How to Make Your Skin Lighter
Before making your skin lighter, it's important to prevent your skin from turning darker in the first place. You can do this by using sunscreen, exfoliating regularly, and protecting your skin from environmental pollutants. Prevention is key since lightening your skin is often a lengthy and intensive process that can be avoided in the first place.
1. Use Preventative Sun Care
Most of the uneven skin issues such as age spots, melasma, and PIH can be aggravated or triggered by prolonged UV exposure. UV radiation generates free radicals, which stimulates melanin production to protect the skin from these harmful rays.
That’s why UV exposure creates a vicious cycle: Increased sun exposure promotes melanin levels in the skin, which causes darker skin. Existing hyperpigmentation may turn darker while new age spots, freckles, or melasma flare-ups may occur.
As such, you should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 and above to prevent your skin from turning darker in the first place. Even if you are indoors, your skin is still susceptible to UVA rays which can pass through the windows. This means that whether you are indoors or outdoors, you should apply sunscreen on your face and body, particularly your neck, hands, and legs. You should also use a hat and a pair of sunglasses when you're outside for added protection against UV-induced pigmentation.
2. Exfoliate Your Skin Regularly
The keratinocytes in the top layer of the epidermis are renewed every four weeks. In other words, without regular exfoliation, dead skin cells are likely sitting on top of your skin right now. Besides making your skin dull, it's also causing your skin tone and blemishes to take a longer time to lighten.
Using physical and chemical exfoliants in your skincare routine will help to lighten your skin at a quicker rate since melanin is expressed in the keratinocytes. Physical exfoliants target the uppermost layer of the skin, thanks to their mechanical motions, which makes it great for superficial discoloration issues.
Chemical peels that contain skin-brightening ingredients like beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) can penetrate deeper into the dermis. This makes it ideal for addressing more stubborn blemishes. Chemical exfoliants also do not use abrasive motions which means they are great for sensitive skin types.
Clarify face mask combines both physical and chemical exfoliants in one product. It contains bamboo beads and activated charcoal to lightly exfoliate and draw out impurities without over-sensitizing your skin. Besides that, salicylic acid is added to penetrate deeply into your skin for a deep cleanse.
If you’re a fan of AHAs, choose the Revitalise Face Polish instead. It’s infused with glycolic acid to clear out clogged pores and remove dead skin cells. Moisturizing PENTAVITIN®, vitamin E, aloe, and jojoba seed oil are also added to keep your skin supple and clear.
3. Protect Your Skin Barrier From Environmental Pollutants
You may have noticed a surge in anti-pollution skincare products recently and wonder if your skin needs them too. The answer is a definite yes.
Since most of us are living in urban areas, your skin is constantly at risk from pollutants like smog, radiation, chemicals, and even the blue light emitting from your smartphone and tablet.
Pollutants are the antithesis of healthy skin since they generate free radicals, which not only encourage premature skin aging, but also increase melanin production. A 2007 study by the Department of Medical Physics at the University of Applied Sciences TFH Berlin explained that this is because melanin acts as a defense against free radicals.
It’s thus increasingly important to use the right products that will protect your skin from such pollutants to prevent your skin from turning darker. Top it off with the revitalise face moisturiser, which provides added protection against free radical-causing pollutants.
4. Use Skin-Lightening Products in Your Skincare Routine
After taking the necessary steps that will prevent your current skin tone from turning darker, it’s time to go in-depth on what you can do to make your skin lighter.
Incorporating skincare products that contain skin lighteners in your routine is a definite must. When choosing a skin-lightening product, make sure it contains at least one of these ingredients:
Azelaic acid: This popular skin ingredient is highly effective in lightening your skin without adverse skin complications. 20% azelaic acid is said to be as effective as 4% hydroquinone in treating melasma but without negative side effects.
Arbutin: This substance can be derived from the bearberry, blueberry, cranberry, and pear trees. The Shiseido Research Center in Yokohama, Japan has found that arbutin inhibits melanosomal tyrosinase activity which makes it an effective skin-lightening agent.
Bergamot: A 2019 study published in the Journal of Food Science and Nutrition pointed out the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of bergamot which help to reduce and prevent oxidative stress to the cells.
Kojic acid: According to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, 2% kojic acid is safe for use as a depigmenting ingredient in cosmetics.
Lactic acid: A 2014 clinical study conducted by the Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital and the Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences showed the effectiveness of 82% lactic acid peels in improving melasma significantly. Lactic acid also did not cause any side effects besides burning and was able to maintain the improved skin tone three months after the peel was done.
Mulberry: The leaves of the mulberry plant contain polyphenols that have depigmentation properties. In a 2011 study by the Pharmaceutical Informatics Institute of Zhejiang University, the mulberry leaves showed an inhibitory effect of the tyrosinase enzyme, which makes it a natural skin lightener.
Niacinamide: Based on a 2002 study by the Research and Development Department of Procter & Gamble Far East in Japan, niacinamide is a proven candidate as a skin-lightening agent given that it can inhibit melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes.
After putting on all your skincare products, apply an overnight face mask as the last step of your routine to seal in all the goodness. The sleeping mask will also work its hydrating and restorative powers as you sleep. To further boost a lightening effect on your skin, go for a face mask that also contains skin lightening ingredients.
5. Eat Antioxidant-Rich Foods
Since free radicals stimulate the production of more melanin, it’s important to consume more antioxidant-rich foods. This is because antioxidants counteract the harmful effects of free radicals by donating an electron to stabilize them. As such, the free radicals are neutralized, which could downplay melanogenesis.
Antioxidants are naturally synthesized in your body or could be supplemented through external sources by eating antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables or taking oral supplements. The primary antioxidants you should include in your diet are vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and selenium.
To choose foods rich in these vitamins, go for:
Berries like Kakadu plums, blueberries, strawberries
Citrus fruits like oranges, kiwis, and lemons
Dark leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach
If you’re interested in oral supplements, try “beauty-from-within” skin supplement which contains carotenoids from lycopene and vitamin C. These two potent antioxidants work in tandem to combat free radical damage and make your skin lighter over time.
