Hello everybody. How are you guys?

I'm in a urgent need of your help, advice, and product recommendations but before I do so, here's a small backround so you know my situtation. I did all my research already but I want to know what's your product recommendation for my specific situtation? Keep in mind, that I definitely agree with a lot of people that you should be proud of your skin color and who you are. I am. I'm naturally light but I have thee Worst farmer's tan ever. My skin is naturally white/light, but my arms/face/neck are dark brown. I even have a very noticeable watch tan! Yeah, it's really bad. One day, I looked in the mirror and I thought to myself.. this is really bad. I didn't realize it till then. I'm actually embarrassed to go shirtless. I don't wear tanktops or sleeveless shirts anymore because of that reason alone :( One option was to tan the rest (3/4s) of my body to match my farmer's tan but I didn't want to do that. It's just a few parts that need to be lightened. I just want to be one solid color, you know? Heh, as funny as that sounds.

Gender : 19 year old male (am I the only male here? Heh)
Natural Skin Color : White (light)
Skin Sensitivity - Very. I get dark very easy
Problem : REALLY bad farmer's tan. on the arms, neck, and face area. Especially the neck area. They're medium/dark brown
Reason : There are 3 main reasons

#1 - I work outside pushing carts so I'm out in the sun all day often. Sometimes its a 8 hour shift. 12pm-8pm, so I'm there from the start of the sun.. to the peak of the sun.. basically just when the sun really heats up, sadly

#2 - I play soccer twice a week (for class) for 2 hours. Thats another 4 hours of sun

#3 - I bodyboard/surf at the beach, but lately I've been holding off to go in the evenings. At around 5-6pm when the sun is still up, but not strong. Just light

Yeah, I'm forced to go out in the sun a lot. For mainly reasons 1 & 2, not 3 really.. since I've been going at a later time when the sunlight isn't so strong. I know, people would say "stay out of the sun as much as possible" but I can't :(. I mean, I like the outdoors and some light.. but I get way too much of it. People would recommend to wear hats, and I do whenever it's hot. I can wear a hat to work, but not for soccer. People say to wear longsleeves and I do, but sometimes it's nice to wear a short-sleeve you know? So you won't feel all stuffy and you'll feel the breeze. Since, I just recently realized how bad my farmer's tan is, I started putting Sunblock on! a LOT of it! SP50 always. Not 30, always 50+. It protects me more and I think it helps and prevents me from getting 10 shades darker... I'm just really bummed out :( There are things I want to wear but I can't... I want to go shirtless but I'm embarrassed. Hopefully you guys can recommend a product for a person that gets a lot of sun.

1. A skin lightener that changes medium/dark brown skin to light. Not too light, but just fair.
2. A product that helps againest the sun. Anything but sunblock. Is there a lotion out there that can prevent me from getting dark? Since im out in the sun a lot?

I did my research and I know which products to NOT to use. Products that have the chemicals.. mercury, hydroquinone, and steroid. I know we all want a safe product to use, nothing that damages our skin right? Below is a quote from the brightskin forum





PRODUCTS CONTAINING MERCURY, HYDROQUINONE AND STEROID ARE DANGEROUS. HERE'S A LIST OF PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN HARMFUL SUBSTANCES:


STEROID:
BETNOVATE
MEDIVEN
DIPROSONE
NERISONE
DERMOVATE
HYDROCORTISONE
0XY 5 AND 0XY 10




SKIN LIGHTENING CREAMS CONTAINING HYDROQUINONE
JARIBU CREAM
MEKAKO CREAM
AMIRA CREAM
TURA SKIN TONING CREAM
YESAKO MEDICATED BEAUTY CREAM
RICO COMPLEXION CREAM
MADONNA MEDICATED CREAM
MREMBO MEDICATED BEAUTY CREAM
SHIRLEY CREAM
KISS -MEDICATED BEAUTY CREAM
UNO21 CREAMPRINCESS PATRA LUXURY COMPLEXION CREAM
ZARINA MEDICATED SKIN LIGHTENER CREAM
ENVI SKIN TONER
VIVA SUPER LEMON
AMBI SPECIAL COMPLEXION CREAM
LOLANE CREAM
NADINOLA CREAM
GLOTONE COMPLEXION CREAM
NINDOLA CREAM
CLAIRE Crème
MIC SKIN LIGHTENER CREAM
TONIGHT NIGHT BEAUTY CREAM
FULANI Crème ECLAIRCISSANTE
CLERE LEMON CREAM
CLERE EXTRA CREAM
BINTI JAMBO CREAM
BUTONE CREAM
MALAIKA MEDICATED BEAUTY CREAM
DEAR HEART WITH HYDROQUINONE CREAM
MIKI BEAUTY CREAM
CRUSADER SKIN TONING CREAM
NISH MEDICATED CREAM
ISLAND BEAUTY SKIN FADE CREAM
MALIBU MEDICATED CREAM
PALMER'S SKIN SUCCESS FADE CREAM
CARE PLUS FAIRNESS CREAM
TOPICLEAR CREAM
CAREKAKO MEDICATED CREAM
BODY CLEAR CREAM
A3 SKIN LIGHTENING CREAM
AMBI AMERICAN FORMULA
DREAM SUCCESSFUL
SYMBA Crème SKIN LITE 'N' SMOOTH
Ikb MEDICATED CREAM
CLEARTONE SKIN TONING CREAM
CLEAR ESSENCE MEDICATED FADE CREAM
AMBI EXTRA COMPLEXION CREAM FOR MEN
CLEARTONE EXTRA SKIN TONING CREAM
O'NYIA SKIN CRÈME
A3 TRIPPLE ACTION CREAM PEARL LIGHT
ELEGANCE SKIN LIGHTENING CREAM
MR. CLERE CREAM
FAIRLADY SKIN LIGHTENING CREAM
FADE OUT CREAM
TOP LEMON PLUS CREAM
CLEAR TOUCH CREAM
CRUSADER ULTRA BRAND CREAM
ULTIME SKIN LIGHTENING CREAM
RICO SKIN TONE CRÈME
BARAKA SKIN LIGHTENING CREAM
PEAU CLAIRE CRÈME ECLAIRCISSANTE
PRINCESS MEDICATED BEAUTY CREAM
IMMEDIAT CLAIRE LIGHTENING BODY CREAM



SKIN LIGHTENING LOTIONS CONTAINING HYDROQUINONE
J ARIBU SKIN LIGHTENING LOTION
AMIRA SKIN LIGHTENING LOTION
A3 CLEARTOUCH COMPLEXION LOTION
A3 LEMON SKIN LIGHTENING LOTION
KISS LOTION
RICO SKIN LIGHTENING LOTIONPRINCESS LOTION
PEAU CLAIRE BEAUTY BODY LOTION
CLEAR TOUCH LOTION
FAIR & WHITE BODY CLEARING MILK
SIVOCLAIR LIGHTENING BODY LOTION
EXTRA CLAIR LIGHTENING BODY LOTION
PRECIEUX TREATMENT BEAUTY LOTION
CLEAR ESSENCE SKIN BEAUTYFYING MILK



SKIN LIGHTENING GELS CONTAINING HYDROQUINONE
ULTRA CLEAR
TOPICLEAR
BODY CLEAR



SKIN LIGHTENING BODY OILS CONTAINING HVDROQUINONE
PEAU CLAIRE LIGHTENING BODY OIL



SOAPS CONTAINING HYDROQUINONE
M.G.C. EXTRA CLEAR
TOPICLEAR BEAUTY COMPLEXION SOAP
LADY CLAIRE
BLACKSTAR
AMIRA
ULTRA CLEAR
BODY CLEAR MEDICATED ANTISEPTIC SOAP
IMMEDIATE CLAIRE LIGHTENING BEAUTY SOAP
CHERIE CLAIRE BODY BEAUTY LIGHTENING & TREATING SOAP



SOAPS CONTAINING MERCURY AND ITS COMPOUNDS
MOVATE
MEKAKO
JARIBU
TURA
ACURA
RICO
FAIR LADY
ELEGANCE
MIKI
JAMBO



SKIN LIGHTENING CREAMS CONTAINING MERCURY AND ITS COMPOUNDS
PIMPLEX MEDICATED CREAM
NEW SHIRLEY MEDICATED CREAM



CREAM PREPARATIONS CONTAINING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE(H2O2)
JOLEN CREAM



SKIN PREPARATIONS CONTINTING STEROIDS

MOVATE CREAM
SKIN SUCCESS GEL
HOT MOVATE GEL
AMIRA -C
NEU CLEAR GEL
TENOVATE
BODY CLEAR CREAM SPOT REMOVER
TOP GEL PLUS
SOFT AND BEAUTIFUL CREAM
LEMONVATE CREAM
SECRET GEL
TCB GEL PLUS
UNIC CLEAR SUPER CREAM
TOPIFRAM CREAM
SKIN BALANCE LEMON CREAM
PEAU CLAIRE GEL PLUS
DARK & LOVELY GEL
DERMO -GEL PLUS
PEAU CLAIRE CREAM
FASHION FAIR GEL PLUS
HOT PROSONE GEL
SKIN BALANCE CREAM WRINKLE REMOVER
DARK & LOVELY CREAM
VISIBLE DIFFERENCE GEL
SIVOCLAIR CREAM
ACTION DEMOVATE CREAM
REGGE LEMON GEL
ULTIMATE LADY GEL
TOPIFRAM GEL PLUS
AGE RENEWAL CREAM
FAIR & WHITE GEL PLUS
PEAU CLAIR GEL PLUS
FASHION FAIR CREAM
FIRST CLASS LADY CREAM
SKIN SUCCESS CREAM
NEU CLEAR CREAM PLUS
JARIBU BETA - ß CREAM
BODY TREAT CREAM SPOT REMOVER
CLAIR & LOVELY GEL
PEAU CLAIR CREAM
SOFT & BEAUTIFUL GEL
ACTION DEMOVATE GEL PLUS
PROSONE GEL
SKIN BALANCE GEL WRINKLE REMOVER
ULTRA-GEL PLUS
PRO-ONE GEL MCA
BETALEMON CREAM

Wow, that eliminates a ton of products. Anybody know anything about home-made skin lightning products? I browsed through Yahoo! Answers and a few of the ingredients I've seen are



- milk & lemon lime mixed
- apply lemon juice mixed with turmeric powder and honey
- besin flour mixed with water and a little lemon juice works
- apply milk and honey, take a cotton pad and soak it in milk and keep rubbing it on your face.. you'll notice the change immediately...
- Use whitening products with any of the following ingredients: kojic acid, arbutin, licorice, lactic acid, Vit. C. All are equally effective as skin lightener.

They don't contain any harmful substances right? Do they sting? I'm willing to do whatever. As long as it's safe and doesn't contain harmful substances then it's all good. Creams, soaps, etc. Anything but pills. If it takes time and works slowly over time, thats cool. I'm a patient person. I'm just in desperate need of your guys expertise help, heh. If you have been through a similiar experience and have gone from medium/dark brown to light/fair/peachy.. share your experience! It would mean so much guys.. it truly would. I look forward to your answers...

Hi,
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Hi KevinCA,

Good job there. You did your homework and I'm sure you've enlightened a lot of people here in the forum.

You hit the nail already. Kojic acid, licorice extract, etc. are the safe ingredients to opt for. I'm a user of Dermaline skin lightening products and have found them to be very effective - that fall under the safe and fast category of products that work.

Regarding the sunscreen, it is a must if you 'd like to maintain a fair skin. We are both fair-skinned, so I'd want to maintain it myself and avoid freckles and age spots. Not using sunblock with skin whitening products would be useless. As far as I know, sunblock can only be in the form of cream, lotion or sprays. Be sure to check if your chosen product blocks both UVB and UVA rays.

Cheers! :)

I just wanted to say thank you so much for posting this question up. My skin tone is originally light also, but I run track so my legs are golden compare to my feet:mad: I'm embarrassed to wear sandles. And it's summer! I've been searching the internet for quite a long time to see which product should I use and finally found this one. Most websites I've checked said try to use homemade products first so you could get a piece of mind on what ingredients you're using. I'm really great full for you posting up the products in which is not in the best of use. It saved me a lot of numerous times going to the store. Thanks again. :)

KevinCA, I have a few tips for you.

When outside in the sun (to try & prevent getting darker in the first place):

1. WEAR SUNBLOCK. Not SUNSCREEN. SUNBLOCK. Never forget this. I'd say at least about SPF 30. Apply the sun block at least thirty minutes before sun exposure and re-apply it every two hours.

2. WEAR A HAT, and if you can help it, LONG SLEEVES/PANTS. You need that extra protection for your skin, if you really want to get lighter.

For brightening/lightening:

1. Use lightening/brightening soaps such as black soap, papaya, and kojic acid.

2. Try arbutin creams, etc.. There are some shops that sell it, as well as online, in many different brand names. You can do a search and I'm sure you'll find something.

3. Try taking MSM sulphur/sulfur pills. They really do help to over-all brighten and clear up your skin (as well as so many other benefits such as bone cartilage health, hair, nails, etc).

4. Use exfoliating gloves (and exfoliating gloves/soaps/scrubs for your face as well) when you shower. This REALLY helps eliminate dead skin cells to reveal the brighter/lighter skin underneath.

5. Try using retin-A on your face to shed dead skin cells and reveal the smoother, clearer, brighter skin underneath.

Hope that helps!