There is no arguing that skin brightening creams sell much faster in African communities than the
regular moisturising cream.
So why do women often consider effective creams as having bleaching or toning ability?
Are fair skinned people more attractive than brown or dark skinned people?
The answer to these questions are relative and my opinion will come on a different post.
In this post the question is, should we worry about the long term effects of using skin lightening, brightening, whitening or toning cream and are there safer options?
The answer is Yes. We should worry for the following reasons:
Skin bleaching creams are made with harmful ingredients.
Even though some of the harmful ingredients when used in the recommended quantity should be safe but it all depends on the truthfulness of the label.
Repeated use of lightening creams can excite you on the onset of use but with time you will start noticing the thinning of the skin often caused by an ingredient called Corticosteroids.
Even though this product is seen in some pharmaceutical creams, you should always remember they are often prescribed for a specific skin condition for a limited period not for a long term period.
The long term use of creams containing Corticosteroids can also cause redness of the skin. Imagine when a natural dark skin has been bleached with this ingredient, you will notice the skin turning a mixture of red black burnt and fair colour.
This is not easy to look at and should be avoided.
Another dangerous skin lightening cream ingredient is Hydroquinone.
You will notice that the so called toning creams sold in beauty stores are labeled 2% Hydroquinone.
Yes, hydroquinone content should not exceed 2 percent but is the 2percent safe?
I am sure that I have seen people who have developed sun burn patches on face while using toning creams containing 2 percent hydroquinone.
Hydroquinone in skin creams can also lead to an untreatable skin condition called Onchronosis.
The National Food And Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC), listed Mercury as a harmful ingredient in creams.
Mercury is known to penetrate the skin causing serious health issue like organ damage and even brain defects.
Why Not Go Safe??
Do you know you can bleach your skin using natural ingredients?
I will recommend the use of lemon and orange to achieve this.
Benefits of using lemon and orange as a bleaching ingredient:
1. It will exfoliate your skin
2. It will brighten your skin
3. It will help get rid of free radicals in your skin thereby preventing aging
4. It will also be beneficial to skin damaged by UV rays
So let's make lemon and Orange lightening Face Mask
The method is easy.
You will need:
1. 1 green skinned lemon
2. 1 Green skinned orange
3. Few teaspoons of clean water to help form a paste.
Method:
All you need to do is to carefully peel off the green skin of the lemon and orange.
Then grind until smooth.
Add few teaspoons of clean water to it to form a paste.
How to use:
Apply this mask on your clean face preferably when the sun is out.
While the mask is on skin, you will wait for the juice to gradually penetrate your skin.
This should take about 20 to 30 minutes.
Then wipe off the excess with a clean face towel.
Do not wash off.
By washing it off you are removing the natural oil from the mask.
If you notice any irritation while using this mask, discontinue use and consult your dermatologist.
It is not recommended for daily use.
regular moisturising cream.
So why do women often consider effective creams as having bleaching or toning ability?
Are fair skinned people more attractive than brown or dark skinned people?
The answer to these questions are relative and my opinion will come on a different post.
In this post the question is, should we worry about the long term effects of using skin lightening, brightening, whitening or toning cream and are there safer options?
The answer is Yes. We should worry for the following reasons:
Skin bleaching creams are made with harmful ingredients.
Even though some of the harmful ingredients when used in the recommended quantity should be safe but it all depends on the truthfulness of the label.
Repeated use of lightening creams can excite you on the onset of use but with time you will start noticing the thinning of the skin often caused by an ingredient called Corticosteroids.
Even though this product is seen in some pharmaceutical creams, you should always remember they are often prescribed for a specific skin condition for a limited period not for a long term period.
The long term use of creams containing Corticosteroids can also cause redness of the skin. Imagine when a natural dark skin has been bleached with this ingredient, you will notice the skin turning a mixture of red black burnt and fair colour.
This is not easy to look at and should be avoided.
Another dangerous skin lightening cream ingredient is Hydroquinone.
You will notice that the so called toning creams sold in beauty stores are labeled 2% Hydroquinone.
Yes, hydroquinone content should not exceed 2 percent but is the 2percent safe?
I am sure that I have seen people who have developed sun burn patches on face while using toning creams containing 2 percent hydroquinone.
Hydroquinone in skin creams can also lead to an untreatable skin condition called Onchronosis.
The National Food And Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC), listed Mercury as a harmful ingredient in creams.
Mercury is known to penetrate the skin causing serious health issue like organ damage and even brain defects.
Why Not Go Safe??
Do you know you can bleach your skin using natural ingredients?
I will recommend the use of lemon and orange to achieve this.
Benefits of using lemon and orange as a bleaching ingredient:
1. It will exfoliate your skin
2. It will brighten your skin
3. It will help get rid of free radicals in your skin thereby preventing aging
4. It will also be beneficial to skin damaged by UV rays
So let's make lemon and Orange lightening Face Mask
The method is easy.
You will need:
1. 1 green skinned lemon
2. 1 Green skinned orange
3. Few teaspoons of clean water to help form a paste.
Method:
All you need to do is to carefully peel off the green skin of the lemon and orange.
Then grind until smooth.
Add few teaspoons of clean water to it to form a paste.
How to use:
Apply this mask on your clean face preferably when the sun is out.
While the mask is on skin, you will wait for the juice to gradually penetrate your skin.
This should take about 20 to 30 minutes.
Then wipe off the excess with a clean face towel.
Do not wash off.
By washing it off you are removing the natural oil from the mask.
If you notice any irritation while using this mask, discontinue use and consult your dermatologist.
It is not recommended for daily use.
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