5 Best Skin Lightening Creams in 2023

Table of Content

• Introduction
• Why Use Skin Lightening Creams?
• How to Choose Skin Lightening Creams?
• How to Use Skin Lightening Creams?
• 5 Best Lightening Creams in 2023
• FAQs

How have you been, guys? It’s time for another skincare guide to glowing up in 2023. You know, the summer is coming, and what do people do before it? You’re right – losing fat, rapidly trying to change our lifestyle and improve skin, because plenty of us have vacations, or don’t have school and other responsibilities during this time.

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It’s a great opportunity to finally enjoy our lives and get the best versions of ourselves. But there’s a problem that appears during the year but gets even worse when the summer is getting closer. Uneven skin tone, acne scars, and other things that most people want to get rid of are our basic problems on the glow up journey. 

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Fortunately, today I brought a great solution to get our skin better and begin enjoying our lives fully. This solution is lightening creams. There are different types of them, many different formulas, and ways to use them. 

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Today I want to focus on the 5 best lightening creams for all skin types in 2023. We’ll talk about why we should use skin-lightening creams, how to choose them, and how to apply them properly. We’re gonna discuss each of today’s products in detail, touching on their pros, cons, and formulas, so that you decide if it meets your skin needs.

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Before we start, I highly recommend you check out our 9 Best Toners for Combination Skin, as well as our Complete Guide to Vegan Skincare. 

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Let’s start with what is a lightening cream in general and which problems it should solve. 

Why Use Skin Lightening Creams?

You’ve probably been looking for methods to get rid of dark spots fast, even your skin tone, and reduce hyperpigmentation. Well, all of these problems can be solved by using lightening creams consistently over a relatively long period of time. 

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Even though it doesn’t work very fast, it’s worth it due to its effectiveness. Keep in mind that any skin product will not work fast. You need a few good months to see your first results. And you will see them, I know it!

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Now you want to ask me “Okay, we understand why we need it, but how it works?” The skin lightening creams work by inhibiting melanin production, which is responsible for the color of our skin, as we know from school. Hence when we don’t have plenty of melanin, our skin gets brighter and sorta “lightens up”. 

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It’s a very powerful tool to use if we wanna have brighter skin, and this is the reason why big groups of people started using them and incorporated these creams into their skincare routines.

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We already know why we need these creams, but how to choose one?

How to Choose Skin Lightening Creams?

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To choose an ideal skin lightener out there, consider a few very important factors:

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1. Ingredients: Tend to buy products with safe, natural ingredients like kojic acid, licorice extract, and niacinamide. This will make sure you don’t have irritations, red spots, and other problems that might appear when choosing the wrong products with the wrong ingredients for your skin.

2. Skin type: Choose a cream formulated for your specific skin type, check out a product description before buying to ensure that using this product will not lead you to skin problems.

3. Concerns: So, while choosing the product, pay attention to your own concerns, whether it’s dark spots, acne scars, or uneven pigmentation since this will help you with choosing a product that works perfectly and as fast as it can.

How to Use Skin Lightening Creams?

This short paragraph will be dedicated to the right way of using lightning creams since not everyone knows how to do so. 

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Use it after cleanser ( or toner, as the second part of the skincare routine ) and before moisturizer. If you have a 5-step skincare routine, that consists of a cleanser, toner, lightening cream, moisturizer, and sunscreen, you will apply the lightening cream on the 3rd step.

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Now, let’s see how to apply the cream itself:

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1. Take a small amount of this cream, and apply it evenly to the areas of your face, that are affected by the problems you want to get rid of, such as hyperpigmentation, dark spots, or uneven skin tone.

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2. Then, use a gentle, circular motion to incorporate the cream into your skin

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3. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific product you’re using because some creams might have a bit different application guidelines.

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Now that we covered all the basics, we will finally move to the 5 best lightening creams of 2023.

5 Best Lightening Creams in 2023

1. Ebanel DR LIGHTENING ULTRA-POTENT FACIAL CREAM

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So, our first product doesn’t have a greasy texture, it also absorbs into the skin quickly. Actually your skin is gonna be very soft and smooth after using this product. The price is not very big, so I recommend it.

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I used this product for a short time, so I can only say about the feelings I had after using it. It’s really great-feeling, soft and the smell is great as well. 

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Generally this product is popular, and you’ve probably cam across it, so you can be sure you’ll be happy with it!

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Pros

• Formulated with potent, natural ingredients that make sure that hyperpigmentation and dark spots are targeted.
• Has nourishing ingredients in it, such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin E
• Lightweight and non-greasy, that helps it to absorb into skin fast
• Suitable for all skin types, even for sensitive skin

Cons

• Some people may experience a mild tingling sensation upon application, which should subside after a few minutes
• Results may vary from person to person and may take several weeks to become visible, so don’t think this product doesn’t work if you don’t see results in a first week
• Higher price compared to other skin lighteners on the market

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2. Neutrogena Bright Boost Gel Cream

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A relatively cheap product, but it doesn’t mean that this cream is bad. It’s not, and the experiences of many different people prove it.

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The cream itself is lightweight and oil-free. It absorbs rapidly and doesn’t leave any greasy residue.

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I highly recommend using this one if you want to try a skin lightening cream, because, with consistent use, you will see the results!

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Pros

• Contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory turmeric extract
• Lightweight, oil-free gel-cream texture that absorbs quickly
• Suitable for all skin types, sensitive skin included
• Dermatologist-tested, non-comedogenic, and free from parabens, mineral oil, and dyes
• It’s cheaper compared to its competitors

Cons

• People may experience a mild stinging sensation upon application, which should disappear in a few minutes

3. TruSkin Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer

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Cheap, refreshing cream to use. It targets dark spots and other skin problems that this type of product solves. 

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It works fine with other TruSkin products better, as people on Amazon reviews say. 

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Great product for its price, I definitely recommend this one

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Pros

• Plant-powered ingredients
• Cruelty-free, as well as manufactured in the USA
• Cheap option, if we consider other products in this list

Cons

• Works best with TruSkin products. In my opinion, the product should work good without other products.
  

4. Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum

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It’s a serum, not a cream. Anyways, the product is very good and has plenty of reviws on Amazon. The serum combines 2% hydroquinone with glycolic acid for exfoliation and hexapeptide-2, a skin-brightening peptide that helps to inhibit melanin production. 

It quickly absorbs into the skin, making your skin soft. The main advantage of this product that people report about is fast results. People say that you will be able to see results in a few weeks.

Pros:

• Fast-acting and clinically-proven formula.
• Lightweight texture for easy absorption.
• Combines hydroquinone, glycolic acid, and a skin-brightening peptide.

Cons:

• Very expensive, compared to other products in the list
• May not be suitable for sensitive skin.

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5. Kojie San Lightening Face Cream

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Cheap and good. It’s pretty lightweight, so your skin feels soft and pretty after using it. The results come pretty fast, and this is really great option for its price. 

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But there’s a problem a lot of people were complaining about on Amazon. When you open a box, it might look scooped out, as if someone used it. It’s not true, it’s just a production problem.

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But again, it’s great for its price, so consider checking it out!

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Pros:

• Cheap and works just fine
• Lightweight texture for easy absorption.

Cons:

• Packaging production problems
• Might dry your skin out

Now we finally covered the 5 best lightening creams, and now I wanna move to the FAQ section to answer the most important questions about lightening creams!

FAQs

Q: Are skin lightening creams safe to use?

Most of them are completely safe, you can use them without any problems. But there’s a little problem when it comes to the formula. If the product has hydroquinone in it, you should patch test it before you apply it on your face, because this ingredient can cause irritation on sensitive skin. 

So, be careful and test products before you buy one because you can get into a trouble easily. 

Q: How long does it take to see results with a skin lightening cream?

Many factors affect it. I can say that it should take 4-8 weeks to see the first results. But it depends on skin type and the particular product you use. Anyway, results will come, just wait for them and focus on your skincare routine.

Q: Can I use a skin lightening cream all over my face?

Yes, you can if the product has these directions. Always read the application guidelines when applying products to your skin. Some products should be targeted at problem areas, and some of them might be applied all over the face.

Q: Are there any side effects to using skin lightening creams?

It might cause irritation, redness, or sun sensitivity. As I said before, if you read the guidelines, you will not have any problems. Make sure you wear sunscreen as well!

Q:  Can I use a skin lightening cream while pregnant or nursing?

It's necessary to consult with a healthcare professional before using a skin lightening cream while pregnant or nursing. Some ingredients, such as the previously mentioned hydroquinone, are not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

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