15–20 minutes, and rinsed thoroughly with lukewarm water. A moisturizer can be applied afterward if the skin feels dry.
Important Skin-Safety Considerations
Although natural or homemade ingredients are sometimes promoted for skincare, they are not automatically safe or effective for treating pigmentation. Baking soda can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier and cause dryness or irritation, while lemon juice can make skin more sensitive to sunlight and may cause irritation or discoloration in some people.
Crushed aspirin should also not be added to a homemade facial treatment without professional guidance, particularly for people with sensitive skin or aspirin allergies.
If someone chooses to try a new skincare ingredient, testing a small area first can help identify irritation, although a patch test does not guarantee that a product will be safe for the entire face or hands.
Simple Ways to Support Healthy-Looking Skin
Protecting the skin from excessive sun exposure is an
