DIY Underarm Lightening Scrub + Mask

Are you embarrassed to show off your underarms when you’re wearing your tanks? You’re not the only one. Many people deal with patchy armpits that have dark areas.

Dark underarms occur for many reasons, including age, routine shaving, genetics, fluctuations in hormones, hygiene, pregnancy, clothing and more. Regular perspiration and the buildup of dead skin cells often result in dark patches as well.

Of course, underarms aren’t beautiful. If you’re dealing with keratosis pilaris or those red bumps on your upper arms, that area is even more of an eyesore.

Maybe you’re working hard to trim your biceps and triceps into great shape so you can rock those summer tops, but don’t forget your underarms.

With a simple DIY, natural mask and scrub, you can quickly lighten that skin and slough away dead skin for underarms you won’t be ashamed to show.

Lemon and peroxide are useful natural bleach agents – they work on your clothes and your underarms! Combine these ingredients in a lidded jar.

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① Underarm Lightening Scrub

• Juice from 1/2 lemon
• 1/8 cup ( 3% solution ) hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda or cornmeal

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Directions:
MIX the ingredients all together and place in a container. After washing, apply or gently scrub the mixture to underarms and upper arms (if you have bumps) and massage gently for 2-3 minutes and rinse.

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Benefits of the Ingredients
Each ingredient used offers some great benefits.

Lemon Juice
The freshly squeezed lemon juice contains important fruit acids, sugars, antioxidants and vitamin C. The alpha hydroxy acids in the juice work as an exfoliant, helping you slough away those dead skin cells.

Remember to Exfoliate:
Removing the dead skin cells from your underarms will help promote the growth of new skin while allowing your pores to breathe. Lemon juice also naturally lightens and brightens skin, so it’s perfect for eliminating the discoloration you deal with under your arms.

So, be sure to exfoliate your underarms regularly to prevent the build-up of dead skin cells. This is another cause of dark underarms!! Exfoliate, exfoliate, EXFOLIATE!!

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Baking Soda
Baking soda also offers great skincare benefits. It helps to exfoliate skin, unclogging pores and working with the lemon juice to remove dead skin. When you use baking soda on your skin it leaves skin smooth and the more you use it, the better your skin will look.

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Hydrogen Peroxide
The hydrogen peroxide used in this mask and scrub helps to lighten dark skin as well, bleaching the skin, so you end up with lighter skin. This ingredient also helps to kill bacteria.

② Ingredients for the Arm Bump Mask
To eliminate those unsightly bumps on your arms, you can make your own mask to eliminate them. All you need is some apple cider vinegar and some coconut oil.

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Directions:
Melt 2 tablespoons coconut oil and mix with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar. (The oil and ACV don’t combine, but that’s okay.) Keep in a closed container in the shower.

If your coconut oil solidifies, stick the container under the shower stream while you’re applying the above scrub and it’ll melt in no time. While in the shower, gently exfoliate your arms using a loofah, then apply the ACV/coconut oil mask to underarms & upper arms. Do not rinse.

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Benefits of the Ingredients
Apple Cider Vinegar
The apple cider vinegar helps to correct your skin’s pH balance, which is important. It also has antibacterial properties and works well for cleansing dark spots caused by using homemade deodorant with baking soda.

Coconut Oil
The coconut oil added to the mask is soothing and moisturizing. It will help eliminate those bumps and helps to reduce irritation that often comes with shaving skin frequently.