Why brightening your skin (with clean ingredients) is here to stay!
What are the best products for brightening the skin?
At A Life of Beauty, “best” means beautiful, safe, AND high performing.
If you’ve ever experienced dark spots on your skin after sun exposure, continue reading to find out more about the causes, prevention, and treatment PLUS ingredient safety when taking care of these spots.
HOW ARE DARK SPOTS FORMED?
1. Melanocytes are stimulated
2. Excess Melanin is produced
3. Melanin deposits form dark spots
Melanin is a broad term for a group of natural pigments. It is produced by cells called melanocytes and acts as a form of protection for skin.
When dark spots form, your skin produces excess melanin which forms deposits, creating spots and patches darker in color than the surrounding skin.
THREE OF THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF EXCESS MELANIN PRODUCTION ARE SUN EXPOSURE, HORMONES, AND INFLAMMATION.
Sun Exposure is the number one cause of dark spots. When stimulated by harmful UV rays, melanocytes react by releasing melanin. Suntanning occurs because exposure to sunlight causes the skin to produce more melanin and to therefore, darken.
Melasma is a deeper form of hyperpigmentation most often seen in women and caused by hormonal flunctuations and imbalances. It is often seen during pregnancy, hormonal therapies or changes in birth control. Typically, the pattern of deposits are seen on the forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and jawline and is referred to as the “mask of pregnancy”. When trying to minimize the appearance of melasma or treat it, remember that heat, sun exposure, and hormones are all contributing factors.
The third most common cause is inflammation. Inflammation can occur from things such as injury, acne, rosacea, eczema, and any other type of rash or reaction. After a wound occurs, the skin’s natural reaction is to become inflamed and, as it heals, the skin naturally produces excess melanin which darkens the skin. This is called “post inflammatory hyperpigmentation”.
PREVENTION
If your CAUSE is the SUN
Avoiding sun exposure
Using sun protection (sunscreen, clothing, etc.) SPF Protection (non-nano zinc oxide) & Avoiding Nano zinc oxides (small particles) which can penetrate the skin and
oxybenzone which can harm coral reef.
If your CAUSE is HORMONES
Avoid hormone disruptors (occurring in food, personal care products, environment, etc.) such as Parabens & Pthalates & BPA(mimic estrogen)
Avoid other causes while in a hormone disruptive state
If your CAUSE is INFLAMMATION
Proper skin care routine for Treating the cause of the inflammation (for example, acne, eczema, rosacea)
Avoid injury...if you have an injury, protect it! Sun exposure will increase the likelihood of PIH
TREATMENTS
PRODUCTS:
Act on the surface to exfoliate, treat, and protect the skin. They may also be absorbed systemically.
EXFOLIATE / TREAT / PROTECT
Exfoliants: Peels, scrubs, and masks.
Treatments: Ingredients that stimulate Collagen production (Omegas, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Peptides, and Amino Acids), Ingredients that stimulate Brightening (Licorice Root, Acids such as Phytic, Lactic, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) ...
Protection: Antioxidants (vitamin C, turmeric, fruit extracts), SPF Protection (non-nano zinc oxide)
Avoid ingredients that can cause:
Hormone disruption (such as Parabens & Phthalates (mimic estrogen), Irritation (such as Retinol & Sulphates), and Developmental Toxicity (such as Parabens and Fragrance)
In sunscreen, avoid Nano zinc oxides (small particles) which can penetrate the skin and oxybenzone which can harm coral reef.
MICRODERMABRASION:
Look for Diamond tip with interchangeable tip options and avoid “sand blasters” and crystal tip.
LIGHT AND LASER THERAPIES:
IPL or Laser depending on the type of pigment.
Look for certified/experienced technicians
INGREDIENT SAFETY
When it comes to “safe” we’re talking free from: fragrance, Parabens, phthalates, heavy metals...the list goes on and on.
One of the most important ingredients to be aware of when looking to lighten dark spots is Hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is used to lighten dark spots on the skin such as age spots, liver spots or freckles. However, Health Canada recommends that products for use on the skin that contain high concentrations of hydroquinone be used with caution and only under the supervision of a health care professional. (Source: Health Canada reminds Canadians to consult a health professional before using high-concentration hydroquinone products - Canada.ca)
The Government of Canada has declared hydroquinone "toxic" as defined under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Read more about Hydroquinone here. Hydroquinone - Canada.ca
According to a CBC Marketplace news article from 2020 Mercury and hydroquinone, in particular, are possible carcinogens and can cause severe skin issues with prolonged use.
(Article link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/marketplace-skin-whitening-lightening-beauty-shadism-1.5454257)
Read more here: Unauthorized skin lightening health products may pose serious health risks - Canada.ca
Why Beautycounter’s New All Bright Collection is the best option for skin brightening:
Get your brightening benefits without the concern. Beautycounter, takes safety seriously. Over 1,800 ingredients are never used in their formulations—called The Never List™—they go above and beyond to screen every ingredient against their high standards in pursuit of clean beauty.
This ultra-potent 10% blend of two forms of vitamin C, turmeric, and camu camu instantly brightens skin and helps even skin tone. The antioxidant-rich formula also helps defend skin from the damaging effects of environmental stressors, revealing a more youthful-looking complexion.
Benefits:
• Brightening: A unique blend of two ultra-stable forms of vitamin C delivers a supercharged 10% potency
• Quick-absorbing: Our quick-absorbing formula allows for easy layering and an instant boost of radiance
• Glow-boosting: Leaves skin glowing and promotes an even skin tone
Clinically proven to:*
• Even skin tone
• Improve skin radiance/brightness
Made with a powerful blend of AHAs, beta hydroxy acid, kombucha, and niacinamide, this hardworking toner exfoliates and reveals a glowing complexion; while refining pores, too!
Benefits:
• Brightening: Improves skin brightness*, leaving skin soft, smooth, and glowing
• Pore-refining: Helps minimize and improve the appearance of pores
• Resurfacing: Resurfaces dull, tired skin with 8% AHA and 5% phytic acid
• Purifying: Removes residual dirt and impurities
Featured Ingredients:
• Niacinamide + Salicylic Acid (Beta Hydroxy Acid) Blend: Helps improve the appearance of dark spots and brighten skin
• AHA Complex: Blend of glycolic and lactic acids exfoliates dead skin to stimulate cell turnover
• Phytic Acid: Exfoliates to aid in cell turnover to help skin breathe for a natural glow
• Kombucha: Fermented black tea, which helps smooth skin and improve skin radiance
Clinically proven to:
• Improve the appearance of pores**
• Improve skin brightness*