Skin Lightening Gel
As you know, skin lighteners come in many different formulations. One that has really been gaining in popularity lately are those that are gel based. The reason? Well, thanks to modern skin care technology which has only come into play the last few years, we are now able to create gels which are smoother and absorbed by the skin better. Unlike heavy creams, these are absorbed more easily by skin and don’t leave behind any yucky white residue.
Which Ingredient To Choose?
There are to primary ingredients used in skin lightening gel. There are kojic acid based versions and there are hydroquinone based versions. I can’t tell you which one to choose (that’s something you need to ask your doctor) but I can tell you a few things about them.
Hydroquinone Gel
There’s no doubting that this is an extremely effective substance for skin whitening. But the problem is with its safety. Although it’s widely used for a few decades now, there have been conflicting reports as to its safety. When used in extremely strong concentrations it was even found to cause cancer in experiments with laboratory rodents. Although many say it’s safe when used in the recommend 2% or 4% versions, many others take the approach that “’it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Kojic Acid Gel
Right now this is probably the hottest skin lightening product on the market. Kojic acid has been used by the Japanese for a very long time for all sorts of things including food. But it wasn’t until the 90’s when they discovered it’s whitening effect. Since then, it has really skyrocketed in popularity. The reason? Well, it comes from mushrooms so it’s considered by many to be the more natural choice. Also, unlike hydroquinone, the results shouldn’t be permanent. In other words, you can stop using the kojic acid product and your skin should return to normal. The last thing you want is a skin bleaching disaster, so that’s why many people are opting for the kojic based products instead.