Get Rid of Tan Lines: 6 Easy Skin Food Remedies
So there I am, putting my favorite tube top on but I just can’t seem to appreciate my collar bones – that frankly, go on for days – because there is patch of skin that outlines the place where my bikini straps used to be an entire week ago.
Or there I am sliding into a sexy halter dress for dinner and cocktails at the end of a very hot day. Only, to my horror, I find that my arms now have two-toned gradations, one where my shirt sleeves came to a stop and another where the rest of me came in contact with the midday sun.
If you’re anything like me, someone who spends way, way too much of their time outdoors, particularly in the daytime then you know what I’m driving at here: tan lines. They’re unsightly things to behold but are an inevitable consequence of prolonged sun exposure, whether on purpose or totally by accident. No amount of sun screen can really prevent them from happening. And when they do, they tend to last forever!
Luckily, there are a lot of ways to make tan lines go away faster. Creams, lotions and skin treatment do the job well enough but some of that stuff can get very pricey. But what if I were to tell you that there are cheaper yet equally effective, natural alternatives? And that you can find them… in your own kitchen?
Well, open up your refrigerators and cupboards because here are 6 foods that can get rid of stubborn tan lines.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural skin exfoliant. As with most other skin foods on the list, proper exfoliation is most important in combating tan lines. What sets baking soda apart though is its ability to act as an antioxidant that allows it to “bleach out” tan lines. On top of this, it’s also a very effective remedy against sun burn because it takes care of all the nasty symptoms like pain, redness and itching.
So how do you use it? Just combine 1 cup of baking soda and ½ cup water, mix until you form a paste. Apply the mixture in circular motions on the moistened tan line area then rinse. Do the regimen every three days and bleaching out of the tine line will take effect as early as two weeks.
Lemon
Lemon juice is yet another skin exfoliant. Its naturally acidic property also helps slough off dead skin cells. Fair warning though, using lemon juice alone could damage or burn healthy skin too because it is acidic.
So for this home remedy, it’s advised to mix in either honey or sugar to lemon juice (half a lemon). Apply the concoction to tan line area and massage it in circular motions and leave it on for about 25 minutes then rinse.
A variation would be to switch out the sugar or honey with yogurt. Use the concoction prior to bathing.
Potatoes
Who would’ve thought that everyone’s favorite and most versatile vegetable ever to produce the most sinful snack foods doubles as a natural tan line removal remedy? Potatoes contain catecholase enzyme which lightens impurities on skin. It’s also rich in Vitamin C.
To treat tan lines, cut the potato into slices and place over target area. Leave it there for about 15 minutes. You may or may not deep fry them afterwards for a quick bite.
Cucumber
A natural moisturizer, cucumber contains a high amount of water so it helps keep tanned and dried skin hydrated. Not to mention it’s also loaded with Vitamin C. This nourishes the skin back to health and lightening tan lines.
To achieve healthy skin, puree the cucumber into a paste. Apply the paste to tan line or affected areas and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing. Skin lightening can take place as early as one week. You can also combine cucumber paste with lemon juice and rose water to obtain maximum effects.
Oat Meal + Buttermilk
For anything to adequately remove tan lines, it should both moisturize and exfoliate. These allow the skin cells ravaged and tanned by the sun to naturally get scrubbed off to reveal the healthy skin underneath. Oatmeal is a natural exfoliant because of it is highly textured. Buttermilk on the other hand acts as a moisturizer on the skin, soothing and nourishing it back to health.
To remove tan lines, combine 2 tbsp. of oatmeal and 3tbsp. of buttermilk. Apply in circular motion to area and leave for 15-20 minutes then rinse with water.
Wheat Flour
Wheat flour naturally lightens uneven skin tone and removes dark spots leaving the face looking brighter and fresher. To lighten unsightly tan lines, mix 2 tbsp. of wheat flour with 2 tbsp. of water to form a light and runny paste. Apply the paste onto desired area on skin and leave on for 10-15 minutes then rinse.
Remember that tan lines don’t go away overnight. But there are things we can do to speed up the process. Just keep feeding your skin the right foods. Exfoliate. Moisturize. And they’ll be gone before you know it.
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