Want to lighten your skin tone? Do you dream of having fairer skin? Don't be upset, you're not the only one. The craze for skin lightening, either by creams or cosmetics, is taking a greater and greater number of women worldwide by storm. Luckily, you can get a lighter skin tone naturally, without using harsh, chemical-loaded and expensive cosmetics.Dried orange peel and yoghurt: Place the orange peel in direct sunlight and let it dry until all the moisture is gone and the peel turns crisp. Grind the dried orange peel into a powder and mix one tbsp of it with one tbsp of fresh and unflavoured yoghurt to make a paste. Apply the mixture on cleansed skin and allow to stay in place for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse off. Oatmeal and tomato mask: Mix one tsp each of yoghurt and tomato juice with a tsp of oatmeal until you get a paste. Apply the mixture on cleansed skin and leave to dry for 15 to 20 minutes. Then rinse gently with cold water. This mask cleanses, exfoliates and brightens skin very effectively and is perfect to use a couple of weeks after the summer holidays. Potato facial mask: Use potato slices or paste as a mask, or even use the juice directly on tanned areas of skin. Apply the potato slices or mask for 15 to 20 minutes until dry and then wash off with plain water. Apply this treatment at least twice to the skin. It can be followed with a similar treatment made of cucumber, tomato and lemon. Lemon, honey and milk paste: Combine one tsp each of powdered milk, freshly squeezed lemon juice and honey. The amounts depend on the area you want to cover. Mix well until a thick paste is formed. Apply this mask over cleansed skin (face, neck, shoulders or any areas you want to brighten and rejuvenate), then leave it for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off. For really soft skin, use the mask multiple times during the week. But remember: you should do a patch test first to determine your skin's reaction to lemon juice. Turmeric, honey and milk face mask: Put one tsp of turmeric into a small bowl and add one tsp of raw organic honey. Then add one tsp of milk or plain yoghurt. Adjust the amount of milk to make the paste more or less thick, but make sure it's firm enough to stick to your face. Apply the mask evenly all over your cleansed face. Don't miss under the eyes, as turmeric's anti-inflammatory properties help reduce dark circles. Let the mask dry for about 20 minutes and then wash off with cool water. Dry your face gently with a cloth. Repeat the mask every few weeks, depending on your needs and complexion.
