How to Lighten Your Underarms: My Real, Unfiltered Journey

by Cherrine Rainvil April 18, 2026

Let’s take it back to 2014 — the era of beach days, selfies, and living my best life in my 20s. Except… my underarms were not cooperating. They were dark, stubborn, and honestly messing with my confidence. I was young, outside, taking pictures, wearing cute tops, and yet every time I lifted my arms, I felt like girl, why so shadowy under there?

So I did what any determined woman would do: I went digging. I don’t remember if it was YouTube, Pinterest, or a mix of both — it’s been over a decade — but I gathered enough DIY wisdom to start experimenting.

And here’s what I found.

The DIY Mask That Started It All

The ingredients were simple:

Lemon
PLAIN Greek yogurt (emphasis on plain because I only buy flavored yogurt for eating — I’m not crazy)
Honey
And later on… Kojic San soap

This was before I knew the magic of turmeric, so the OG recipe was very much a “what’s in my kitchen” situation. I didn’t measure anything. I just mixed until it looked right — a true DIY queen.

I applied this mask 3–4 times a week, consistently. And the biggest change I made?

I STOPPED SHAVING.

Yes. Razors had to go. They were part of the problem.

Pro Tip:
Try this during the winter or “No Shave November.” It’s not just for the fellas — ladies, let those pits rest.

The Routine That Changed Everything

After about a month of masking and not shaving, I leveled up:

I bought VEET Sensitive Hair Remover Cream (always patch test first)
I switched to Dove Even Tone deodorant

Between the DIY mask, ditching razors, and using products that supported even skin tone, my underarms transformed. They got lighter, smoother, and honestly… I haven’t looked back since.

Why I Stopped Using Kojic San Soap

Kojic San did help, but the market got flooded with fakes — and I wasn’t about to play guessing games with my skin. So I let it go.

Fast-forward to today?

I don’t need the DIY masks anymore. My underarms are clear, I still don’t shave, and I’ve learned so much more about skincare ingredients.

And the best part…

I Created My Own Soap Line (And It’s Fire)

Not to toot my own horn — toot toot — but my soaps are the real deal. High-quality ingredients, no fakes, no shortcuts, and made with the same passion that started back in 2014 when I was just trying to fix my own underarms.

If you’re tired of dark underarms, uneven tone, or irritation from shaving, trust me… you’re not alone. And you don’t have to stay stuck there.

You better come get you one of these.