While Indian women are blessed with beautiful faces and features, patchy skin, pigmentation and uneven skin tone is a problem that is very common. Living in a country like India that has the sun shining bright for three quarters of the year, the sun is one of the most damaging factors. Here’s how you can combat an uneven skin tone.
 

Sunscreen

Sunscreen

In the words of Baz Luhrmann, “If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.” Repeat sun exposure can damage the skin, cause tanning, dark spots and even leads to skin cancer. Use a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 or above and apply it twenty minutes before you head out. Since UV rays are the strongest between 9 AM and 4 PM, try to stay indoors during these hours.

 

Hats, Caps, Umbrellas and Oversized Sunnies

Hats, Caps, Umbrellas and Oversized Sunnies

The easiest way to shade yourself from the sun? Go the old school route and wear a hat or carry an umbrella. While in private or public transport, really big sunglasses offer great relief from pigmentation around the eyes and cheeks. While it won’t offer you hundred percent protection, it will shield your face to a certain extent which is half the job done. For the other half there’s always sunscreen.

 

Diet

Diet

Your skin is a direct result of what you’re putting into your body. So be choosy about your diet. Drink at least two litres of water every day and opt for a diet that’s rich in fibre – this means lots of fresh fruit and green veggies. If you’re prone to snacking, choose dry fruits over deep fried foods. While your food intake can’t reverse skin pigmentation, it can help control the damage by aiding the growth of new skin cells.

 

Exfoliate

Exfoliate

Pigmented areas on your skin are also the storehouse of dead skin cells. If you don’t get rid of these, they accumulate on the skin, block pores and prevent skin from breathing freely. Exfoliation gets rid of these skin cells to propagate the growth of new tissue leaving your skin with a natural glow.