How Will Skin Bleaching Affect My Skin?

May 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Our skin takes a lot of abuse over the years. Spending time in the sun, scarring and even minor scrapes and cuts can do plenty of damage to the tone and color of your skin.

While there are steps we can take to reduce the damage by implementing preventive measures, many people need something that will actually repair the damage that has been done.

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In addition to helpful habits like taking vitamin C regularly and moisturizing daily, using skin lightening products can help restore fair and soft skin tone while also repairing and rejuvenating damaged skin.

Instead of just covering up with makeup or trying to prevent further damage, lightening your skin can restore the color that you used to have and give your skin a more consistent pigmentation.

Why would I bleach my skin?

There are a lot of benefits to bleaching your skin, though it’s certainly a personal decision that people make for a variety of reasons. The most notable and primary benefits include:

  • Skin tone consistency

  • Pigmentation correction

  • Reduce scarring visibility

  • Overall appearance

  • Correcting overexposure to sun or tanning

Most of the time, the reasoning behind using a skin lightening product will fall under one of these five categories, partly because of the effectiveness that such products have when treating these problems.

How will this affect my skin?

Products that use banned ingredients like hydroquinone or mercury can, over time, have a negative impact on your skin and even your health.

However, skin lightening products that use natural ingredients means you aren’t applying chemicals to you skin. These products won’t damage your skin, but instead work to heal even as they lightens and brighten.

By using products that use ingredients such as kojic acid, you will see a noticeable reduction in dark pigmentation, while scars and other imperfections or inconsistencies will become less noticeable.

Choosing the product that suits you best will depend on your situation and preferences, but you want to make sure that they are safe and effective treatments, whether you’re looking to correct inconsistencies or simply change your appearance.

Should I supplement skin bleaching with other products?

It’s always a good idea to get plenty of vitamin C in your diet, which will help improve the work that the skin lightening product is already doing. Staying out of the sun when you can and using sunblock when you are in direct sunlight is also an important follow up to using skin lightening products.

It’s also a good idea to maintain a regular regiment of moisturizing, especially in the area where you’ve applied the skin lightening product. Using moisturizers will help preserve the effects of skin bleach and improve the overall condition of your skin, while reducing the effects of aging and sun damage.

Regardless of whether you’re doing it for health or purely cosmetic reasons, don’t be afraid to do your research and choose the product that is right for you.

Filed Under: Skin Conditions

The Brighter Side of the Beyonce Skin Lightening Scandal

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

512px-Beyonce-By Jen Keys (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

As one of the most recognizable celebrities in the world, Beyoncé has had her fair share of controversy. In 2008, as the face of L’Oreal, Beyoncé was accused of skin lightening for the print campaign. Many people saw this as a controversy and the pop star’s campaign inspired international backlash and heated debates over skin bleaching and identity.

This controversy was resurrected in early 2012 over a new set of promotional photos on her website, where she is shown with a significantly lighter complexion than in previous images. Some speculated that lighter skin tone was merely the result of blown-out lighting and Photoshop; others worried that the look was deliberate, that Beyoncé was making a statement about her identity (rejecting it) and adhering to a standard of beauty that had no room for variety and diversity.

However, Beyoncé’s experiments in lightening her skin, via Photoshop or otherwise, may not be about rejecting her heritage and more about exploring the fluidity of identity. Beyoncé has tried a variety of looks, changing her appearances through clothing, make-up, lighting, camera tricks and after-effects. One minute she’s a demure housewife—the next, a vivacious vamp. Skin whitening is just another tool used to create a look that helps her feel her best at that moment.

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 Skin whitening products are used all over the world, and have been in vogue for generations. And many, if not most, of the people who use skin lightening and brightening products are not looking to change their identity as they are attempting to improve their overall complexion.

The ravages of time, sun, hormones and other factors can leave the visage marked with spots and discolorations. Skin whitening products can reduce the patchiness, unveiling smooth, unblemished skin. Evening out skin tone and combating hyperpigmentation as a result of disease is another common use for skin lightening products.

Minimizing the appearance of conditions like melasma, acne scars, and stretch marks, amongst other skin imperfections, can dramatically improve a person’s complexion and help them look their best, without making a statement about their identity. Like many other skin enhancing agents, whitening and lightening products only serve to reveal an improved version of the person. 

A properly formulated skin whitening product, without cancer-causing agents or banned substances, are non-invasive and gentle on the skin, and can improve the skin like many expensive serums designed to turn back the hands of time.

Skin lightening may be in the center of a firestorm of controversy, especially when a superstar like

Beyoncé is the midst of it. However, these products should be considered to be like any other cosmetic treatment that women and men use to improve their skin tone and fight the signs of time or disease.  Skin whitening, like any other complexion enhancer, helps people achieve the look that makes them feel best about themselves – and that’s really the most important thing.

Filed Under: Skin Whitening News/Trending

Lighten Your Skin and Your Attitude: The Connection Between Beauty and Psychology

May 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

As children, we’re taught that everybody is the same on the inside no matter what they look like on the outside – that no matter what color your skin is, no matter how you may look different than another person, you are equally as valuable. Unfortunately, many people are unable to make that simple lesson part of their life as they get older.

Body image issues are more common among women than men, but studies show that men are catching up. Those body image issues – how a person perceives their appearance – can play a huge role in how they feel about themselves.

Skin Color

Skin color shouldn’t be an issue in people’s lives. However, in many places, the color of a person’s skin can still cause problems.

In regions such as Southeastern Asia and in India, skin color still plays a large role in how a person is viewed. Even in the United States, skin color can determine how someone is treated, and while it would be ideal to say that these pre-conceived ideas of a person based on their skin color aren’t harmful, they can be for some people.

Psychological Issues

Body image issues related to the skin can cause serious psychological issues in some people. Many people become depressed and withdraw from activities they once enjoyed – others avoid even common interactions like seeing friends and family so they don’t have to feel ashamed of their appearance.

Over time, these body image issues can put real stress on a person and make them feel hopeless and psychologically unbalanced. As a result, a person with severe, long-term body image issues might be prone to having damaged interpersonal relationships, as well as potential problems in their professional life.

Lightening the Skin

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A person should only lighten their skin because they feel it is appropriate for them. While societal pressures to have lighter skin can be a concern for many people, you shouldn’t let others’ opinions guide you toward skin lightening.

However, it should be said that skin lightening, when done for the right reasons, can make a dramatic impact in a person’s life. This is true for people in all countries, especially if they feel slighted or unattractive to others because of their natural skin color.

Individuals with certain skin problems like hyperpigmentation, which leaves patches of pigmented spots on the skin, as well as people who suffer from moderate to severe acne scars can also greatly benefit from skin lightening treatment.

Improved Self-Esteem

Many people who use natural, topical skin lightening treatments find that they have greatly improved self-esteem once they notice even a moderate change in their skin, which is likely to occur after just a few weeks of starting treatment.

Skin lightening is your decision, but it could be just the thing you’re looking for to take some of the negative feelings away. When many people with skin-related body image issues begin using topical skin lightening products they immediately feel like a heavy weight has been lifted off of their shoulders.

Many wonder why they didn’t turn to skin lightening treatment earlier so they could feel good about themselves again. For many people with body image issues, it really is that simple.

Filed Under: Skin Care, Skin Conditions

Spring into a Whiter Shade of Skin

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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Filed Under: Skin Care, Skin Whitening News/Trending

Why a Skin Whitening Gel May Be Best For You

April 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

 

gel

People choose to use topical skin whitening solutions for a variety of different reasons, ranging from acne scars and scars that form after an injury, to less common but still prevalent skin conditions like hyperpigmentation and melasma. Many people also use skin whitening products to get rid of stretch marks after childbirth and weight loss.

Whatever your reason for wanting to use skin whitening products, you’ll likely be faced with many different choices when it comes time to pick one to use. Skin whitening lotions and creams may be easier to find, but for some individuals, skin whitening gel is a better choice.

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, you’ve probably been through tons of different skin care products, going from moisturizer to moisturizer, face wash to face wash and makeup brand to makeup brand until you find the right one for you. That’s because people with oily skin generally require less moisture in skin care products, and ones that contain too much moisture or are made for dry skin can actually make your skin look worse.

Skin whitening lotions and creams often have an abundance of moisturizing products in them. While that isn’t an issue for people with normal skin, and it can actually be good for individuals with dry skin, it’s a problem for people with naturally oily skin.

Skin whitening gel tends to be less moisture-rich, and it won’t contain as many creamy ingredients like you might find in a skin whitening lotion. High-quality skin whitening gels do often contain some type of mild moisturizing ingredient like aloe vera to reduce irritation, but in a gel, these ingredients will work to soothe the skin and provide minimal moisture (which is good even if you have oily skin), but they won’t contain heavy, oily products.


Acne or Breakout Prone Skin

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People with acne prone skin, sometimes simply referred to as breakout prone skin just seem to get pimples for no reason, often in unsightly clusters. It isn’t uncommon for people with very oily skin to also be breakout prone, but even people with normal or dry skin can suffer from seemingly random periods of less-than-perfect looking skin.

If you count yourself in that group, then a skin whitening gel is going to be a better solution for you than a skin whitening lotion or cream. The reason for this goes back to the moisture content in many skin whitening lotions and creams, which is often quite high and can lead to more breakouts or exacerbated breakouts.

A Note About Skin Whitening Gel…

Skin whitening gels are an excellent solution for people with oily skin since they won’t increase the amount of oil on the surface of the skin and they aren’t going to cause breakouts. However, skin whitening gels aren’t just for people with oily skin – they’re beneficial for many people that possess normal skin, as well as people with combination skin.

Skin whitening gels work effectively to whiten the area of skin where they’re regularly applied, but they do it in a way that is gentle and doesn’t alter the skin’s natural oil balance. A whitening cream or lotion might be better for somebody with dry skin and completely usable for people with normal skin, but gels work well for everybody else.

 

 

Filed Under: Skin Care Tagged With: , , , ,

The Best Whitening Body Lotion for Your Skin Type

April 12, 2013 By 1 Comment

Body whitening lotion has two obvious benefits: lightening the skin and providing moisture your skin needs to stay healthy and looking its best. However, knowing what the best whitening body lotion is for you can be a little complicated for some people.

Finding the best whitening body lotion for you really depends on your particular skin type. There are four main skin types – normal, oily, dry and combination – the latter being a literal mixture of oily parts and dry parts.

Determining Your Skin Type

Figuring out your skin type will help you find the best whitening body lotion for you. It will also help you pick out cosmetics and all types of skin care products in the future.

Normal Skin

If you have normal skin, you should count your blessings for the most part. Individuals with normal skin don’t have oily patches or dry spots on a regular basis – the majority of their skin falls somewhere in-between year round.

Oily Skin

People with oily skin often notice that their skin looks wet, moist or shiny, especially when it’s been a few hours since they’ve washed their face. Some people with oily skin are also prone to breakouts, though this isn’t always the case.

Dry Skin

You have dry skin if you notice flaky patches or peeling areas of skin, especially during the summer or winter, and if your skin feels rough or tight. Some people with dry skin may also feel like their skin looks dull year round.

Combination Skin

If you have combination skin, you’ve likely noticed dry patches around your eyes and cheeks. Those dry patches are probably accompanied by an oily forehead, nose and chin.

Choosing the Right Body Whitening Lotion for You

body lotion bottles

Now that you know what type of skin you have, it should be a little easier to find the right body whitening lotion and skin care products for you. Still, there are some things you should look for in skin care products depending on your skin type.

Normal Skin

Individuals with normal skin can likely use almost anything on their body without noticing serve changes. However, people with normal skin should still look for whitening body lotions made with natural products that contain an equal amount of working active ingredient with soothing ingredients like aloe vera. Just because you have normal skin doesn’t mean you’re exempt from potential irritation.

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, you need a body whitening lotion that has mild drying ingredients like azaelic acid or alpha hydroxy acids. You still want soothing ingredients like aloe vera since your skin does still need moisture, but you don’t want products that are too heavy with ingredients like coconut or avocado oil.

Dry Skin

People with dry skin might worry about using a whitening body lotion, afraid that it will make their skin even drier. If you have dry skin, look for a whitening body lotion with natural ingredients – they’ll be less likely to irritate your skin and cause redness or rough, scaly or flaky patches.

You should also look for soothing ingredients like aloe vera extract and glycerin.

Combination Skin

Buying skin care products if you have combination skin can seem like tricky business. Some people even use two different products for the same purpose – things like face and body wash.

However, you probably don’t have to do that. What you should look for in a body whitening lotion most is soothing ingredients that provide moisture but aren’t oily. Ingredients like aloe vera and green tea extract are ideal.

 

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It’s So Hard to Find a Good Scar Lightening Cream

April 5, 2013 By 1 Comment

Scars can occur on the body for a variety of reasons, including cuts, scrapes and other abrasions. Scars can also be the result of surgical procedures, both minor and more serious ones, and skin problems like acne.

While cars are a natural part of the healing process, most people don’t really understand how they form and the different stages they go through. Most people don’t understand the best way to treat and reduce the visible appearance of scars, either.

Depth and Severity


The depth and severity of an injury, abrasion or acne spot can greatly affect the way a scar appears, and how long it takes to heal. In general, injuries that are deeper and wider take considerably longer to form scars, and those scars often take longer to fade in appearance.

Many scars won’t fade away on their own, though small cuts that leave minimal scars could disappear over the course of a year or two as long as the area isn’t re-injured. Acne scars, depending on their severity, can also fade, but many require treatment to speed up the process and completely go away.

Scar Location

The area where you develop a scar can play a significant role in the formation of a scar, its overall appearance and how long it takes to become less visible. Scars on certain areas like the hands may heal faster than on the face.

Areas where acne scarring is prominent like the jawline can take considerably longer to heal, as can any type of scarring where the skin is pulled taught around a bone or curved contour of the body.

Age

Despite what we generally think about the healing properties of a young body, injuries that occur on the skin of younger people tend to be more obvious after healing than on the bodies of older adults because of the body’s propensity to over-heal. That’s why acne scars are often prevalent and obvious among adults in the early to mid-20s, and even into their early 30s.

Scar Stages


A scar will typically go through three stages. When a scar first forms, it’s likely to be very red in appearance. This stage is commonly referred to as the inflammatory stage, and it usually lasts a few days to one month, depending on the severity of the injury.

During the second stage, known as the proliferative stage, the area of skin where the scar has formed is likely to become thicker and appear inflamed. This is caused by red blood cells flooding the area to begin the healing process, and it typically lasts somewhere between two and four weeks.

The final stage of a scar is known as the remodeling stage, at which point the scar is likely to become less inflamed looking and appear less raised above the surface of the surrounding skin. This stage can last from anywhere to a few weeks to a few years depending on the scar.

Reducing the Visibility of Scars

Many scars fade on their own, but severe scars and acne scars are often very hard to get rid of, especially if you had acne when you were a teen or young adult. That’s where scar lightening cream comes in.

When looking for a scar lightening cream, you want to find one that contains mostly natural ingredients – ingredients that help to speed up skin cell regeneration and make your scars appear less visible. Ideal active ingredients include kojic acid, glycolic acid and alpha hydroxy acids.

Using skin lightening cream made with natural ingredients is safe, but you should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when applying the product. Applying sunscreen to the area of the scar when going outside is also important to prevent skin irritation and aid in scar disappearance.

Filed Under: Skin Care, Skin Conditions Tagged With: , ,

The Skin Whitening Cream Trend Around the World

March 29, 2013 By 1 Comment

Being comfortable in your own skin is incredibly important. The health and color of your skin can literally dictate how confident you are with your own body. So, it’s no wonder many women and men all over the world are turning to skin whitening cream treatments.

Celebrities like Michael Jackson, Beyonce and Rihanna are sometimes criticized for using these treatments because they are said to be “unnatural” or unsafe. The idea that a darker-skinned celebrity is lightening her skin may have other darker-skinned people question their own appearance.

But these ideas are hardly true –not to mention, very old school. Skin whitening is a personal choice and may give men and women more confidence to live the lives they want to.

Reasons To Lighten Your Skin

Some people lighten their skin because their bodies are plagued with acne scars or hyper pigmentation. Age spots, melasma, moles and freckles can be quite bothersome. Beyond that, others have more personal reasons. Many cultures around the world regard light skin as the most beautiful look a person can have.

This is obviously a huge culprit for self-esteem issues.

Skin lightening products account for at least half of all cosmetics sold in the industry. People from every continent have their own reasons and methods of lightening their skin.

Skin lightening is very popular with men and women from India, Africa and Asia for evening out complexions that can easily become uneven due to disease on other issues many people in countries outside the U.S. must deal wiht. Skin lightening products are even popular in the United States today.



How Does Skin Whitening Cream Work?

Some skin lightening creams stop melanin production, which is the agent responsible for making people more tan when they are exposed to the sun. Other products, like kojic acid, actually whiten the skin if you already have darker pigmentation.

Products work to different and varying degrees. If you feel uncomfortable using actual lightening products, you can always research online for completely natural ways to lighten your skin, although it’s really not recommended that you make an homemade products because you won’t be able to know the potency until you’ve already applied it.

Skin whitening is perfectly safe. It is becoming more and more popular around the world. Over the years people have become more and more knowledgeable about which ingredients are best for overall skin health.

This is allowing people to become more comfortable with the idea of skin bleaching –especially since many products contain natural ingredients such as kojic acid and vitamin C.

People many lighten their skin because of leftover acne scars, sun spots or freckles. They may also have more personal reasons for wanting their skin to appear a few shades lighter. Whatever the reasons, there are products and natural treatments to help you achieve your goal.

 

Filed Under: Skin Care, Skin Whitening News/Trending Tagged With: , ,

Using Bleach Cream for Face Marks and Impurities

March 22, 2013 By 1 Comment

Many women are unhappy with the state of their skin, and are looking for ways to improve their overall appearance. That’s why the beauty industry is a billion dollar one, and why there always seems to be a new product on the store shelves every time you go shopping.

While there are certainly high-quality skin care products out there, many women are buying things that aren’t really going to help them. A lot of women have never used skin bleaching creams, which might be what they really need.

Some women are also under the impression that all bleaching creams contain ingredients that are bad for their skin or could cause serious irritation. That used to be the case, back when hydroquinone was the only ingredient being used in bleaching creams.

Today, there are all-natural, safe bleaching creams on the market that can work wonders for a variety of skin problems.

Age Spots


Age spots, also known as sun spots or liver spots, are caused by prolonged sun exposure. Typically, older adults develop age spots because of years of being in the sun, though younger people can get them if they do a lot of outdoor activities.

Age spots aren’t dangerous on their own, but they can be unsightly for many people since they look sort of like freckles. Age spot can also form in patches, making the darker area of skin more obvious to the naked eye.

Natural bleaching creams can help to get rid of age spots if used on a regular basis. In fact, some studies show that age spots may vanish completely after just a few months of using a bleaching cream on a regular basis. There are options available to help you age gracefully.

The other options for getting rid of age spots are generally unpleasant and expensive. Prescription topical treatments can cause serious burning and dry skin; chemical peels and dermabrasion can be very expensive and result in a lot of irritation that could last for months; and laser therapy can be expensive and result in a discoloration of the skin over time.

Melasma

Melasma is a skin discoloration that commonly affects women with a brownish skin tone. However, melasma is also very common among pregnant women due to increased hormone production.

Melasma can go away on its own after pregnancy, but in some cases, it may not. A skin bleaching cream can help to get rid of melasma.

If you’re looking for a skin bleaching cream to combat melasma related spots, look for one that contains active ingredients like kojic acid, mandelic acid and glycolic acid. These ingredients work to effectively get rid of spots without damaging the skin.

Before using any skin bleaching cream during your pregnancy, you need to discuss the use with your doctor. Good skin bleaching creams are safe, but some shouldn’t be used while you’re pregnant.

Acne and Acne Scars

A lot of women experience an occasional breakout or pimple. That can be pretty embarrassing, but women that have acne and acne scars may feel very self-conscious about their appearance.

Many women even try to hide their acne by applying a lot of makeup. Unfortunately applying a lot of makeup to blemished skin can actually make the problem worse.

Instead of using makeup, women with acne and acne scars should consider using bleaching creams. Bleaching creams can tone down the redness of both acne and acne scars, and many contain ingredients that can actually help to get rid of blemish.

For example, skin bleaching creams that contain glycolic acid speed up cell regeneration. That means new, healthy skin will take the place of your damaged skin faster, leaving your skin looking smoother and blemish free.

Mandelic acid, which is actually an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), can help clear up acne while reducing the visibility of pimples and old scars at the same time. Mandelic acid is made from bitter almonds, so it’s an all-natural ingredient that very rarely causes any type of skin irritation or redness.

Filed Under: Skin Care, Skin Conditions

Lighten Your Skin Without Damage

March 15, 2013 By 1 Comment

Today, skin lightening products have advanced quite a bit, and some companies are using ingredients intended to lighten your skin without hurting it. If you’re considering skin lightening to help treat a condition like acne, melasma or hyperpigmentation, or you’re just looking to get the skin tone you’ve always dreamed of, there are some ingredients you need to check for before you shell out your hard earned money on a skin lightening product.

Mandelic Acid

Mandelic acid is produced from the bitter almond, which means that it is an all-natural ingredient, not something made in a laboratory by scientists. Mandelic acid, which is actually an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), works to lighten the skin by reducing the amount of melanin your skin makes – the stuff that gives your skin a darker pigment. How mandelic acid works is actually a little bit more complicated than that, but the end result is less melanin production, which results in lighter skin.

Mandelic acid has been tested a considerable amount in clinical trials, and the results have been very positive. Not only does mandelic acid work to lighten the skin, it’s also very safe compared to harsh chemicals like hydroquinone – a common ingredient in some skin lightening products, especially those prescribed by dermatologists.

In fact, most dermatologists and companies that make skin lightening products refer to mandelic acid as a “non-irritating” ingredient. That’s because the topical use of mandelic acid rarely causes any adverse reactions in people that use it in normal quantities, like the ones that would be present in over-the-counter skin lightening creams.

Mandelic acid has also been very helpful for many women when it comes to hyperpigmentation – a skin condition that is similar to, but a little different than melasma.

Licorice Extract

Licorice extract is known as one of the best anti-inflammatory agents that you can find, and it’s a big surprise when skin lightening companies don’t include it in their product. Licorice extract is also an antioxidant that promotes optimal skin health.

When used in skin lightening products, licorice extract has tested well. Studies have shown that products that contain licorice extract provide good to excellent results in at least 70-percent of clinical trials, without causing much or any irritation at all.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is sometimes included in topical skin lightening creams and gels because it is a soothing ingredient that can help to reduce redness. Aloe vera is also naturally moisturizing, which can help make a variety of skin conditions like acne and hyperpigmentation less apparent.

Not every company that makes skin lightening treatments chooses to use aloe vera, mostly because it isn’t actually necessary for lightening the skin. However, it should be included in any skin lightening treatment that you use to combat any minor irritation or redness you could experience from topical treatment.

Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil is a carrier oil – a product that’s used to for mixing other more potent ingredients like mandelic acid. However, there is some scientific evidence that sweet almond oil may actually be beneficial for skin lightening on its own.

When included in skin lightening creams or gels, sweet almond oil can help clear blemishes and purify the skin, giving better overall results to users. Unlike some other carrier oils, like coconut oil, for example, sweet almond oil is generally considered non-comedogenic, which means it won’t cause breakouts or clog pores.

Filed Under: Skin Care Tagged With: , , ,
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