“Skin lightening cream” is an over-simplification that can be misleading.
The number of people trying to lighten their skins is far less than the numbers that are trying to rid themselves of dark, patchy skin to give an even brighter skin tone.
The pigment that gives an individual their skin colour is called Melanin.
People have a basal level of melanin production, which gives them their skin tone or colour.
However, due to the stimulation of the sun, hormones, infection or inflammation greater amounts of this pigment is produced, called Hyperpigmentation.
Regardless of the cause or type of hyperpigmentation, a skin lightening cream works by one of two methods:
• Reduce Melanin production: The clinically proven agents to do this include Alpha Arbutin, Beta Arbutin, Kojic acid, Vitamin C, Dioic acids e.g. Azelaic acid & Octadecenedioic acid, Phytic acid, Mandelic acid, Ferrulic acid , Niacinamide, Licorice extract, N acetyl glucosamine.
• Remove Melanin: These include acid exfoliators e.g. Fruit acids such as glycolic acid, citric acid, Lactic acid.
Another group of non-acid exfoliants include Retinoids which are analogues of vitamin A, including Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Retinaldehyde & Retinoic acid.
It is important for buyers to be aware that the above ingredients are established skin lighteners with the greatest scientific research to support it.
There are other issues to consider while choosing a product.
Do you have sensitive skin?
If so, do not use products containing fruit acids.
A perfect powerful cream without fruit acids is Lightenex® Gold cream.
If you have oily resistant skin, then the fruit acids are necessary to allow penetration of the skin lighteners into skin e.g. Lightenex® Gold serum with glycolic acid.
Therefore, there can never be one skin lightening cream that will be safe and effective on all skin types.
In addition, if the skin pigmentation is superficial e.g. freckles, it is unnecessary to use fruit acids, then, Lightenex® Plus cream should do the job without over- irritating the skin.
If a dry sensitive skin requires a skin lightening cream, then Lightenex® cream is excellent .
