A fair clear complexion is an integral part and essential when it comes to beauty. The desire for fair and clear complexion is even noted in history such as in the 8th century Japan when women apparently pained their faces with white powder. Thanks to advances in modern technology today there are many skin lightening creams available on the market.
As we age, we are faced with many challenges when it comes to having a fair & clear skin. These challenges include dark spots, freckles and acne scars just to mention a few of the most common problems. To fully comprehend the subject at hand we must first completely understand and be able to differentiate between skin lightening and skin whitening since this is essential!
Once the difference between skin lightening and skin whitening has been clearly defined you are better prepared to make changes to your daily skincare routine to prevent skin conditions that may darken your skin. This will in turn enable you to identify which skin lightening ingredients work which will ultimately help you greatly.
Skin lightening
When we use the term skin lightening, we refer to using those products that helps us with lightening our skin colour and the process involved. This process includes in addition to the lightening of the skin the process involved with lightening acne blemishes, age spots and sunspots. The process of skin lightening often involves the process of using ingredients that restrain the melanin production which can be either natural or synthetic to achieve a lighter skin tone.
Main causes of darken skin
The root cause of darken skin is linked with melanin or better said melanin production. Skin problems such as melasma and sunspots are directly linked to melanin. In addition, post-inflammatory skin issues are also due to melanin production. So effectively both skin lightening products and skin whitening products focus on melanin production by either using more aggressive or less aggressive ingredients to achieve this.
Some ways to make your skin lighter
We will now discuss some practical steps and ways you can use to prevent your skin from darkening.
Using sunscreens and other sun protection methods
Many of the conditions that darken our skin are due to the sun. Since exposure to the sun helps to energize melanin production, issues such as sunspots and melasma can appear on the skin. Furthermore, hyperpigmentation can become darker due to exposure to UV rays from the sun. Due to this using a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 is important. In addition, using protective clothing such as hats when exposed to UV rays from the sun is another method you can prevent sun damage.
Protecting your skin barrier from pollutants
Our skin or more specifically our skin barrier is continually exposed to pollutants such as smog, radiation and chemicals. Pollutants are harmful since they generate free radicals. This not only causes premature skin ageing but at the same time causes an increase in melanin production which as we have mentioned is the root cause of skin darkening. Using skincare products such as moisturizers is one way you can tackle these issues. Using moisturizers can provide the added protection needed against harmful pollutants.
Exfoliating
Dead skin cells can accumulate on the top layer of the skin without regular exfoliation. These dead skin cells can make the skin dull and making it longer for skin blemishes and skin tone to lighten. Therefor using exfoliating products in your skincare routine is an important step that must be undertaken. They can target the top layer of the skin due to their mechanical motion which is ideal to treat discoloration issues on the surface of the skin.
Using skin lightening products
Now that we have discussed some preventive measures when it comes to darkening skin it’s time to discuss some steps to make it lighter. This means you must integrate and add skin lightening products in your skincare routine that contain ingredients necessary for skin lightening. In addition, after you have put skincare products with skin lightening ingredients you can also apply an overnight skincare mask. The sleeping mask can help you increase hydration and help with restorative powers.
