What would it feel like to never have a dark spot on your face again? What would it feel like to have clear, even tone, glowing skin? Many of my clients I've worked with over the last decade initially thought they would never find out. They were pleasantly surprised when I helped to put them on a regimen that actually worked!
After being an esthetician for over a decade, I've come to understand some of the biggest skin challenges my client's face.
Hyperpigmentation is one of the most common conditions along with acne, especially for black people and people of color. Since our skin carries more melanin, it is more susceptible to dark spots, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and melasma.
Acne, scars left over from previous breakouts, ezcema, and heat can greatly aggravate this skin condition. When these factors are constant, this can lead to a lot of frustration among people who are already dealing with dark spots on their skin. As your skin tries to renew itself, these issues can affect the new skin cells as they rise to the surface if they're not controlled. As a result the layers of hyperpigmentation get deeper and deeper into the skin.
Since your skin renews itself every 28 days, it can take time for these ailments to heal and for your skin to get back to being radiant and clear. There are ways to speed up this process and lucky for you all, we've got the perfect weapons in our arsenal to combat one of the greatest enemies to achieving clear radiant skin.
So, how exactly do we get rid of dark spots? Well the very first step is to get our inflammation under control. Think about it, what do the above skin conditions have in common? Inflammation. Inflammation can cause the skin barrier to become damaged and stunt the skin's ability to heal. It is why pimples appear red and inflamed, and why dark spots can appear darker. Ezcema is a physical manifestation of inflammation within the body. This results in the painful rashes and itching common with this condition. Just addressing inflammation can lead to much improvement in a short time.
Our Organic Rose Water Cleanser and Rosewater Toner contain the finest, purest ingredients that can help to sooth inflamed, irritated skin. These products assist in controlling excess oil and balancing the skin's PH, which can be thrown off by acne, rashes, and other issues. It helps fortify the moisture barrier, and helps to prepare the skin to accept the next steps of your routine. Our cleanser and toner contain several anti-inflammatory agents that promote calm, clear skin:
Organic rosewater -Helps to balance skin PH, softens the skin, and promotes elasticity
Aloe Vera - Contains soothing and cooling compounds that aid in hydration and is ideal for sensitive skin.
Hibiscus Extract - Helps the skin to renew itself with AHAs and contains Vitamin C to aid in brightening.
Shea Butter - An anti-inflammatory agent that helps moisturize and increase moisture retention.
Both products are suitable for all skin types, especially if you're sensitive or prone to breakouts.
Now, once we get our inflammation under control and the skin is calmed down, we can start to tackle the external appearance of those pesky dark spots.
The best way to do this is to increase cell turnover and apply sunscreen every day.
If you're just starting out on your journey to bright skin, our Glow Gelly Face Wash is another option among our cleansers to introduce to your regimen. Be sure to massage this cleanser into your face for at least 60 seconds to give the ingredients time to work. It has two key ingredients, kojic acid (more on this ingredient below) and turmeric, both which help facilitate skin renewal and promote brightening of the skin.
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory compounds and is an antioxidant. It helps to bring out your skin's natural glow and increases radiance. Tumeric also contains curcumin, an ingredient that decreases inflammation and oxidation, so your skin is able to heal and renew itself faster.
Using a cleanser with active ingredients is ideal for people who are sensitive or are new to actives as it can be washed off and only remains on the skin for a short time. You can still achieve good results and avoid overwhelming your skin! Isn't that neat? Glow Gelly is gentle enough to use every day and is effective enough to pack a powerful punch against dark spots.
For those of you whose skin can handle actives for longer periods, our Dark Spot Killa serum is another perfect solution to ensure your skin renews itself safely, efficiently, and with little irritation. This serum contains several key powerhouse ingredients designed to eliminate hyperpigmentation and bring in a smoother brighter skin tone:
Niacinamide - Our serum contains 5% niacinamide, (also called vitamin B3), an ingredient that assists in fortifying the skin barrier and reducing discoloration. Niacinamide also helps to soothe and calm the skin. Helps to repair past damage as well as improve moisture retention.
Kojic Acid - A powerful chemical and tyrosinase inhibitor (fancy talk for melanin reduction). It reduces activity of the amino acid that helps produce melanin. This ingredient is awesome for speeding up cell turnover and aiding in the lightening of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Helps to renew the skin and bring new skin to the surface. (Our Glow Gelly face wash also contains this ingredient and is an ideal choice to combat dark spots if our Rosewater Cleanser isn't for you.)
Hyaluronic Acid - A substance that can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. Helps to plump the skin and increase hydration. Ideal for all skin types. Reduces the signs of wrinkles and dullness.
Licorice Root Extract - An ancient herbal remedy that can treat a host of skin issues. Contains astrigent properties and is a natural skin soother. Packed with antioxidants, it assists in removing free radicals and safely inhibits melanin production as well. Drastically helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and disperse excess melanin.
We also have our Bump Killa that comes in either a bottle or a 10 mL roll on! This product helps with acne, ingrown hairs, and postules, skin ailments that can agitate dark spots and contribute to the increase of hyperpigmentation. Bump Killa contains several key ingredients that will give you a healthy clear complexion:
2% Salicylic Acid: A very potent BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) that helps accelerate cell turnover and dries up acne and pimples. Commonly used in products meant to control acne and reduce blemishes. Helps to clear pores and remove dirt and debris from the skin.
Cucumber Extract: Helps to soothe and cool the skin. It also balances out the potency of the salicylic acid and promotes moisture and healing of the skin barrier. Cucumber Extract regulates oil production and minimizes dryness and irritation. Very safe for sensitive skin and can be used on all skin types.
Vitamin E: A powerful natural antioxidant that helps speed up wound healing and skin regeneration. It suits all skin types, and helps to brighten skin tone and reduces wrinkles, dark spots, and other signs of aging. This ingredient plumps the skin and promotes suppleness and elasticity.
When using either of these serums, you'll want to slather on some sun protection. The sun can make hyperpigmentation worse and is the #1 cause of aging skin. Excessive heat, and both UVA and UVB rays can trigger the skin to produce more melanin to protect itself. Excess melanin means more dark spots to deal with.
Black Girl Sunscreen makes a killer SPF lotion that's popular among many women. SPF 30 or higher is needed to provide adequate protection. Make sure to apply every two hours and stay in shady areas during the hottest part of the day.
If you're looking for a bit of extra heavy lifting, and your skin can handle it, another option to remove hyperpigmentation is our ever popular Glow Bag that we've got available on the site. This bundle contains all the essentials you need to ensure that you achieve the brightest clearest skin ever. It also has products that can address hyperpigmentation on the body as well. Just in time for summer!
This Glow Bag includes:
Bump Killa
Dark Spot Killa
Glow Gelly Face Wash
Glow Rider: Bentonite Clay + Beet Powder + Tumeric Face Mask
Glow Rider Face Cream (only available in this set)
Glow Rider: Heavenly Sugar Body Scrub with Tumeric and Licorice Root
Glow Rider: Tumeric + Sweet Basil Body Wash (smells like licorice candy SO GOOD!)
As said before, no matter which of our products you choose, be SURE TO USE SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY. All of your efforts will be in vain if you don't protect your skin from the sun. The sun is the #1 factor that contributes to the aging process and it can easily undo all your hard work.
A lot of people don't know this, but heat can cause hyperpigmentation to flare up as well so be sure to stay cool and out of the sun if possible. Exposure to high temperatures can trigger more melanin production and induce oxidative damage. A recipe for dull, wrinkled skin. This is why it is recommended to work on hyperpigmentation during the winter. The sun is at its weakest during this time and you'll be less likely to unravel your progress. Still, don't skimp on sunscreen because UVA and UVB rays are still active, even if the sun isn't.
I'm also going to be honest and tell you that products cannot work their magic unless you're CONSISTENT. Above all, have PATIENCE. Removing hyperpigmentation is a gradual process and it can take a while to show visible results. The key is to be on top of your routine and to protect your progress. Don't get discouraged when you don't see any improvement right away. Like losing weight, it takes time for dark spots to develop and it will take time to lose them.
We're here to provide you with support along the way and I can give you the best product selections when you're ready to start your journey to bright even skin! Many clients of mine have been able to achieve the clear skin of their dreams and you can too!