Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with any advertisers on this site. Skin lightening might not be a familiar topic to many Americans, but it is a popular subject globally and in some U.S.

The FDA has launched an initiative warning about over-the-counter skin lightening products after receiving reports of side effects. The agency's Skin Facts! Initiative, announced last week, is aimed ...

Why are some skin-lightening ingredients harmful, and what does using these products say about colorism in the U.S.? Nyakim Gatwech is a model from South Sudan living in Minnesota. Recently on ...

Skin creams that use hydroquinone as the primary bleaching agent are some of the most popular cosmetics in Ghana, where fairness is often associated with beauty and a person’s social capital.

The skin lightening industry is filled with products containing ingredients that could literally kill you. Mercury, hydroquinone and other toxic chemicals promise brighter skin but deliver cancer, ...

The appeal of lighter skin may seem irresistible but here are the hidden dangers of bleaching creams and why you're doing more harm than good. The psychological effects behind bleaching cannot be ...

A significant body of research has repeatedly sounded the alarm, uncovering “alarmingly high levels of mercury” in numerous imported skin-lightening products readily available on the Jamaican market.

If you’ve heard the terms "skin lightening" and "skin brightening," you may be inclined to think they’re the same thing. But experts warn there are important differences, and it’s essential to ...

Many bleaching creams contain harmful chemicals like steroids, which can lead to skin thinning and other long-term health issues. [Courtesy] Every time Caroline* (not her real name) looked in the ...

That memory reinforces a truth many Jamaicans recognise but rarely confront openly: Lighter skin has long been associated ...

Skin-bleaching techniques, such as the use of skin lotions and soaps to attain a lighter skin tone, are widespread around the world, and generally motivated by cosmetic motivations or low self esteem ...

Skin care practices vary widely, and two common terms that often come up are "toning" and "bleaching." While both can alter the appearance of your skin, they are fundamentally different in their ...