Now that places are starting to open up again, you may finally be thinking about going out. Maybe you’re looking forward to a romantic evening at your favorite restaurant or getting together with your friends. Either way, you’ll need to look your best. But how can you do that when you have such an uneven skin tone?

 

Sure, there are plenty of foundations on the market, but wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to cake on makeup to cover your uneven complexion? We’re here to lay out some tips to help you achieve a more even skin tone so you reveal your natural, radiant beauty.

 

One great way to even skin tone is by masking up. You’ve already learned the importance of face masks in public during a pandemic, but have you tried using a natural clay face mask? These amazing helpers will even out skin tone, reduce redness, and offer many other benefits.

 

Read on as we reveal the beauty-boosting secrets of some of the best ingredients in a face mask. 

Vitamin C 

 

Vitamin C is one of the best things to improve your skin’s overall health. It is acidic and works as an exfoliant, meaning it removes dead skin cells and other pore-clogging grime and lets you wash it down the drain. It also keeps your skin hydrated, which improves your skin’s elasticity.

 

Vitamin C may reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots known as hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is a fancy term for patches of skin that are darker than the surrounding skin.

 

There are plenty of ways to end up with hyperpigmentation, like picking at blemishes, enduring skin trauma, or getting excessive sun exposure. However you ended up with your spots, it’s great to have vitamin C to even out those unwanted blemishes.

 

Turmeric 

 

Turmeric is not just for cooking. People have been using this versatile spice for thousands of years in traditional medicine, cooking, and dyeing clothes, but it has another use.

 

It helps to restore your skin’s natural luster by soothing redness and reducing unwanted dark spots. Turmeric may even reduce the appearance of scarring from acne or other skin trauma.

 

This powerful superfood helps fight off the bacteria that get in your pores and cause acne. It also protects your skin from environmental stressors associated with the signs of aging. On top of everything else, turmeric soothes swelling so you can say goodbye to annoying bags under your eyes. 

 

Aloe Vera

 

We’ve all been sunburned before. You come inside from playing outside as a kid, and a few hours later, you’ve turned red, and your mom is reaching for the aloe vera with a sigh because she warned you not to go out without sunscreen.

 

But even without a sunburn, aloe vera is a soothing agent that helps keep you moisturized. Aloe vera’s active ingredient, acemannan, calms redness, and prevents peeling. So, if you have dry skin, a mask containing aloe is the perfect solution.

 

Clay 

 

Benefits of Clay:

 

Clay has a lot of beneficial properties. It shrinks the appearance of your pores and absorbs impurities from the skin, while still locking in your face’s natural moisture barrier. That barrier protects your skin from sunburns and chafing, and while a lot of exfoliants are super drying and rough on your skin, clay is not.

 

Dry skin causes a host of issues when trying to even out your skin tone. For one thing, dry skin is more susceptible to sunburn, which is painful and something no one wants.

 

Additionally, if your skin is too dry, it can trigger your sebaceous glands to start producing excess oil. Your skin needs to maintain its moisture barrier, so if you dry it out too much, you may actually end up with even oilier skin. So, count on clay to help you maintain that perfect balance.

 

Types of Clay:

 

There are multiple types of clay used in face masks, each with slightly different benefits. Several types of clay are great for your face depending on your skin type. Clay can help prevent acne by unclogging pores and absorbing excess oil. 

 

While kaolin clay works best for sensitive skin, bentonite clay is a little more aggressive for those who want to say goodbye to their oily complexion. No matter your skin type, clay is an ingredient you want to look for when choosing a mask to help smooth out your complexion for your next big night.

 

Tea Tree Oil

 

Tea tree oil works well for spot treatments, but you can also use it in face masks to unclog your pores. Tea tree oil also smells great, which is an added bonus. It’s usually very diluted because the oil is so concentrated and strong, but it works wonders on pimples and other spots prone to acne as well.

 

Honey

 

Honey makes for a great sweetener for your tea, but did you know that it also helps exfoliate your face? Honey is gentle on the skin and is effective for evening out skin tone.

 

It can help remove toxins and works to kill bacteria, stopping breakouts before they start. Plus, honey helps your skin retain its natural moisture. Honey simply has too many perks to pass up!

 

Oatmeal 

 

We all know oatmeal makes a great breakfast, but what you may not know is that you can use it to exfoliate your skin. Some people like to mix oatmeal with honey for double the power. To apply oatmeal, massage it gently into your skin, and don’t scrub too hard. You want to handle your face with care to avoid causing any tiny abrasions like microtears to your skin, which leads to additional uneven spots that you’ll have to deal with.

 

Simply choose a mask with an oatmeal base or make your own DIY mask at home to smooth out those unwanted blemishes and sunspots that you want to magically disappear.

 

Cocoa Powder 

 

You’ve probably heard that eating chocolate can cause you to break out, but if you still want to get your chocolate fix, try putting it on your face instead of ingesting it.

 

You can use cocoa powder to aid in your skin’s natural repairing process and also to reduce redness. You can mix it with some cinnamon and baby powder for your own facial scrub. 

 

Coffee Grounds

 

Is coffee the first thing you reach for in the morning? Well, we’re here to tell you that you can use it to wake up and feel refreshed in a whole different way.

 

Coffee is an amazing exfoliant, helping your skin get rid of dead skin cells so they don’t clog up your pores and lead to dreaded blemishes. 

 

Apple Cider Vinegar

 

Apple cider vinegar is a product made by fermenting apple cider with yeast. This process makes acetic acid in the vinegar, which is great for fighting off bad bacteria and fungi. 

 

This option is not always recommended for people with more sensitive skin because of how acidic it is, but it can reduce the appearance of acne, sunburns, and wrinkles.

 

Green Tea Bags 

 

Green tea can refresh and rejuvenate your skin. Green tea extract helps protect and repair your skin cells to give you a fresh and radiant glow. It also combats redness when your acne is acting up.

 

Plus, green tea extract contains vitamin E, which nourishes and hydrates your skin to keep you smooth and glowing brightly all day long.

 

Lactic Acid 

 

Naturally found in milk and buttermilk, lactic acid works as a chemical exfoliant, meaning that it helps your skin with the exfoliating process without roughly irritating your skin. It can also help reduce dark spots, ward off breakouts, and improve your overall look.

 

Some people might recommend a milk bath. For people who don’t have the time, or the milk, for such an indulgence, there are plenty of skincare products on the market that include lactic acid to leave your skin feeling smooth.

 

Lemon Juice

 

Lemon juice is yet another popular ingredient in skincare products, and for good reason. It’s rich in vitamin C and citric acid, which means that you get the above benefits, plus the detoxifying effects of the citrus.

 

It’s strong, so if you have especially sensitive skin, lemon juice may not be the right choice. But if you’re looking for something to reduce your spots and disinfect your pores at the same time, lemon juice might be just the winner.

 

It dries out your skin a bit, making it great for oily skin, but you should consider using a toner or moisturizer after any treatments involving this powerful citrus to keep your skin healthy and balanced.

 

Licorice Extract

 

Everyone thinks of licorice as red stringy candy, but the extract of the licorice plant extract’s extract can also soothe your skin, help even out skin tone, and reduce redness and swelling. It’s especially good for sensitive skin because, unlike many chemical exfoliants, it isn’t highly acidic. So, say yes to licorice extract.

 

In Summary

 

Although there are many skincare products on the market that you can incorporate into your routine, many of them are loaded with synthetic ingredients that pale in comparison to what Mother Nature provides. So, remember our list of all-natural ingredients when picking up your next face mask. Alternatively, you can choose to make your own mask if you’re feeling creative.

 

It’s always best to understand (and love) what you’re putting on your skin. So, get a jump on evening out your skin tone with some of these amazing remedies because when it comes to your skin, they’re sure to soothe and improve.

Sources

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/green-tea-face-mask#benefits

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/clay-mask-benefits

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/apple-cider-vinegar-for-face