Not happy with your skin tone - or just looking for a way to move closer to your ideal?
One way you may be able to bring more clarity and brightness to your skin is to try using a skin lightening soap.
In this article, I will share recommendations for 10 high-quality skin lightening soaps.
But first, let's go over some basics so that you know how to shop for a safe and effective skin-lightening product.
Why Lighten Your Skin?
There are a number of different reasons why you might want to lighten your skin:
- You may have freckles, liver spots, acne scars, or other blemishes which you are trying to conceal.
- You may simply wish to increase the overall clarity and glow of your complexion.
- You may have an aesthetic preference for appearing paler.
- You have cultural reasons for wanting to lighten your skin (i.e. getting access to more job or marriage opportunities, etc.).
Regardless of your reason, it is important to do your homework and invest in a product which can actually deliver the results you are looking for.
Of course, you need to be realistic. You may never manage to completely hide the blemishes you dislike or achieve a dramatic change in skin tone.
But hopefully you can at least reduce the appearance of the blemishes or move closer to the skin tone you prefer.
What Types of Skin Lightening Products Are Out There?
Skin lightening products come in a number of different forms:
- Creams and ointments: These are exactly what they sound like. You simply rub a small amount onto your skin.
- Gels: These are similar to creams and ointments, but offer you a different texture.
- Serums: This is another form which you can purchase a skin lightening formula in.
- Soaps: Finally, one more type of skin lightening product you can purchase is a soap. Some people use skin lightening soaps only on their face, or only on the rest of their body. Others use the soap for both the face and the rest of the body.
With so many forms of lightening products out there, you should have no problem locating something which you find convenient and easy to apply.
Personally, I think the soap is arguably the most convenient and cost-effective option, especially for full-body lightening.
Why? Well, if you are using a serum or cream, you will go through a lot of it very quickly if you are applying it to your entire body.
But with a soap, you shouldn't run out nearly as quickly.
Plus, you do not have to change your routine much to use a lightening soap.
There are skin lightening products on the market which contain mercury, hydroquinone, corticosteroids, and other dangerous ingredients.You simply need to take the soap into the shower with you (more on that shortly).
Are Skin Lightening Products Safe?
How safe a skin lightening product is depends on the list of ingredients as well as how you use it.
Products like these pose a very real health risk.
Products which contain such ingredients are thankfully banned in some regions.
Skin lightening products do not need to contain dangerous ingredients to be effective.So if you are purchasing skincare products which are manufactured in such a region (i.e. the US or the EU), you probably do not need to be concerned.
Nonetheless, it is always wise to check the full list of ingredients for any skin lightening product before you purchase it.
You also should make sure you are purchasing from a reputable manufacturer, especially if the product is being manufactured and sold from a country without strict regulations on skincare products.
As it turns out, the majority of lightening soaps on the market which are safe and efficacious seem to include one or more of these key ingredients:If you do your research, you can find natural, safe skin lightening topicals which will help you to achieve your goals for your appearance without compromising your health.
Safe Ingredients in Lightening Soaps
Now that you know some dangerous ingredients to avoid in lightening soaps, what safe, effective ingredients should you look for?
Kojic acid is a natural ingredient derived from fungi. This is one of the most common ingredients used in skin lightening products.
How does it work? Kojic acid is able to inhibit the catecholase activity of tyrosinase ( 10).
As this article explains ( 11),
"Tyrosinase is a copper-containing enzyme, which is widely distributed in microorganisms, animals and plants and is a key enzyme in melanin biosynthesis."
That means that kojic acid is able to counteract the production of melanin.
According to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel ( 1), kojic acid is safe in low concentrations.
Some people do experience skin irritation when using kojic acid, and may develop contact dermatitis ( 3, 4).
There are some animal studies which demonstrate that kojic acid might have a tumor-promoting effect.
But researchers do not believe that this is an issue in human use owing to different absorption properties of the human circulatory system and skin ( 1).
Fascinatingly, kojic acid may have protective effects against certain forms of radiation ( 5).
What about turmeric?
Turmeric has a long history of use for skin lightening in South India, and can also reduce inflammation ( 2).
As this research ( 6) explains,
"Curcuminoids have also been found to inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, an enzyme that participates in melanogenesis, thereby preventing melanin formation with resultant lightening of the skin tone."
That same research also explains,
"Several independent studies validated the significant antioxidant effects of the tetrahydrocurcuminoids and protection of skin against free radicals and UVB rays."
So turmeric not only can help lighten skin, but it also can protect your skin from oxidative damage and even offer some level of safeguarding against sun damage.
Incidentally, turmeric curcumin has many other advantages for health. If you want to learn more, please see my article, " 23 Benefits of Turmeric Curcumin."
Next, let's talk about glutathione.
Glutathione is an antioxidant.
That means that it has a protective effect on skin tissue, reducing the harmful effects of free radicals.
It also has the capacity to lighten skin through several possible mechanisms ( 8).
Interestingly, it not only can be applied topically, but it may also be taken orally (see the study linked above).
IV injection has been used as well, but that method of delivery can cause side effects and is best avoided.
How to Use Lightening Soap
- Lather up the soap.
- Rub the soap into your face and/or body.
- Wait for around 4 minutes while the ingredients in the soap work on your skin.
- Rinse the soap off.
Previously, I mentioned that you can use skin lightening soap in the shower, and that it doesn't require a huge divergence from your regular routine.
That is true, but applying it is a little bit different from using regular soaps.
For the sake of this how-to guide, I am going to assume that you are using a soap which contains kojic acid.
As you can see, the only real divergence here is in letting the soap sit on your skin for a few minutes before you rinse.
If you are applying the soap to sensitive skin (i.e. your face), you should not let it sit for four minutes the first time you apply it.
You need to know how your skin will react. So instead, wait just half a minute before you wash it off.
How long do you need to use a skin lightening soap before you see results?If you do not experience any irritation, keep doing that for a couple more days, and then apply it for 45 seconds and see how that goes.
If that works out, do that for the next couple days, and then go for a minute, and so on.
Once you reach around four minutes, that is all you need. You do not need to keep pushing for a higher amount of time.*
Safe, high-quality skin lightening soaps containing effective ingredients such as kojic acid do not produce overnight results.
You will need to use the soap diligently for around 6-8 weeks in order to reduce the appearance of blemishes on your skin and/or lighten the overall tone of your skin.
*Note: You might sometimes come across as a product which says that you should apply for a shorter amount of time.
If that is the case, follow the instructions and do not exceed that time.
The product could contain a higher concentration of kojic acid which might cause skin irritation if left on for longer.
What to Look for in a High-Quality Skin Lightening Soap
While you are shopping for a skin lightening soap, here is what you should be looking for:
Natural and safe ingredients.
Make sure that you are purchasing a lightening soap which is free of mercury, hydroquinone, corticosteroids, or other harmful ingredients.
As discussed, ingredients which are effective and safe for skin include glutathione, kojic acid and turmeric.
A reputable manufacturer.
Companies that create personal care products may not always be honest about what they contain.
So you need to go beyond checking the ingredients. You also need to make sure you are shopping from a company you trust.
Okay for your skin type.
If you are sensitive to harsh ingredients, watch out for products which contain especially high concentrations of kojic acid.
As mentioned earlier this common lightening soap ingredient has been known to lead to dermatitis breakouts in some people.
Scent.
As with any other soap you would use, try to pick a product that smells pleasant.
Texture and ease of application.
If you are particular about this, try to pick a soap which is smooth and lathers up well.
Effectiveness.
Obviously, a skin lightening soap needs to produce results to be worth purchasing.
You can check customer reviews to try and get a feel for a product's effectiveness. Look for before and after photos.
Top 10 Skin Lightening Soaps for 2019
Now that you are familiar with important features and benefits to look for in a skin lightening soap, let's go ahead and take a look at some of the best choices for 2019.
What This Product is Best For
Products which contain activated charcoal have become very popular over recent years in the skincare market. They are promoted for helping to clear up acne.
There does not seem to be a lot of research on this use, so it is too soon to declare for certain from a scientific standpoint that charcoal works for this purpose.
But I can definitely report from personal experience with hormonal acne that products which contain activated charcoal are about the only ones that have given me any extensive benefits.
As a lifelong acne sufferer, I have been impressed.
So you should consider Koji White Kojic Acid & Charcoal Soap if you are prone to breakouts and are attempting to fight both acne and hyperpigmentation simultaneously.
Conclusion
You are now familiar with some of the most highly-rated and popular skin lightening soaps which are on the market today.
When you are shopping, avoid products which contain dangerous ingredients like mercury.
Stick with those which contain safe and effective ingredients such as kojic acid, glutathione, turmeric, and papaya.
Remember to start with just a brief application to make sure that your skin likes a product before you start applying it for minutes at a time.
Commit to using the lightening soap you have chosen for at least 6 to 8 weeks before you judge the results.
Be consistent and you should get the best outcome.
Most importantly, keep perspective. No lightening soap is guaranteed to get you the full results you're looking for.
But with a bit of luck and the right product, hopefully you can move closer to your ideal.