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Original poster

Mixed race child, accidental face lightening - pls help

32 replies

Diamondt · 19/02/2019 13:13

My daughter is 13yrs old with light mixed skin. I’ve just noticed her face is slightly lighter than her skin round the edge of her face, neck etc today. I don’t know how this has happened.
This is what she does to her face....
She loves using different types of face masks a couple of times a week. She wears foundation everyday and takes it off with face wipes either at night or in the morning.
My mum bought her for Christmas an electric Oscillation Facial Brush for her face and tea tree face wash. Her reason is to help with her getting teenage spots. She’s only used the tea tree face wash a few times, same with the face brush.
She used the Tea tree face wash and facial brush this morning. I went to see her and noticed this. I normally only see her with foundation on so don’t know if this has just happened or has been like this for days, weeks, months etc.
Really paranoid now as obviously we don’t want this to happen.
I know when I shave my legs they lighten slightly for 1/2hr or so then go back to normal, notice this more when I have a sun tan.
She’s on her way out so can’t tell her to leave her makeup off for the day and see what happens.
Am I being silly? Will it go back to normal like what happens to my legs? I’ve told her no face masks or using anything for a week on her face apart from her makeup to see.
Sorry for long msg, any advice please xxx

OP posts:
lottieleo · 19/02/2019 15:13

My daughter and even husband who's African go obviously lighter in the winter with the lack of sun.
Does her foundation have uv protection and it's being protected where her neck is not ?

Original poster
Diamondt · 19/02/2019 16:05

She gone out now so I’m not sure. Sleeping at a friends so won’t know till tomorrow at some point.
It’s not all of her face, just the part of her forehead above her eyebrows, nose, cheeks, above her lips and part of her chin. All the outside is her normal colour like her neck. She puts her foundation to her hairline so I’m thinking it’s not foundation. Masks & that brush I don’t think she uses right to the edge. Im just so confused and worried.
Really wish she was coming back today so I don’t have to wait till tomorrow. It’s so hard to describe, sorry

OP posts:
botemp · 19/02/2019 16:25

Unless she's buying cosmetics from abroad, particularly Asia, I'm guessing glycolic acid (or overuse of it) may be the culprit. Pigmented skin can have bad reactions to its use, especially if not combined with daily sunscreen use. If she has been buying from abroad, check there's no hydroquinone in anything (likely in some sort of brightening or pigmentation products).

Otherwise, check with a GP that it's not vitiligo.

Jenny17 · 19/02/2019 16:31

It's normal. Non white people do not all have skin that is the same colour.

Perhaps match the foundation to her chest.

Original poster
Diamondt · 19/02/2019 16:47

The face masks are Primark, Superdrug, Newlook. I’ve told her not to bug them from 99p/£1 shops/none English packages.
Her foundation is a named brand in Superdrug but not expensive I don’t think. I will check the ingredients above tomorrow.
If it is a product I hope ive noticed it soon enough.

OP posts:
Original poster
Diamondt · 19/02/2019 16:49

**buy not bug lol

OP posts:
anitagreen · 19/02/2019 16:51

My DD is mixed so is my son in winter she is pale but has tan patches weirdly enough that stay there, in summer she's golden all over I think it's just the places the sun hits most goes more paler this time of the year x

NaturalBornWoman · 19/02/2019 16:53

Did you say she's 13 or is that a typo?

Lucked · 19/02/2019 16:53

Could there be an spf in her creams and foundations that she is using in her face.

Original poster
Diamondt · 19/02/2019 17:35

Really Anitagreen.. I’ve never noticed this before. Hopefully it’s something as easy as this.

Yes NaturalBornWoman, She’s 13 years old.

Lucked, I don’t know, I will check her foundation when she gets home tomorrow

OP posts:
anitagreen · 19/02/2019 23:58

@Diamondt yeah it's more noticeable as she gets older but now the sun is coming out again she's tanning ever so slightly but by July she will be bronze lol

NotANotMan · 20/02/2019 13:26

You never see her without foundation? Sounds like she needs to give her skin a break from products when she's at home at least. She's 13 not 23!

JC4PMPLZ · 20/02/2019 13:29

Foundation. Whaaaaaaattttt?

Felicia4 · 20/02/2019 13:40

I'm black and have slightly different shades on my skin, most noticeable on my face in winter as I'm a bit lighter. This is because melanin levels are not always consistent across the skin so some parts may be slightly darker than others.
Same applies for those who are mixed race.
If the area is hot to touch, sore, inflamed, red, dry, flaky or has a rash, I would seek professional advice.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 20/02/2019 14:18

She’s 13 and she wears foundation everyday?

Original poster
Diamondt · 20/02/2019 14:27

Ok never is slightly over the top lol more like not often as she mainly takes her makeup off before bed and in the morning it’s back on before I’ve woken up completely.
When she’s off sch it only goes on when we go out so this week she won’t wear it as much.
Thanks Felicia4, this makes me feel a bit better.
Can’t wait for her to come home so I can see if I’ve overreacted. I don’t think it’s aggravated etc. If it is I will book an appointment.
Thank you everyone xx

OP posts:
TantricTwist · 20/02/2019 15:08

Grin at posters Shock at OP's DD wearing foundation Hmm

This is a time when so many teens will be wearing foundation as their skin goes all over the place with hormones >>rolls eyes

TantricTwist · 20/02/2019 15:20

I would say for the time being to avoid the Tea tree oil, any products with BHA salicylic acid, AHA glycolic acid, lactic acid.

She should absolutely not use face wipes ever as that just smears the dirt around.

Instead she could use a micellar water such as garnier or simple or Bioderma (my favourite as I have sensitive skin but it is the most expensive) used with cotton wool make up pads.

Making removal swift and simple for an impatient teen (and tired DM)

When she is showering or in the bath or has more time over a sink of tepid water then I would get her to start off with something mild like Neutrogena hydro boost cleanser and to gently use a flannel which will help slough off the days dead skin cells. There are no ingredients in this I can see that would compromise your DD skin.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

minesthecutest · 20/02/2019 15:21

I don't think pps are casting judgement, it is a bit much for a 13 year old to be wearing foundation all the time and especially if they've not got the confidence to leave the house without it
Half the time wearing so much slop on your face is what makes your skin worse as it is. I know from experience because I used to do this, when I stopped my skin went worse for a but before getting so so much better.
Now at 30 I never wear foundation and get compliments on my skin ( I do however havr to trowel on the concealer for the bags under my eyes Sad

minesthecutest · 20/02/2019 15:21

)

TantricTwist · 20/02/2019 15:23

She could also trying using a Pixi Rose tonic which is lovely and mild to wipe over her face after cleansing with cotton wool pads to ensure all traces of make up are gone after cleansing.

TantricTwist · 20/02/2019 15:27

It's offensive to call make up 'slop' minesthecutest and a bit childish seeing as we are on a 'style and beauty' platform Confused

But I get you are in the mood to troll today, please do so some place else and not with regards to a 13 year old.

minesthecutest · 20/02/2019 15:43

I wear makeup and I refer to it as slop when I have it on myself.
How am I trolling a 13 year old? she didn't write the post did she?

BinaryStar · 20/02/2019 15:44

If she is wearing products with SPF in them all the time it might be the case that her skin has darkened where she doesn’t have the product on from general sun exposure but hasn’t where she has.

RhymingRabbit · 20/02/2019 15:49

Have you spoken to her about it? All the areas you have identified are areas where those who can be arsed highlight for contouring. Could she have been going for a natural contour and using suncream on those specific areas. I know it sounds bonkers but apparently it is a thing!