11 Effective Homemade Face Packs To Treat Dark Spots

Deal with pigmentation by making face packs using simple ingredients from your kitchen.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Zeel Gandhi, BAMS
Written by Kushneet Kukreja, MS (Biotechnology)
Edited by Anjali Sayee, BTech
Fact-checked by Swathi E, MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach  • 

Facial dark patches can be annoying! Unfortunately, there is already enough drama in our lives, and adding the stress of covering unattractive blemishes on the face is not an ideal condition. But as the saying goes, every issue has a cure, and you can use homemade face packs to treat dark spots in a way that is both safe and effective.

Hyperpigmentation usually causes the dark patches that appear in middle age. Acne, blackheads, pimples, and other skin traumas are other prevalent problems that leave dark stains on your skin.

You do not need to go to a dermatologist to get rid of your black spots, as you can treat dark spots at home by using home remedies for hyperpigmentation formulated with simple ingredients. They are all simple to create and require little effort.

Seeing those unsightly patches build up on your face hurts and concerns us as much as you. That is why we will show you how to use simple face packs to combat dark spots in this post. If you are interested in learning more, keep reading!

Homemade Face Packs To Treat Dark Spots

  1. Lemon Face Pack
  2. Sandalwood Face Pack
  3. Onion And Garlic Face Pack
  4. Milk And Honey Face Pack
  5. Aloe Vera Face Pack
  6. Neem Face Pack For Dark Spots
  7. Potato Face Pack For Dark Spots
  8. Besan Face Pack For Dark Spots
  9. Papaya Face Pack For Dark Spots
  10. Turmeric Face Pack For Dark Spots
  11. Rice Flour Face Pack For Dark Spots

1. Lemon Face Pack For Dark Spots

Homemade lemon face packs to reduce dark spots
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon honey
What You Have To Do
  1. Squeeze out the juice from the lemon and add honey to it. Mix them together.
  2. Apply this all over your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Then, wash it off with lukewarm water followed by splashing your face with cold water.
  4.  Gently pat your skin dry using a towel and then moisturize.
How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this once every day.

Why This Works

A multicentre cross-sectional study with 1571 patients, revealed that the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods among all the patients was reported to 74.41% reported a history of using CAM methods. It also revealed that Among the CAM methods reported, 66.37% of the patients mentioned using lemon juice as a treatment.

When applied topically, citric acid present in lemon works like a skin-lightening face mask, reducing the dark spots with its bleaching properties. Lemon also helps to unclog pores and shrink them. Honey in this face pack will help to keep the skin moisturized as it is an emollient. It also has healing properties (1).

2. Sandalwood Face Pack For Dark Spots

Homemade sandalwood face pack for dark spots
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • 1-2 tablespoons sandalwood powder
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon glycerin
  • Rose water
What You Have To Do
  1. Make a fine paste of the sandalwood powder, lemon juice, and glycerin. Add rose water to adjust the consistency of the paste.
  2. Apply the paste all over your face and specifically on the dark spots. Leave on for a few minutes.
  3. After it dries, wash off with lukewarm water and then moisturize the skin.
How Often You Should Do This

Use this face pack 2-3 times a week. If you have dry skin, repeat it not more than twice a week.

Why This Works

Sandalwood is known for its skin care properties. It reduces dark spots and blemishes by improving circulation. This also gives the skin a beautiful glow (2). Glycerin will keep the skin hydrated while the rose water will help the sandalwood powder in enhancing the complexion (3), (4).

3. Onion and Garlic Face Pack For Dark Spots

Homemade onions and garlic face pack for dark spots
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • An onion slice
  • 1 garlic clove
What You Have To Do
  1. Grind the onion and garlic together.
  2. Apply the paste on your dark spots and leave it on for about 15 minutes.
  3. Then, rinse till the smell wears off and apply a moisturizer.
How Often You Should Do This

Do this once every day.

Why This Works

To get rid of dark spots, you should definitely give this paste a try. Garlic improves the blood circulation and onion works wonders in removing the scars and marks from your skin (5). These properties work together to reduce dark spots.

4. Milk And Honey Face Pack For Dark Spots

Homemade milk and honey face pack for dark spots
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 tablespoon honey
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix the ingredients together and apply on the dark spots. You can also apply this all over your face.
  2. Keep the mixture on for 15 minutes and then wash it off.
How Often You Should Do This

Apply this once a day, either before taking a shower or before going to bed.

Why This Works

Milk has a skin-lightening effect while honey is known for its moisturizing properties. If you use a milk face pack for dark spots on a regular basis, you will not only get rid of those dark spots but will also have clear, glowing, and younger-looking skin. It will help you uncover the beautiful you!

protip_icon Did You Know?
Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, was said to bathe in sour milk to improve her skin texture and brighten it.

5. Aloe Vera Face Pack For Dark Spots

Homemade aloe vera face packs to reduce dark spots
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • Fresh aloe vera gel
  • A few drops of rose water
What You Have To Do
  1. Extract fresh aloe gel from a leaf. Take enough to cover your entire face in a separate bowl and add the rose water to this. Mix well.
  2. Apply this all over the face and let it dry for about 15 minutes.
  3. Before washing, massage for 2-3 minutes and then wash it off.

This pack can also be used as a fairness pack!

How Often You Should Do This

It is best if this face pack is used 3-4 times a week. It can also be used every day.

Why This Works

Aloe vera has abundant medicinal values and possesses a number of healing properties. It works wonders for the removal of dark spots as it contains aloesin, which inhibits the over-production of melanin (6).

6. Neem Face Pack For Dark Spots

Neem powder to make a homemade face pack for dark spots
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • 2 teaspoons neem powder
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix the ingredients together and keep the mixture in the fridge for a couple of minutes.
  2. Apply the cool face pack on the entire face.
  3. Let it dry for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Rinse it off with lukewarm water.
How Often You Should Do This

Apply this face pack twice a week.

Why This Works

Due to the antiseptic properties of neem, this herbal face pack for dark spots is very effective in removing them, especially those caused by acne, making it one of the best ayurvedic face packs for dark spots. Apple cider vinegar face packs for dark spots maintain the skin pH balance and repairs damaged skin.

7. Potato Face Pack For Dark Spots

Potatoes for a homemade dark spot reducing face pack
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • 1/2 potato
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon milk powder (optional)
What You Have To Do
  1. Peel and grate the potato. Add the lemon juice and milk powder, and mix well.
  2. Apply this on the face and let it be for about 15 minutes.
  3. Wash off the pack with water.
  4. Pat the skin dry and use a moisturizer.
How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every alternate day.

Why This Works

Potatoes being natural skin bleaching agents lighten the dark spots and blemishes and brighten your complexion. Lemon juice helps in quickening the lightening process.

8. Besan Face Pack For Dark Spots

Besan for a homemade dark spot reducing face pack
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • 1 tablespoon besan (gram flour)
  • 1 teaspoon tomato pulp
  • 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel
What You Have To Do
  1. Mix all the ingredients together and apply the face pack.
  2. Let it dry naturally.
  3. Once dried, rinse it off with water.
How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice a week.

Why This Works

Gram flour face packs for dark spots cleanse the skin and removes the dead cells that have accumulated on the dark spots (7). The tomato pulp and aloe vera gel then work on lightening the dark spots. Besan with tomato face packs for dark spots is often used to enhance the complexion and give a natural glow.

9. Papaya Face Pack For Dark Spots

Papaya for a homemade face pack to reduce dark spots
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • 1/4 cup ripe papaya
  • 2 tablespoons green tea water
What You Have To Do
  1. Mash the papaya pulp and mix it along with the green tea.
  2. Apply this on the affected skin and let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
  3. Rinse it off with cool water.

For better results, steam your face before applying the face pack.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this 2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

The enzymes present in papaya exfoliate the skin and make it brighter. When used on the dark spots, they are lightened to a great extent with this face pack. Green tea helps in relieving some of the oxidative stress from the skin that may be an underlying cause for the dark spot formation (8). This prevents dark spots from forming further.

10. Turmeric Face Pack For Dark Spots

Turmeric for a homemade dark spot reducing face pack
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
  • 2 tablespoons multani mitti (or any cosmetic clay)
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoons rose water
What You Have To Do
  1. Take the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add more rose water if required.
  2. Apply this mask evenly on the face and neck.
  3. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes or until it dries completely.
  4. Wash it off with cool water.
How Often You Should Do This

Use this face pack/mask once every 4-5 days.

Why This Works

While the cosmetic clay absorbs all the impurities from your skin, the turmeric in the face pack will even out your skin tone. This means that this Multani mitti face pack for dark spots, also lightens the dark spots and other areas where there is hyperpigmentation. Turmeric and honey are also rich in antioxidants (9), (10). Your skin will feel rejuvenated and soft after using this face pack.

Shawn C, a blogger, shared his experience of using a homemade turmeric face mask to get rid of dark spots. He said, “I used the mask every day for a month and got rid of most of the dark spots on my face. There are a couple of dark spots on my face that have not been removed, but it has lightened significantly. It’s less noticeable now (i).”

protip_icon Quick Tip
Turmeric may stain the skin. However, you can massage your skin with warm coconut or vegetable oil to remove the stain.
Caution

Do not use the turmeric powder from your kitchen. Use turmeric meant for face packs and masks available in the market.

11. Rice Flour Face Pack For Dark Spots

Face pack with rice flour
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

  • 2 tablespoons of rice flour
  • 1 tablespoon of yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon of honey

What You Have To Do

  1. Mix the rice flour with yogurt and honey to prepare a smooth paste.
  2. Apply it evenly to your face and neck, avoiding the eye area.
  3. Allow it to dry for about 15-20 minutes.
  4. Gently scrub in a circular motion before rinsing with warm water.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this face mask 1-2 times a week.

Why This Works

Honey and yogurt moisturize your skin and reduce any dry patches or flakiness. The rice flour, on the other hand, acts as a gentle exfoliator that helps remove dead skin cells. It may also reduce the appearance of any skin blemishes, like pigmentation and scarring (11). This face pack with rice flour helps make your face appear refreshed and bright.

Do not let the dark spots ruin your mood. Try these face packs and bid goodbye to them. Along with natural remedies for dark spots, it is important to take good care of your skin while stepping out in the sun. Use a sunscreen with good SPF and cover your face with a scarf to prevent damage from the sun and pollutants.

Infographic: Top 5 Natural Ingredients To Treat Dark Spots

We love the skin we’re in! But acne, discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and injuries or scars can leave us with irritating dark spots. There are many home remedies you can use to decrease these spots. However, there are 5 natural ingredients you can find right in your pantry that may be the most effective in minimizing dark spots.

Check out the infographic below to learn which are the top 5 ingredients to treat dark spots.

top 5 natural ingredients to treat dark spots (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Homemade DIY face packs for dark spots can help combat this skin issue in a cost-effective manner. These face packs can be made with lemon, sandalwood, onion, garlic, milk, honey, neem, potato, aloe vera, turmeric, gram flour, and papaya. These face packs can be applied twice or thrice a week. However, a patch test before applying these face packs is recommended as some of the listed ingredients may cause allergic reactions in some people. However, if you are not allergic to the ingredients mentioned above, including these face packs in your skin care regimen helps manage dark spots effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a coffee face pack remove dark spots?

According to Dr. Anna Chacon, a double board-certified dermatologist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, says, “Coffee aids in the removal of dead cells, hence reducing dark circles and spots. In addition, coffee contains sulfur, which aids in treating acne and lightening black spots.”

Can an orange peel face pack remove dark spots?

Orange peel face packs for dark spots play an important role in treating them. According to Dr. Anna Chacon, “Orange peel is thought to be the most effective for dark spot removal. It draws out all impurities and poisons from your skin. In addition, it will remove all the dark pigmentation on your face and leave you with perfect, bright skin.”

Can salt remove dark spots?

Salt may help exfoliate and brighten the skin. So, it may help remove dark spots.

Can ice remove dark spots?

No. Ice can constrict the blood vessels and reduce inflammation, But it cannot reduce dark spots.

Which oil is best for dark spots?

Tea tree oil, lavender oil, and rosehip oil may help fade dark spots when used in essential oil face packs for dark spots.

Key Takeaways

  • The citric acid present in lemons may help reduce dark spots.
  • Turmeric contains antioxidants that help combat hyperpigmentation and rejuvenate your skin.
  • The aloesin in aloe vera may inhibit the overproduction of melanin and reduce dark spots.
  • Honey can be used to hydrate the skin and reduce pigmentation for dry and flaky skin.

You can use multiple natural ingredients in your face masks to achieve healthy and glowing skin. In fact, the simplest ingredients always work the best. Watch the video below for amazing 2-ingredient DIY face mask recipes.

Personal Experience: Source

References

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  1. Medicinal and cosmetic uses of Bee’s Honey – A review
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3611628/
  2. Sandalwood Album Oil as a Botanical Therapeutic in Dermatology
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5749697/
  3. Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18510666/
  4. Assessment of Rose Water and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of a Rose Water Based Cream Formulation
    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331906604_Assessment_of_Rose_Water_and_Evaluation_of_Antioxidant_and_Anti-inflammatory_Properties_of_a_Rose_Water_Based_Cream_Formulation
  5. Plants used to treat skin diseases
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3931201/
  6. Mechanisms Regulating Skin Pigmentation: The Rise and Fall of Complexion Coloration
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769151/
  7. In-House Preparation and Standardization of Herbal Face Pack
    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320900643_In-House_Preparation_and_Standardization_of_Herbal_Face_Pack
  8. Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of green black and herbal teas of Camellia Sinensis
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249787/
  9. Herbs and supplements for pain
    https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/turmeric
  10. Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/
  11. Rice-Traditional Medicinal Plant in India
    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284608583_Rice-Traditional_Medicinal_Plant_in_India
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