Permanent Skin Lightening

I know many of the readers on my blog visit for a variety of reasons: treating hyperpigmentation, melasma, finding the right sunscreen, fading acne marks/scars, brightening skin or lightening. This post is specifically for the people who are interested (or in the process) of lightening their overall skin tone, and are in need of some advice and wondering whether their current efforts can be made into something that is permanent.

To successfully lighten skin permanently, you need to have two things down right: your mind and the right products. In order to make this permanent (and I know this sounds trivial, but I got something important to say) you need to have the right mindset. Only with the right viewpoint on skin lightening will you be able to approach and succeed at it.

You need to let go of all pre-concieved notions about skin lightening/skin bleaching. You need to let go of anything that society, the media, your community, or even you previously define this as. You gotta let go of the shame, or guilt that you think  you should be feeling for doing this. Skin lightening is unique for you, and if you are doing this (in a safe way) in order to feel better about yourself, more power to you. You experience your life, don't feel awkward about using products that safely lighten skin. Why should you?

Remember, as long as you view skin lightening as a bad thing that you are just temporarily  doing, you will never be able to accept the fact that this is a positive thing. Give yourself credit, it's alright. This is why having the right goals goes hand in hand with the right mindset.

Having a realistic skin lightening goal is the only way your are going to achieve it, and ultimately make it long lasting. I covered creating realistic goals for skin lightening in my Motivation & Skin Lightening post. The key is that the right attitude, no shame, no guilt = progress, and clear goals about your skin.

Now for picking the correct products (building your skin lightening regimen), you need to improve all aspects of your skin (not just the color/tone, but treat everything). In order to have permanent skin lightening, you need to use products for life. You can't expect to use something once, and have the results stay with you. It's just like sunscreen use or retinoid use, while you use it, you reap the benefits. Once you stop, your skin stops recieving all the benefits.

That is why it is vital that the products you choose are hydroquinone-free and monobenzone-free, and are safe and healthy.

How do you know which product is right for you, or you should get first? Well, break it down to priorities. There isn't just one product that helps you get lighter, and maintains that. It's a process, a routine, a regimen.

After you get the basics down (gentle yet effective cleanser that properly removes product from your skin, moisturizer if needed etc.) get a sunscreen. I know it sounds kind of trivial, because you all know this by now, but I can understand that for some it can be very overwhelming at first.

Whether you choose a skin lightener, Vitamin C serum, niacinamide product, or any other pigment reducing treatment option, you have to start somewhere. You have to try. If you are unsure about a product, you can always e-mail me. Not that I'm some insane expert, but I've done enough research that I know what I'm doing and talking about. I can take a look at the ingredients (because I'm a total ingredients geek) or contact the company for you to get certain percentages. I have no problem doing that, as long as you start somewhere.

You cannot wish for skin lightening to come to you. As much as you want, you can't wake up and have the skin you always wanted: hyperpigmentation-free, acne mark free, glowing, radiant. You have to do something to get there, and stick with it. This is not a one-time thing, this is a committment to healthier, more luminous, radiant skin.

This kind of connects with the mindset, but you cannot expect a skin lightening regimen (daily sunscreen use, topical antioxidants, retinoids or AHAs, skin lightening products etc.) to get you where you want to be overnight. Those who expect results right away, are doomed for failure and disappointment. It doesn't work that way, and if you go into this with a 'quick-fix' mentality, you are going to get down on yourself, lose sight of your goals and eventually just give up. 

Why did you choose to lighten your skin? Just for a certain day, an event? No, you're doing this to upgrade yourself. You want your desired skin tone for the rest of your life, so as a permanent concept, you have to accept that results take time to show.  Changes happen slowly, sometimes you can't notice for months, but consistency is cumulative and your skin will start becoming brighter, lighter, more even if you stick with it.

I guess I am a success story, and why I created this blog. I have definitley been where a lot of other people are right now. I've chosen the wrong products, I've been on an ineffective regimen for months, I have flat out wasted my money on some skin lightening products. Yet here I am, almost 4 years later (from the start of my skin lightening journey) and I have gotten 4 shades lighter on my incredibly sun damaged arms, and 3 shades lighter on my face and neck. I'm almost at my goal at lightening up my chest for a complete, even skin tone all over.

I wouldn't have lightened up like that if I didn't have persistence. I didn't give up, even if I wanted to. I knew I could do this. I knew the science behind it, I had a realisitc goal and the right attitude about the subject matter. That is why I've made it to this place where I know so much about skin lightening, and I feel like I should help others that were in the same place as me.

You will get your dream skin complexion. You most definitley will, if you follow this blog and my own experience and research you will succeed. You cannot fail, especially if you're goal is in the right place, and you accept the fact that you are making a change that will be permanent and life long.
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