.
You can use this mask day or night and for a maximum of up to 4 times a week. The effects will be seen depending on the severity of your case. Some see results from the first application, while others take up to 4 weeks.
3. Rice water
Used for thousands of generations for its multiple properties and benefits for the skin, this noble cereal – in addition to feeding you – can serve as an excellent facial tonic to lighten the skin, cleanse it of impurities, and refresh it.
What does rice water contain? Antioxidants such as vitamin A and C, inositol, niacin in large quantities (vitamin B3), vitamin E, traces of pitera, and minerals such as phosphorus and potassium.
How to do it?
Ingredients:
- A cup of clean white raw rice
- 1 cup and a half filtered or purified water
Place the rice and water in a covered container and let it sit in the refrigerator or any ideal space until the water turns white (as if it were diluted milk).
At this point, strain the rice and reserve the water in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. You should wash your face and pass the clean cotton soaked with rice water all over your face 1 or 2 times a day.
I can use this tonic daily with the precaution of sunscreen if you leave the house or expose yourself to the sun. It is excellent to be used regardless of your age or skin type.
Is there any variation of this mask?
Yes, of course! One of the most recommended is the mask to lighten the skin with cornstarch and rice water. To make it, you only need 1/2 cup of cornstarch and rice water in the necessary quantity.
Mix the ingredients in a clean container until you get a thick paste. Wash your face with warm water to open the pores and, with the help of a brush, apply the mask all over the face, except for the eyes and lips.
Leave it on for up to 20 minutes or until it dries, and then wash with plenty of cold water. It will leave your face firm, lighter, and with an even skin tone.
This cornstarch mask to lighten the face fights irritation, acne problems, wrinkles, fine lines, and spots.
It can be used up to 3 times a week and preferably at night so you can apply it without worries.
4. Raw masoor dal (red lentils) and rose water
It is not the typical mask to which we are accustomed, but it is perfect if your skin is in terrible condition (very pronounced spots, expression lines, signs of age, etc.).
Ingredients:
- 1 cup red lentils
- Rose water in necessary quantity
Blend or crush the lentils to a fine powder. Mix with rose water to achieve the consistency of a paste and then apply in circular motions across the face, omitting the eyes and lips.
Let it dry and then wash your face with cold water. If you feel that your face has become very dry, apply milk (with a cotton ball over your face) or moisturizer. This mask is recommended a maximum of twice a week.
You can also substitute rose water for milk, honey, or purified water if rose water feels terrible on your skin. Milk acts as a moisturizer; love is excellent if you have acne or oily skin, and water will serve as an additive to the paste’s consistency.
5. Oats and their variants
Masks to lighten the skin with oatmeal are perfect for sensitive skin, but still want to take care of it with natural and hypoallergenic ingredients.
Among the benefits you will get from using this ingredient you will find: it refreshes the face, reduces the appearance of acne and blackheads, prevents the formation of new spots, reduces the appearance of scars and expression lines.
The traditional way to prepare it is with 3/4 cup of oatmeal and water or milk. Let the oatmeal soak in the liquid for 10 to 30 minutes, and then apply it to the face. After a time, it is washed with plenty of cold water and ready!
There are other masks with oatmeal that also serve to lighten the skin, and here we leave them:
Honey, oatmeal and milk
All three ingredients are widely used for home skincare: they whiten, refresh, cleanse and have antibacterial action.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons flake oatmeal
- 1 tablespoon pure honey
- Milk in required quantity
In a bowl, mix the ingredients until it takes on a spreadable consistency. Wash your face and apply the mask. Leave it on for 20 minutes, and then wash with plenty of cold water.
Oatmeal, honey and lemon juice
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup flake oatmeal
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Lemon juice in necessary quantity
Mix the three ingredients to get a paste. Wash your face and apply it to it. Leave it on for up to 15 minutes, and then wash with plenty of water.
It is advisable to apply this mask only at night and once a week.
6. Tomatoes and strawberries
Tomato and strawberries have anti-inflammatory and bleaching properties. This mask is a good option when we want to lighten the skin after being exposed to the sun or have redness on the skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 peeled red tomato clean
- 2 washed strawberries
Blend the ingredients and apply them to your face and neck with the help of a cotton ball or brush. Let the mixture dry, and then wash with plenty of cold water.
In addition to feeling fresh skin, you will notice that it will be more explicit, with less inflammation (if you have it) and less redness.
7. Milk powder, orange juice and oatmeal
Milk powder contains lactic acid, a component with excellent bleaching properties. Lemon juice and oatmeal will help remove dead cells, dirt and, in addition, make the skin look more transparent and free of impurities.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon milk powder
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 cup oatmeal (you can blend oatmeal into flakes to get it)
Join all the ingredients in a clean container and mix them until homogeneous. Apply the mask on your freshly washed face with the help of your fingertips, and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then rinse with plenty of cold water.
It is recommended that you apply this mask only at night, as it contains acids that sensitize the skin.
I should apply it once or twice a week. Please do not leave it more than 15 minutes on your face. The day after using it, try not to expose yourself to the sun’s rays.
8. Mint leaves
This aromatic and refreshing herb has anti-inflammatory, toning, bleaching, and moisturizing properties.
Ingredients:
- Mint leaves in abundant quantity (washed and dried)
- Water if necessary
Blend or crush the mint leaves until you get a paste. If you feel it very thick, add a little water and mixture to homogenize.
Wash your face with warm water and apply the mask all over your face. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse with cold water.
It is recommended to use it two times a week no matter the time. It’s a good option if you have sunburn, irritated skin, blemishes caused by age, hormones, stress, or sun exposure.
9. Bananas, lemon juice and honey
If you’re looking for a mask that moisturizes, brightens, and lightens your face no matter your skin type, this might be a good option.
It uses ubiquitous ingredients that can attenuate spots, remove acne and pimples, moisturize the skin, and leave it soft.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana, peeled and crushed
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Join all the ingredients in a bowl until you achieve a homogeneous mixture. Please apply to the clean face and leave it on for 20 minutes maximum. Then wash with plenty of cold water and continue with your usual beauty routine.
It is recommended to apply this mask 1 to 3 times a week and only at night since lemon juice is a citrus that sensitizes the skin. In addition, the day after applying the mask, you should use sunscreen to protect the dermis against the sun’s rays.
10. Potato slices
Potatoes are a tuber that can be used in many ways in the kitchen, but you can also incorporate them into your daily beauty routine. You only need a cold, washed, and peeled medium potato.
Cut it into slices and place them all over your face. Massage your face with the pieces so that the liquid it gives off can take effect. Leave them there for 20 minutes, then remove them and wash your face with cold water.
Potatoes are a rich source of catecholase that helps attenuate blemishes, acne scars, and dark areas. It also contains essential vitamins and minerals that facilitate the formation of healthy skin cells and reinforce the efficiency of the dermis barrier.
Its gentle whitening properties help control the production of melanin, lightening the skin. It is recommended to use them up to a maximum of 3 times a week and only at night.
Final recommendations
Before finishing this article, we want to give you some tips that will help you have clear, healthy, and glowing skin:
1. Avoid using tobacco or cigarettes
Smoke is not only harmful to your lungs, but it encourages the appearance of spots.
2. Eat a healthy diet
Avoid excessive consumption of processed or fried foods. Your skin reflects how healthy your body is inside.
3. Use sunscreen daily
It is recommended that even while indoors, it is applied and that, in addition, the effect is reinforced by using again every 3 or 4 hours. In addition, they must protect against UVB and UVA rays with SPF greater than 30.
4. Do not abuse homemade masks or skin products
The dermis must breathe and heal itself. Skin lightening is not a magical or fast process. Wear masks only as prescribed.
5. Assist your trusted doctor
If any stain or imperfection bothers you, remember that only a health professional can give you an accurate diagnosis of what happens to your skin and the causes that cause it.
Now that you know 17 of the best masks to lighten the skin, their uses, and their way of preparation, we invite you to share our article with your friends so that they also know how to take care of their skin from home.
We also want to encourage you to leave us in the comments your experiences when using the masks that we tell you if you know any other that is not on the list or how you thought of our article.
