For many years, people have used tanning beds and fake tan to achieve a sun kissed glow to their skin. Now this trend is changing. Instead of working to achieve and maintain a tan, which has long been considered to look healthy, the fashion now is for paler skin, which is considered a more natural look.

You may have naturally darker-toned skin and still want to have a whiter looking skin in order to feel more fashionable. While you may never be able to achieve a truly pale skin, there are a number of methods that you can use to lighten your skin colour and all these methods use natural products. This means that they will kinder to your skin than many of the harsh chemicals that are in products often advertised as whitening methods.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is one of the easiest and most popular methods of lightening the skin. Squeeze the juice from a lemon, mix with a large spoonful of honey (which helps to prevent your skin from drying out), and apply generously to the areas that you are looking to lighten. Leave the mixture on your skin for twenty minutes and then wash it off thoroughly. Use this mixture once a day, and you should soon start to see changes in your skin color.

Papaya

If you are then looking to make your newly lightened skin brighter and softer, one of the best things that you can do is peel a papaya and rub the inside of the skin of the papaya over your body. This also has a lightening effect, and gives you a healthy glow, which in itself will make you appear paler.

Exfoliation

Skin exfoliation is another step that should be added to your routine skin care. Try to avoid exposure to the sun as much as possible if you currently have a deep tan and are looking to lighten your skin tone. By avoiding sun exposure you will have less of the pigment melanin found in new growth of the skin, so you will not look as dark. Then by exfoliating regularly you will remove the darker skin cells on the surface much faster.

Skin exfoliation should be carried out no more than three times a week. A more frequent routine may cause skin irritation. There are many exfoliating products available for you to purchase or you can make your own especially if you want to know exactly what you are putting on and in your body. A mixture of sugar or find sand mixed with a gentle liquid soap makes a great natural solution to use for exfoliation and it will not be harsh on the skin.

Different Methods

Not everyone will achieve the same results with a particular skin lightening method. Try different methods until you find the one that is right for you.