Lets Talk About skin Care, Beauty And Health Tips

I want to become a few shades lighter-like the skin colour that's underneath my arms...or hidden beneath clothes. I've been considering skin lightening/whitening creams but don't believe they actually worked-or that my skin would be toned.
Has anyone tried something that worked? How long did it take for your results? How many shades lighter?

Answer
I am assuming that your facial skin is darker than your body skin (or "hidden beneath clothes"). If you have naturally (light) tan to dark/olive skin tones, then your skin is more prone to darkening due to unprotected sun exposure.

So first tip: it is IMPERATIVE that you wear board-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater that absorbs both UV-A and UV-B rays. Sure, a naturally dark-skinned person has a build-in sunscreen provided by their melanin content, but it is NOT adequate photoprotection.

It is difficult to answer your questions as I do not know exactly what shade of skin color you have now. Just understand that you cannot BLEACH your skin with the available products.

All over-the-counter (OTC) "skin-lightening" products are low in strength and mostly work on superficial hyperpigmentation by inhibiting the melanin formation process, not removing (bleaching) the pigments. A lot of the products contain hydroquinone (HQ), the GOLD-STANDARD for treating hyperpigmentation, at 1-2%. Results may take at least 2-3 months with COMPLIANCE, DILIGENCE, AND PATIENCE combined with a well-design skin care regimen for optimal results. If your skin discoloration is non-responsive to OTC HQ, then your next choice is a prescription-strength HQ at the strength of 4% or greater that you get from a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. One downside of HQ is that you have to take a break 1-month break after 3/4-month treatment because the skin can develop tachyphylaxis (non-responsive to the drug).

If you are sensitive to HQ for whatever reason, then there are a list of other alternatives (see source #). But, you have to understand that you the trade-off is less efficacy.

Furthermore, there is NO SUCH THING as the BEST skin-lightening product. You select a skin care product based solely on SKIN TYPE, not age, sex, weather, etc. Thus, a "best product" for one person may be the "worst" product for another. If you are unsure of your complete skin type, take the questionnaire developed by clinical research, board-certified dermatologist, and author of The Skin Type Solutions, Dr. Leslie Baumann. Register first then take the quiz; afterwards, visit the specified forum that is tailored to your unique skin type for product recommendations and discussions about skin-lightening (products).

Second tip: use a well-formulated acid exfoliant.

Try: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment with 2% salicylic acid (Oily Skin) | Alpha Hydrox AHA Enhanced Lotion with 10% glycolic acid (Dry Skin)

Third tip: use a product with hydroquinone

Try: Paula's Choice RESIST Remarkable Skin Lightening Lotion with 2% HQ & 7% glycolic acid (Dry Skin); Paula's Choice RESIST Remarkable Skin Lightening Gel with 2% HQ & 2% salicylic acid (Oily Skin) | Skin Effects by Dr. Jeffrey Dover Advanced Brightening Complex with 2% HQ, kojic acid, and retinol (Oily/Dry) | Ambi Skin Discoloration Fade Cream, Normal or Oily Skin with 2% HQ. If you choose one from Paula's Choice, then you do not need an extra exfoliant.

Check my sources to learn more!

Best Wishes

How cold does the water have to be to close your pores?

cause I think the cold water is drying my skin out, or maybe i was opening my pores with the water too hot?

Answer
Who ever told you cold water closes pores is a liar.

1) (Very) cold water temperature can shock and burn the skin, impairing the skin barrier, making it less efficient at preventing water loss from your skin. A healthy skin barrier contains different types of lipids (ceramides, cholesterol, & fatty acids). These lipids create a hydrophobic barrier to prevent water from evaporating up into the air.

2) (Very) hot water temperature can shock and burn the skin. Hot water cannot open pores - that is another lie. Warm water is enough to "soften" the pore so extraction is made easy. Please do not steam the face. The same consequence found in cold temperature applies here.

3) the size of pores is predetermined by genetics. Plus, if genetics says you have very oily skin, that is obvious that you have enlarged pores. As you constantly produce oil, your pore size expand and is exhausted. You can only go so far with skin care products. Even the most absorbent product will do so much or nothing if your oil glands is hyperactive. The only want to stop oil production is with the prescription drug, isotretinoin, because it shrinks the oil glands --> no more oil --> no more acne or blackheads.

4) you can "refine" the shape of the pore if you have a clog. Use exfoliant like salicylic acid that can exfoliate within the pore to dislodge the clog.

Bottom line: always wash yourself with lukewarm/tepid warm and use a gentle cleanser that is suitable for your skin type. You cannot close or open your pores. Sorry if I sound dismal, but that is the honest truth.

If you are unsure of your complete skin type, take the questionnaire developed by world-renown and broad-certified dermatologist, Dr. Leslie Baumann. Register then take the questionnaire; afterward, visit the specified forum that is tailored to your unique skin type for production recommendation and discussions.

Best wishes