9 Easy Homemade Skin Lightening Remedies

Have you asked yourself ever how to lighten skin tone. Do you think your the only one?

The craze for skin lightening with the hundreds of creams and cosmetics being marketed to specifically lighten the skin, are testimony to the fact that the greater percentage of women in our country dream of acquiring a fairer skin tone.

Avoid lightening the skin tone using harsh, chemical-loaded cosmetics which are expensive at the same time. Try out these cost-effective easy homemade skin lightening remedies which will brighten and whiten the skin and impart it with a natural glow. These home made whitening creams will also boost hydration and glow, thereby offering you gorgeous looking skin. This is a perfect solution on how to get lighter skin tone.
Homemade Remedies For Skin Lightening:

Here are 3 simple face packs for skin lightening treatment at home.
1. Dried Orange Peels and Yogurt:
Our very first choice of the homemade tips for skin lightening!
Orange peels can be dried at home by placing them under the sun. Dry those till all the moisture is gone and the peels turn crisp.

How to:
    Grind dried orange peels into powder form and mix 1 tbsp of it with 1 tbsp fresh and unflavored yogurt to make a paste.
    This mixture should be applied and allowed to stay on cleansed skin for 15-20 minutes and then rinsed off.

Benefits:
    This mask is effective in lightening skin blemishes and spots as well.
    It also helps to remove blackheads when massaged on the affected areas in circular motion.

2. Tomato, Yogurt and Oatmeal Mask for Bright Skin:
This is a very effective home remedy for skin lightening treatment.
oatmeal for skin benefits

Ingredients:
    Tomato.
    Yogurt.
    Oatmeal.
yogurt and oatmeal mask

How to:
tomato paste skin lightening
   Add 1 tsp each of yoghurt and tomato juice to a teaspoon of oatmeal.
homemade skin lightening 2
tomato and lemon for skin whitening
Apply on your cleansed skin and leave for 15-20 minutes, followed by rinsing with cold water.

Oily skin: say goodbye to it with these natural secrets

Oily skin is characterized by excessive accumulation of sebum or oil on the surface of the skin, which causes a pronounced sheen on the skin and a series of imbalances that can lead to other skin conditions.
The characteristics of this skin type are:

    The skin is thicker
    It feels oily when you touch it
    Shiny appearance due to the overproduction of sebum
    Pores
    Frequent appearance of pimples or skin rashes
    May have black spots or acne

Oily skin tends to be common in young people due to hormonal changes that occur during this phase. However, adults also tend to suffer from oily skin.
Causes of oily skin

The main causes that generate oily skin are:

    A careless diet with foods of low quality and low intake of raw vegetables and nutritious food. The consumption of junk food, fried foods, saturated fats, etc. fosters the emergence of an oily skin.
    Anxiety and stress: this is one of the deeper causes of oily skin and acne, rashes, spots, etc. Why do stress and anxiety generate oily skin? Because when you're tense, the muscles under the skin contract, blocking the pores and preventing the secretion of natural oils by sebaceous glands. If the pore is closed due to stress, fat will build up below and we will have an outbreak, acne or pimple, which is only stored fat that cannot flow through the pores. Adolescents and young people are often tense when they are growing because of all the changes, and that is why acne is usually accentuated.
    The frequent irritation at something or someone also can make the face very tense.
    The hormonal changes and heredity.
    Lack of proper sleep (insomnia, not sleeping at least 8 hours a day).

Things to avoid

Many people believe that cleaning your face regularly with anti-fat products or soaps helps eliminate fat. However, as the skin needs oil to stay healthy, the constant cleaning with soaps just cause that the sebaceous glands produce more fat, accentuating the problem. Washing your face too often is not desirable as this will activate the secretion of fat.

It is always best to deal with this problem from the root since fighting the symptom does not help to cure the real cause.
How to solve it

25 Basic Beauty Tips For Face You Should Definitely Follow

6 Basic Beauty Tips For Face

If you want brighter skin, it is very important to take care of the various aspects of skin care. As there are several things to cover, we have divided the article into various sub sections for your convenience. Feel free to skip to the section that is relevant to you.

Different skin types have different needs and endure different problems. It is important to identify your skin tone and take necessary action.
1. Beauty tips for oily skin:
Beauty tips for oily skin

This is the most troublesome skin type to have. The troubles are countless, but when maintained right, this skin type can have a certain glow and charm that is breath taking.

Common troubles:

The common problems include coarse skin with enlarged visible pores and a dull appearance due to the over production of oil in the skin. This in turn gives a shiny and greasy sheen. Frequent acne and blemishes, blackheads, white heads and dark spots are also some of the common problems of oily skin.

Simple tips:

    Maintain a healthy diet including lots of raw veggies and fruits; avoid oily and junk food.
    Always keep your face clean. This helps in keeping away excessive oiliness and acne.

2. Beauty tips for dry skin:
Beauty tips for dry skin

If you think oily skin is a pain, then let us tell you that having dry skin isn’t a walk in the park either. Dry skin gets very uncomfortable, especially in the winters and in extreme cold temperatures. This results in intense pain and unsightly appearance when not taken care of properly.

Common troubles:

Dry skin usually seems to have fine texture with dullness, but on a closer look there may be some flaky or granulated sections particularly around the corners of the mouth, eyes, and forehead. If neglected it will form wrinkles and become more brittle with age.

How to Banish Puffiness, Dark Circles, and Fine Lines for Good

These eye cream tips will take years off your face.

Yes, sunglasses and a good SPF should always be in your under-eye arsenal. But the skin around your peepers is the most delicate on your whole body—which also makes it the most susceptible to damage. In fact, the eye area ages 36 percent faster than the rest of your face.

Your miracle in a jar? Eye cream.

A good one reverses the signs of aging, makes you look wide awake and nourishes dry skin. Here's the best product for your biggest issue.

Best for Dark Circles
Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment ($13, drugstore.com) contains horse chestnut, a natural botanical that nips dark circles in the bud by stimulating circulation. It's also packed with antioxidants that brighten dark areas by triggering melatonin production. Pro tip: Apply it after moisturizer for maximum brightening effects.

Best for Puffiness
Estée Lauder Advanced Repair Eye Serum ($65, esteelauder.com) is the only cream we've used that makes good on its claims to banish bags while cooling skin simultaneously. The light-as-air product has a refreshing chill and depuffs the second you apply it. We like to mix a little bit in with the brand's Double Wear Concealer ($24, nordstrom.com), another under-eye secret weapon.

3 ‘Good’ Habits That Are Actually Giving You Breakouts

A.K.A. Why your skin has sucked so much lately

More often than not, you can blame your hormones for your breakouts. Yet, there are other times when pimples randomly appear and don’t quite seem to have a source. Bummer alert: Turns out, that source might be some of your regular habits. Dermatologist Adebola Dele-Michael, M.D., of Radiant Skin Dermatology and Laser describes the surprising culprits.

Whipping Out Your Cleansing Brush
"Using any type of products that are exfoliating too aggressively can cause irritation and inflammation to the skin," says Dele-Michael. When you break them out too often, these trendy brushes over-exfoliate, causing dryness first and acne second. Your skin will try to counteract the dryness by producing an overload of sebum, or natural oils. "If you have sensitive skin or severe acne, it's best to see a board-certified dermatologist to suggest a good skincare regimen," says Dele-Michael.  

 Practicing Yoga
A communal yoga mat may be convenient, but unclean mats carry sweat, dirt, and oil that clog pores. And if you rub your face on the mat (hello, child's pose), you can expect breakouts on your face and body. "Use your own yoga mat and bring a towel with you to class," says Dele-Michael. "After class, wipe down your mat with the towel, and remember to take a shower and wash your face with a gentle cleanser" right when you get home.

Trimming Your Bangs
Styled bangs may be your go-to, but they're also a major cause of forehead acne. "[It] develops when the hair follicles in your forehead become clogged, causing inflammation on the skin," says Dele-Michael. "Styling products that contain ingredients like silicones, sulfates, petroleum, jojoba oil, and shea butter tend to trap the most bacteria and create a breeding ground for acne." So when choosing hair products, consider opting for natural-based formulas.

7 Skin-Care Ingredients You Might Be Allergic To

Plus, how to deal if your skin freaks out

Ever used a new scrub or moisturizer—only to be left with red, itchy skin? The ingredients in your products could be to blame. "Most ingredients that exfoliate, cleanse, or strip the skin can be potentially irritating," says Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and the founder of BeautyStat.com.

What’s more, some people are much more sensitive to certain allergy-inducing ingredients than others, says Dendy Engelman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "It's nothing the patient is doing wrong,” she says.  “Most often it's genetics or what they were exposed to—or not exposed to—during their childhood."

 Before you try a new skin-care product, be aware of these common irritants.

1. Salicylic Acid
"[This] acid is the same active ingredient in aspirin," explains Engelman. "And three to five percent of the population is sensitive to aspirin, too." Salicylic acid is usually used to treat blemishes, but it’s possible to experience hives or inflammation from using it. Engelman recommends benzoyl peroxide to target acne control instead if salicylic acid irritates you. Arithmetic Acne Control Complex ($30, arithmeticproducts.com) provides a low dose of benzoyl so it's perfect for sensitive skin.

2. Aluminum
Aluminum is commonly found in deodorant and antiperspirant because it helps reduce sweating, says Engelman. But because it's a salt, it can cause redness, itching, and even swelling. "Another alternative is magnesium oil, which uses ninasium chloride to prevent sweating, or aluminum-free deodorants." We like Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil ($20, amazon.com) or Desert Essence Natural Roll-On Deodorant ($5.75, desertessence.com).

3. Glycolic Acid
"This acid is so small that it's very good at penetrating into the skin," says David Bank, M.D., a dermatologist in Mount Kisco, New York. "On the efficacy side, it's great. But that rapid entry can make it more irritating." The result is mild side effects—redness and drying. "[A better option for sensitive skin] is lactic acid, [which is] physically larger so it releases more gradually over time." Try Philosophy Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging Lactic Acid Cleanser & Mask ($35, ulta.com).
Image of woman washing her hair
Shutterstock

The Best Drugstore Stand-Ins for High-End Makeup Favorites

Saving money has never looked so good.

Who can resist a good beauty bargain that will get you glam without costing you the big bucks? We scoured drugstore shelves and consulted the industry’s top makeup artists and experts for the ultimate list of inexpensive dupes for your favorite high-end makeup products.

Mascara
Just a few flicks of Boots No7 Extreme Length Lash mascara will give you the same luscious, sky-high fringe as its high-end counterpart. “It adds a ton of length, and the formula is soft and clump-free,” says Kerry Cole, style director of Becca

Liquid Liner
Wet n Wild’s intensely pigmented formula and simple brush applicator make it just as easy and effortless to create precise lines as the Lancôme cult classic. “The royal blue and teal are super rich shades,” says Lauren Cosenza, a professional makeup artist and founder of DIVAlicious blog.

Eyebrow Pencil
Andrea Pomerantz Lustig, a veteran beauty editor and author of How to Look Expensive: A Beauty Editor’s Secrets to Getting Gorgeous Without Breaking the Bank, loves Sonia Kashuk Brow Definer’s perfect texture, which isn’t too soft or too hard. For a natural look, she applies quick pencil-like strokes to just the areas that need filling in but scatters some strokes throughout her brows to blend in the color. Lustig recommends going a shade lighter than your actual brow color for the most natural effect.

10 Tips To Look 5 Years Younger

Everyone wishes to look younger than their actual age trying hard to maintain it. As we grow older with time, wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots etc start appearing on the skin. It’s not possible for us to go back in time but it is possible to make the skin look younger with proper care and correct makeup techniques. There are a few techniques using which we can look 5 years younger than we actually are with some limitations. It shouldn’t be overdone else it may make you look odd. So below are a few regular skin care routine ideas and a few makeup tips to look young. Most important thing is to practice it regularly for best results.
Tips To Look Younger Naturally
1. Exfoliate:

Your first step to a younger looking skin is to exfoliate. Remove all the dead cells accumulated on your face and lessen the sun damages. A facial scrub with alpha-hydroxyl is best to make you look fresh.
2. Face Lift Mask:

A face lift mask or a facial mask specially made to reduce your facial wrinkles can help you a lot in looking younger. If you’re applying makeup after the face pack, then it is advisable to apply this face mask a few hours before.
3. Moisturize:

Don’t forget moisturizing your skin daily. As you grow older, your skin lacks required oils slowly. So it is very important to moisturize your skin regularly.
4. Avoid sun:

Don’t let the sunrays touch your skin as much as possible. Always wear a sunscreen or a sunblock whenever you go outdoors between 10am to 4pm. Reapply the sunscreen lotion every four hours.

10 Best Anti Aging Supplements Worth Taking

Do you often feel worried that you are aging too fast? Have you ever dreamt of some magic pill which can slow down the aging process and keep you young for long? Be it the pollution in the environment or the type of food we eat every day, we are only aging faster than ever.

So, how can you combat this issue? Are there any anti-aging supplements that you can use? Well, there are! And this post talks about ten such supplements, which are known to be the best when it comes to slowing down the aging process.

Want to know what those supplements are? Then you better read this post!
1. Coenzyme Q-10:

As we grow older, an enzyme named CoQ10, which is produced by the body, decreases eventually with the passing years. In fact, low production of enzyme CoQ10 is linked with various age related disorders like Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and diabetes.

How Does It Work:

Researches have shown that the supplement CoQ10 helps in preventing the blood from clotting in an efficient way. This feature of the supplement helps in containing the chances of heart attack and other heart related diseases.

This supplement also acts as an antioxidant. The presence of these enzymes in our body protects our cell from damage, thereby resulting in healthy skin, hair and overall health.
2. Resveratrol:

This is a polyphenol that is found in grapes and berries. The effectiveness of this element is often linked with the old notion that wine is the secret behind long and healthy life. Daily dose of this supplement is recommended for a longer life span.

Skin Problems & Treatments

Got Skin Problems?

Is your skin itchy, broken out, or covered in a rash or strange spots? Skin inflammation, changes in texture or color, and spots may result from infection, a chronic skin condition, or contact with an allergen or irritant. If you think you have one of these common adult skin problems, have your doctor check it out. Most are minor, but others can signal something more serious.

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

A rash of raised dots that turns into painful blisters, shingles causes your skin to burn, itch, tingle, or become very sensitive. Shingles often shows up on your trunk and buttocks, but can appear anywhere. An outbreak lasts about two weeks. You’ll recover, but pain, numbness, and itching might linger for months, years, or even the rest of your life. Treatment includes creams for your skin, antiviral drugs, steroids, and even antidepressants.

Hives (Urticaria)

Hives look like welts and can itch, sting or burn. They vary in size and sometimes join together. They may appear on any part of you and last anywhere from minutes to days. Causes include extreme temperatures, infections like strep throat, and allergies to medications, foods, and food additives. Antihistamines and skin creams can help.

Look Younger in 60 Seconds

Let the countdown begin.
Michele Promaulayko is the former editor-in-chief of Women's Health and author of 20 Pounds Younger, which is published by Rodale, Women's Health's parent company.

Big goals can sometimes seem overwhelming. I’m a big fan of incremental tweaks, small changes that add up to make a serious difference. A while back, for example, I vowed to eat breakfast at my table rather than at the dishwasher while emptying dishes. Now I choose healthier food, I eat more slowly, I enjoy my meal more, and I eat less. What tiny changes can you make today that will pay off big down the road? Here are some healthy life hacks to get you started.

Build a bonfire to burn more calories. Two simple facts: Muscle burns more calories than fat does, and firm glutes look good in jeans. To get the most bang out of your exercise time, then, focus on the largest muscles in your body first—your legs and butt. Do it with one simple exercise that can be done anywhere: the air squat. Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, arms straight in front of you and parallel with the floor. Soften your knees, then slowly push your hips back and drop your buttocks toward the floor, until your thighs are parallel to the ground or lower. Pause there for two seconds, and then quickly return to standing. Repeat 11 more times. The slower you lower, the harder and more effective the exercise will be.

6 Types of Skin-Care Treatments So Gross You'll Gag

...But do they actually work?

In the eternal quest for unclogged pores and a gorgeous glow, some people will slather any product on their face. But it takes serious guts to give these six revolting remedies a try. Some have roots in cultural traditions, while others are DIY concoctions straight from your kitchen or medicine cabinet. But one thing is for certain: All are pretty foul. Here, find out if any of these gross treatments actually work.

1. Bird Poop
Nightingales supposedly produce an enzyme in their excrement that exfoliates skin—and strangely, it's not the bacteria carnival you'd think. "The bird dung is UV irradiated to make it sterile," says Debra Jaliman, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. While you could get pooped on by a bird for free just about anywhere, the facial version using powdered nightingale droppings will cost you $180 at Shizuka New York Day Spa in New York City (Victoria Beckham and Tom Cruise are reportedly fans). But does it improve skin? That's iffy, says Jaliman.

2. Semen
Sperm's anti-aging benefits: rumor or real? A powerful antioxidant found in spunk called (appropriately enough) spermine is supposed to smooth skin and get rid of wrinkles. Spermine facials are even offered at some upscale salons, including Graceful Services in New York City. Jaliman says it's a toss up: "Semen does have vitamin E, so it may be beneficial." Bottom line: If you really want to try it, it can't hurt.

Anti-Aging Hacks That Make Your Products More Effective

Wrinkles, dark spots, fine lines? You have tons of creams and serums to treat it all, but you want to get the most bang for your anti-aging buck. Make your anti-aging products work miracles with tips from Marnie Nussbaum, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in New York City.

 Start With a Clean Slate

Always cleanse and use a toner on your skin before applying products to make sure dirt and grime aren't affecting absorption. Layer moisturizers on top of your medicinal products.

 Don't Dry All the Way

Apply products immediately after you wash your face with warm water. Contrary to popular belief, your skin doesn't need to be totally dry before you apply a product. In fact, a little moisture makes your skin more absorbent.

Don't Go Overboard

Retinols are the gold standard of topical skin care, treating everything from wrinkles to acne, but use this anti-aging ingredient sparingly. "More isn't better in this case," says Nussbaum. Opt for a pea-size amount on your entire face. More will cause inflammation, dryness, and flaking. (Dry, flaking skin doesn't absorb products very well, which is why you should apply products after washing with warm water.)

3 Reasons Your Pores Look So Damn Huge

Plus how to tighten 'em up ASAP

Honestly: How far would you go to change the look of your pores? According to a Harris Poll/L'Oreal survey, 56 percent of women would give up booze, dessert, even social media (#firstworldpores) for an entire year to downsize those eyesores. The national obsession has reached such a fervor, dermatologists even coined the term "porexia"—which is exactly what it sounds like.

Buzzy names aside, there's unfortunately still no miracle treatment to permanently shrink the suckers. (Get on it, derms!) Of course, regular exfoliation helps make them look smaller (clogged pores = large pores). But we've discovered a few unexpected reasons why they could be freaking out—in some cases, at the hands of the products used to fight them. So, if any of the following things describe you, find the smart fix that'll help you whittle your pores...and have your merlot (or whiskey, or Hoegaarden), too.

You can't get enough extractions.
Facials can clear out pores—if done by the right hands. "Make sure the aesthetician is cleaning out only the clogged pores—not every pore," says Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, M.D., Ph.D., a New York City dermatologist and consultant for Lancôme. "If you manipulate those that don't need extraction, they may stretch out permanently." Traumatized pores can develop scar tissue that creates an indentation deeper than the pore itself, adds Sonia Batra, M.D., M.P.H., a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the USC Keck School of Medicine.

The Biggest Winter Skin-Care Mistake You're Probably Making

Skipping this step in your routine could seriously hurt your complexion.

Be honest: How often do you really wear SPF in the winter? While you might think you can skip it on frigid or snowy days, that's not actually the case.

"Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can stop protecting your skin against harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun," says Sejal Shah, M.D., a dermatologist at Smarter Skin Dermatology in New York City. "Ultraviolet radiation reaches the Earth every day, even when it's cold or cloudy, so you need to protect your skin year-round." In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, 80 percent of the sun's UV rays can still penetrate your skin on a cloudy day.

But what if you're cooped up at home or in the office all day? "You need to wear sunscreen even when you're outside for a short amount of time," says Shah. "[And] ultraviolet radiation can penetrate window glass, so you need protection when you're indoors as well." A new study published in the journal Science even found that some sun damage (which can lead to skin cancer) continues to take place hours after you've gone inside.

7 Skin-Care Ingredients You Might Be Allergic To

Plus, how to deal if your skin freaks out

Ever used a new scrub or moisturizer—only to be left with red, itchy skin? The ingredients in your products could be to blame. "Most ingredients that exfoliate, cleanse, or strip the skin can be potentially irritating," says Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and the founder of BeautyStat.com.

What’s more, some people are much more sensitive to certain allergy-inducing ingredients than others, says Dendy Engelman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "It's nothing the patient is doing wrong,” she says.  “Most often it's genetics or what they were exposed to—or not exposed to—during their childhood."

Before you try a new skin-care product, be aware of these common irritants.

Does Drinking Water Really Give You Glowing Skin?

Dermatologists explain what H2O can (and can't) do for your complexion.

This time of year, everything is dry. Your face flakes off in whole pieces, your arms are ashy, and your butt constantly itches in your jeans. Meanwhile, you still have that zit that’s been making appearances on your chin since summertime.

Celebrities would suggest drinking some water—they seem to all claim it’s the secret behind their supple, glowing, always camera-ready skin. Ellen Pompeo drinks water for her skin’s sake. Jennifer Aniston says drinking “lots of water” keeps her looking ageless. And Gabrielle Union has been putting away a gallon a day of H2O since her mid-30s.


While hydrating for better skin does make sense—your skin is 64 percent water, after all—there’s very little research out there to back up water as a skin treatment or declare it a myth.

That’s because, since pharmaceutical companies can’t really patent and sell water, researchers are hard-pressed to find anyone to actually fund studies on its benefit, explains Rachel Nazarian, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at the Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.