My Journey to Whiter Skin

A lot of Filipinas have been ultimately dreaming of having a fair skin.  Thanks to colonial mentality and society, we were never able to let go of this desire.

As for me, I was just jealous of my mother’s skin tone. She’s working overseas and because of the climate there, she got white. Mestisa nga sabi ng matatanda.  But it was never my intention to actually whiten my skin.

I’ve only been obsessed with skin whitening products ever since I went to college. A month in UPLB gave me a really dark skin tone especially on my arms. We’ve described it as ombre. Not only that, it was the first time my face had actually darkened. That was the time when the lights for using skin whitening products went green.

For almost a year, I’ve been jumping from soap to soap, lotion to lotion, creams, salt scrubs, and sunblock. So far, this is the results:

BEFORE - Taken on December 5, 2014

AFTER - Taken on July 15, 2015

(Oops! Same bed sheets!)

I'm not that sure if this was taken under the same lighting because we've replaced the bulb and I can't remember if it was prior to the date BEFORE picture was taken. Even so, if you would carefully examine the pictures, my skin tone has really lightened. And I can tell you that because I've always been comparing my arms to my breasts (since it it the lightest part of my body) and there was a significant change in my arm skin tone. Even my elbow has whitened a lot!

These were the products that I have used:

• Kojie San Skin Lightening Soap (discontinued)
• Psalmstre New Placenta Soap with Goat's Milk
• C.Y. Gabriel Special Pink Soap
• Block & White Intensive Whitening in SPF 24 (discontinued)
• Nivea Intensive Moisture Body Milk (discontinued)
• A Bonne Milk Power Whitening Lotion
• Dermplus Moisturizing Sunblock in SPF 35
• Belo Ultra Gentle Sheer Spray

I've used Kojie San soap for 6 months—starting from the day I took the BEFORE picture until May. It has lightened my skin tone but I eventually stopped because I’ve noticed that my skin needs deeper lightening and Kojie San’s effect is restricted to the top layer of my skin only.

I heard that using Kojie San soap will make your skin sensitive to the sun, so I used Block & White lotion every day. I liked this lotion because it is not greasy and has a non-sticky feel. Additionally, it lasts all day that I could still smell a hint of its fragrance even after 10 hours. However, I’m not sure about its whitening capability.

I used Nivea lotion at night together with Kojie San and Block & White to moisturize my dry skin. I loved how my skin felt really soft and smooth when using this! The only reason I’ve discontinued was I wanted to use whitening lotion. But I will switch back to this after I achieve my desired skin tone.

I switched to Psalmstre soap after learning that this was the soap my neighbour uses (she has an even fair skin). I’m just on the 2nd month of using it, and so far, I’m loving the results! I have already seen a change in my skin tone. However, it dried out my skin.

Because of the good reviews online, I started using A Bonne lotion together with Placenta soap. I like how it dries easily and gives my skin an instant glow. However, my hands feel sticky when using this. Furthermore, I’m not sure if this has helped on whitening my skin.

I still can’t give reviews on C.Y. Gabriel soap because I’ve only been using it for 4 days.

NOTE: I’ll still be posting detailed reviews on this product individually. I’ll just finish my exams first.

P.S. If you love cute things, then I recommend watching Kamisama Hajimemashita seasons 1 and 2. You will surely love it!