How to Naturally Brighten Skin

Michael Jackson might have gone to the extreme lightening his skin to hide the effects of his vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that caused his skin to lose pigment in certain patches, but he would not be the only person to struggle with issues concerning dark or light skin spots. Jackson faced criticism from fans who thought he was bleaching his skin in an attempt to look white, but as it happened, he was trying to hide the effects of his vitiligo, and bleaching the skin surrounding the patches was easier than using makeup to darken the lighter patches, experts say. After his death, numerous tubes of products including hydroquinone, a chemical phenol commonly used as a skin whitener, and Benoquin, used to lighten the darker areas around patches of skin impacted by vitiligo, were found in his home, confirming what Jackson’s reps had said all along.

Skin Lightening Tips and Tricks

Long before Jackson turned to chemical treatments to help lighten and even out his skin tone, Josephine Baker used lemon juice to lighten her skin in the early 1900s in order to maintain her pale complexion, which was important to maintain her job in the all-black Broadway revue “Shuffle Along,” which only hired light-skinned performers in order to maintain to white audiences. Lemon juice worked, according to contemporary experts, because it is packed with vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential ingredient to help lighten and lift away dark spots because it not only works as a natural bleaching agent, but also as an antioxidant, preventing new spots from forming. “It’s a great antioxidant," Miami dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D. told NBC’s Today show. And while vitamin C-packed lemon juice was an effective natural treatment for Baker, products that mix vitamin C with other ingredients such as licorice will yield the best results, Baumann said. For more than 4,000 licorice has been used as part of Chinese medicine, and it is an effective skin lightener because is prohibits the production of tyrosinase, the enzyme that tells cells to produce melanin, which can cause dark spots. “Studies on licorice have shown significant results,” Baumann said. Other natural skin lightening treatments include brown sugar, which is high in glycolic acid so it will effectively slough away the surface cells of skin to reveal brighter skin beneath; turmeric, one of nature’s best antioxidants; and aloe vera, which is packed with vitamin E, another skin-friendly antioxidant that helps ease redness while helping to prevent further skin damage.

Lightening Cream for Dark Skin

Both Jackson and Baker faced a similar problem. Those with darker skin often end up with hyperpigmentation from sun damage, acne scars, hormonal changes and aging, and many of the treatments available on the market are targeted toward light-skinned issues. Senvie’s Lux Intensive contains the natural botanicals aloe, vitamin C and licorice, all of which work hard to help erase dark spots and slow the signs of aging, along with white willow extract, which gently exfoliates away the skin’s surface layer, revealing the healthy, younger-looking skin beneath. Even better, because it contains natural ingredients, it is well suited to not only light and dark complexions, but everything that falls in between.

Does Skin Lightening Work?

Michael Jackson and Josephine Baker are only two examples that show the effectiveness of both low-tech and high-end skin lightening treatments. While Jackson’s favorite hydroquinone has been banned in many countries due to unpleasant side effects including redness and burning, it, along with other treatment options ranging from soy to mushroom extracts, work by targeting specific actions of skin cells while helping to break down the melanin in skin that causes dark spots. So what should you look for in a skin lightening cream? Great reviews can go a long way toward helping you determine if a product you’re considering is worth the investment.

Skin lightening cream reviews

Lux Intensive, called “by far the best skin lightening cream of 2014” by tophealthchoices.org, has also received rave reviews from clients. Those with acne scars were especially pleased with the results of using Lux Intensive, which helped erase dark spots while restoring skin health. “I honestly must say that this product was the best I have tried so far. I had a really bad acne break out about two years ago and although I have been able to get the acne under control I was still left with the really bad marks,” wrote Safiatou D. “For someone who had perfect skin for so long this was a major hit to my self-esteem and for the past two years I have tried product after product hoping to get my skin back the way it was before my breakout. Nothing has really worked for me until I tried this product. After just two weeks my face was clearer and my complexion was smoother than it had been in years. I'd definitely have to rate this product a 5.” “For me, Lux Intensive has really helped improve the dark color of my skin. I am from India and have a dark complexion, and after using Lux Intensive for about two months my skin has become roughly two to three shades lighter,” wrote Kareena V. “I suffer from acne scaring and after using this product I have noticed a great difference in how prominent the scars are, some have even completely gone away! It also smells really good so that's a nice bonus.” Those who have experienced dark spots from sun damage have also had success with Lux Intensive. “My skin tone has become uneven after so many years of being in the sun,” wrote Michelle P. “I used the lightening cream to try and even it out and after a few weeks I definitely saw an improvement!!! I love this product!”