........PAUSE..........READ.....DIGEST.....JUST BEFORE YOU BUY THAT SKIN LIGHTENING CREAM

Hello Sweet Sweet!!

It is no longer news that lots of women today are just uncomfortable in their skin colour. With lots and lots of over exposure to celebrities and their air brushed images, the quest for a lighter and flawless skin has become and addiction for many.
     Skin lightening, fading, toning, bleaching or whatever is you decide to call it a process of changing the colour of the skin to something lighter or cleaner as some tend to call it. I will rather you embrace your skin colour and love yourself just the way you are. But if you really wish to lighten your colour, then here are few facts you should know before you purchase that bottle or tube.

• Skin lightening is not permanent or a one time application. It requires continuous use  
• Skin lightening creams work by reducing the melanin production in your skin
• Ensure you read the active ingredients and method of application
• Be sure how you will react to the ingredients before use. Its always advisable to do a patch test on a small area of your skin
• Seek professional advice or prescription
• Ensure you read the side effects stated on the product
• Its preferable to buy notable brands as these tend to experiment on their products before unleashing to the market.

Now  that you know what to do. Let's go over some of the ingredients used in these products

Hydroquinone: is a very strong ingredient and can cause hypopigmentation, which is a complete lack of colour in the skin. It can also make skin more sensitive and thinner, as well as causing inflammation which triggers other effects - including more pigmentation. It doesn’t give you that even colour. Some concerns about hydroquinone's safety on skin have been expressed, but the research when it comes to topical application indicates negative reactions are minor or a result of using extremely high concentrations. The risks easily outweigh the benefits.

Arbutin: This ingredient is actually a natural source of hydroquinone (derived from the leaves of bearberry, cranberry, mulberry or blueberry shrubs) but when used on it’s own is a much healthier alternative. There are three types of arbutin used in skin bleaching products: Alpha-arbutin, beta-arbutin, and deoxy-arbutin, with Alpha-arbutin being the most effective and stable agent. All three types however have the ability to inhibit melanin, and have been medically proven to be safe and effective agents for lightening skin. Pure forms of arbutin are considered more potent for affecting skin lightening.

Kojic acid: is a by-product in the fermentation process of malting rice for use in the manufacturing of Japanese rice wine. Some research shows kojic acid to be effective for inhibiting melanin production. However, kojic acid is an unstable ingredient in cosmetic formulations. Upon exposure to air or sunlight it can turn brown and lose its efficacy. However, some controversial research has suggested that kojic acid may have carcinogenic properties in large doses.  

Alpha hydroxy acids: are naturally-occurring ingredients found in different foods: citrus fruits, sugar cane, sour milk primarily in the form of lactic acid and glycolic acid. It is generally assumed that in and of themselves AHAs in concentrations of 4% to 15% are not effective for inhibiting melanin production and will not lighten skin discolorations in that manner. 
Alpha hydroxy acid peels (using 50% concentrations or greater) may remove skin discolorations. Only a qualified physician should perform these types of facial peels. 


Glutathione: is an antioxidant that plays an important role in preventing oxidative damage to the skin. Glutathione for skin whitening is available in cream, soap, lotion, nasal spray and injectable form. Glutathione that is applied on the skin in the form of lotion is not efficiently absorbed by the skin cells as the thiol group undergoes rapid formation of disulfide.

Mercury: Many skin whiteners contain toxic mercury such as mercury(II) chloride or ammoniated mercury as the active ingredient. However prolonged use of mercury can have the opposite results of skin whitening and even mercury poisoning. Some studies suggest that long-term use could cause systemic absorption that leads to tissue accumulation of the substance, mercury can cause skin rashes, discoloration, and scarring, and can reduce your skin’s ability to resist infection and also problems to the brain, nervous system, and kidneys.