Skin Lightening Recipes from M. Young's Great Book of Secrets, 1878
Freckles.
Muriate of ammonia half a drachm, lavender water two drachms, rain water half a pint. Applied with a sponge two or three times a day.
Balm of Beauty.
Pure soft water, one quart; pulverized Castile soap, four ounces; emulsion of bitter almonds, six ounces; rose and orange flower waters, of each, eight ounces; tincture of benzoin, two drachms; borax, one drachm; add five grains bichloride of mercury to every eight ounces of the mixture. (ED: Do not use bichloride of mercury.) To use, apply on a cotton or linen to the face, etc.