Best Brightener and Whitener

As many of you who have struggled with hyperpigmentation or post acne scars know what a pain it is to wait for it to ago. As I get older, I feel like my acne scars NEVER go away. Of course I'm exaggerating.. but it takes an awful long time. I've tried peels (only at home) and AHA and lightning products such as Origins' Brightener and Murad's Lightner.

($55)

($60)

They obviously don't work miracles but are products I use to put my mind at ease because I feel like I'm doing something to fight the endless battle against dark spots. However, these products are not cheap and they come in such a small bottle. I found a better solution that works just as well if not better and is cheap!! The answer to our prayer ladies was hiding in the fruit aisle all summer long!!

That's right! It's watermelon!! This delicious, nutritious, vitamin and antioxidant rich snack is not only good to eat but good for your skin. There are skin benefits from consuming the watermelon but what do you do with the rinds? If you were like me, you just threw them away. However, now I discovered the wonders of the rind!!! 

The next time you eat watermelon, don't throw these puppies away!! Instead, get a potato peeler and skin the inside of the rinds into thin long rectangular pieces. Do as many as you need to cover your face. Put them in a bowl or plate. Afterwards, wash your face and leave it bare.. no moisturizer or toner or anything. Bare skin. Get a napkin or tissue and a handheld mirror and lie down. You might want to cover a pillow with a towel or something just in case watermelon juice falls down. In a lying position, use the mirror to place slices of the rind on your face. Cover your entire face excepts eyes and mouth of course. Use the napkin/tissue to wipe any droplets of juice running into your hair and ear. It shouldn't be too liquidy but you'll feel a few droplets. Leave the rind on for 30 min and take it off. Rinse your face with just water.. no cleansers and pat dry. Voila! Your skin should feel supple and bright. After drying your face, you can continue your normal skincare routine such as moisturizers, sun screen, eye cream, etc. I like to do this at night before I go to bed so I just put on my night moisturizer, eye cream, acne medicine, and lip balm.

I learned this from my aunt in Korea. When my parents came back from a trip to Korea, their skin was glowing. I asked what they did and they said they did this watermelon mask frequently. My mom did it to me and I was sold. My only concern is that watermelons are seasonal so I won't be able to do it as much during the cold months. 

FYI- don't try to use the red part of the watermelon for this mask. I tried it and it was very itchy and irritating. It might be due to the sugary aspects of the actual watermelon but it didn't go well with my skin. So learn from my mistake and stick to the rinds. :)  Also, will this mask magically make your hyperpigmentation disappear? Of course not! But I think it beats all those high priced brightening/whitening skincare products. An additive bonus to this mask is that it whitens too. Many Asians are obsessed with having porcelain-like skin and this mask will help you achieve that.

As I was looking for pics for this post, I came across Nanarabu's blog about the benefits of watermelon and its many skincare uses. Check it out! 

Give it a try and see how it works out for you! <3