How to Keep Skin White During the Summer

While Americans are enjoying tanner skin thanks to the summer heat, not everyone wants that sun-kissed glow--and in my native Korea, most women would rather look as white as Snow White instead of showing a hint of color.

Now, I've found the perfect skincare routine that helps me retain my milky white complexion during the summer--and here's how you can too. It's certifiably 100% free of dangerous bleaching creams too.

Invest in a Good Skin Whitening Mask

As well as keeping my skin protected from the sun's rays, I also like to enhance my pale skin with a cooling, moisturizing whitening face mask. Every two to three days, you'll see me on my couch, relaxing with a wash-off rice face mask that helps lighten my skin tone naturally.

Unfortunately, not all face mask companies like to use safe, natural ingredients to create a lighter, blemish-free complexion. Many skin whitening agents use a chemical called hydroquinone, according to WebMD.com, which is effective for turning skin pale but at a not-so-friendly cost--an increased risk of cancer. Other alternatives also include arbutin and kojic acid, but arbutin too has been linked with a possible risk of cancer.

For me, I choose only the safest alternatives--such as rice powder and pearl powder, which create a temporary, pale glow while making my skin baby soft.

Forget About Shorts and Tank Tops

Your skin tans because of sun exposure, so your easiest solution to stop it is by covering up the areas that are more likely to get sun exposure, such as your arms and legs.

Luckily, I live in Minnesota where the temperatures don't get staggeringly high--but I'll deal with a little sweat and discomfort in order to protect my skin from burning up (my skin also gets red from sun exposure). On typical summer days, you won't see me outside without a large, wide-brimmed hat and a loose, silky long-sleeved shirt.

Limit Sun Exposure During the Day

Thanks to my freelancing lifestyle, I spend most of my days indoors, but I still remain vigilant about my skincare needs by keeping sun exposure to a minimum when I do experience those tastefully warm sun rays.

To retain milky white skin, you too should seek shade instead of sun whenever you can--by eating under a tree instead of in an open field, wearing sunglasses, and opting to exercise indoors instead of outdoors. All of these measures seem extreme, but it's the best step you can take to preserving your natural skin color (as well as decreasing your risk of skin cancer).