[michaeljr]

Monobenzone- Only the first month it made me lighter, then spots darker than my original color appeared on my neck face and arms hands and spread rapidly. Luckily Mequinol then benzyarbutin faded them out (but I no longer have access to the last too). As desperate as I am again, I would never touch monobenzone again because of the horrific patches of skin even darker than my normal color appeared and spread rapidly. Monobenzone just teases you and people are making money selling it on the interwebs, take your money while you are happy the first 1-2 months and leave you disfigured like a patchwork dolls. Even if you use 60% or near 100% monobenzone for years, it will not work. It will make you darker and more uneven, instead.

Arbutin - For som reason it's to gentle on my skin. Since herbalinn disappeared I have been experimenting with 5% arbutin and alphabutin, which are supposed to be strong, I see no level of further lightening.

Hydroquinone - I'm on the wall with this one. Sometimes It works overnight but once I get a drop of sun, with or without sunblocks, I tan darker than ever. I would use this sparingly in the winter, in 2% like Dr Fred Palmers since its very moisturizing, only a t night, and only if nothing else at all is available (like right now) :(

There's lots of new products I have tried this year and they were expensive. I would say I spent over the years $US 5k on monobenzone which never worked even like 60% strength applied twice daily for a year (it made me darker). So that's the worst ever. But then there's all the other products on the market that are like $100 for a tiny ounce (ie, vivite, meladerm, godiva) which promise the world but for me, did nothing at all but lightened my pockets.

Happy new year all and happy lightening! Please share your experience of products or agents that didn't work or even made you darker even though they are reputed to strong lighteners! Thanks :)