Trust these 5 kitchen ingredients to remove sun tan and reveal glowing skin

We’ve been lucky enough in 2020 to have avoided going out in the summer heat. But given how the summer sun seems to have followed us even beyond monsoon, as the country opens up post-lockdown has left the room open for sun tan. 

Basically, the sun emits two types of ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA and UVB. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to the UVA rays penetrate into the deeper layers of your skin, where they can trigger the melanocytes (cells that produce melanin, a brown pigment that causes tanning). The resulting  tan can tone down your complexion drastically and make your skin look pale and dull. 

Now, some people just accept the tan as is and some people fight it off with expensive chemical treatments and facials at the salon–which is really not advisable right now. But, you, can get rid of it in the comfort of your home using these five ingredients from your kitchen:

1. Lemon
Lemon is highly regarded for its natural skin-bleaching properties as it can effectively reduce melanin production. It can even help you get rid of the sun tan and bring back your lost glow by exfoliating your face. The high levels of citric acid in it can help you get rid of dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, after which, it can penetrate into the deeper layers of your skin and hydrate it as well, thus brightening your face up.

So, you can mix it up with honey and apply the paste on your face, keep it on for 10 minutes, and wash it off with water. Just make sure to not step out in the sun on the same day because doing so when your skin has just gotten rid of the barrier of dead skin cells can subject it to further damage.

2. Tomato
Applying tomato pulp on your face for 10 minutes can help you get rid of sun tan as well. Slightly acidic in nature, tomatoes work on your tan by helping you get rid of the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin and restoring your skin’s glow that’s probably lost to the sun’s heat. However, it’s effect is milder as compared to that of lemon and this makes it a perfect tan-removal remedy for those with a sensitive skin.

3. Yogurt
Yogurt contains lactic acid which can gently exfoliate dead skin cells (due to sun exposure) off your face. Additionally, it can penetrate into the deeper layers of your skin and restore its moisture levels lost due to sun exposure. Finally, the zinc content in yogurt can help lighten dark spots and pigmentation caused due to the sun. Thus, massaging your face with yogurt can help you get rid of sun tan and damage.

4. Potato
Potatoes contain an enzyme called catecholase, which helps to lighten skin tone and pigmented areas on the skin. Additionally, they’re loaded with antioxidants that can further help your skin fight off the damage from free radicals that might increase due to sun exposure.

So, you can either massage your face regularly with potato pulp or simply rub a potato slice gently on your face to witness amazing results.

5. Papaya
Papaya contains an enzyme called papain that has potent skin-lightening properties that can help you get rid of the sun tan and also reduce the visibility of scars and blemishes on your skin. That’s not it. Several other enzymes present in papaya are known for skin renewal, exfoliation, and restoration of skin hydration and moisture too. So, massaging your face with papaya pulp to fight off sun tan is a win, win, we say.