While summertime is slowly coming to an end, many of us are still experiencing sunspots on our skin. Although these spots are harmless, they can become aesthetically unpleasing. Don’t worry, it happens to all of us. Luckily, our DIY beauty editor, Nichole Dawkins has the solution.
One of the most common summer skin ailments is sunspots, also known as hyperpigmentation or age spots. This is a natural occurrence in the skin as the melanin increases overtime, but not throughout our entire epidermis. Sunspots are common and affect all skin types. In addition to sun damage, other cause of hyperpigmentation include some allergies, sunburn, hormonal issues (puberty), poor diet and scarring from acne.
The good news is: you can get rid of these spots with just a few simple ingredients right out of your pantry. I have dark skin and have tried all of these solutions throughout the summer and some do take longer to work than others, depending on your skin type. However, they are all effective and chemical free! I’ve included four natural remedies and a quick sun spot scrub recipe that you can whip up in less than five minutes. I highly recommended using a carrier oil such as rosehip, jojoba or almond oil to moisturize your skin after each remedy.
Sweet Sunspot Removal Scrub
½ organic lemon
½ cup organic granulated sugar
1 tbsp almond Oil
1 tbsp raw honey
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- Mix lemon, honey, apple cider vinegar and almond oil in a medium bowl with mixer on low until you create a medium-thick consistency. (You can add in more honey and almond oil if you would like a thicker scrub.)
- Add sugar to your desired consistency. If you feel there isn’t enough sugar to get you enough scrub, add more. I suggest using ½ cup of lemon for every ½ of sugar.
You can use this scrub on the face or body once a day at night. I do not recommend using the scrub more often as your skin can become irritated. Also, if you have open sores or cuts on the skin avoid applying the scrub as the lemon will sting.
Lightly dampen your skin and apply scrub to in a gentle, circular motion. Make sure you cover the affected area well. Leave scrub on your face for 7-10 minutes and rinse with cool water. Pat skin dry and follow up with your favorite carrier oil. I find rosehip oil is the best for skin with sunspots or acne scarring.
Lemon Juice
You can use fresh lemon juice as as a toner to help the sunspots fade. Lemon juice is great for the skin and packed with vitamin C to help even your skin tone. Just squeeze ½ a lemon into a small bowl and apply directly to sunspots with a cotton ball. Leave on for about 10-15 minutes and rinse with cool water. You can do this every day until you see the spots fade away, just stay out of the sun when you do. Simple and effective!
Green Tea
Green tea is good for almost everything, sunspots included. The antioxidants in green tea help pull the toxins out of your skin. The next time you brew your morning cup of green tea, put some aside for your sunspots. Dip a dry cotton ball into the tea and apply directly to the skin. Just like the lemon juice, you can let it sit for 10-15 minutes everyday until the sunspots are gone.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is amazing for your hair, but it can do wonders for the skin as well. Because aloe vera properties help the skin regenerate, it is a fantastic solution for sun-damaged skin. Take a fresh aloe leaf from your grocery store or home garden and cut in half. Apply the gel straight from the plant onto the affected area. Let the gel sit on the skin for at least 30 minutes before rinsing with cool water. For quick results, repeat this twice a day, in the early morning and after sunset. This was the fastest method to fade my sunspots.
Papaya
You may not know this but papaya is my secret weapon when it comes to correcting damaged skin. Often used for whitening, papaya enzymes also help to exfoliate your skin and reduce sunspots naturally. Slice open a fresh papaya and smash it up into a thick paste. Apply on skin and leave sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and repeat twice a day, preferably when the sunlight is low.
Remember, sunspots are completely normal and beautiful! Don’t stress out while waiting for them to fade away, embrace them — they are reminders of your journeys in the sun.
By Nichole Dawkins
