Taking care of your skin is essential for your health and your appearance. Skincare routines benefit you in many ways.
- Your skin will appear more youthful.
- It keeps your skin healthy.
- Healthy, clear skin will boost your confidence.
Beyond the basics of skincare, there are other procedures that address deeper concerns. One such procedure is skin brightening.
Related: Skin Purging: Why and What is it?
What Does it Mean to Brighten Skin?
When we speak of skin brightening, it really means to increase your Skin’s radiance and vibrancy. The process should remove dead and dull skin cells to reveal the glowing skin underneath. This may be accomplished by using skin brightening products as a part of your skincare routine to maintain or achieve healthy, youthful skin.
How Brightening Products Work
The term “brightening” has several meanings in the skincare industry. It can mean fading, lightening, or even bleaching. The word may also be used to describe products that block pigment production or lift pigment out of the skin, like dark spots or acne scars.
Many of the best products use “brightening” to mean they can increase the rate of flaking away of the upper layer of Skin. They stimulate the regeneration of new skin cells and target dark spots. This allows the soft, radiant skin below the surface to be seen. In other words, they have the properties of an excellent exfoliator.
To know which kind of product you have, it might be best to look at the ingredient list.
Ingredients to Look Out For
The main ingredients of an effective skin brightening system may include:
- Vitamin C - This antioxidant lightens and fades for a gentler treatment for hyperpigmentation.
- Glycolic Acid - This natural exfoliant will remove your dull skin cells to reveal new skin cells and younger-looking Skin.
- Lactic Acid - This works wonders on sensitive skin.
Other excellent brighteners:
- Licorice Extract
- Vitamin B3
- Retinol
- Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids
In recent years, two new ingredients have been found to be safe and effective at lightening dark spots without bleaching or overcorrecting:
- Kojic Acid
- Melanozyme
Who Should Use Skin Brightening Products
Skin brightening products are for anyone who is experiencing any of the following:
- Dull Skin
- Sun Spots
- Acne Scars
- Hyperpigmentation
- Uneven skin tone or texture
Skin brightening products can help resolve any of these problems to bring about brighter, younger-looking, clearer skin.
Related: Knowing the Difference Between Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Are you ready to perfect your skin? The power is in your hands. Check out the product line of Perfect Image for more information.
Ingredients to Avoid
One product you may see in some brighteners that you should avoid is hydroquinone. Hydroquinone works by bleaching your Skin. While it may be safe to use for people with lighter skin tones, it can be harsh and damaging for people with darker skin tones. If you use a product with this ingredient only on the trouble areas on your face, you may end up with noticeable spotting. So, if you use it, apply the product over your entire face.
Another issue is that these products can work ‘too well.’ Your over-correction may cause your spots to become brighter than your natural skin tone.
Note: Some research suggests that the use of hydroquinone may be unsafe for your Skin in the long run.
The Benefits of Brightening
Skin brightening is incredibly beneficial for the conditions mentioned above. It will rid you of dark spots, scarring from acne, damage from sun exposure, etc.
If you have skin conditions like melasma or if you are prone to dark spots, you can use brightening products regularly to stay on top of it. Your skin condition doesn’t have to be chronic, you may have melasma only while pregnant, but brightening will still work for you.
More Than Brightening
In addition to brightening, the ingredients in most brightening products are excellent moisturizers and provide antioxidants for your Skin.
- They prevent sun damage and enhance your Skin’s natural protection.
- They combat oxidative stress to correct the signs of aging.
- They reduce inflammation to help your skin repair from all kinds of damage.
- They brighten your skin tone by inhibiting the enzyme that stimulates melanin production.
With these kinds of bonus benefits, some women may choose to use brightening products even if they don’t have any of the indicated issues. These products are fantastic at creating a natural glow.
Skin Brightening Procedures
There are times when using skin brightening products may not be effective for you. Some conditions may take longer to be resolved. If this happens, consider seeing your dermatologist to talk about skin brightening procedures.
Depending on your specific skin condition and its root causes, and your health and lifestyle, you may benefit from a professional exfoliation and products that work at deeper levels. You can get similar results from:
- Chemical peels
- Laser treatments
- Photofacials
- Intense pulsed light (IPL)
- Microdermabrasion
Chemical peels are especially useful to brighten your Skin because not only do they remove the dull, dead skin cells on the surface, they promote the production of collagen. They also reduce the appearance of pores, fade discolorations, and prevent acne.
Tips for Brighter Skin
In addition to using skin brightening products, here are more tips for brighter Skin:
- Cleanse and moisturize your Skin every daily.
- Exfoliate two or three times per week.
- Hydrate daily.
- Use broad-spectrum sun protection - SPF 30+.
- Use a face mask on occasion for skin-plumping and glow.
- Increase circulation with a face massage.
- Add more antioxidants to your diet.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Use shimmery glow lotion.
Related: The Myth of Skin Hydration
Last Word
Skin brightening products can create the look and feel you want. Not only can they sloth off the dead skin cells to reveal a youthful glow. Your confidence will soar as your Skin regains its health and becomes the envy of your friends.
Do you want your glow back? Try the skin brightening and other exceptional skincare products at Perfect Image today!