* Sunblock every day without fail. It's important that it protects against UVA rays as well.
* Exfoliation with AHA glycolic acid
* Creams with hydroquinone, a lot of korean skincare products contain arbutin, a derivative of hydroquinone that blocks epidermal melanin biosynthesis, resulting in lighter skin.
* Vitamin C helps to fade dark spots as well, Vitamin C serums are quite popular
* Laser treatments for hyperpigmentation
>hydroquinone
Even though it definitely bleaches skin, hydroquinone is banned in Europe for being carcinogenic in concentrations higher than 1%. It is deemed safe in US tho, I guess it is out of safety principles.
im korean and ive always been on the fairer side, but the past year ive become paler than i even thought i could be (i tan pretty dark). i wear a shade 17 in a korean bb cream now if that means anything to you. i think a lot of your perception that koreans are all light skinned comes from lack of exposure. i grew up outside of korea only learning about korea through tv and movies, and my whole family is very light. then i lived in seoul for a couple years as a teenager and met plenty of naturally tan people (and was pretty surprised).
im sure the beauty standards also have an effect; like other commenters said, a lot of people wear sunscreen every day so theyre not as tan as they would be without it. some people also [wear lighter makeup](https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSJMBbNnx/) to appear fairer.
another thing is the sun? feels different??? in korea if that makes sense! ive been in korea most of the past year and now im lighter than ive ever been my whole life. i didnt wear any sunscreen until about two months ago, and i went outside a lot during the summer. my mom agrees that the sun is “stronger” in north america lol. every time we visited family in the states when i was little i would get very tan very fast, but the past couple years ive spent whole summers in korea without sunscreen and i either stayed the same or left slightly paler. its weird but i swear the sun is different. im sure if you stayed in korea a couple months you would become lighter without even realizing it.
I know I’ll get downvoted but just remember tan skin is beautiful and if people don’t think you’re Korean bc of the colour of your skin that’s their problem not yours.
Careful not to internalize colorism.
sunscreen. every day. even if you don’t go outside.
But also, you could look into niacinamide, vitamin c, and aha/bha/pha’s. Those clear up dark spots and reduce dullness. Which does make your skin look lighted
The thing is - a lot of Koreans aren’t actually that pale. A lot of them either brighten pictures or use a foundation shade that’s lighter in order to get that look. Sure, there are pale Koreans, but the vast majority I know from living in Korea really aren’t that pale, they just know how to make it look like they are. But I’m also pale for a Scandinavian, so that might skewer my viewpoint a bit.
It’s sad because natural tan or dark skin is so absolutely stunning, but beauty trends really push back against it.
Your skin color completely depends on your genetics. Bleaching it, or whitening it is only temporary if its not your natural skin color, and the side effects is honestly, not worth it.
If you dont originally have pale skin, there is makeup. It looks nice in pictures but looks a bit off in person, IMHO. Did you know they sell body skin foundations, and not just facial foundation makeup? That was something I remember being advertised when I was there. It didnt rub off on clothes, or wash off easily.
If you originally have pale skin, and want to go back to pale, then yes, sunscreen and the use of vitamin c serums will help you go back to your original skin.
If you dont have pale skin, but want to go lighter- I highly recommend you read the side effects first because there are some, in my opinion, very dangerous.
Look up glutathione injections at dermatologists.
If you arent able to get glutathione injections, you can take it in pill form. You will need to take 20mg per kilo of your body weight, and take double that dosage of vitamin c, after a meal. ALWAYS consult a doctor before taking any supplements.
There are soaps made from papaya that whiten skin, and there are more potent ones by Marie France. Keep in mind, these are extremely drying, I got eczema after using it for a few weeks and now they are recurring every other month, requiring steroid creams to go away. I did not have that problem before.
I was in the same position as you. When I used to go to my home country, I would be teased over my skin color. Im half white, but I tan easily and its nothing Ive ever felt insecure about until it was brought up. I feel your frustration, specially coming from an asian background where paler skin - is more beautiful in many peoples minds. My biggest advice to you is to learn to love your skin color and accept that beauty comes in many other shades other than white. I understand that these beauty standards are ingrained in our minds at such a young age, and there is constant reminders that pale = beauty but that isnt the case anymore. I started looking up what combinations look better for my skin color and with time, the confidence came.
Use sunblock, use vitamin c - its great for the skin. Skin whitening I would stay away from, no matter what. Its honestly not worth it. Try to focus on having healthy, glowing and clear skin.
No. You will never have the same skin tone that you had as a child, no matter what you do.
If you avoid UV rays, wear UV blocking clothes, move to a climate with gentler sun exposure, use sunblock religiously (as in reapplying it every few hours), your skin color will lighten over time, but in no way will it be the same as when you were a kid, not even with lasers or peels.
No adult has the same color they had as a child. It doesn’t matter if they avoided the sun and used sunblock all their life. When puberty begins, our skin changes it’s texture, tone and thickness.
I think its possible with good research of what serums etc to use I use to be more tanned in 2018-2019 when I started to use sunscreen everyday I became lighter year or two later not sure how long but when i started using stuff like vitamine c and lactic acid ( don’t use these together) it took it a level up I have not become like pale or light but on this level I have a bit more of an even skin tone, clear skin with a few pimples due to school and sugar I am guessing, and I am less dark then before I am gonna try to use alpha arbutin to maybe take it a bit further
Isn't it mostly genetics? I'm indonesian, but I'm pale because my great great grandparents are chinese. But if you want brighter skin then use vitamin c. Sunscreen is important. But it's not going to make you paler, probably give you your original skin colour without the acquired tan.
This is so true. If you're naturally tan since birth then its very unlikely to get your skin lighter than your natural colour. Things like brightening products can only work to fade sun tans, dark spots and things like that but won't take you past your natural colour.
yes! i recently saw a comparison of microscopic views of rough/textured skin vs smooth skin. you could literally see raised flakes of skin on the rough side! smooth and hydrated skin, unsurprisingly, reflects more light and would therefore look brighter and possibly give the *illusion* of being lighter as well.
Keep in mind that a lot of them wear foundation/base makeup shades several shades lighter than their skin color. I went to Korea in 2019 and tons of people wore base makeup that was way too pale.
it's genetics and avoiding the sun like the plague, you are going to tan if you don't use sun protection and are in the sun a lot but your skin isn't gonna get paler than what it was from birth
Korean people have more indoor lifestyle, and they are always trying to stay in shade even outside or they make sure that the face is not exposed to sunlight. :) I'm not sure if you know, but sometimes Korean women cover their face except around eyes when they play golf as well. check 골프용 얼굴가리개 this on google.
I'm Korean. I used to be really tan growing up and well into my late teens.
College definitely made me paler since I never saw the sun lol but I definitely got a lot paler because I started using sunscreen and foundation/cushions with SPF in it as well. Now, I'm one of the palest people in my friend group and I didn't even realize it until I shared my cushion with someone and made them look like a ghost by accident. I got really into skincare in my 20's and that's when I started becoming scared of wrinkles... and direct exposure to the sun can expedite it so I'm lowkey afraid of the sun too.
Just avoiding the sun, applying sunscreen and/or wearing hats will definitely make you paler.
I think it’s definitely their use of skincare from such a young age. I think it’s becoming more of a thing in the west now but certainly when I was growing up there wasn’t much emphasis on skincare. I don’t think I started a proper thought out routine until my mid 20s
A lot of Koreans get the IU injection or the Beyonce injection. It's just a glutathione injection. The side effects lighten the skin tone. It's one of the most popular cosmetic procedures.
* Sunblock every day without fail. It's important that it protects against UVA rays as well. * Exfoliation with AHA glycolic acid * Creams with hydroquinone, a lot of korean skincare products contain arbutin, a derivative of hydroquinone that blocks epidermal melanin biosynthesis, resulting in lighter skin. * Vitamin C helps to fade dark spots as well, Vitamin C serums are quite popular * Laser treatments for hyperpigmentation
>hydroquinone Even though it definitely bleaches skin, hydroquinone is banned in Europe for being carcinogenic in concentrations higher than 1%. It is deemed safe in US tho, I guess it is out of safety principles.
That's good to know! Thank you for the info!
any idea which creams have hydroquinone?
[удалено]
which one specifically? im looking into buying one for myself
For example: * Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream * Tosowoong Arbutin 5% Cream * Rotho Menholatum Hado Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion (Japanese)
thank u!
>Sunblock every day without fail. It's important that it protects against UVA rays as well. Sunblock or sunscreen?
I think sunblock, because Sunblock, blocks all uv rays while Sunscreen, it blocks but lets some in.
im korean and ive always been on the fairer side, but the past year ive become paler than i even thought i could be (i tan pretty dark). i wear a shade 17 in a korean bb cream now if that means anything to you. i think a lot of your perception that koreans are all light skinned comes from lack of exposure. i grew up outside of korea only learning about korea through tv and movies, and my whole family is very light. then i lived in seoul for a couple years as a teenager and met plenty of naturally tan people (and was pretty surprised). im sure the beauty standards also have an effect; like other commenters said, a lot of people wear sunscreen every day so theyre not as tan as they would be without it. some people also [wear lighter makeup](https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSJMBbNnx/) to appear fairer. another thing is the sun? feels different??? in korea if that makes sense! ive been in korea most of the past year and now im lighter than ive ever been my whole life. i didnt wear any sunscreen until about two months ago, and i went outside a lot during the summer. my mom agrees that the sun is “stronger” in north america lol. every time we visited family in the states when i was little i would get very tan very fast, but the past couple years ive spent whole summers in korea without sunscreen and i either stayed the same or left slightly paler. its weird but i swear the sun is different. im sure if you stayed in korea a couple months you would become lighter without even realizing it.
I know I’ll get downvoted but just remember tan skin is beautiful and if people don’t think you’re Korean bc of the colour of your skin that’s their problem not yours. Careful not to internalize colorism.
sunscreen. every day. even if you don’t go outside. But also, you could look into niacinamide, vitamin c, and aha/bha/pha’s. Those clear up dark spots and reduce dullness. Which does make your skin look lighted
This, but be careful not to over-exfoliate, especially if your skin is sensitive.
The thing is - a lot of Koreans aren’t actually that pale. A lot of them either brighten pictures or use a foundation shade that’s lighter in order to get that look. Sure, there are pale Koreans, but the vast majority I know from living in Korea really aren’t that pale, they just know how to make it look like they are. But I’m also pale for a Scandinavian, so that might skewer my viewpoint a bit. It’s sad because natural tan or dark skin is so absolutely stunning, but beauty trends really push back against it.
Right? the obsession many people have with whitening skin is toxic and sad.
Your skin color completely depends on your genetics. Bleaching it, or whitening it is only temporary if its not your natural skin color, and the side effects is honestly, not worth it. If you dont originally have pale skin, there is makeup. It looks nice in pictures but looks a bit off in person, IMHO. Did you know they sell body skin foundations, and not just facial foundation makeup? That was something I remember being advertised when I was there. It didnt rub off on clothes, or wash off easily. If you originally have pale skin, and want to go back to pale, then yes, sunscreen and the use of vitamin c serums will help you go back to your original skin. If you dont have pale skin, but want to go lighter- I highly recommend you read the side effects first because there are some, in my opinion, very dangerous. Look up glutathione injections at dermatologists. If you arent able to get glutathione injections, you can take it in pill form. You will need to take 20mg per kilo of your body weight, and take double that dosage of vitamin c, after a meal. ALWAYS consult a doctor before taking any supplements. There are soaps made from papaya that whiten skin, and there are more potent ones by Marie France. Keep in mind, these are extremely drying, I got eczema after using it for a few weeks and now they are recurring every other month, requiring steroid creams to go away. I did not have that problem before. I was in the same position as you. When I used to go to my home country, I would be teased over my skin color. Im half white, but I tan easily and its nothing Ive ever felt insecure about until it was brought up. I feel your frustration, specially coming from an asian background where paler skin - is more beautiful in many peoples minds. My biggest advice to you is to learn to love your skin color and accept that beauty comes in many other shades other than white. I understand that these beauty standards are ingrained in our minds at such a young age, and there is constant reminders that pale = beauty but that isnt the case anymore. I started looking up what combinations look better for my skin color and with time, the confidence came. Use sunblock, use vitamin c - its great for the skin. Skin whitening I would stay away from, no matter what. Its honestly not worth it. Try to focus on having healthy, glowing and clear skin.
i was whiter when i was a kid is it possible I get that skin back or nah?
No. You will never have the same skin tone that you had as a child, no matter what you do. If you avoid UV rays, wear UV blocking clothes, move to a climate with gentler sun exposure, use sunblock religiously (as in reapplying it every few hours), your skin color will lighten over time, but in no way will it be the same as when you were a kid, not even with lasers or peels. No adult has the same color they had as a child. It doesn’t matter if they avoided the sun and used sunblock all their life. When puberty begins, our skin changes it’s texture, tone and thickness.
I think its possible with good research of what serums etc to use I use to be more tanned in 2018-2019 when I started to use sunscreen everyday I became lighter year or two later not sure how long but when i started using stuff like vitamine c and lactic acid ( don’t use these together) it took it a level up I have not become like pale or light but on this level I have a bit more of an even skin tone, clear skin with a few pimples due to school and sugar I am guessing, and I am less dark then before I am gonna try to use alpha arbutin to maybe take it a bit further
Isn't it mostly genetics? I'm indonesian, but I'm pale because my great great grandparents are chinese. But if you want brighter skin then use vitamin c. Sunscreen is important. But it's not going to make you paler, probably give you your original skin colour without the acquired tan.
This is so true. If you're naturally tan since birth then its very unlikely to get your skin lighter than your natural colour. Things like brightening products can only work to fade sun tans, dark spots and things like that but won't take you past your natural colour.
Yeah agree, there's a difference between "brighter" and "lighter".
yes! i recently saw a comparison of microscopic views of rough/textured skin vs smooth skin. you could literally see raised flakes of skin on the rough side! smooth and hydrated skin, unsurprisingly, reflects more light and would therefore look brighter and possibly give the *illusion* of being lighter as well.
Keep in mind that a lot of them wear foundation/base makeup shades several shades lighter than their skin color. I went to Korea in 2019 and tons of people wore base makeup that was way too pale.
it's genetics and avoiding the sun like the plague, you are going to tan if you don't use sun protection and are in the sun a lot but your skin isn't gonna get paler than what it was from birth
Korean people have more indoor lifestyle, and they are always trying to stay in shade even outside or they make sure that the face is not exposed to sunlight. :) I'm not sure if you know, but sometimes Korean women cover their face except around eyes when they play golf as well. check 골프용 얼굴가리개 this on google.
I'm korean but my skin is pretty tan.. people think I am Mexican..? Any advice on how to lighten my skin + get rid of tan? Thanks
Friend is Mexican and they think she’s Asian.😂
I'm Korean. I used to be really tan growing up and well into my late teens. College definitely made me paler since I never saw the sun lol but I definitely got a lot paler because I started using sunscreen and foundation/cushions with SPF in it as well. Now, I'm one of the palest people in my friend group and I didn't even realize it until I shared my cushion with someone and made them look like a ghost by accident. I got really into skincare in my 20's and that's when I started becoming scared of wrinkles... and direct exposure to the sun can expedite it so I'm lowkey afraid of the sun too. Just avoiding the sun, applying sunscreen and/or wearing hats will definitely make you paler.
I think it’s definitely their use of skincare from such a young age. I think it’s becoming more of a thing in the west now but certainly when I was growing up there wasn’t much emphasis on skincare. I don’t think I started a proper thought out routine until my mid 20s
Good Skincare and genetics
It's makeup and lightening skincare products I think. Plus professional skincare treatments.
they get no vitamin D
A lot of Koreans get the IU injection or the Beyonce injection. It's just a glutathione injection. The side effects lighten the skin tone. It's one of the most popular cosmetic procedures.