Can anyone recommend a good skin lightener that you can get over the counter that works well?
Thanks,
Azeeza
Thanks,
Azeeza
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Tue, August 5, 2008 - 1:19 PMYou could try lemon juice. It's a natural AHA-acid, and is supposed to have natural skin lightening properties. I think you may have to give it time and want to be careful because it can be irritating and drying. So you may need to dilute it or mix it with other ingredients.
But I'm sure others here can recommend some good products as well.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Tue, August 5, 2008 - 4:23 PMi bought exuviance skin lightener gel from the dermstore.com site www.dermstore.com/product_E...l_1397.htm . i got the results i was looking for (removing a dark pigment spot on my face), and i loved the experience of shopping from dermstore. it takes a little while (about a month) and does hurt/burn and turn bright red/"scabby" to the point of being hard to cover up with makeup (and people asking me what was wrong with my face), but i did get the results. -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Tue, August 5, 2008 - 7:29 PMI've heard about the lemon juice technique, does anyone happen to know what could be used with this? -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Tue, August 5, 2008 - 9:57 PMYou can mix honey and lemon juice to make a mask.
I've done it before, skin is nice and soft. I think to get lemon juice to lighten skin, you've got to do it for a while.
But I also agree, use an SPF whatever lightening agent you decide to use.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Tue, August 5, 2008 - 9:24 PMMake sure whatever skin lightner you use you always wear SPF everyday. At least 15 and not in your makeup....it's really diluted in there....but a separate SPF. Because melanin cells have sort of memory, sun exposure will bring the spots right back. Also, most skin lightners make you a little sensitive in the sun and w/out the SPF, can actually end up causing any hyperpigmented areas you are trying to lighten, darker. -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Tue, August 5, 2008 - 9:56 PMVery good point about the sun sensitivity!!!!!!! Same goes for any citrus oil or juice! -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Thu, August 7, 2008 - 6:20 PMYes this is true in general and this includes bergamot oil which some don't realize can cause sever sensitivity in the sun leading to hyper and/or hypopigmentation. And while we're on the subject any perfume can do the same.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Tue, August 5, 2008 - 10:08 PMJust FYI, make sure you use lemons and not limes. I learned the hard way that lime juice + sun = skin irritation. Apparently the sun causes a chemical reaction with the juice and creates discoloration and irritation on skin.
www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en...Skin.htm
AFAIK lemons don't do the same thing.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Wed, August 6, 2008 - 5:57 AMButtermilk!!! Thousands of southern belle's can't be wrong...:-D
Basically, you just sponge it onto your skin and it helps lighten freckles and dark spots...and I've got an even more soothing suggestion...try mixing it with oatmeal and honey and using it as a body scrub...it softens your skin, amazingly...and with prolonged use, will lighten and even out dark patches.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Thu, August 7, 2008 - 7:42 AMOooh, thank you all for your advice. I think I'll try the lemon juice first. Should I apply it at bed time, that way it has all night to work and I'm out of the sun?
And what SPF do you recommend that doesn't make a person sweat so badly? I've not had much luck with SPFs. My skin feels clogged and I get an oily sheen and I start sweating and my nail polish tends to lose it's shine if I get any SPF on my finger or toe nails. I'm a big polish wearer and I can't go out in public without having my nails done. I've used Lancome 40, Neutrogena 30, Alba 16 (I think this one is my fave), and Kiss My Face 15.
Thanks so very much,
Azeeza -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Thu, August 7, 2008 - 6:26 PMI would recommend either seeing an Aesthetician and getting a professional grade SPF or using a good quality mineral makeup. Most of the 'true' mineral makeups have an SPF of about 20 and it's full spectrum......I say true because some still contain talc. I wear Jane Iredale and my face never gets burned.
On a side note, make sure you exfoliate weekly you should anyway, but it will help with the lightening. And don't lose heart if you think it looks darker at any point because of the physiology of the skin, this would be normal as the icky pigmented cells come to the surface.....this is a simplified version of how it works.
I would recommend seeing an Aesthetician anyway.....microdermabrasion can be quite helpful.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Mon, August 11, 2008 - 9:50 PMWhen using essential oil all citrus in photo sensitive. Which means in the sun you can burn with these oils on the skin. I once mixed a real nice blend of Lavender, Mandarin and Sage. I was using a new oil as a carrier. I mixed the usual amount of essential to my 8 oz bottle. I could not smell it. so the next session I added a few more...still no scent. Next session I added a few more drops...I was probably up to 30 drops of each...Still NO scent...it was at the end of the day and took this new oil and read the label and it had odor emulsifiers in it...truly emusilfied the essential...could not smell a thing...but that evening I had this real interesting rash coming up on my arms...from the massage...I never heard that the client got burned but I was real fortunate.
Remember when you have Ceviche which is a raw fish dish that appears cooked...it is not it is cooked with citric acid from the citrus it is prepared with....
no cooking your skin ladies...caution caution caution!!!
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Fri, August 8, 2008 - 1:47 AMGreat question - I have been looking for good lighteners too.
I currently use Ambi. It has gotten excellent reviews on drugstore.com. I am waiting to see results, it takes a few weeks.
Its lightening ingredient is Hydroquinone 2% - this is supposed to be the best cosmetic ingredient for skin lightening. In prescription strength, hydroquinone cream is 4%.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Fri, August 8, 2008 - 6:32 AMHow about things for skin lightening on the inner thighs? I'm less than happy with the discolouration there. -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Fri, August 8, 2008 - 8:25 PMQamar....is this from ingrown hairs?? If so, something like Tend Skin or PFB Vanish works great. Personally I like the PFB product better and it smells a heck of alot better too. -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Sat, August 9, 2008 - 8:26 AMNo, its a brownish discolouration of my inner thighs where they rub together. I don't shave my thighs so its not ingrown hairs. I've never heard of PFB Vanish...what is it? -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Thu, August 14, 2008 - 6:17 PMIt's a pro product for ingrown hairs.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Fri, August 8, 2008 - 8:23 PMEeek! Hydroquinone has actually been taken out of alot of products because of the adverse reactions people have had....I can personally attest to this. The skin sees it as a carcinogen so over time it can actually cause the skin to have what's called a post-stress reaction...in other words can actually end up causing the skin to become quite sensitive and end up making the pigmentation darker......I can also attest to this unfortunately. Try to steer clear of this one. By the way all.....a vitamin C serum is fab as part of a lightening/brightening regime. -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Tue, August 12, 2008 - 1:48 AMThanks for the heads up, Leana!
As it happens I also use a Vitamn C cream and have for years. But i have forehead dark patches due to long term oral contraceptive use and the Vitamin C isn't strong enough.....I don't have many options, it seems. -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Thu, August 14, 2008 - 6:18 PMHave your tried getting microdermabrasion? A little plug for me.....since I know you live here in Seattle. I'm an Aesthetician and would love to take a look at it. If you're interested, just PM me and I'll send you the info.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Fri, August 8, 2008 - 9:58 PMI bought some tre' expensive (over $60.00) skin lightener from Sephora (it might have been La Praire or something similar) and it did nothing for my skin. The color of the product was a little bit like soy sauce and I was supposed to dab it on dark areas, which I did for two years and I saw no results what so ever. I think it was vitamin C serum or something. I think I pitched it because it was a waste of money and time.
Azeeza
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Mon, August 11, 2008 - 10:31 AMI see an aesthetician and this is what I buy from her. I use the two together- Visual Changes Skin Lightening Creme & Skin Lightening Serum. It's expensive, but it works. I saw a difference in days.
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Thu, August 14, 2008 - 12:44 PMI've purchased St. Ive's exfolliant with AHA and I'm using Palmer's skin lightener lotion with sunscreen.
My skin is much smoother after using the St. Ive's and I've noticed a little lightening with the Palmer's but I may need to get laser resurfacing to get the best results with the darker pigmented areas.
Stay tuned.
Azeeza -
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Re: Skin Lightener?
Thu, August 14, 2008 - 6:21 PMIs this the apricot scrub stuff?? If it is, I would stop using that immediately hun. It microabraids the skin and wreaks havoc and breaks the skin down over time. Also over time could end up causing those dark areas to become darker.
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