Contrary to widespread belief, hydroquinone-based skin lightening products are not good for African-American skin. When hydroquinone is used on black skin in either high concentrations or for prolonged periods, it actually makes those areas appear darker! Hydroquinone bleaches the skin but if you are looking for skin lighteners for African Americans, you are better off considering those with natural ingredients that work by restricting the amount of pigment produced rather than by bleaching. Some of the most popular ones are described right here.
Makari
Makari is probably one of the most popular products for African American skin lightening. They offer face creams, cleansers, toners, body lotions and lightening pills. Makari products contain only natural derived products such as licorice root and bearberry extract (arbutin). Although very effective, some Makari users have reported breakouts on the face after using some of the creams, particular the caviar face lightening cream. If you are prone to breakouts, it may not be for you but there are lots of other alternatives available.
Meladerm
Meladerm is targeted for all skin types and complexions but is very popular among African Americans simply because it works so well! Meladerm is made by a company called Civant and again, contains only naturally derived skin lightening ingredients. You can expect to begin seeing results within 2 weeks. Another great thing about Meladerm is that it comes with a 30 day money back guarantee. If it doesn’t work for you, just return the unused portion within 30 days for a full refund.
Skin Whitening Pills
Skin whitening pills usually contain glutathione – an antioxidant that has many health benefits including boosting the immune system; skin lightening just happens to be a side effect of it. L-Glutamine contains 1000mg of glutathione and you can buy a pack of 240 capsules for around $25.
Oralight whitening pills from Makari work slightly differently in that they don’t contain glutathione. Using bearberry extract, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, they effectively balance pigment production throughout the body to even out your skin tone.
Skin Lightening Soaps
Skin whitening soaps are another alternative when it comes to African American skin lightening. Skin lightening soaps containing natural pigment suppressing ingredients can help in evening out the skin tone all over the body. One of the most popular is Likas papaya skin whitening herbal soap.
Kojic acid is another natural skin lightener and kojic acid soaps are also effective in providing all over skin lightening. Soaps do have a more gradual effect on the skin so if you want faster results one of the creams such as Meladerm will be able to provide that.
There are so many skin lighteners for African Americans available on the market that mean you do not have to turn to dangerous and ineffective hydroquine-based products.
most people complain dat whenever they stop makari cream dey get more darker than before.what can cause this.
Hi Temitope,
When extra melanin is produced, the skin will get darker. Exposure to the sun causes excess melanin to be produced so by wearing a high factor sun screen or sun block, you can prevent this.
Many people get darker after they stop using a skin lightening product (or they see no results while using it) because they do not use any sun protection.
[...] sure which skin lightening product is right for you? Visit Skin Lightening Treatment or Black Skin Lightening for reviews of the best African American Skin Lighteners to fade dark [...]
Were can i buy these products
Hi Alisa,
By clicking any of the product links in the article, you will be directed to a page where you can purchase them.
Does using lemons and limes work to lighten skin tone on African Americans?
Yes, using lemon and limes will work on all skin tones.
hi i have a pretty dark brown complextion but i was lighter(the sun cause it)and i ahve dark circles under my eyes, hypigmentation on my cheeks( from past acne), and scar filled legs… and my skin is pretty sensitive which of these products do you thinks will work for me?
Hi Ashley,
I think Meladerm would be a great choice for your face if your skin is sensitive. They have a facial moisturiser as well as an undereye treatment. For your body, you might want to try a more cost effective product as you’ll need a lot more of it. Makari’s Body Beautifying milk is a good choice.
Thank you very much and i will get back 2 you on the results.!
How long will you start to see results?
just asking how do i knoe these products are the truth.? (and you seem to know alot, are you a doctor or something?)
Hi! This has been very helpful to me because I’ve had alot of sun damage, but I was wondering if it would still be advisable for me to use any of these products because I’m only fourteen years of age.
Hi Rebecca,
Because of your age, I’d recommend that you stick to some of the natural options such as lemon juice and turmeric powder (http://www.skinlighteningtreatment.com/natural-skin-lightening-3-products-in-your-home-that-will-give-you-a-great-complexion).
Discuss using skin lightening creams with your doctor and your parents. 14 is quite young to have sun damage. Make sure you always wear a high factor sun screen when you are out to protect your skin and avoid tanning beds.
Hi Ashley,
I have battled with hyperpigmentation and acne scarring for so long and I’ve tried many of the products myself (some with success, and some without). I’m not a doctor but I do know my skin lightening products
I advocate staying away from hydroquinone because it can be dangerous and using just naturally derived products such as the ones mentioned in this article.
Hi Bre,
Meladerm say that you will start to see results in about 2 weeks. For me personally, it was closer to 3 weeks before I started to see results but it depends on your skin type. I’d recommend taking progress pictures so that you know it is working for you.
Hello just a quick question,bcos am a little confused,i have used three bottles of makari cream,soap for almost 3months,still no result,what could be the cause.please help thanks.
Hi Elizabeth,
Are you also using sunblock? Check out my article on the possible reasons your skin lightening product is not working.
Well, I am a dark skinned girl but my nose is light skinned for some strange reason. I am 15 years old and i would like to use home remedies to help get lighter skin tone. Any suggestions?
Hi Kayhla,
It’s not unusual for us to have different areas of the body that are different shades. My top suggestion for home remedies is lemon juice. Check out my article on natural skin lightening for tips on how to apply it.
what about black womenwho livesin the tropics?lets say jamaica, it’s sunnyu all year round. wont it be expenisive to buy sunblocks when it can’t be avoided?
i need something that works and hasno side effects.
what about laser treatments?
Hi Monique,
Sunblock/screen doesn’t have to be expensive. It can certainly be cheaper than buying skin lightening products! It is always good practice to wear sunscreen anyway to protect the skin and slow down aging of the skin. Apply sunscreen to the exposed areas daily just as you’d apply body lotion
Anita
Hi Monique,
Laser treatments can be effective but can also have side effects that include scarring and further hyperpigmentation. You’ll have to visit a dermatologist that has experience in dealing with you skin tone/type for best results. Laser treatments for hyperpigmentation can cost up to $350 an hour depending on the area of the body and the clinic. My first option for hyperpigmentation is always natural solutions or skin lightening treatments that contain only natural ingredients such as Meladerm. If those don’t work for you then I’d look into other methods such as chemical peels and eventually laser treatment as a last resort.
hi can use the makari night cream on my face and still use the likas papaya soap as a cleanser for both the face and body?
Hi Lux,
You can definitely do this. Many people combine skin lightening products in this way. Check out my article on building a skin lightening regimen on our sister site Black Skin Lightening.
Wow, the amount of information I’m getting is very helpful! Thank you very much!
im 13 and i am dark skinned on my face except my nose and i want to do it naturally
Hi Kaia,
Because of your age, I definitely agree that you should do it naturally. Make sure you wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every single day. Try some of these natural skin lightening tips.
Hi,i’m 19 and i’m an african. i just wanted to know if meladerm will be good for my skin, i have a dry and uneven skin colour. i want a lighter complexion.
Hi i have dark under eye circles is it better for me to use Meladerm’s pigment reducing complex cream or there Eye complex cream.
i want complete body fairness so do i need to apply these cream meladerm all over my body
Hello,
I am 20 and I’m from Africa.I’m looking for something that will work for me, something that I will be able to use forever because I don’t like to change skin products… I tried meladerm but it was too expensive for me, so I couldn’t use it for a long time. Then I used makari for maybe 2 months, and I liked the results. The problem is that I had some spots (I don’t know if it was because of the caviar cream.) What would you recommend for me? I really wanna have a “perfect skin color”
Hi Vivi,
Many people have complained of breakouts with the Caviar cream. Have you tried any of Makari’s other face creams such as the Day Treatment Cream? Makari is mild enough to be used as your daily moisturizer.
It is not only topical creams you need to get a great complexion. Check out my 5 simple tips to flawless skin.
I have used meladerm now going on 4 weeks and have not seen an improvement. I’ve tried soaps, creams, gels that do and do not contain hydroquinone. I have hyperpigmentation on my neck and the sides of my face partly due to facial hair and shaving. My first goal is to clear up the hyperpigmentation becfause i really can’t afford laser hair removal at this time. Are there any other products tha tI can use to incluse any supplements to help clear up my hyperpigmentation?
Hi Rachel,
Sorry to hear that you have not seen any improvements. Have you been faithfully using sunscreen after using the meladerm? Check out my article with the top reasons why your skin lightening product is not working.
Anita
i am an African lady,extremely dark ,i once used stong skin lightiner and sun sceen, but it was meant for whites,i intensely reacted to acne.i used another african herb to fight the acne and was successiful.Whats left now is a very dark complexion, Where in Africa do i find the Makari products perhaps it can work on m?
Love the skin you’re in! I use lightening products to remove spots out my face, but not to lighten my complexion. Don’t be conditioned by the slave mentallity that being dark is not beautiful. I have seen the darkest people with flawless complexions. The fair skinned individual is more suseptible to SKIN CANCER. Work on why you do not feel that the dark skinned you is not beautiful. Don’t be brain washed by society to not believe you are magnificently made by God and he want you to not be ashamed of his excellent creation. Even your tone, but don’t stop loving the skin your in!!!!
please let know how i can get meladerm in kenya , the stockist if any.
Meladerm is only available through the manufacturer’s website – Civant Skincare. They do ship internationally however. Many people buying from abroad tend to buy the larger bottle to save on shipping costs.
Hi,
I am a 19 year-old boy. I love my skin in the winther, but in the summmer it gets very tanned and dark. Will Meladerm help me lighten´my skin so it will maintain its “winter appearance”?
I don’t want to lighten my natural color, I just want to prevent my summer color to appear. Will Meladerm helt in this purpose – as a whitening cream?
i was once lightskin but now only my face is and my body is dark what can I do to improve my body color to be even with my face
I’m Trip a i’m from Nairobi Kenya i have been looking for a good lightening cream which will improve my complexion in addition to clear spots and pimples as well but it has to have natural products i cant find that here in Kenya so please can you people recommend to me an affordable cream that il start using and keep using throughout and give me someone i can communicate with who can be bringing me that cream or i can correspond with here in Nairobi Kenya just answer me through my email .
This is my question, can you recommend a good sunscreen for the face, I do not see any mentioned here, also, it gets pretty humid here in NY, I have very oily skin, plus hyperpigmentation, open pores, residual acne scars, just a mess, will meladerm address all of these problems, without making my skin more oily?
Hi I am an african american young woman who suffered mild acne for a while. Over time it would leave dark marks/blemishes. I began using DAGGETT & RAMSDELL skin lightening night serum. It has all natural oils from plants and it works. It is oily however, but surprisingly does not cause breakouts. It was reasonably priced and you can get it online.
Rare Extracts Body bleach, is this a good skin lightning cream? You know I have a dark brown skin tone and im trying to get like 2 shades lighter, do you know if I could use this if im only 14. I go look at some reviews and I see that a lot of them say bad things about it but it still sounds like a good product to me.
Can i buy the L-glutamina pills at GNC? Also doyou have a phone number we would call for orders?
I am considering selecting the Makiri product. I was wondering once desired look has been achieved, must a product of this kind be used indefinitely in order to maintain skin tone? Also, if am wanting an overall shade lightening to many areas, should the cream be used on the face and another product for larger areas like arms, legs, etc?
Hi ,iam 26 years old , but i have a problem whenever iam going to have my monthly periods i get pimples which leaves spots on ma beautiful skin however i have been advised to use skin Lightening Serum Night time ,how effective is this?,will it work for me? i want to know its effects before i can start using it as i have already bought it.However you can as well recommend to me any other product which would work for me as soon as possible because i will be a bride soon God willing.Thank you as i await a quick reply.
Hi,
my skin is hard to change. I have tried tones of products without getting any lighter. However i have been using makari for the last 2 months and I can see the difference. At first I was using the night cream and I got breakouts, but it’s because that cream is for dry skin, it will grease your skin that’s why you get pimples and the caviar cream works the same way: it is for dry skin only. I switched to day cream and I love the results no breakouts, lighter and even skin. One thing that is guaranteed is their lightening serum. It is highly concentrated you will quickly see results so go easy on that.
hii
i have a dark skin tone now due to the sun. but before i was way lighter. my feet and hands are lighter than my face. how can i get a LIGHT skintone using natural products that ACTUALLY work ?
ive tried the lemon and tumeric mask ; it is not a pleasing result.
could ii have a lot bof suggestions
dose skin lightening pills have any after effects?
Hi,my face is very dark chocolate brown but my body is a chocolate brown It Wasn’t Always Like this so how can I fixed this problem?
Hey I also want to lighten my whole body once I get everything one color so can any one help me on that too?
i have a dark colour around my mouth corner plus acne i was wondering does this product available in jamaica if so does it works in the tropics jamaica which type of meladerm best to use if so
Hi everyone,am from Nigeria and very dark skin.I’ve been try to lighten my skin like forever now,and end up with dark knuckles,dark knees and elbow yet with no visible result.after reading your article am considering to try meladerm or makati but,worried about breakouts because I have a very strong oily face.please which of these product do you recommend is best for me and my oily face.please reply soon as tis very urgent(getting married in a month time)thank you in advance.