6.2 how can I make my skin paler?
[Note: This is not intended to criticize people with dark skin in any way, nor is it meant to promote any form of racism. Pale skin is simply a common element of the typical goth look, thus this question is frequently asked on the newsgroup. The information provided here is not guaranteed to make skin significantly paler -- your mileage may vary.]
From: Trystan L. Bass
Several department store makeup brands have come out with skin whiteners, also called skin brighteners. According to an article in the March '98 Glamor magazine, the best ones for lightening freckles, sun spots, or splotchy skin contain hydroquinone and AHAs. Recommended brands are: Merle Norman Luxiva Fade Gel, Exuviance by NeoStrata Skin Essential Lightener Gel, Philosophy A Pigment of Your Imagination, and Jon Morgan MD Skin Life Spot-light Bleaching Gel. These products can actually inhibit pigment production, so the skin will become lighter as the new cells replace the old dark ones (according to a dermatologist quoted in the article). That's why you have to use them for at least a month before you'll see any results. Btw, they're all pretty pricey.
From: Christiane Knight
Here's what I do when I get an unexpected tan ( I have sallow skin and just look sick w/a tan, so I'm an expert at avoiding them!): baths with buttermilk, elderflower and fennel work wonders... I have good luck with herbal concoctions -- I used to sell them and had great response. Another good scrubby, to exfoliate and lighten, is an almond meal/oatmeal paste. I use this WITH the bath and can usually lighten a tan pretty quickly. Lemon juice does work well, but I advise combining it with rosewater to ease the drying side effects. On your face, a good alpha-hydroxy lotion can do wonders, too. I like L'Oreal's Plenitude.
From: Merlina
Decleor Gel Prolagene. Expensive -- but fades all kinds of scarring. Works best/quickest on new scars -- apply 2/3 times a day (tube will last *ages* if just using it on your face). It will work within 9 weeks -- easily!
From: Gillian
i have this fade cream by Skinicles, and it has had the delightful effect of fading my freckles :-) it doesn't get rid of scaring (a pure vitamin E gel i'd recommend for that, the one by Simply Beautiful Cosmetics sold by professional suppliers does a great job well on little-ish scars anyway), but it does reduce darkness and redness. my mum got me mine from a beauty therapist she knows, so maybe somewhere that supplies the pro's would have it.
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