Ready for “summer in December”.

by: Anj Bathan

While women DGAF about what men — well, other people in general — think about their bodies, some girls just want to remove discoloration of their bikini lines from their long list of problems.

Although having dark private areas is no public matter (hehe), some of us are just more comfortable baring our bodies more freely, wearing whatever the hell we want without thinking about hyper-pigmentation.

For most of us, doing just that is a problem.

When it’s bikini season, most girls feel like they should just hide.

But having dark bikini lines does not mean you’re not cut out for wearing a bikini or that you’re unhygienic! It’s a natural, cosmetic problem most — if not all — of us go through.

So what if I told you that there are at least five effective home remedies you could try to get rid of the discoloration between your inner thighs?

Now, THREAD ain’t like no other ~media company~ so don’t expect that I’ve personally tried these pastes and gels myself. I did some research, yes, but I guess you could say it’s not that thorough, seeing as I don’t have personal photos and videos as proof of their effectiveness.

But I’ve read that these things do have intense whitening properties so…

Channel your inner Nadine Lustre in these five effective home remedies to whiten your bikini area:

1) Baking soda

Surprise surprise! NaHCO3 — sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) has so many uses, one of them being an excellent exfoliant.

Start by mixing 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water. Disclaimer: I don’t really know how much you need, but the ratio of baking soda to water is 2:1, so build on that. Afterwards, apply it on your pubic area and keep it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off with water and repeat twice a week for maximum effectiveness.

2) Aloe vera

Good news: Aloe vera does not just help lighten your skin, it also helps repair skin cells! Extract aloe vera gel from the leaf and apply directly on your dark pubic area. After 20 minutes, wash it off with water. Use twice daily.

3) Almonds

Almonds (both whole almonds and almond oil) have vitamin A and E, which are good for exfoliating and softening the skin.

To use whole almonds:

• Soak 5 or 6 whole almonds overnight.
• The next morning, grind them into a paste.
• Mix with 1 tablespoon of whole milk.
• Apply on affected skin.
• Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Rinse after, while rubbing the paste around the area in circular motions.
• Repeat 2 or 3 times a week.

To use almond oils, simply massage the affected area with warm almond oil for 5 minutes daily before going to bed.

4) Lemon and honey

Lemon has acidic properties, which is why it’s a bleaching remedy.

To use more effectively, you can cut the lemon in half and rub them on your inner thighs. Leave them on for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

If it’s too harsh for you, you can mix juice from 1/2 of a lemon with 1/2 teaspoon of honey (optional: with 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt OR sugar cystals). Apply it on affected area, leave for 10 minutes and then rinse with water.

Don’t forget to apply moisturizer or coconut oil to prevent dryness!

5) The alternative: Calamansi

Because lemons are damn expensive. And it’s much easier to get calamansi here in the Philippines!

Use the same way you would a lemon. Although it’s less harsh on the skin so you could totally rub a calamansi on your dark pubic area and you wouldn’t feel a thing!

6) Other alternatives: Orange peel, Cucumber, Papaya and Tomatoes

Yup! Even tomatoes have bleaching properties!

Although papaya is a known ingredient in most whitening products, the best way to maximize the effects of the fruit is the same as you would a lemon, orange peels, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Rub on the affected area, leave it on for 20 minutes, and then rinse with cool water! Use once daily.

With the Philippines’ sunny climate to thank, we’re lucky to have been given the chance to make every season feel like summer. Now that December is finally here (read: “THE HOLIDAYS”, “vacation”), we can totally bask in the sun as we take a long break from school/work!

So don’t let your dark private areas stop you from enjoying your summer in December! Try one of these home remedies (if you want to) and let us know how it goes in the comments section down below!

P.S. If you don’t have the perfect bikini yet, you might wanna check out ZALORA for the latest swimwear online!