Although potatoes are regularly eaten all over the world, they don’t tend to be quite as revered as some of the other vegetables out there.
When you consider their nutrient content, this is surprising – potatoes are packed with a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Not only are all of those compounds good for your health, but they’re great for your skin too.
While you may struggle to find skincare products containing potatoes, there’s no reason why you can’t make your own. If lightening and evening out your skin tone is your goal, read on to learn how the king of vegetables can help.
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Are Potatoes Good for Hyperpigmentation? A Review of the Skin Care Benefits Offered by the Humble Potato
Although there haven’t been many studies carried out on the skin lightening effects of potatoes, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence out there to prove that potatoes can make a difference when it comes to lightening hyperpigmentation.
This is likely down to an enzyme called catecholase that can be found in potatoes – it has a temporary skin bleaching effect due to the way in which it inhibits melanin production.
Potatoes also contain a number of other compounds that are commonly used as skin lightening ingredients, including vitamin C, niacinamide, potassium, and lectins.
In addition to helping you fade your dark marks, potatoes are also a powerful anti-inflammatory [1].
This enables them to target everything from acne to wrinkles by soothing the inflammation that would have otherwise led to those skin concerns.
RELATED: Best Skin Lightening Cream for Hyperpigmentation
How to Use Potatoes for Whitening Pigmentation & Acne Marks
So, how would one go about using potatoes to lighten their skin? Is it as simple as rubbing a few potato slices over your face for a while? Technically, yes, you could go ahead and do just that. However, for maximum benefits, try one of the following methods:
This Honey, Potato, and Lemon Paste Has Permanent Bleaching Effects
If you’re going to make a DIY skin lightening product, then you may as well incorporate multiple ingredients into your recipe to tackle your hyperpigmentation from different angles.
This blend, which combines potato with the skin brightening enzymes of honey and the bleaching acids from lemon, is very effective.
Extract the juice from a potato until you have 2 teaspoons worth. Mix this with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of honey. The resulting paste makes for a fantastic face mask – leave it on your skin for 15 minutes before rinsing off.
An Overnight Potato & Raw Milk Mask for Dark Spots
If you’d like to wake up to a bright and glowing complexion, then this overnight mask is worth making. In addition to potato, it contains milk, a natural source of lactic acid.
This alpha hydroxy acid is a popular skin lightening exfoliant – it clears away discolored skin cells to reveal a fresh and even complexion beneath.
To make this mask, peel a potato and then chop it up into small pieces, before blending it into a paste. Then, strain the juice out into a small bowl. To the juice, add 2 teaspoons of milk (ideally raw milk).
For added brightening benefits, you could also add a sprinkle of turmeric powder into the mask. Use a cotton pad to apply the mask to your skin before bed, and then rinse it off come morning.
This Potato & Sandalwood Powder Face Pack Produces Impressive Before and After Results
You’re probably familiar with the aromatic scent of sandalwood, but did you know that this ingredient has skin lightening properties too?
Sandalwood has been proven to inhibit excess melanin production, meaning no more new dark spots [2]. However, studies have also found this ingredient capable of healing both dark marks and scars [3], while helping with wrinkles and acne breakouts too.
To give this wonder ingredient a try, mix a small amount of sandalwood powder with some potato juice until you’ve formed a paste. Apply this to your face just like a face mask, leaving it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it off.
Try a Potato & Olive Oil Face Mask for Brightening & Anti-Aging Results
Looking for a way to tackle both hyperpigmentation and aging at the same time? Try combining potato with olive oil, another kitchen staple.
Olive oil is loaded with antioxidants that can help to diminish fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also incredibly hydrating, which will give your complexion fresh plumpness.
You’ll need to grate one peeled potato and then mix this with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add in 1 tablespoon of honey to form a paste. Apply this to your face and wait for 10 minutes before rinsing it off.
RELATED: Essential Oil for Skin Lightening
FAQ:
Q: How long does it take for potato to lighten skin?
On its own, it could take months for potatoes to lighten the skin. However, if you combine them with other ingredients that enhance its skin lightening properties, you could see results in just a few weeks.
Q: Does potato lighten skin permanently?
No, the skin lightening effects of a potato are temporary.
Q: Does potato juice lighten skin?
Yes, potato juice can lighten the skin.
Q: Can I use potato on my face everyday?
Potato is safe to be used on the face every day.
Q: How to make potato juice for face?
The best way to make potato juice is by grating potatoes and then placing them into linen cloth. Hold this over a container and then squeeze it to release the juice.
Q: Are there any side effects of rubbing potato on face?
The only side effect of using potatoes on your face would be an allergic reaction, but this would only occur if you’re allergic to potatoes.
Conclusion: Will Potatoes Soon Be Your New Favorite Skin Lightening Ingredient?
It’s easy to see why so many are turning to potatoes to help them in their skin lightening quests – this is an ingredient that’s relatively inexpensive, easily accessible, and versatile enough to be used in so many ways.
If you’ve been dealing with stubborn dark marks on your face that have been refusing to budge, try one of the potato masks above and see if you notice a difference!
References
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23454444/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5749697/
[3] https://jcdr.net/article_fulltext.asp?issn=0973-709x&year=2018&volume=12&issue=10&page=FC10&issn=0973-709x&id=12125
