Above: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
By: Marty S.
Though summer is almost upon us, many of us are choosing to stay indoors for most of the season, not necessarily for the sake of our health but for the sake of our skin. The summer season is typically accompanied by hot, sunny weather, and going outdoors while your skin is unprotected could result in dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and unevenness. A single dark spot is capable of ruining your complexion as well as your mood. Summer is meant to be a joyous season, but if you find new dark spots on your skin, you may not want to partake in any more outdoor activities.
While you don’t have to begrudgingly accept the dark spots on your skin, you do have to be careful about how you decide to remove them. Using products with harsh chemicals, for instance, may leave your skin irritated and may make your dark spots look even worse. Instead, you should use natural ingredients to take care of this pesky skin care issue, which we will talk about today. Continue reading to learn about 10 natural ingredients that can make your dark spots disappear in no time. With this knowledge in mind, you don’t have to let those dark spots sit on your face any longer and you can achieve the even, glowing, and blemish-free skin that you desire.
1. Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil is a beautiful natural ingredient that can eliminate dark spots for two reasons. First, rosehip oil is a good source of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is necessary for cell turnover, and a higher rate of cell turnover can mean that your dark spots - as well as your early signs of aging - may start to look far more diminished. Second, rosehip oil contains a lot of fatty acids, such as linolenic acid and linoleic acid. These fatty acids can nourish your skin, keep it healthy, and make it less prone to developing dark spots and other blemishes.
If you’re able to find rosehip oil online or at the market, it shouldn’t be too difficult to learn how to use it daily. However, if you want to use rosehip oil in a simple solution, we suggest trying our Rosehip & Citrus Nighttime Facial Serum, which can even out your skin naturally.
"...the Apsara products did work, and they faded lots of dark spots that I had on my face. They are pretty much, I would say, almost gone."
2. Saffron
Saffron is a spice that has an amazing reputation in both cooking and cosmetics. Saffron has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda to banish dark spots and even out the skin. The reason for saffron’s success is likely due to its antioxidants, such as crocin, crocetin, and safranal. Antioxidants mitigate free radical damage that could be causing your dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin. Therefore, less free radical damage is better for your skin, and using antioxidants like saffron may help you achieve a more glowing, even complexion.
Saffron is fairly expensive, so it would be wise to use a skin care product infused with saffron. At Apsara Skin Care, our ROOP Saffron Bright Skin Potion can restore your skin’s tone and texture with a few drops every night.
3. Manjistha
You have likely never heard of manjistha, but just like saffron, it has been used in Ayurveda and revered for its health and skin benefits. Manjistha is an herb that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Whether taking it internally or applying it externally with a home DIY, manjistha can calm your skin down, fade the appearance of dark spots, and even reduce acne breakouts.
4. Turmeric
Yet another natural ingredient prized in Ayurveda for its skin-evening and skin-brightening properties is turmeric. Turmeric contains a unique compound called curcumin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. So, similar to the antioxidants found in saffron, the curcumin in turmeric bestows this natural ingredient with the ability to minimize free radical damage, fade the appearance of dark spots, and help your skin glow with health.
Turmeric can be found in many Apsara Skin Care products, including our Rosewater & Turmeric Facial Toner and Turmeric Facial Cleanser.
5. Lemon
Lemon juice is a tricky natural ingredient to work with. Using too much can burn your skin and irritate it to the point where you may develop redness, swelling, and inflammation. However, using lemon juice in the right proportions can be very beneficial to your skin. Lemon juice contains citric acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid that exfoliates your skin and sloughs off dead cells. By removing these dead cells, your dark spots might become far less visible and your skin may start to look brighter and more even.
To use lemon juice safely on your skin, it is important to use a little bit of it as well as dilute it with water beforehand. If you do not want to risk using lemon juice on your skin, we recommend trying our Ayurvedic Vitamin C Natural Glow Serum, a recent and highly praised addition to the Apsara Skin Care line.
6. Pineapple
Lemon isn’t the only fruit you should be aware of when it comes to dark spots. Pineapples are an excellent dark spot-busting natural ingredient, too. While there isn’t any citric acid in pineapples, they do contain a special enzyme called bromelain, which can exfoliate your skin. Compared to lemon juice, pineapple juice is much gentler on your skin, but you should still take care of it after exfoliation so that your skin does not become susceptible to dryness or irritation.
We have various DIY remedies that can help you make dark spots disappear at home. Here is one that contains two ingredients from this list: saffron and turmeric. Enjoy and please subscribe to my YouTube channel!
7. Papaya
Another enzyme that is capable of exfoliating your skin is papain. Like bromelain, papain can fade the look of dark spots and signs of aging so that it can begin to look more even, radiant, and ageless. As the name suggests, papain is found in papayas.
To ensure that you exfoliate your skin every week, we suggest using our Papaya & Sugar Face Mask, which works for any skin type.
8. Licorice
As divisive as licorice when it comes to candy and snacks, the same cannot be said when the topic of skin care is brought up. Licorice contains several compounds that can beautify your skin and fade dark spots. For example, glabridin has been studied to inhibit melanin, and an excess amount of melanin can result in dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and unevenness.
9. Sulfur
While sulfur is better known for its ability to minimize acne and inflammation, it can still make your dark spots disappear because it can exfoliate your skin. When sulfur is applied to your skin, it can absorb excess oil unclog your pores, and slough off dead cells on the surface of your skin, resulting in a clear, even, and blemish-free complexion.
You probably have no idea where you would start to procure sulfur, but at Apsara Skin Care, we have a Sulfur Facial Mask that works great for those with oily and acne-prone skin.
10. Fruit Extracts
Fruit extracts, whether they come from the fruits mentioned above or others we haven’t gone into detail today, can be good for your skin because they contain Vitamin C. Vitamin C has been linked to brightening up the skin as well as fading the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and unevenness because of its ability to inhibit melanin. It is no wonder then that many Vitamin C serums exist on= the market. At Apsara Skin Care, you will be able to rest easy knowing that our Ayurvedic Vitamin C Natural Glow Serum can help you get glowing, even skin without exposing it to any harsh chemicals.
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Go natural. It is good karma!