I have been using Bio Clair for a couple of months now (again) on my face and it's lightening quite well. I'm trying to lighten my arms and hands next, and then my legs. When I had used BC on my arms twice before it made them a very bright red and then they turned very dark burnt looking each time. But, I'm trying again because I'm on a tight budget. Last year I used Makari night cream on my arms 2x a day and it lightened really well, like 3-4 shades lighter. But it was getting too costly so I stopped and now they are back to it's original color, about Toni Braxton's complextion

What else can I use to lighten my arms and that it's also affordable?

... so no one up here has been able to lighten their arms or legs at all... not even a little?

I'm looking for something cheaper than Makari but will actually lighten me 3-4 shades?

If its only your arms babes...

Try using lemon on your skin everyday , drink milk everyday... lemon used to have good effects on me when I was younger..

As a lighter skinned asian my problem areas then were only my elbows , even my knees are an even colour with my body... it used to help my elbows...

But now after all the abuse and use of all these lightening products I'm certainly not even close to the natural light colour I was at 14 or 18

I'm 24 now !

Thanks, but I may need to use something stronger included because my complexion now is medium brown, similar to Toni Braxton. So, it's more than just the tan, I want to lighten to about Beyonce's color so that would be like 4 shades I think. I was able to lighten my arms before quite light with the Makari Night cream but it was too expensive to keep it up so I had to stop. And now my arms are dark again, but not as dark as 2 years ago.

I have yellowish fair asian skin, here in the Philippines, the sunlight is always strong esp from 10am to 4pm and it tanned my exposed arms.. I am trying to even it out with c.y. gabriel soap and an spf10 lotion to prevent further darkening..

jelo, how is the C.Y. gabriel soap and lotion coming along, has it lighten your arms any? I never heard of that brand before? What do you know oabout the L-glutathione injections and skin lightening surgeries in the Philippines? Are they authentic and give real results?

For me I just been using the black soap for about week because I ran out of the diana stalder papaya soap and l-glutathione soap. I'm still using the bio claire cream but haven't seen results on my arms yet. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Hi.. I've been using C.Y. Gabriel bleaching soaps for about 2months now(it's really cheap and popular here in the philippines) and I've tried different variants.. like special, papaya and glutathione.. I still haven't tried using just one variant continuously but lots of people tell me that my skin looks lighter than before.. I've tried block and white soaps and lotions but it was just a waste of money and time.. I didn't see any results and I've used it for about a year.. but now I've only been using c.y. gabriel soaps and skinwhite spf 10 lotion for about 2months and people around me noticed results..

As for glutathione injections, I don't know anything about such.. I don't like to try it because it's really costly and maintaining it might kill my budget.. lol.. well there is an actress here named Claudine Barreto who had really dark skin before and now she has a really WHITE SKIN! Even whiter than most actresses with natural white skin.. I don't know how she did it.. maybe she took some pills or something

oh and u might have heard some stories about people who used lightening soaps, creams, etc. who ended up being darker than before.. here's a tip that might be helpful..

when u plan on using whitening soaps, always apply a lotion with spf 15 or higher after bathing.. because skin lightening soaps micropeel our skin and thus exposing our new sensitive layer of skin.. exposure to the sun without protection will make u darker than before so better use spf lotions.. =)

Yeah, best to always use a good sunblock/sun screen when lightening, sometimes I forget to put it on my arms before I go out. I'll have to eventually check out the site C.Y. Gabriel bleaching soaps. Is hydroquenone in it? I try not to use hydroquenone. You think Claudine Barreto uses lightening pills like the l-glutathione pills, do they work? I haven't found any success reviews from people who tried them except those from the websites.

I found an article/blog that said Claudine Barreto is endorsing the Belo Essentials Whitening Creams, but I wonder what she was really using to lighten. In the blogit also stated that she used to get lightening treatments, I wonder what kind?
The Belo Medical Group Blog Blog Archive Claudine Barretto Endorses Belo Essentials Whitening Creams (http://blogs.belomed.com/belo-essentials-whitening-creams-take-care-of-claudine/)
The Belo Medical Group Blog Blog Archive Belo launches Cebu clinic (http://blogs.belomed.com/belo-launches-cebu-clinic/)

What is "ganda ng kutis nya, syemore kasama na siguro pati mga external regimen nya kay belo", I read this on the site that said that she may have used this to lighten? I also read that she and other famous filipino stars had treatments doen from Dr. Vicki Belo, Do you knoe who she is?

I don't know if hydroquenone is an ingridient of cy gabriel but I think it's not.. I'm also trying to avoid that ingridient.. =)

yeah belo medical group is very popular in the philippines.. big stars go to belo for treatments etc.. But I think claudine has already turned white even before she went to belo.. maybe she did take gluta pills..

''ganda ng kutis nya, syempre kasama na siguro pati mga external regimen nya kay belo"

this means "her skin is so beautiful, maybe her external regimen with belo helps. Too"

Thanks a lot for the translation. It seems like in the Philippines and throughout Asia they have dermatologists that will assist in lightening the whole body. Here in the U.S. at least in my State, I had contacted so many dermatologists in my area and they all said they only treat blemish and scars but offer no treatments for lightening the whole body and face.

really? No skin lightening whatsoever? Here it's completely the opposite.. because. The fad here is skin lightening while over there I think it's tanning.. well if there are no treatments available there for lightening your skin then maybe u should really try taking glutathione pills.. but choose well and avoid cheap fake ones that might destroy your skin instead of making it healthy and light.. anyway, glutathione is really healthy for your body too, just be patient because I heard these pills work but will take months to see results.. good luck! =)

Yeah, I'm sure here in the U.S. there's some good stuff that can really lighten the skin because a lot of, but not all, famous black american women lighten there skin and I just wonder what they are using :confused:
But, your right a lot of focus here is on tanning which is fine... just not my goal. Oh well..
What brands are the l-glutathione pills? I read that the regular l-glutathione pills from the store worked just as good and that you have to take a lot of vitamin C along with it. But, every time I read there are no results posted, just what they are taking and that's it.

I've read that no can really say they help...

I heard they soften your skin but that's it. No lightening.

Thanks Mepk5, yeah I tried researching it before and I keep reading that it can't lighten the skin when taken orally.. only injected. I did have the l-glutathione soap before, but I don't know if it was the l-glutathione soap or other ingredients.

I read her book I don't believe a word she said.

Whose book?

WOW I believe the word that I am looking for here is SICK! Love the skin you are in. Whitening your skin is not going to do anything besides make you look as dumb as you are!

I believe the word you should have found is JUDGMENTAL!
Why assume someone doesn't love their skin because they choose to lighten it?

How do you feel about people who tan to darken their skin?
Do you think their dumb?
Why make such a harsh statement towards persons who lighten?
Whether someone whitens (depigmentation) or lightens their skin is their prerogative.

Another drive-by poster:rolleyes:
(Quit bumping old threads! )

@ 4thearts, get lost

Yeah get lost. Skin lightening doesn't mean you don't like the skin your in. In my case I just want my skin tone to be even. I don't like my light tan lines on my arms.

yeah get lost. skin lightening doesnt mean u dnt like the skin ur in. In my case i just want my skin tone to be even. I dont like my light tan lines on my arms.

Lol...

Jelo, what is your regimen to lighten?

Hi GOLDENGIRL, does Makari Night Cream smell good? Does it smell real feminine? What soap do you use the Makari Night Cream with? Also I can't believe your using Bioclaire. I thought you were safety-cautious and that Bioclaire contains steroids. Does Makari Night Cream contain steroids, mercury or the other harmfuls, and do you know the active ingredient in Makari Night Cream that makes it work good? Thanks

The original posting date was Jul 6, 2009, I think she has stopped using the product since then.

Golden girl stopped using Bioclaire months ago just as many of us.I think she's the most safety-cautious of us.thanks.

Thanks, thanks you 4 responding. GOLDENGIRL, do u think Makari Night Cream is safe to use and does it smell good?

thanx, thanx yall 4 responding. GOLDENGIRL, do u think Makari Night Cream is safe to use and does it smell good?

Hey Darcskin, Makari night cream's active ingredients are arbutin/bearberry, mulberry, licorice, and retinyl (syntheic vit. A), and a little vit. C. And is free of steroids and mercury, and is an hq-free product in case you do not like using hq. Personally overall I liked using it and yes it has a pleasnt smell and is feminine, but not an overpowering scent. For many though it gave them acne breakouts and my guess is because it contains hydrogenated oils and is an oily product, and contains silicones which does not penetrate through the pores and isn't absorbed but instead sits on the surface of the skin which can clog pores and also cause acne. I think if they cut down on the amounts used or somehow replace with other ingredients, it may cause less breakouts? The caviar crème has caused many bad acne as well. I have used the day crème as well and all 3 worked well for me and wouldn't mind using it again.. I did recently get the lightening serum because they were running a good sell for it, but I will wait until much later to use it as I'm using other things at the moment. It would be a personal choice that you comfortable to make and if OK if it happens to cause you acne. It's been a long time since I used makari though because I grew tiered of their high prices and lightening my whole body and looked for something instead more economical so that I could by in larger quantities. They do offer samples I think for around $2.

With it I used Diana Stalder papaya kojic acid soap which really exfoliated well. I haven't used Bio Claire in a long time now after reading and being informed of why it was causing my skin bad reactions was because of steroids, and not what I had assumed of me having an allergic reaction or sensitive skin. So I trashed it. Lol, I never thought of myself being that safety-cautious but thanks Misty Jane. I guess I didn't want my skin to become permanently damaged, ruined, and aged within the nexte 3 years for only moments of fairness.

Thanks GG for responding. I've had some bad experiences with skin lightening products and believe me you some of this products could easily mess someone up, its good to play safe. Back to GG: U say Makari contains "synthetic retin A", what is the difference between the synthetic retin A and the Retin A your currently using?

hi I'm back lol.. =) I've stopped the CY gabriel a few months ago and tried skinwhite.. it's a famous skin lightening brand in the Philippines. It comes in soap and lotion with many variants. I just bathe with the soap regularly and use the lotion at least once a day. That's all. And I'm happy to say that I don't get any darker when I walk under the sun.. Just last Jan 2, we went swimming and I got a bit darker. I just continued using the soap and lotion and in just 3 days I got my light skin back.. =) the variant I use is "powerwhitening" SkinWhite » Splash Corporation (http://www.splash.com.ph/b-skinwhite.php) =)

thanks GG for responding. ive had some bad experiences with skin lightening products and believe me yall some of this products could easily mess someone up, its good to play safe. back to GG: U say Makari contains "synthetic retin A", wat is the difference between the synthetic retin A and the Retin A ure currently using?

I had written a detailed answer for this, then I lost internet connection and didn't save. I'll try to explain it, not synthetic retin A but a form of "synthetic vitamin A". There are several different forms of vitamin A (both natural and synthetic forms) and are grouped together called Retinoids. Tazarotene is one of the most strongest forms and is synthetic.

And Retin-A is only a name brand for vitamin A acid also known as tretinoin (this one of the stronger forms of vitamin A).
Then you have forms lower in strength but still strong such as retinol and then retinal and are common in skin care products. These have similar benefits as tretinoin but lower strength so it is a bit more gentle than tretinoin.

And you also have synthetic forms such as the esters of vitamin A like retinyl palmitate and retinyl propionate used in skin care products. Which have a less strength and good for those with sensitive skin and unable to handle the stronger strengths such as tretnoin or retinol.

This in very general information on retinoids, as there are several forms with different strengths.


Types of Retinoids (http://skinacea.com/retinoids/types_of.htm)

Retinoids – A Potent Skin Care Ingredient - UnArchived Articles (http://articles.webraydian.com/article22256-Retinoids___A_Potent_Skin_Care_Ingredient.html)