Even though skin color is largely genetic, it gets affected a lot by sun exposure, hormonal changes as well as various other factors. You can, lighten your skin color by making some lifestyle changes as well as using a skin whitening lotion. This way you can even out your skin tone or achieve a lighter overall complexion.
Stay out of the sun, as the sun causes darker skin. Wear sunscreen each time that you go outside, even if it is a cloudy or a rainy day. Make sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF rating. Wear sun protective clothing like long sleeves, long pants as well as broad-rimmed hats.
Apply a skin whitening lotion or cream to your skin. A skin whitening lotion often contains hydroquinone, which is a chemical that has been shown to inhibit melanin. Since melanin causes darker skin, you will notice that your skin is lighter with the regular use of skin whitening lotion. Even though there are many skin bleaching lotions which have been designed for the face, try to find one which is for full-body use in case you’re attempting to lighten areas besides your face. The skin whitening lotion for the body will usually be less expensive than the ones which are designed only for the face.
Use a skin whitening lotion which features Vitamin C as a prominent ingredient. Vitamin C helps to lighten skin as it tends to encourage cell regeneration.
Use a facial as well as a body scrub two to three times a week. These scrubs are helpful in exfoliating your skin. As the top layer of skin is usually the darkest, having had the most sun exposure, you would want to remove it in case you are trying to lighten your skin. Regular exfoliation results in brighter skin, and helps to even out your skin tone.