Many people use bleaching kits which are available at medical stores and chemist shops. Avoid using cosmetics like Fair & Lovely , Fairever etc as these creams just have bleach mixed with lubricating creams so in the long run it could prove harmful.
Home remedies are cheap and without any side effects. Some of the home remedies for making skin fair and improving the complexion are:
1. Use a face pack consisting of cucumber juice, lemon juice and some rose water or you can also try a face mask with honey and lemon juice. These face packs or face masks have to be used for some time, at least for a week for noticeable results.
2. Make a paste using Haldi (Turmeric) with a little raw (unboiled) milk and lemon juice. Apply it on the skin, it will help in removing a tan.
3. Another mixture for lightening the skin colour would be buttermilk with a bit of oats in it. The oats has exfoliating capacity and the butter milk is an excellent after skin soother.
4. A mixture of lime juice, gram flour (besan) and curd applied on the skin regularly will help you in getting rid of sun tan
5. For bleaching in home the following mixture can be used - Facial turmeric powder (kasthuri manjal) - 1 spoon, honey - ½ spoon, few drops of olive oil, curd - ½ spoon, table salt - ¼ spoon. Mix these items to make a paste and apply on your face. Leave it for 15 minutes. Clean this with a cotton cloth. When you take a bath, wash your face with plain water and avoid soap. You can use this, once in a week or twice in a month.