And what are you using to achieve this?

Hi, Golden_Girl!

I voted to "none, my goal is to maintain".

So, what would constitute a "shade", please?

Thanks!

Probably not a popular answer but honestly none.

I'd like to just be one or two(at most) colors all over after correcting my melasma and sun damage. My situation at the start of this:

*chocolate head, outer arms(esp forearms), tops of feet

*caramel chest, back, ears, underside of arms

*yellow legs, stomach and breasts

*coffee bean elbows, knees

This is my second time trying to get even through sun protection, peels/exfoliants, & lighteners (I quit the spa treatments because I did not like how light I was starting to look... another topic entirely).

My old "method" to look eventoned was with tanning and makeup. I'm a lot older so I guess I'm okay with however much lighter I end up looking this time.. . Depends on the day.

If I could choose from a clickable palette (a la Sims, SecondLife, Meez) I'd be chocolate-colored all over. Since I can't, I'm okay if I can figure out how to maintain an even caramel. (no one has to see my boobs, legs, or especially my stomach.. yikes). Frankly, I die a little (& not in a Rachel Zoe-type way) at the thought of ending up yellow all over. No offense to anyone, & I'm working on that attitude.

It's totally fine on other people but it's still sort of a hang up for me.

The other post like this was by accident only. I was trying to add the poll along with the thread and did it wrong.

I'm not precisely good at determining shades, so I go by the charts that were posted here and also foundation shades.

26300
And
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/skin-lightening/made-complexion-chart-african-americans-390253.html

My goal is 1 to 2 shades at the most, if I can help it. Right now I am lighter than I would like in certain areas of my face, wheres as other parts are trying to catch up and seeing a patch of skin that light actually scares me. I think I would feel so self conscious if I dare venture out of the brown range.

I have already lighten a lot!! I have been doing a total body bleaching(head to toe) for 2 years now using various products, some good some bad and I still want to lighten some more... I went from a gabriel union color to everybody thinking I am dominican, half white, even hawaiian, which is funny to me. I would say I am about alicia keyes colour now and it took lots of trial and error and determination and patience and lots of consistency no scars on my body, but a few holes in my face the thing is you always of to keep maintaining, this lightening journey is not for you if you don't really want it, it is not for everyone.. you of to use your products yuh caaant slack off, nuh waste yuh money.. if yuh naw stick with it

Stay White what products did you use to lighten your body so much? And how many times a week do you have to maintain?

I have used movate, hot movate ,civic, fair and white blue and that's just naming a few

OK. Then possibly it was the movate, hot movate, civic, and any other steroid based products that were harsh on the skin and gave bad side effect?

I have used natural ingredients like licorice extract, arbutin, kojic acid, vitamin c,etc. my thing is I use anything that is not natural for say a month get some colour then I use natural stuff. Most people who got messed up with the strong creams used them non stop , I rotate.. for example ill mix hot movate with neprosone gel for two weeks then I use something with natural ingredients for a month maybe six weeks and then iuse a strong cream for two weeks and then natural products again for another six weeks for example body white lotion which has licorice extract, that is a very strong natural lotion it is the only gel lotion, weirdd ahhh you should be able to kind know your skin and ALWAYS MOISTURIZE, ALWAYS MOISTURIZE DAILY, YOU PUT BACK NUTRIENTS IN YOUR SKIN THAT YOU TAKE OUT.. THATS WHY I NEVER GET CRACKS, BUSTS, STRETCH MARK OR EVEN RASHES... I USE LOTS OF VITAMIN E TO MOISTURIZE AND CHEAP GLYCERINE WHICH I THROW IN MY VIT E LOTION

Movate and hot movate. I get nightmares just thinking about it.

i have used natural ingredients like licorice extract, arbutin, kojic acid, vitamin c,etc. my thing is i use anything that is not natural for say a month get some colour then i use natural stuff. most people who got messed up with the strong creams used them non stop , i rotate.. for example ill mix hot movate with neprosone gel for two weeks then i use something with natural ingredients for a month maybe six weeks and then iuse a strong cream for two weeks and then natural products again for another six weeks for example body white lotion which has licorice extract, that is a very strong natural lotion it is the only gel lotion, weirdd ahhh you should be able to kind know your skin and ALWAYS MOISTURIZE, ALWAYS MOISTURIZE DAILY, YOU PUT BACK NUTRIENTS IN YOUR SKIN THAT YOU TAKE OUT..THATS WHY I NEVER GET CRACKS, BUSTS, STRETCH MARK OR EVEN RASHES...I USE LOTS OF VITAMIN E TO MOISTURIZE AND CHEAP GLYCERINE WHICH I THROW IN MY VIT E LOTION

I have gotten god results with hot movate and neoprosone 2. I haven't gotten any bad side effects but I'm scared.. Wut brand of vitamin e lotion can I use?

I think I've already reached my goal but now I want to get lighter lol... I started bleaching in January and went from a keely rowland/gabrielle union color to a sanna lathan color in like 4 months... face about a beyonce color.. I was toooo fair... accidentally put hot movate on my face and then got huge acne bumps.. got fed up and stopped lightening during the summer. Darkened back like 4 shades.. I have now lightened 3 shades in one week so my face is like a sanna lathan color and my neck and chest a beyonce color and my body like 2 shades darker. Right now just trying to get my body to catch up then I guess I'll decide what to do next. So prob 3 shades more I think

Um sagluva. What is it that you are using that has lightening you 3 shades in one week? Tell us lol

Um sagluva. What is it that you are using that has lightening you 3 shades in one week? tell us lol

I use the fair and white exclusive gel and serum mixed with a little bit of vitmin e, vitamin c and alpha hydroxy cream and some hq 4% and retin a 0.1% three times a day lol.. I know.. a lot of products.. I mix it in my palm every time before use. I literally did not go out for a whole week last week except to class and rushed back to my dorm. My face was peeling and lightening like crazy it was unbelievable. Because I used retina 3 times a day, my face peeled a lot and fast so now I'm pretty much done peeling except for the chin area. Have a few breakouts because of the retin a so I'm hoping using black soap will help with that.

Oh. You are a brave one. Using retin a while classes are still going on. I only do it on vacations/breaks. Everyone would love to see a flaw in me. Did anyone notice anything? People ask you anything? What about your friends? (what's your race by the way?) and those serums seem to be good. I'm going to try the 55H+ one on my body over TG break. Omg. Retin a 3 times a day. My goodnesssssss!

Oh. You are a brave one. Using retin a while classes are still going on. I only do it on vacations/breaks. Everyone would love to see a flaw in me. Did anyone notice anything? People ask you anything? What about your friends? (what's your race by the way?) and those serums seem to be good. I'm gonna try the 55H+ one on my body over TG break. Omg. Retin a 3 times a day. My goodnesssssss!

LOL. I figured if I use the retin a like 3 times a day, my face will peel really fast and then by the next week, I will be done with most of my peeling rather than do it once a day and peel for two weeks. A lot of people noticed. My friends kept asking me what I did to my face.. I just said I went to the spa and got a chemical peel and my face has beenn peeling tnats why it looks a lot lighter lol.. Same thing I told my boyfriend and he kept asking to see my face close up.. got so embarrassed because since I've lightened so much, my acne scars are more visible even though they have gotten lighter. My boyfreind is very superficial, he kept telling me on Saturday how I look more beautiful and he's not sure why lol. Prob because I'm lighter.. my mom told me to stop. She doesn't like the fact I lighten. Said my face looks too fake lol. I am black. My original skin tone was about grabrielle unions. Serums are really good but you must mix it with a cream or gel to get the best results. Either a gel by 55h or maybe a vitamin c serum gel.

Sagluva you have a good regimen there, the fair & white exclusive gel and serum, vitamin e, vitamin c, alpha hydroxy cream, hq 4%, retin a 0.1%. So have you stopped the movate and neoprosone products since you have a better regimen now and are you now going to maintain or go up lighter?

Sagluva you have a good regimen there, the fair & white exclusive gel and serum, vitamin e, vitamin c, alpha hydroxy cream, hq 4%, retin a 0.1%. So have you stopped the movate and neoprosone products since you have a better regimen now and are you now going to maintain or go up lighter?

I never used movate and neorospone on my face.Just body. Tried movate once to help lighten my forehead and I broke out bad. I stopped fast.LOL. I am trying to mainly even out my skin now and get to the point where I have to use less products to maintain. I still have a lot of hyperpigmentation so I am going to keepp up my regimen daily to try and clear it all. I think I am addicted. The more attention and compliments I get from people, the more I want to keep lightning. My neck and chest are very fair 2. just trying to get my hands and body to catch up fast. How is your regimen going so far?

It's going well, looks like I'm at about 2 shades lighter on my face. But the rest of me hasn't ketched up either. So, right now I'm using the hq once everyother night and retin-a nightly. I cut back on the likas soap on my face too and just using it on my body, I think the likas/retina combo was making my skin way too sensitive to the point I had to use an ice pack on my face last night and my face was so red. I know I must be getting lighter too quickly because my family are staring at me now as though I'm a martian. I rather it be a bit more gradual now so they can adjust and also for my hands and arms to hopefully ketch up. I'm glad that some of my acne spots have lightened considerably and the patchiness is lessoning.

Hello every body I'm the new guy here and I got a question I was wondering how long would it take to get to my desired skin tone.. I got a pic of my leg that I'm going to show. Also if you're wondering Im a black guy.

1st pic is my leg 2nd pic is what I want to look like

Welcome Jganer. So you want to lighten a shade or two and is it just the face you want to lighten or the whole body? You should be able to achieve this quite quickly. There are a variety of things you can use to reach your shade. Here are a few things you'll need to help achieve your goal:

Effective skin lightener
Exfoliator
Quality sunblock spf 60 or higher

Welcome Jganer. So you want to lighten a shade or two and is it just the face you want to lighten or the whole body? You should be able to achieve this quite quickly. Their are a variety of things you can use to reach your shade. Here are a few things you'll need to help achieve your goal:

effective skin lightener
exfoliator
quality sunblock spf 60 or higher

I want to do my whole body:D

Right not I'm just working on my face, neck, ears, arms, and hands. Other than that, I'm unsure what will lighten the whole body and is still cost effective, as well as safe. For me it seems like the lighteners that can lighten the body as well are crazy expensive. And I'm unsure about lightening the whole body with hq... not sure how safe that is. So, on that part I'm pretty stuck.

Right now I'd say I'm around Fefe Dobson's tone
http://assets.mog.com/pictures/wikipedia/740039/Fefe28.jpg

I'd like to be Zoe Kravitz's tone, maybe a shade darker 'cause sometimes she looks like a ghost :)

http://adornedmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/56749549koonar_s53200984950pm.jpg

So... how many shades is that? Lol

Cafeaulait: My guess is 2 shades from loking at the photos. Though, I may be incorrect.

From looking at the polls so far, seems like the typical goal is to lighten 2-4 shades or just to maintain previous results...
I should have added hyperpigmentation/melasma up their too.

Myself, I have to be honest, I like change and I like drastic change, but for me it's like a fad, I really want at least once to see what it would be like to be super light... Like I want to say according to this chart...

http://www.fxsupply.com/kryolan_catalog/images_charts/chart10.jpg

I am at darkest in my life, RDS2 (permatan) and am currently, my natural 7W no tan, and want to be MED OLIVE, or OB1.. or even OLIVE. Even for just a while to give it a test run and see what all the light skin hype is about,. LOL But I think too many people would notice if they saw me... so I'm planning on going abroad for study for a while anywyas... so I will try it over seas... lol.. no one knows me so it's cool...

Or scratch that... Those shade are a bit too cool... I'm more like 4W or 5W want to be F1... or even TAN1

http://www.fxsupply.com/kryolan_catalog/images_charts/chart18.jpg?PHPSESSID=182fef822de86d1e176d0db5c545 f2c8

I guess that would be super noticeable though... heck... that's still techinically not "Fair" necessarily.. I 'm curious to know what it would be like to actually be a fair girl... but I guess never in this life I couldn't bear the consequences, or people's reactions no one would truly understand. It shouldn't matter if they do or not but still I can't say it wouldn't bother me... I think for me it's just curiosity... but I hate the stigma... I'd also like to see what it would be like to be tall, or I think I'd be super unique with eyes the color of the vampires in twilight...

Lol... but people wouldn't say I was a vampire want to be and hated being human I know they are creepy but still they are super cool... I'm not going to get them though.. LOL... but want to lighten and geez... everyone's on your back...

Thanks for the cool-looking charts. Med. Olive is nice, even the deep olive is nice too.

In the first chart I would like to reach EIO, LO, or OB1. And in the second I would say the Ivory1. My guess would be my original shade is a 6w/RDS4.

Just curious, are there really foundation shades that come in YH, white, EF23, and EF25? They seem like they would look odd on people.

Yeah those are nice...

If I did reach and maintain those shades I can hear it now the people I know questioning what I did and why, trying to make me revert.. lol

Hey, what is this alpha hydroxy cream, what does it do? Help to lighten? Thanks :)

hey, what is this alpha hydroxy cream, what does it do? help to lighten? thanks :)

I think it is to help exfoliate, but I'm not 100% sure

I think i've already reached my goal but now i want to get lighter lol... i started bleaching in january and went from a keely rowland/gabrielle union color to a sanna lathan color in like 4 months... face about a beyonce color.. i was toooo fair... accidentally put hot movate on my face and then got huge acne bumps.. got fed up and stopped lightening during the summer. darkened back like 4 shades.. i have now lightened 3 shades in one week so my face is like a sanna lathan color and my neck and chest a beyonce color and my body like 2 shades darker. right now just trying to get my body to catch up then i guess i'll decide wut to do next. so prob 3 shades more i think

... could you give me your exact regimen, what the exact product was called, how often you used, when you alternated them, the cost of the product.. etc.. I just need specifics please. And I need to know how safe, and if it works on face. My skin isn't too sensitive only when the ingredient is too harsh. You can click on the link, it'll explain most everything
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/skin-lightening/what-most-effective-safe-skin-lightening-routine-product-face-449426.html

I am sooo discolored its not even funny. My arms and feet are like Alec Wek color. My face like Gabriella Union color and my body is like a bit darker beyonce and my boobs are completely different like light Rihanna and my nipples are like a redish pinkish color lol. IDK what color I should be I am starting with my arms legs, face and neck see where it goes from there I guess