How to Make a Skin Lightening Body Scrub for a Bright & Even Skin Tone

Exfoliation is a must if you want to maintain a light and even complexion, making it hardly surprising that just about every skincare brand now has its own version of a skin brightening exfoliator.

However, while there may be some weird and wonderful exfoliants out there to choose from, it’s sometimes easier to keep things simple and go down the traditional route with a good ol’ fashioned body scrub.

But, before reaching for the first scrub that you see on a drugstore shelf, it’s worth knowing a little more about skin lightening body scrubs.

How do you pick one that’s actually effective at lightening and brightening the complexion? Is it possible to whip up a DIY scrub that works as well as store-bought formulas? Stick with us as we answer those questions and more.

Can Exfoliating Lighten Skin & Get Rid of Dark Spots?

Exfoliating offers up a number of benefits, with the main one being how it removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. This includes discolored cells – regularly exfoliating enables you to break up pigment clusters, resulting in a more even skin tone.

Even better, regular exfoliation speeds up your skin’s cell renewal process. This is the rate at which it produces new skin cells and naturally exfoliates the older ones itself.

Therefore, not only will you be ridding your skin of excess pigment each time you exfoliate, but those dark spots will also start to fade on their own at a much faster rate.

Plus, as an added bonus, many exfoliants also contain additional skin lightening ingredients that will target dark patches in their own unique ways.

Does Body Scrub Lighten Skin?

When it comes to exfoliating hyperpigmentation, most of the information out there focuses on chemical exfoliation with glycolic or lactic acid.

Is a body scrub capable of producing the same skin lightening results?

The answer is yes, so long as your scrub is gentle enough. A scrub that’s too abrasive could end up making your hyperpigmentation worse, and there are a surprising number of overly abrasive scrubs on the market.

The only way to really ensure that a body scrub is going to be gentle on your skin is by making your own. This way, you’re in full control over the abrasive particles that you use – you can make sure that none of them are going to be too rough on your skin.

RELATED: Does Azelaic Acid Lighten Skin

At-Home Skin Brightening Remedies: The Best Ways to Make DIY Scrub Products for Face & Body

So, how exactly do you make your own skin lightening body scrub? Here are some of our favorite DIY recipes. Not only do they contain gentle exfoliants that won’t damage your skin, but they’re also made from ingredients that offer up additional skin lightening compounds.

This Lemon and Sugar Scrub Recipe Has a Bleaching Effect That Will Give You a Light Complexion

When it comes to home remedies for lightening the skin, lemon juice tends to be the ingredient of choice. Lemon juice is bursting with citric acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid that not only exfoliates the skin, but also has skin bleaching properties.

While lemon juice can be used on its own as a chemical exfoliant, combining it with sugar to turn it into a physical exfoliant gives you the best of both worlds.

Simply mix 4 tablespoons of sugar with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice (or fresh orange juice if you don’t have any lemon). Then, add in 1 tablespoon of raw honey and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil – both of these ingredients are known for their skin lightening effects too. Rub the mixture onto your body and then wait for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

RELATED: Best Skin Lightening Soap

A Homemade Coffee & Coconut Oil Scrub Will Brighten Facial & Body Skin

Love how your morning cup of coffee perks you up for the day? Treating your skin to some caffeine has a similar effect. Caffeine increases blood flow in the skin, which can instantly give you a brighter and more even appearance.

In the long run, it also helps to reduce discoloration, making it ideal for a skin lightening scrub.

To make a scrub with coffee, add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 2 tablespoons of warm water to half a cup of coffee grounds. Massage this onto your body before rinsing off.

Use Turmeric as a Scrub or a Face Mask for Glowing Skin

Research shows that turmeric is capable of brightening the skin in just three weeks [1]. It can also help with acne scars and wrinkles, making it a multi-purpose ingredient that most people would benefit from.

To make a turmeric-based scrub, mix 2 tablespoons of turmeric powder with a quarter of a cup of coconut oil or sweet almond oil. Add in 1 cup of sugar to give the scrub its abrasive qualities, as well as 10 drops of lemon or orange essential oil for some extra skin lightening benefits. Apply the scrub over your body and massage it in well, before rinsing it off.

This Whitening Homemade Body Scrub Makes Use of Baking Soda 

Baking soda is another popular ingredient in DIY skin lightening remedies. While there isn’t much science available that confirms its efficacy as a skin whitening agent, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence out there to prove that it really can improve discolored skin.

For maximum benefits, add some baking soda to half a cup of freshly-squeezed lemon juice – use enough baking soda to form a scrub-like paste. Then, rub this into your skin well before rinsing it off.

This Whitening Homemade Body Scrub Makes Use of Sugar, Honey, Orange Juice, and Coconut Oil

This method is relatively easy and requires you to take a bowl and mix in the following ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 tablespoons of orange juice
• 1 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoons of raw honey

Mix this thoroughly and then apply it to your body or face. You’ll leave it for several minutes before rinsing it with water.

You can store this easily in a jar so you can use it in the future. Don’t leave it too long though as some of these ingredients won’t keep. 

This Whitening Homemade Body Scrub Makes Use of Sea Salts, Olive Oil, and Essential Oils.

This method is relatively easy and requires you to take a bowl and mix in the following ingredients:

• 1 cup of sea salt
• 1/2 a cup of olive oil
• 5 – 15 drops of an essential oil (you can choose which one)

It takes only a few minutes to produce a viable mixture which you’ll on your skin or face for about 15 minutes.

Every now and then you’ll need to massage it into your skin more in circular motions while being gentle. Wash this paste off with a hydrating body scrub or face wash using some lukewarm water. 

This Whitening Homemade Body Scrub Makes Use of Olive Oil, Peppermint,  and Sugar

This method is relatively easy and requires you to take a bowl and mix in the following ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 15 drops of peppermint essential oil

You’ll take these ingredients and mix them until you get a paste that’s coarse. Please note that you shouldn’t heat up the oil as this could melt the sugar.

It takes 5 minutes to prepare and should be on your face for at least 15 minutes. Once again massage the mixture into your face using gentle circular motions. Wash off using lukewarm water and a hydrating body or face scrub.

This Whitening Homemade Body Scrub Makes Use of Epsom Salt, Essential Oil, and Jojoba Oil

This method is relatively easy and requires you to take a bowl and mix in the following ingredients:

• 1 cup of Epsom salt
• 3 drops jojoba oil
• 2 drops of any essential oil

This mixture takes 2 minutes to prepare and requires you combine the ingredients and create a paste.

You’ll cleanse your skin first before applying and use your fingers to massage it into the skin in gentle circular motions for 5 – 10 minutes. Keep it on your skin for 15 minutes before removing it with a hydrating scrub and some lukewarm water.

FAQ:

Q: Do body scrubs lighten skin?

Yes, body scrubs are great for lightening the skin.

Q: Which body scrub is best for whitening?

Body scrubs containing lemon juice or alpha-hydroxy acid are the best for skin whitening.

Q: Does sugar scrub lighten skin?

Yes, the way in which a sugar scrub exfoliates the skin can help to lighten it.

Q: How do I naturally whiten my body scrub?

Try making your own body scrub with natural ingredients, such as the ones mentioned above, to whiten your skin.

Q: What’s the best exfoliator for inner thighs?

The skin on the inner thighs can be sensitive, so the best exfoliator will be one that’s gently abrasive without any harsh ingredients.

Q: Is the Tree Hut scrub good?

The Tree Hut scrub generally receives positive reviews and seems like a good product.

Q: Is there a body wash that can lighten skin?

Look for a body wash that contains skin lightening compounds, such as kojic acid, arbutin, licorice root extract, and vitamin C.

Conclusion: Is it Worth Making a DIY Skin Lightening Body Scrub?

If you’re trying to lighten your skin, then making your own body scrub will enable you to use safe yet effective ingredients.

While a scrub alone will take a while to produce results, combining a skin lightening body scrub with other skin whitening products should enable you to see an improvement in just a few weeks.

References

[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711316302549?via%3Dihub