Summer is all about refreshing beverages, casual clothes, juicy fruits and plenty of hydration. However, if there’s one thing that really stops us from going out and enjoying the sun, it is sun tan. A sun tan isn’t just the darkening of skin but is often accompanied with irritated skin, sun burns and discomfort. Skin tone becomes uneven, and this partly has an effect on a person's self-confidence.
But fret not. Here are 11 home remedies that will help you get rid of sun tan so that you don’t have to worry about much before enjoying summer:
1. Turmeric and besan
Turmeric has been used for ages to even out skin-tone and besan, as we all know, is of a coarse texture that makes for a great exfoliator. Apply two tablespoons of besan, a pinch of turmeric and one tablespoon of milk on your skin. Scrub your face using clockwise movement. Rinse off with water. Do this everyday or every alternate day for best results.
2. Honey and papaya
Papaya has enzymes that help with skin lightening and honey has properties that leave the skin feeling soft. Together, they make for a great skin care mask for the summer, especially if you have dry skin. Add a tablespoon of honey to mashed papaya. Keep this mask on your face for about thirty minutes before washing it off. Make it a part of your weekend skin routine and you’ll be sorted for the summer.
3. Oatmeal and buttermilk
Buttermilk, or chachh as we call it, helps with soothing the skin. Oatmeal, on the other hand, makes for a great exfoliator. Mix three tablespoons of buttermilk with two tablespoons of oatmeal. Massage your face with this for a few minutes and then rinse off. These ingredients will help you fight sun tan this season like a boss.
4. Tomato and curd
While the citric properties of tomatoes have always been known to help lighten the skin, dahi or yogurt helps keep the skin moisturised. If you’re looking at removing sun tan, mix one tablespoon of tomato pulp with one tablespoon of dahi. Keep this mask on for about thirty minutes and wash it off. Do this twice or thrice a week for best results.
5. Lemon Juice and potato
Lemon and potato are both known for their skin-lightening power. Hence, this mask is sure to help you out with your sun tan issues. Take a tablespoon of potato juice which you will have to extract. Add this to a tablespoon of lemon juice. Keep this on your face for about thirty minutes. Do this till the sun tan fades away.
6. Coconut water and sandalwood
Sandalwood is known for its medicinal properties and coconut water is known for its high level of vitamins. Mix one tablespoon of coconut water with one tablespoon of sandalwood. Apply this on your face and let it dry. This will not just nourish your skin and keep it healthy but also protect it against the deadly skin tan.
7. Milk and turmeric
Turmeric’s healing properties as well as its power to make the skin glowing combined with the moisturising nature of milk will help you kiss that sun tan a goodbye. Mix a pinch of turmeric to one tablespoon of milk and apply this to your face. Let it dry or simply, wash after about fifteen minutes. Do this till your sun tan goes away and keep doing it to keep the tan away.
8. Cabbage leaves
Cabbage leaves are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and they contain vitamins A, C, and K. Just place the cabbage leaves on the affected area and do it for as long as your skin is feeling irritated. This will help you out when it comes to getting rid of a sun tan.
9. Vicks VapoRub
If the sun tan that you’re struggling with is accompanied with burns, this solution is perfect for you. The petroleum jelly in Vicks VapoRub will moisturise the skin and the cooling effect will soothe the burnt areas. Do this every night for relief.
10. Bitter gourd
You might not like eating it, but bitter gourd or karela is known to be full of antioxidants is often used to heal mild burns. Use bitter gourd juice to massage your face and then let it be on your skin for five minutes. Doing this twice a day will soothe your skin in the case of burns and also help it heal itself from all the tanning.
11. Aloe vera and multani mitti
Multani mitti is one of the most important ingredients of skin care and is known to work magic on the skin. Aloe vera, with its medicinal properties, has been used to treat skin problems for centuries now. When these both come together, they make for a killer face mask that gets rid of sun tan. Keep the face mask on for fifteen minutes and wash it. Doing this every alternate day or simply on the weekends will protect your skin and also boost its health.