In this video, I discuss how to treat dark spots on the body versus on the face. These two areas respond differently to treatment, hence, we need to be intentional in our approach.
For example, a dark spot that will take a month to fade on the face can take up to three months to clear up on the body. A few more differences:
The skin on the face is more sensitive than the skin of the body
The skin on the face contains more oil than the skin on the body
The skin on the face is thinner than the skin on the body
In this video, I cover
Three treatment levels for the face and body
A step by step routine for the face and body
Things you need to know in order to guarantee results
I went through a phase of my life where I had a lot on my plate. So, I stumbled upon this Adderall-like pill that was supposed to help me juggle it all and decided to give it a go. The medication was supposed to make you superhuman-kinda like the guy in limitless, but that pill was bad news. Not only did it stress out my entire being & mess up my health, but I watched my skin get darker even though I was maintaining the same skincare routine. It all came down to one major habit: not getting enough sleep. So bad habits and not getting enough sleep can affect your appearance and cause your skin to get darker. That’s point number 1
Number 2 – Sun exposure
When I was younger, I thought it was a brilliant idea to study outside. Then, I wasn’t well educated on the harmful effects of the sun, so I would apply creams, including a cream as strong as hydroquinone, and then go and sit outside all afternoon. Not only did my spots take longer to fade, but my skin got darker even though I was diligent with my skincare routine. So frequent sun exposure can cause your skin to get darker.
Number 3 – Sunscreen
On more than one occasion, I’ve had someone tell me that they think that their sunscreen is making them darker. What is that all about? I’ve read that if your sunscreen stresses your skin, it can cause your skin to get darker. The critical ingredient that is at the root of this stress is oxybenzone. Thankfully, In recent times though, many brands have started avoiding this ingredient and not including it in their sunscreen. Another potential cause of your skin getting darker after applying sunscreen is white cast. This effect is prevalent with a lot of mineral sunscreens. Mineral sunscreens usually contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide; these ingredients leave a white cast on the skin. Over time that white cast turns grey, and the result is your skin looking darker because it has this grey cast over it (I learned this from a fellow YouTuber, Chuks )
Number 4 – Another cause is your skincare products.
Sometimes brands change the formulation of their products, and when you restock and continue using the product, as usual, you realize it’s no longer “giving what it was supposed to give” (credit: rolling ray). For some reason, it no longer has that brightening effect it had before.
Number 5 – Not being consistent with your routine or trying a new skincare product.
Life happens, you get overwhelmed, and then suddenly you slack on your skincare routine. This can cause your skin to get darker because whatever was causing your skin to be bright and vibrant, you’re no longer feeding it to your skin. Another one is trying a new skincare product. If you notice that your skin has gotten darker since adding a new skincare product, that could signify that your skin is not happy with that product. It could be irritating your skin, and it could be clashing with another product you’re using.
Number 6 – Skincare Products and factors that cause the skin to get darker
First, no one maintains the same skin tone throughout the years, but some things can accelerate the process, such as environmental conditions, and stress levels. Photosensitive skincare products can cause your skin to get darker when you apply it and expose yourself to the sun without protection—examples: AHA, BHA, Retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, fruit enzymes.
Now let’s address this common question.
Why is my face darker than my body?
All the reasons mentioned above apply here, but there are some additional causative factors. They include medications you’re taking (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, amiodarone, and cytotoxic drugs), if you have an autoimmune disease, if you are experiencing hormonal changes and your genetics.
Skincare ingredients and habits that can brighten up the skin
Combining tretinoin with your skin brightening products
Some vitamin c serums, and alpha arbutin, AHAs, sunscreen.
Habits: Avoiding the sun, getting 8 hrs of sound sleep, limiting your sugar intake, and eating fruits and vegetables that brighten the skin, such as strawberries, orange, grapefruit, lemon, eggs, avocado, pineapple, tomatoes, walnuts, spinach, turmeric.
Question
Do you already eat any of the skin brightening foods mentioned? Let me know which ones in the comment section.
The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is the best Vitamin C for hyperpigmentation. That’s it! End of post.
Except, it cost $166, so we have to find alternatives aka dupes.
In this post, we’ll be looking at the best Vitamin C serum for hyperpigmentation.
We’ll cover
Why is SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic the best?
SkinCeuticals dupes
Real-life reviews and some before and after photos of all the Vitamins C serums mentioned in this video
Things to know about using Vitamin C serum, to avoid wasting your time and money
What to combine with Vitamin C for best results
When to expect results
Why is SkinCeuticals the best?
Because Vitamin C is a pretty unstable ingredient. It reacts negatively when exposed to oxygen, rendering it ineffective. I’ve read that most Vitamin C beauty products on the market do not have any antioxidant activity (anti-aging benefits) because the Vitamin C they put in the formula has oxidized. I’ve also heard dermatologists say this as well. That said, after years of research and development, SkinCeuticals found a way to stabilize Vitamin C. When they did, they filed a patent application on the formulation and got it approved-meaning no other brands can use their method or formulation. Otherwise, lawsuits. This also gives Skinceuticals a competitive advantage and allows them the liberty of charging such a high rate for their Vitamin C serum.
SkinCeuticals dupes
These vitamin c dupes may not be as well researched as Skinceuticals C E Ferulic but they can deliver similar results. The most popular Skinceuticals dupe is the Vichy Liftactiv Vitamin C serum. If you look at both products you will notice that they have very similar ingredients. The Vichy Liftactiv Vitamin C serum costs about $29. If you’re not bothered about Vitamin C’s anti-aging benefits and are looking to include vitamin c in your routine for glowy skin, then these two Timeless c +e Ferulic acid and Melano CC will do. According to skincare reddit, they are the two best Vitamin C serums with a reasonable price rate. If you are looking to target fine lines and discoloration, SkinCeuticals or Vichy will probably be a better choice.
Things to know about using Vitamin C to avoid wasting your time & money
Look for a serum in an opaque, airtight tube or bottle.
Close the lid tightly after each use.
Store your Vitamin C serum in the fridge
Never store Vitamin C serum in the bathroom – heat
Discard your serum once it turns yellow or brown
Purchase small bottles of Vitamin C serum so you don’t waste any. Vitamin C serum expires after a few months, only buy what you think will use before the expiration date.
What to combine with Vitamin c for best results
Vitamin C is a highly unstable molecule and it oxidizes quickly therefore it is best used in combination with other depigmenting agents. For example, glycolic acid or kojic acid.
When to expect results
If you’ve been consistent, you can expect results in 4 weeks. For even better results, wait for 12 weeks.
Whether you’re fair-skinned, you have black skin, skin of color…Know these things and know peace (Hyperpigmentation).
Things of Hyperpigmentation:
1. Number one, not all ingredients are created equal. And some over-the-counter products are a joke tbh.
Here’s the hierarchy: Hydroquinone (especially ones over 4%)-is the gold standard but it has a lot of controversy surrounding it. That said, when you visit a dermatologist and you have some serious hyperpigmentation, especially around your body, this is what they’re gonna give you. All things being equal, this is the prescription they are going to write you. They are not gonna bring up niacinamide or vitamin c even kojic acid.
The next after that is azelaic acid 20% or cysteamine. Cysteamine is the new chick on the block but she’s good. The next is kojic acid or arbutin then tranexamic acid, then Ascorbic acid, then niacinamide.
2. The second thing to know is that combination is king. Monotherapy- that is using one product- will have you waiting for years. If you want to see results within a reasonable timeframe, combination therapy is the way to go.
Often, a dermatologist will combine a tyrosinase inhibitor or a couple of tyrosinase inhibitors with exfoliants or retinoids. Here are common combinations 1. Azelaic acid and tretinoin 2. Hydroquinone and tretinoin 3. Azelaic acid, hydroquinone, and tretinoin 4. Kojic acid and glycolic acid 5. Vitamin c and niacinamide, and aha 6. Vitamin c niacinamide and kojic acid.
Sometimes when you have stubborn spots, a dermatologist will introduce chemical peels or lasers For example, they will treat you with topical treatments for a while, ask you to take a break from them, and then start treating you with chemical peels.
3. Respect Sunscreen and Sun Protection: If you are on Instagram you’ve probably been harassed by a skincare influencer to wear your sunscreen but this is apt as sun exposure will take you 10 steps back. Especially when it comes to treating hyperpigmentation. I personally don’t rely on sunscreen, I stay away from the sun between 11 am and 4 pm. And I cover up my body.
4. Results: One of the best things you can learn about dark spots is that they will not disappear overnight, but if you persist, one day you’ll look for them and you won’t be able to find them. If this isn’t your mindset, then it’s likely that you’ll give up. Cause after one week, you’ll look in the mirror, see it’s still there then you’ll say it’s not working. When in reality you’re supposed to give it 1-3 months (for your face) and 3-6 months(for your body).
5. Coverage: While you’re treating your hyperpigmentation, life has to go on. If you are self-conscious about your dark spots and want to cover them up, here are two brands to check out: Dermaablend and Sally Hansen. Dermablend has both face and body makeup that have great coverage and Sally Hansen has a product called airbrush legs, it is lightweight but it still gets the job done. And that’s it from me, over to you.
What have you learned about treating dark spots or hyperpigmentation in general?
Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professionals. #hyperpigmentationtreatment #blackskin #skincare
Thanks for watching the video: 5 Things to Know About Hyperpigmentation Treatment – Black Skin – Skin of Color
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