Hey Chocobrownie,
I will do my best in answering your questions. Yes, there are other natural skin lighteners that are much safer on the skinthat are steroid and hydroquenone free. Such as mulberry root extract, bearberry extract, licorice extract, alpha arbutin, kojic acid (Ive' read mixed reviews from it stating that it's carcenogic but I still use it asit works well w/ others), among others that I'm still searching for...all of these works best with a good vitamin C and E (the d-tocopheral kind) that helps with the lightening process. I read that sepiwhite aka skinwhite are really good ingredients to lighten the skin in a non-harsh way but I don't know if it is a natural ingredient but definately something I would like to try.
Punk Chic had written a good thread on these ingredients:
(...I'm still searching for the post..)
I have used Papaya kojic soap to help lighten and remove dead skin cells (diana stalder soap), people up here have also stated having success using Likas papaya soap. Another brand with good reviews is Swiss L-Glutathione soap, I havent tried it yet but have used the diana stalder l-gluathione brand. It was ok, but not worth buying a second time because I don't think it worked much. When lightening it's best to use an exfoliator like St. Ives Apricot scrub and to always use a god sun block, I use the Neutrogena spf 85, 70, and the 55..I have all 3 and they all work well. I heard theres even an spf 100 now I think.
Finding a good affordable creme is still my search. I am using the bio claire creme at night to maintain. I am aware of the mixed reviews about it and I agree, but I'm finishing up the jar I have and hope to find a more ideal cheap product by the end of this month. I don'tknow much about fair and lovely or the multifairness creme I never tried it before, so I'll have to do more research on those. The only other creme (which uses natural active ingredients) that worked well in lightening was the Makari night cream, but many ppl's skin have broken out from using it, so it depends on the individual. It's quite expensive when buying on the regular and trying to lighten the body as well.
Naturual bleaching agents like lemons, to me anyways, only works well with people with naturally fair skin and had a sun burn they want to get rid of. I tried it last year for 2 months and all it did was eventually burn my skin because it's acidic. Won't do much for naturally brown skin. The L-glutathione pills supposed to lighten the skin naturally from the inside out when taken in high doses and with lots of vitamin C, but the digestive system absorbs most of it so it does little if any to lighten the skin. The only positive review I have read about successful skin lightening with these pills are from the companies and affiliates who sell them. There are many ppl who use them but without success..even 6 months later no success except for "softer skin". L-glutathione mainly works best when you have a prescription from the doctor who gives patients injections. AHA is good too by removing dead skin cells and help with the lightening process such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, citric acid, etc..you can find these in over the counter products as well.
There is a board up here that advocates using natural skin lighteners only:
http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/skin-li...nt-343086.html
As for myself, I have been searching the best of both worlds (natural and other) that will help me to reach my goals and hopefully maintain.
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