Facial hair can be a cause of concern for many young women. Some of us learn to live with it while some of us are bothered by it. There are certainly many ways to get rid of facial hair – waxing, threading, laser hair removal, epilating, plucking, tweezing, and shaving. While most of these methods of hair removal are temporary and quite painful, to say the easiest, hassle-free, and pain-free way of lightening and getting rid of facial hair is facial bleach. While it doesn’t particularly ‘get rid’ of facial hair, it does minimize its appearance. And, it’s definitely worth a shot if facial hair is something that affects you.
What Causes Excessive Facial Hair?
Due to hormonal imbalances and other external factors, some people suffer from excessive hair growth. This hair growth could manifest on your body or your face. Classic symptoms of hormonal imbalance include excessive facial hair and thick hair along the jawline and chin. If this is the kind of hair growth you’ve been noticing, it would be a good idea for you to consult your doctor immediately.
What Is Facial Bleach? What Are The Ingredients In Face Bleach Creams?
Bleach cream is essentially made using chemicals. Ingredients like sodium hypochlorite are used to lighten the appearance of facial hair. If you have sensitive skin, it is possible that the chemicals present in bleaching creams may irritate you. Therefore, it is advised you do a patch test on your arm one or two days prior to applying bleach.
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Why Should You Bleach Your Skin?
If you have a little bit of facial hair or that peach fuzz on your face, a pain-free and cheaper solution to laser hair removal is face bleaching. If you don’t want to wax your face (remember, it can damage your skin, cause wrinkles, and premature ageing!), and don’t want to spend large amounts of money on laser hair removal, face bleaching at home is a great alternative. It can be done in the comfort of your own home and it’s not necessarily confined to your face. You could bleach your back, hands, legs, and stomach too. While it’s quick, cost-effective, and doesn’t require you to go to a parlour, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before you take the plunge. We will get to the benefits of bleaching in the next section.
What Are The Benefits Of Bleaching Your Skin?
Lightens Facial Hair
Bleaching your face lightens your facial hair, and turns the hair to a light golden colour. This makes the facial hair less noticeable from a distance. It only takes 10 to 15 minutes, to lighten all the hair on your face or any other area you apply the bleach. This includes all kinds of hair, thin, thick, small or long! But, be careful when you apply bleach near your eyebrows and along your hairline, you don’t want to end up with bleached roots!
Gets Rid Of Tan And Uneven Skin
Because of the ingredients present in bleach, it also helps get rid of tan and any uneven patches. It even brightens your complexion by reducing the appearance of facial hair, and by brightening any sallow skin on your face and body. This ‘glow’ or ‘bright skin’ factor is basically a result of the dead skin cells on the upper layer of your skin getting exfoliated as you wipe off the bleach cream.
Brightens Skin
Because bleach lightens the appearance of facial hair, it gives off the appearance of an overall brightened face. While the black hair along the jawline and the cheeks are visible, sometimes the small, almost invisible, hair on your forehead or your nose goes unnoticed. Bleaching lightens all the hair on your face, even the areas where the hair was barely visible, making you look instantly brighter and fairer.
Reduces Blemishes And Pigmentation
Bleach is known to help lighten blemishes and pigmentation because it clears the first layer of your skin of all the dirt, dust, and oil that’s clogging your pores. It also lightens the appearance of blackheads, whiteheads, blemishes, and pigmentation. Since the first layer of skin is sloughed off, the scars and blemishes appear less prominent. Plus, it can also give your face a glow and get rid of tan.
Less Painful
Bleaching is the least painful way of getting rid of or lightening facial hair. It does not hurt or burn or tug your skin as waxing does. It does not cause you any discomfort apart from a mild stinging sensation for the first 1 minute. So, here is the ultimate guide to bleaching facial hair; follow these tips to ensure your skin doesn’t have a bad reaction, and to make sure your facial hair doesn’t turn that weird shade of orange blonde! Don’t worry, we’ll help you make sure it looks natural.
What Are The Side Effects Of Bleaching Your Skin?
Because of the chemicals present in bleach, it is advised that you proceed with caution. Some skin types do not have a tolerance for bleach, and their skin could react adversely. Some of the side effects of bleach are as follows:
Contains Chemicals
Because of chemical ingredients like sodium hypochlorite, some people choose to stay away from the product. And it’s okay if you don’t want to subject your skin to harmful chemicals and bleaching agents. There are other ways of hair removal for you.
May Cause Allergic Reactions
Bleach is quite strong, and people with a sensitive skin type may not be able to tolerate bleach on their skin. It may cause pimples, in some cases and could also burn or damage your skin. It is always advised to do a patch test before using bleach on your skin.
May Cause Sun Damage
It is advised to stay indoors and away from the sun for a day or two after you have bleached your skin. This is because bleach makes your skin more susceptible to sun damage. If you must absolutely step out in the sun, wear sunscreen, and diligently reapply it every 3 hours! Additionally, wear protective clothing to shield yourself from the sun like a scarf or a hat.
May Cause Tingling And Irritation
When you apply bleach on your skin, it causes a tingling and an itchy sensation for the first few minutes. Many people may not be used to this discomfort and therefore may not like the feeling. But, the thing to remember is that a little bit of tingling is only normal. However, if your skin feels like it’s about to burn – wash off the bleach with cold water immediately.
May Burn Skin If Left On For Too Long
Bleaching agents present in bleaching powder are not meant to be left on your skin for extended periods of time. Follow the instructions written on the box. If it says to wash off after 15 minutes, set a timer and ensure that you do that. You can even wipe off a small area and see if your hair is bleached and can then wash it off before the prescribed time. Listen to your skin. While a few people may have a high tolerance level, others may not.
Important Bleaching Tips You Should Know Of
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Keep these tips in mind the next time you decide to bleach your skin.
- Be wary of your products. Please use trusted over-the-counter products. Some good quality brands for bleaching your face are Fem, Jolene, Oxy Bleach, and Oxy Glow. Looking for the best face bleach in India? Click here
- Look at the formula. Most brands come with different types designed for your skin tone or type. If you have sensitive skin, ensure you pick up the right product.
- ALWAYS do a patch test. Apply a small patch on your arm or leg before applying it to your face to make sure your skin doesn’t react to it. You don’t want to end up with a terrible rash on your face. This way you can be sure that the bleach suits your skin.
- Apply it externally only. Don’t get it inside your eyes, nose or ears.
- Avoid irritation. Be careful not to apply bleach to already-irritated skin or on warts, moles, and abrasions.
- It WILL tingle. Your face will tingle when you have bleach on and we’re not going to lie – it doesn’t feel very pleasant, but it just means it’s working. If it continues to tingle and burn a lot, though, wash it off immediately.
Things To Keep In Mind Before You Bleach Your Skin
- Don’t apply bleach to broken or irritated skin. This means that if you have active acne then you should not be bleaching your skin. The same rule applies if you have any open wounds or broken skin.
- Don’t use any harsh abrasive cleansers before or after you bleach your skin. The bleach will make your skin more sensitive and the use of harsh cleansers will add to the irritation.
- Make sure that your skin is able to tolerate the process of bleaching. This means that you should perform a patch test on your arm or neck 48 hours prior to applying the bleach on any other larger parts of your body. The 48-hour window is a safety net. If the bleached patch shows no signs of irritation, chances are that your skin won’t react negatively to being bleached.
- Apply bleach only to the areas you want to bleach. Carefully protect areas like your eyebrows and the hair on your head from the bleach.
- Keep your clothes away from bleach as it can stain them and damage them. Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse the damage that bleach can do to clothes. So it would be best if you wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting a little stained.
- Keep a cube of ice handy. Even chilled rose water or regular water works well. And, if you have a cold compress, that works too! Rub the ice cube on your skin if the irritation is unbearable after the bleaching.
How To Bleach Your Skin At Home – Steps / Tutorial
Bleaching your skin and face is really not that hard. It is often given a bad rep for being too intense or too complex but the process is fairly easy. Most brands have precise measurements and a clear set of instructions that need to be followed. Before you begin bleaching your face, make sure to tie your hair up, and away from your face, and wear a headband – you don’t want to accidentally bleach any of your strands, right?! Also, prep your skin by making sure it’s cleaned well.
Step 1: Read the instructions and mix up the powder and cream with the spatula provided. (Though you may find it easier to use a bowl and your fingers.)
Step 2: Now apply the mixture on your face with the spatula or your fingers. It should be applied evenly ALL over your face (except around the eyes) and not just on the patches with hair – this will ensure an even skin tone. (Be careful not to get any on your eyebrows!)
Step 3: Once you have applied it, don’t rub it. Leave it on for anywhere between 8 to 15 minutes. This depends on your skin tone. It’s smart to remove a small patch after about 8 minutes to check and then determine how much longer you want to keep it on.
Step 4: Dip cotton balls in cool water and gently wipe the bleach from your face. Once you have wiped it all off, splash your face thoroughly with cool water.
Step 5: Pat dry. If your skin is sensitive or prone to acne, you should run a cube of ice all over your face to soothe it and avoid redness. Finish off with a fragrance-free moisturizer. We told you it was easy!
Things To Keep In Mind After You Bleach Your Skin
Stay sun safe. Do not step out in the sun after you’ve bleached. It’s safer to bleach after sunset to avoid pigmentation. Also, once you have bleached, you need to be even more careful about sun exposure and be meticulous when it comes to SPF-protection. Don’t compromise on the sunscreen! Don’t bleach your face too frequently as that could damage your skin. Once every 4 to 8 weeks is more than enough. Your hair may start darkening within a few weeks, so make sure to stock up on your bleach, and repeat the process every 4 to 8 weeks.
Types Of Bleach
There are numerous types of bleach available in the market. You can pick and choose from herbal, fruit, or regular bleach. While all of them perform the same function – the ingredients in a herbal bleach are usually the mildest and safest. Fruit bleach is made using fruit extracts that have different benefits for your skin.
How To Bleach Your Skin Naturally
If you don’t want to subject your skin to the chemicals that bleach contains you can look at natural home remedies to bleach your skin. A lot of conventional kitchen ingredients have skin lightening and bleaching properties and can be used to lighten your skin and hair. Ingredients like lemon, papaya, turmeric, gram flour, tomato, and potato work really well. While these remedies may not work to lighten hair as well as regular bleach, they will brighten your skin and can be used to bleach your skin naturally at home. Now that you know the ingredients needed to bleach your skin, you’re probably wondering how to bleach your skin naturally, right? Here are a few recipes that you can whip up in your kitchen and use as often as you’d like to get rid of tanning, darkness, and brighten your overall dull skin.
Lemons
Lemons are acidic in nature and also rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to brighten skin, fade blemishes, lighten the tan, and stimulate the production of new skin cells. The juice of lemons can be used on your skin and hair in hair masks and face masks and can prove to be highly beneficial. A fuss-free way to brighten your skin and fade your tan and blemishes would be to use the juice of a lemon on your skin a few times a week as a face mask. Here’s what you need to do:
- Squeeze the juice of 1 lime into a small bowl
- Apply this juice as a face mask
Use a cotton pad or a makeup brush to apply this to cleansed skin. Let it sit for an hour before rinsing it off with cold water. Moisturise well once you wash your face.
Turmeric
Turmeric is nature’s own antiseptic. It brightens your skin, lightens any blemishes and pigmentation, and it also helps get rid of acne and acne-causing bacteria. It has antioxidants that help maintain the health of your skin. Use turmeric on a daily basis and leave it on for as long as you would like. It will help heal and brighten your skin while keeping problems like acne and blackheads away. Here’s what you will need:
- 1/2 tbsp turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp milk or gram flour or lemon juice
Make a paste of all the ingredients and apply it all over your skin. Leave it on for 20 to 25 minutes or until completely dry. Wash it off with lukewarm water and remember to moisturize your skin after.
Gram Flour
Gram flour is not only a great cooking ingredient, but it also makes for a wonderful homemade face pack. A face pack made out of gram flour not only brightens your skin but also used keeps any facial hair or any other unwanted hair on your body at bay. It also helps rid your skin of excess oil, blackheads, whiteheads, and tan. Making a face mask using gram flour is actually pretty easy. Check it out! Here’s what you need to do:
- 1 tbsp gram flour
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp rose water or milk or plain water
Make a paste of all the ingredients and apply it all over your skin. Leave it on for 20 to 25 minutes or till the pack is 80% dry. Rub this off your face in upward circular motions. This may seem a little irritating to your skin but it is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of facial hair naturally. It works exceptionally well on the peach fuzz that you can see on the edges of your face. If you do this regularly, you can completely get rid of facial hair for good!
Potatoes
Carbs to the rescue! The bad news – all the dieticians were right, these are not good carbs you should be consuming on a daily basis. The good news? Potatoes are highly beneficial when used in skincare. Sorry, kiss those french fries goodbye, and juice a potato instead. The juice from potatoes helps lighten your complexion, fade scars, and gets rid of dark circles. It also tones your skin and serves as a treat for your pores. Here’s what you need to do
- 1-2tbsp potato juice
- ½ tsp lime juice
Grate a potato and squeeze out its juice in a small bowl. If you want you can add lime juice to this mixture. Use a cotton pad or a makeup brush to apply a light layer of juice all over your face or to any areas that need brightening. If you want to use potato juice as a remedy for brightening up dark circles, use a cotton pad cut up in two halves. Dip these into the juice and place them under your eyes. Leave this mixture on your face or eyes for about an hour. Rinse off with cold water and moisturize!
Honey
Honey is not only a great natural bleaching agent but also a great humectant. This means that it will attract moisture to your skin while effectively working to lighten it. It’s commonly used as an ingredient in makeup and beauty products to nourish and hydrate your skin naturally. It is also antibacterial and contains healing properties that work to soothe, heal, and fade acne, scars, and blemishes. Here’s what you need to do
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp milk powder
Make a paste of all these ingredients and apply it to your cleansed face. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off. Do this daily and you’ll notice an immediate change in the way your skin looks and feels!
Best Options For Face Bleach Available In India
There are numerous options when it comes to face bleach creams. There are fruit-based bleach creams and then there are salon-like face bleaching creams. The ingredients differ but the end result is always the same. Find a bleach that has ingredients that you know are beneficial for your skin. Here are the best face bleach creams you can buy in India!
- Jolen Crème Bleach (Rs 270)
- Oxylife Natural Radiance 5 Creme Bleach (Rs 158)
- VLCC Insta Glow Diamond Bleach (Rs 60)
- O3+ Meladerm Vitamin C Gel Bleach for Skin Whitening and Hair Lightening (Rs 550)
- Fem Fairness Naturals Gold Skin Bleach (Rs 64)
- VLCC Fair Skin Insta Oxygen Bleach (Rs 158)
- Dabur Fem Turmeric Body Bleach (Rs 375)
- Oxyglow Golden Glow Papaya Bleach (Rs 143)
- Richfeel Luxury Gold Bleach kit (Rs 145)
FAQ’s About Bleaching
Is Bleach Harmful For Your Skin?
Well yes, it does contain chemicals so long-term use may damage your skin. It’s not advisable to use bleach too frequently. This will help minimize any damage to your skin. If you don’t use sunscreen after using bleach, your skin may suffer sun damage. Therefore always proceed with caution while using such ingredients.
How Often Can I Bleach My Skin?
Once every 4 to 8 weeks is fine. Once every 4 weeks is also fine, don’t bleach it more frequently than that, and always remember to use sunscreen after.
How Can I Bleach My Skin?
There are only two ways of bleaching your skin. The first method is to use the multiple face bleaching creams available in the market and the second is to bleach your skin naturally using home remedies.
I Have Sensitive Skin. Should I Use Bleach? What Should I Do?
If you have very sensitive skin, do a patch test on your arm or elbow before you bleach your face. Test the bleach in a small area about 48 hours prior. Wait for 2 days and see if your skin reacts badly. If it gives you a rash, makes you itch or makes your skin burn then avoid using the bleach altogether. But, if it does not, you can safely use it on your skin. You can anyway keep an ice cube handy for sensitive skin. Once you have bleached, rinse off using cold water and run the ice cube all over the bleached area. The cool from the ice will counteract any redness, itchiness, and irritation as a result of the bleach. It will also tighten your pores and give your skin a gorgeous glow! Yes, honestly ice is underrated. It also works to depuff your skin. Rub a cube of ice all over your face before getting ready in the morning and see what a difference it makes to your overall makeup!
What Is The Difference Between Natural Home Remedies And Face Bleach Creams?
While the store-bought face bleach creams will lighten facial hair, natural bleach home remedies will only lighten your skin.
What Is The Right Method Of Bleaching For Me? Home Remedies Or Face Bleach Cream?
This is entirely dependent on what your skin needs. If facial hair is a cause of concern for you, you would find it more beneficial to use face bleaching creams as they will lighten the appearance of your facial hair. If dull, sallow, tanned skin is a concern for you, use natural remedies for bleach instead. Common kitchen ingredients mentioned above when used as a face mask daily have natural bleaching and healing properties, and will make your skin glow!
Also Read: 6 Simple Homemade Masks To Make Your Skin Glow!
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