Since everyone’s skin is unique, it’s important for you to follow the proper skincare routine to ensure that your skin is as stunning and flawless as possible. Unfortunately, several skin conditions and/or concerns tend to make people feel like they don’t have the skin they would like to have. Mild acne, dry skin, oily skin, bright skin, or uneven skin tone may make anyone feel like they need to change their face care routine to get better results. We understand those concerns because we’ve had them from time to time ourselves.
For some people, they may need to brighten or lighten the skin. Although these two skincare regimens sound familiar to one another, there is actually a difference from lightening your skin to brightening your skin. That’s why we’ve decided to do a deep dive into the subject. A guide that will help everyone achieve better-looking skin—at least, that’s our hope.
What Does Brightening The Skin Mean?
Before we can begin this article, however, we’re going to have to define our terms. And the first term that we’re going to define is what skin brightening actually means. Bright skin is when your skin looks luminous and radiant. In other words, that means that the skin has a smooth texture and a tight composition to it. If the skin is discolored, rough, or unevenly textured, then the skin looks very dull. And dull is the exact opposite of bright.
Causes Of Skin Dulling
In order to understand how skin brightening solves the problem of dull skin, we first have to examine some of the conditions or issues that prevent people from having bright skin. Below are some of the conditions that cause people’s skin to dull and lose brightness.
Dark Spots
One of the first conditions that dull skin is dark spots. These are when spots of the skin are darker than the surrounding skin. This is usually caused by too much exposure to the sun or even sun damage, but it can also be caused by other conditions including skin inflammation and fluctuations in hormone levels as well.
Hyper-Pigmentation
Another condition we’d like to talk about is hyper-pigmentation. This is when the skin produces too much melanin—the skin’s natural pigment. This condition can also be caused by overexposure to the sun or UV damage, but it can also be caused by hormonal imbalances, acne, and skin inflammation.
Skin Brightening Products
Now that we’ve covered some of the conditions of skin dulling, let’s examine some of the ingredients that can be found in skin brightening products and see what they contribute to the product’s overall chemical composition.
The main ingredient that’s used for skin brightening products is hyaluronic acid. However, that only tells one part of the story because hyaluronic acid actually is available in one of three different formulations: Micro, Macro, and Cross-Linked hyaluronic acids. Let’s take a closer look at each of them before moving on.
Micro Hyaluronic Acid
This form of the acid penetrates deeper into the skin than Macro hyaluronic acid and is used to promote deep tissue hydration.
Macro Hyaluronic Acid
This form of this acid is used for keeping moisture from escaping the skin. This creates a full, healthy skin appearance.
Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid
This form of hyaluronic acid works with both micro and macro formulations to lock in moisture that the skin retains. This allows for long-term hydration of the skin.
What Does Skin Lightening Mean?
Skin lightening is similar to skin brightening but with a few caveats. Contrary to popular belief, skin lightening does not address the actual color of the skin but instead addresses the balance of the person’s skin pigmentation. In other words, skin lightening balances pigmentation by making the skin appear5 lighter and by balancing melanin levels.
Skin Lightening Products
Skin lightening products work to lessen the effects of dark spots and hyper-pigmentation. Some of the products in this category include skin lightening soaps, salves, and creams. These products work by using ingredients such as Kojic acid, papaya, and Vitamin C to correct skin tone and even out skin appearance.
How Safe Is Skin Lightening?
A question that’s frequently asked is if skin lightening is a safe procedure. And to that effect, we have to say that it depends. Actual skin lightening products such as skin lightening soaps are extremely safe to use because they only work to correct the skin not to change its appearance entirely.
On the other hand, products that contain hydroquinone or bleach should be avoided entirely. That’s because these products tend to bleach out the skin completely. It’s also a concern that hydroquinone might contain ingredients that are harmful to human health. Therefore, it’s best to stick with skin lighteners and avoid skin bleaching products.
Taking Care Of Your Skin
We would like to conclude this article by talking about how you can take better care of your skin. After all, it doesn’t matter if you buy the best skin brightening and skin lightening products in the world if you’re not taking proper care of your skin. Below are some things that you should think about as you begin your journey towards brighter, more perfect skin.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking is extremely harmful to the skin. It prevents oxygen from getting to the skin, causes a drop in natural Vitamin C levels, and can cause irreparable damage to the skin.
Avoid Too Much Sun
Sunlight can also cause a lot of damage to the skin, so you should try to limit sun exposure as much as possible. And when you do go out into the sun, make sure to use a quality sunscreen.
Always Wash Your Face Before Bed
It’s always a good idea to wash your face before you retire to bed. Dirt, dust, and urban pollutants can clog up your skin’s pores and this can lead to breakouts or skin blemishes. Washing your face before bed clears pores and restores skin back to its original condition. It also allows you to wake up in the morning looking refreshed.
