For how long one should avoid sun after applying turmeric

Almost everyone is going the natural way to take care of their skin, hair, and overall health these days. People have realised the power of natural ingredients and have started utilising handmade and kitchen goods to care for their skin instead of spending a lot of money on chemical-based products. Turmeric is one such popular ingredient that is used in all skincare regimes and is consumed.

“The golden spice is used not only to flavour our meals but it also aids in the reduction of numerous skin-related issues and make our skin glow. We commonly use it to enhance our immunity or use it as a face pack,” said Rakhi Ahuja, managing director and founder of Jovees.

However, some people make certain mistakes when applying turmeric to their skin. Here’s what they are:

For how long one should avoid sun after applying turmeric
Overdosing your skin with turmeric can also cause acne. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Mixing unnecessary ingredients

Turmeric is a fantastic spice in itself, but it’s important to be aware of what else you’re mixing it with. The most popular ingredients to blend with turmeric are rosewater, milk, and water. “If unnecessary ingredients are introduced, they may harm the skin by reacting with turmeric. Turmeric has the active ingredient curcumin, which is a very good anti-inflammatory agent,” Ahuja told indianexpress.com.

Keeping it on your skin for a longer period

Turmeric gives everything it touches a yellow tint. Hence, you should be cautious about how long you keep it on your face. All face packs should be removed from the face within 20 minutes, and turmeric is no exception. If you leave a turmeric face pack on your face for an extended period, it may lead to yellow markings on your skin. Hence, keep track of the time. Overdosing your skin with turmeric can also cause acne.

Not rinsing well

With the stress and rush of daily life, we often overlook crucial aspects of our skincare routine, one of which is thoroughly washing our faces. Following the removal of turmeric from our face/skin, we should thoroughly rinse it with cold or room temperature water. While you’re at it, don’t forget about the corners of your face. A light moisturising cream should be followed after this.

Using soap

Another typical blunder is washing our faces with soap after applying a face pack. After removing the turmeric pack, avoid using soap on your skin or face for 24 to 48 hours.

Applying it unevenly

We apply turmeric face pack unevenly in a rush, which is another typical mistake that we should avoid. The turmeric will not function well if it is applied unevenly since it will not cover your complete face. Furthermore, you may see a patchwork face since the area where you applied turmeric will be a little yellow, while the rest of your face will be normal. An even and thin layer should be applied to the skin. It should be applied on the face as well as on the neck. Don’t forget the area around your neck!

We all how amazingly beneficial turmeric is for our body, hence we all consume it daily in our meals. From using it to make immunity-boosting concoctions to mixing it into our face packs, turmeric has a special spot in our daily lifestyle. Amidst the pandemic more and more people started using all-natural kitchen ingredients in their skincare routines, this happened because all the services were shut. Turmeric is one such ingredient that got popular during the pandemic, people used it for all skincare related issues. But not a lot of people know the right way to use it and they end up making common mistakes. So, here are few common mistakes that people tend to make when using turmeric for their skin.

Mixing turmeric with another ingredient is a bad idea. Most of the DIYs that we online show face pack which has turmeric mixed with rose water, lime juice, milk, etc. If too many different ingredients are mixed, then it may harm the skin by reacting with turmeric. Turmeric has the active ingredient curcumin, which is a very good anti-inflammatory agent. So you don't need anything else apart from turmeric and water if you want to use it as a face pack.


Turmeric leaves a stain and if applied on the face for a longer period, it will stain your face too. So make sure you do not leave turmeric on your skin for too long. Rinse it well


Thoroughly washing our faces is one of the most important aspects when it comes to skincare. Following the removal of turmeric from our skin, one should thoroughly rinse it with cold or room temperature water.


Never use face wash post face pack. One of the most common blunders that people do is wash their face with soap or cleanse after apply the face pack. You should never do that. It will wash out all the effects of the treatment immediately. And it's strongly recommended that one should not use any face wash for the next 24 hours after applying the face pack.




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Can we go out in sun after applying turmeric?

Let this golden spice treat you well! As per beauty experts and biochemists, Turmeric blocks overproduction of melanin triggered by prolonged sun exposure. Using turmeric in home-made face masks consistently over a period of time not only reduces the skin pigmentation but also prevents it from exacerbating.

How long can I leave turmeric on my skin?

Turmeric is a safe ingredient and can be used as a face mask anywhere from 20-30 minutes. Exceeding more that 30 minutes is up to you, but that's not required at all. In fact, any mask should be left on for just about 20 to 30 minutes.

How long does turmeric take to lighten skin?

How Long Does Turmeric Take To Lighten Skin? Turmeric can provide an instant natural glow to your skin. But to lighten your skin tone, it may take more than three to four weeks of consistent usage.

Will turmeric darken the skin?

Turmeric doesn't darken the skin. In fact, turmeric has skin-lightening properties which help you get rid of dark spots effectively without causing any side-effects. Using turmeric along with other moisturizing ingredients such as milk or honey will help improve your skin complexion.