Lighten my skin

[Nuzzolese]

I used to like to get some sun, use self-tanner, and I wished for a deeper glow. But now I'm sick of it and I don't like my skin the way it is. I want my freckles to disappear and I hate how my cheeks and the bridge of my nose are slightly darker than the rest of my face. I want to lighten my skin all over, not just my face but also my arms, shoulders, chest, back.

I've heard that you can lighten freckles by rubbing a lemon on them. But does this really work?

There are skin lightening creams but they don't bleach your skin so much as inhibit melanin production. So you're supposed to wear them, and wear sunscreen, and eventually your skin will lighten over time.

I started using one of these creams on June 9th but I haven't seen anything change yet.

I'm having trouble with sunscreen. I thought the application of it was simple, you just put it on in the morning and go.

But upon further research I learned that you're supposed to apply it to clean skin only (apparently it doesn't work over makeup or other lotion, and then I also read that you're not supposed to put makeup over it either, which doesn't make sense to me) at least 15 but possibly up to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure, or else it won't work. And then you're supposed to reapply it after two hours. My concern is, do I reapply it two hours after I put it on, or two hours after I've been in the sun? And do I apply it 15-30 minutes before that second hour arrives, or right on the second hour? And does the SPF level affect this timing? What if I'm sitting inside and I'm not in the sun for that whole time?

What's your take on all this?

[camo]

Nothing. Well nothing until you post a pic in sureshots :p

[b i o n i c]

be black and proud

[TurdBerglar]

road rash

after that shit heals your skins is PINK. pink like bubble gum. just rub your face all over some street.

[Bob]

just wear a big sun hat

[ms.peachy]

Come to China. Every personal products-type store is filled with shelves of jars and tubes and packets that promise "whitening".

[hpdrifter]

Scarlett O'Hara used buttermilk.

I have freckles now, too, on my cheeks right under my eyes but I actually like them. I noticed them last summer and they make me feel sort of like a new person. Like I'm from southern california or something. I am thinking about building a whole look around my new freckles.

[Bob]

buy a shitload of crest whitening strips and apply them to your skin. it's kind of like a brazilian wax only grosser, and everywhere

[Echewta]

I don't understand why girls don't like their freckles. They are wicked hot.

[TAL]

Call Michael Jackson.

[MC Moot]

I think freckles are often super sexy...freckled breast,nape of neck,cheeks..mmmmmmmm...(y)

[destructo]

Call Michael Jackson.

Damn, you beat me to it.

[nodanaonlyzuul]

My concern is, do I reapply it two hours after I put it on, or two hours after I've been in the sun?


after you put it on.

And do I apply it 15-30 minutes before that second hour arrives, or right on the second hour?

I don't think it's set in stone as much as you seem to think it is. I would say right on the second hour, but if you are a bit late, no big deal.

And does the SPF level affect this timing?

No.

What if I'm sitting inside and I'm not in the sun for that whole time

Doesn't matter.

[nodanaonlyzuul]

also putting on the sunblock before the makeup is important. It's best to find one that acts as both a moisturizer AND has at least a 15 SPF. Two birds, one stone, etc. The makeup goes on smoother too because you put it on first.

[Nuzzolese]

I wonder if I could buy some of that chinese stuff. I've heard that there are dangerous products in developing countries in Africa and South America that have ingredients that are illegal in the United States. I don't know what they are or why they're illegal. My lotion has 2% hydroquinone. Apparently in higher levels it causes Leukemia in lab rats. But, lab rats are already white usually, I don't know why they use this stuff.

[Nuzzolese]

just wear a big sun hat

I don't want to look stupid though, do you think I would?

[Nuzzolese]

Come to China. Every personal products-type store is filled with shelves of jars and tubes and packets that promise "whitening".

Fascinating. I only found one product on the bottom shelf of the drug store. It was located near the hair removal products, and the hair bleaching powders.

[checkyourprez]

who wants to get lighter?


a Mediterranean tan is where its at.

[Bob]

I don't want to look stupid though, do you think I would?

oh of course, everyone does, but if the hat's big enough nobody will know it's you. you can get a veil too if you'd like

[Freebasser]

Ironic that Michael Jackson possibly died the same day as this thread was made.

[b-grrrlie]

Call Michael Jackson.
Too late now.

[Echewta]

Nuzz, you can probably hit up the estate sale soon. Probably can get some of KOP stuff cheap.

[KingOfPop]

Call Michael Jackson.

Yeah, I can give you the # of a good doc.

[hitmonlee]

getting lighter skin = stay the fuck out of the sun

it's really the only way.

as for sunscreen, well i wear it over/under makeup all the time and don't have a burnt face... although if im in the sun i try and wear a hat/sunnies as well.

i usually use a moisturiser with spf 30+ in it, then put on makeup. if its a really sunny day i will put a light layer of sunscreen over that.

i reapply way more than every two hours if im in direct sun. find out what the UV index is for the day... keep that in mind.

[Randetica]

i had no sunburn so far this year

[Yetra Flam]

i dont like having freckles either. i am completely pale otherwise, i couldnt get any whiter. i would like to know how to fade freckles.

[funk63]

DUDE freckles are the fucking sex. Why would you want to get rid of them???

[Yetra Flam]

they're on my arms and legs as well. they're caused by sun damage. sun damage isnt a good thing

[hitmonlee]

well you could go the nicole kidman route and do peel after peel until you have no freckles. or stay out of the sun for 7 years.

[Nuzzolese]

i dont like having freckles either. i am completely pale otherwise, i couldnt get any whiter. i would like to know how to fade freckles.

I started rubbing a half a lemon on them every night. It burns when it gets into my eyes but I think it's working. It dries out my skin something fierce, which is actually okay because all the sunscreen I'd been using was starting to make it oily.

Also, I found a lotion called Amlactin, which is 12% lactic acid. Apparently that's a high percentage, almost prescription strength, but it was over the counter. It's not for your face. It smells funny, like chemicals. I wouldn't advise getting it into any open wounds.

A high dosage of alpha hydroxy acid is supposed to dissolve your outer layers of skin and speed up exfoliation, which is supposed to make your freckles fade faster. This is another product that encourages sunblock because it makes your skin more prone to burning.

So, so far my attempts include hydroquinone, lemon juice, lactic acid...and lots of sunblock.

crossing my fingers!

[Yun]

is all of that hard to apply with your fingers crossed, or are they crossed and holding some kind of spongey cloth?

also have you ever looked at yourself under a blacklight(which is not at all like blackface)?

good luck with your freckly dark skin removal!

[Echewta]

this is crazy. Accept your skin. You have a boyfriend for outloud crying.

[Nuzzolese]

I just thought I'd update this in case anyone was interested in whether or not this stuff works. I've been using a hydroquinone lotion called Palmer's Skin Success and it's awesome. It comes in a little tub for about six dollars and I would recommend it. It lightened my skin ever so slightly but it definitely evened it out and made it look good. I don't even wear makeup anymore, except some eye makeup sometimes. I just use this in the morning and at night and wear sublock all day. It's magical.