We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

How do I get a Fair Complexion?

Diane Goettel
By
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

There are a number of ways to achieve a fair complexion, the healthiest of which involve using skin care products that protect the skin from sun damage and using cosmetics that help to give the skin a brighter, slightly lighter complexion. There are a number of reasons why people prefer a fair complexion, most of which are purely aesthetic. In some cases, people strive to get an even complexion, which means dealing with scarring that causes dark discoloration on skin that is otherwise fair. There are a number of treatments such as skin bleaching, skin lightening, and skin whitening that can be used to lighten the color of the skin. These procedures, however, are not always healthy and can pose other health and skin problems for people who undergo them.

One of the best ways to get or maintain a fair complexion is to avoid the sun. This does not mean never venturing out into the light of day, but one should protect the skin by wearing long sleeves and long pants. During hot seasons, this can be done by donning light fabrics such as cotton and linen. Also, avoid spending time in direct sunlight, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is the strongest.

A fair complexion can also be achieved by using topical products that include a sun protection factor (SPF). Many people who strive to achieve or protect a fair complexion use face and body creams with high SPFs. When spending time in direct sunlight, these products should be reapplied on a regular basis, especially if they are diluted when the wearer sweats or swims.

A number of natural ingredients are used in skin care products to help people achieve a fair complexion. These are generally considered to be safer for the skin, even if they do deliver less dramatic results than processes such as skin bleaching. Lotions and moisturizers made with vitamin C are believed to help achieve a fair complexion. The same is true of skin care products formulated with marshmallow extract.

Finally, a fair complexion can be achieved by using cosmetics. There are a number of cosmetics on the market that work to even out and brighten one's skin tone. These often include flecks of reflective material such as mica, which helps to make the skin look lighter and brighter.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Diane Goettel
By Diane Goettel
In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane Goettel serves as the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. Over the course, she has edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter “Sapling,” and The Adirondack Review. Diane holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Discussion Comments

By Ana1234 — On Sep 05, 2014

@croydon - That's only looking at part of the big picture though. There are countries all over the world where people strive to get their skin as fair as possible and it's partly because media glorifies pale skin.

It's all very well to talk about how keeping out of the sun is better for you in general, but you've also got people who are so desperate to get fair skin that they will use dangerous bleaching creams or untested medications that could leave them vulnerable to serious damage.

We really need to assess the way we look at beauty standards in general. There's nothing wrong with a person wanting fair skin, but the lengths to which they will go to get it is another story.

By croydon — On Sep 04, 2014

@KoiwiGal - Well, you could argue that it does have health implications, as the more sun you get the more vulnerable you are to skin cancer and skin damage in general.

But I think it's got more to do with class than it does with race. It used to be that white people wanted to be as pale as possible because it meant that they weren't having to work in the sun. Now they want to be tanned because it means they have time to go and get one at a resort. And if they don't actually have the wealth or the time, they will fake it with a fake tan.

By KoiwiGal — On Sep 03, 2014

I can understand the impulse to want an even complexion, since that's generally (although not always) a sign of good health. But I don't think it's good that our society associates fair skin with beauty. It has nothing to do with a biological imperative the way even skin tone might, as your health doesn't depend on having a fair complexion. It's basically just a racist and elitist attitude that continues even to this day.

Diane Goettel

Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane Goettel serves as the executive editor of Black...
Read more
WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.