Skin whitening is the practice of using chemicals (aka skincare) to lighten skin tone. In the Asian markets, whitening products are HUGE. I prefer the tanned look over the paler complexions coveted on the other side of the world but lately I’ve been using whitening products. Why? For one, I like to try all the things. Secondly, my hope is to lift some of my hyperpigmentation due to acne scarring and sun freckling. All in the sake of vanity of course, but who doesn’t want their skin to be perfectly uniform and never, ever have to wear foundation?
In addition to my regular skincare routine…
I’ve been using the Shu Uemura Whitefficent Cleansing Oil ($92, 450 mL) as my go-to makeup remover for the past year. The Whitefficent variation of the Shu cleansing oil seems to be discontinued on the site but now there’s the Blanc:Chroma Cleansing Oil ($92, 450 mL), which has similar claims of polishing away dead cells of melanin and makeup for a brighter, smoother looking complexion. As a makeup remover, it’s amazing. A couple pumps all over, then I splash my face with water and it immediately turns into a milky liquid, a few more splashes and my face is clean and without any oily residue. Over time, I’ve noticed my acne scars fading quicker than before. The packaging is amazing (though limited edition from the Mika for Shu collection) but this year there’s the Yaz for Shu collection, which is still available. On another note, the price is up there but the bottle has lasted me more than a year.
Since April, I’ve been testing out the Estee Lauder Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Moisture Crème ($83, 1.7 oz). Similar to the Shu Uemura Whitefficent Cleansing Oil, it’s quite pricey, but also claims to lift pigmentation, uneven tone and hyperpigmentation. As a crème, it’s fairly lightweight, sinking into the skin within minutes but potent as a hydrating product. I use it a couple evenings per week in lieu of a sleeping mask and when I wake up, my skin feels plump and looks refreshed.
If anything, it’s not just about the whitening. They’re effective multi-use beauty products, not just whiteners – the cult Shu Cleansing Oil is a stellar makeup remover and the Estee Lauder Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Moisture Crèmeis a deep moisturizer. Now that it’s summer, my face is significantly lighter than my neck (thank the beauty gods for self-tanner and bronzer), which is proof that these guys really work.
Have you tried any whitening skincare products? What did you think?
End note: There’s a common misconception that some cultures that “whiten” their skin in efforts to look more like westerners but that is not usually the case. I won’t go into this here but Gerry of the Bunnie Hole sum up the issue perfectly in her video about whitening.
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