Contents
Age spots are more likely to leave the skin under the influence of serious cosmetic procedures. But we cannot forbid trying to cope with pigmentation on our own – for example, with the help of masks. And we will even tell you what traditional recipes and ready-made remedies exist for this.
The benefits and effectiveness of whitening masks
Ingredients and substances that lighten the skin
In homemade recipes, we are interested in ingredients containing acids, vitamin C, vitamin A. The most popular products are listed below.
Berries.
Citrus fruits and their essential oils.
Vegetables.
Greenery.
Dairy products.
Mechanism of action on the skin
Due to the acids contained in dairy products, vegetables and horticultural crops, homemade masks exfoliate the skin, forcing it to replace old cells with new ones. Thanks to peeling, the skin becomes lighter, and pigmentation is not so bright.
Vitamin C, which is rich in berries, some vegetables and fruits, has a pronounced whitening effect.
Homemade mask or purchased: expert opinion
Comparison of whitening masks
| Homemade | Purchased | Expert Opinion | |
| composition | You can mix all seasonal berries, dilute them with yogurt, honey, thicken with flour, yeast or gelatin. That, in fact, is all. | Formulas include not just berries and fruits, but a wide variety of acids and vitamins, antioxidants, aimed at combating a specific problem. | Elena Eliseeva, Vichy: “If you doubt your qualifications as a cosmetologist and biotechnologist, it is better to prefer ready-made cosmetics to folk recipes. A fruit rich in acids and vitamins can bring not only benefits, but also harm. In general, cosmetologists perceive all “masks from the refrigerator” as Russian roulette: in one case out of six, the patient gets an undesirable reaction.” |
| Efficiency | You may be able to achieve some skin lightening, but no one is immune from undesirable effects. | Since the fight against pigmentation is a long process, for these purposes, products are created that are designed for daily use. | |
Convenience | Berries stain everything around, homemade mixtures do not adhere well to the skin. This is not very convenient. | Among the unconditional trumps of means of industrial production are texture and aroma. There are no problems with application and rinsing. |
Folk recipes vs cosmetics
We will figure out how home whitening masks work, find out if they are of any use, and also advise you on cosmetic products from manufacturers aimed at solving pigmentation problems.
Whitening mask for age spots
It uses black currant, the champion in vitamin C content. We add the action of acids and vitamins that cranberries are rich in, and we get an excellent seasonal mask.
Recipe
1 st. l. blackcurrant;
1 tbsp. l. cranberries;
1 st. l. sour cream or yogurt.
Make a puree of berries (or squeeze the juice), mix with sour cream. Apply to skin and leave for 15 minutes.
Night peeling Idéalia, Vichy
It is not necessary to mess with berries and sour-milk products to fight pigmentation and uneven skin color. You can simply wipe your face with this lotion every time before applying the night cream. Bilberry and black tea extracts will gradually restore radiance to the skin, while glycolic acid and Hepes will slowly exfoliate dead cells. Suitable even for sensitive skin.
Whitening mask for combination skin
Recipe
2 tsp grated pumpkin;
½ tsp honey;
½ tsp milk.
Mix in a blender. Apply for 20 minutes.
Intensive care corrector for facial skin Visionnaire Corrector Advanced Skin, Lancôme
A product with a serum texture and a wide spectrum of action fights uneven skin texture and color, including pigmentation. Suitable for everyone, can be distributed over the entire face, including the eyelid area.
Whitening mask for oily skin
The action of the mask with citrus fruits is aimed not only at lightening the skin, but also at exfoliating dead cells and narrowing the pores.
Recipe
protein of 1 egg;
1 tsp grapefruit juice;
1 tsp lemon juice;
2 tsp low fat sour cream.
Whip the egg white into foam. Mix sour cream with juices. Combine everything into a common mass. Spread over the face and leave for 15 minutes.
Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate, Kiehl’s
Apply just a couple of drops before bed to night cream. Exfoliating acids from quinoa, blueberry, citrus, sugar maple and sugar cane will gradually renew the skin, restore its radiance, smoothness, even tone.
Cucumber Whitening Mask
Recipe
cucumber juice;
powdered milk.
Mix to a paste-like consistency. Apply a thin layer on the face, let dry, rinse with massaging circular movements.
Serum for even skin tone Clearly Corrective Dark Spot, Kiehl’s
Serum with vitamin C, birch and peony extract is aimed at reducing the severity of age spots of any origin, be it seasonal freckles or age-related pigmentation. Apply a few drops before applying day and night cream.
Whitening mask with parsley
Recipe
1 st. l. fresh yeast;
1 Art. l. parsley
Mix and apply for 20 minutes.
You can also use dry yeast (they need to be diluted in warm milk), as well as modify the mask by adding yogurt, honey.
Concentrated anti-aging care with retinol Redermic R, La Roche-Posay
It contains two types of retinol, pure and sequential release, as well as an exfoliating lipohydroxy acid. As a result of the renewing action, the severity of pigmentation decreases. The best time to use is before bed.
How to choose a whitening mask?
The choice of homemade recipe depends on the type of skin and its condition.
Dry and sensitive skin citrus fruits are not recommended, which can cause irritation, it is better to replace them with less acidic bleaching ingredients.
To soften composition add oils, oatmeal, rose water to the mask.
As for ready-made products, you can safely focus on information from the manufacturer.
When choosing a mask, rely on the preferences of your skin. © Getty Imaged
Rules for the use of whitening masks
Whitening products can be quite active, the skin quickly responds to them, but the “review” can also be negative. Therefore, it is in your interest to consider a number of recommendations and take precautions.
Masks are applied to a clean face – this is the standard rule.
Since whitening masks often contain acids, you should not exfoliate your skin before use.
At the first sign of discomfort, the mask should be washed off.
Purchased mask must be used strictly according to the instructions.
Safety measures
Safety rules should not be neglected, especially when it comes to the whitening procedure.
Test the product for individual tolerance on a small area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe skin: acidic formulations can be quite caustic.
Do not overdo the mask, so as not to cause irritation. In general, fifteen minutes is more than enough.
Apply whitening masks with acids at night.
After the mask, be sure to protect your face from the sun, as exfoliating components increase the skin’s photosensitivity.