Which are the best ingredients for effective skin lightening?

Posted on September 12, 2009

It is indeed unfortunate that a large number of skin care manufacturers want you to end up trying all their products through “trial and error” – because they DON’T want you to find the product that actually works for your skin type.

And why not?!

…Simply, because then they will make less money! It’s a greedy world out there…

The only way that you can protect yourself is through personal education. If you can simply find out which are the best and most scientifically proven, the most effective ingredients for any worthwhile skin lightening product – then you’re a winner!

Similarly you need to know which ingredients you need to avoid. It’s sad that some greedy and unscrupulous manufacturers still use these dangerous chemicals to push unsafe skin whitening products. More about these in another post.

So, for now, here are the BEST, top-11 ingredients, currently being used in quality and effective skin lightening products.

You need to look out for these ingredients in the skin whitening and bleaching products that you select for personal use.

* Glycolic Acid – By promoting skin exfoliation it not only helps to even out skin discolorations, but also helps to minimise facial wrinkles.

* Kojic Acid – Discovered in 1989, it is a extracted as a by product when fermenting malted rice during the manufacture of sake, the famous Japanese wine.

* Lactic Acid – Plays a similar part to that of Glycolic Acid but is typically better suited for use with sensitive skin. It allows other powerful ingredients in skin lightening products to penetrate farther into the skin.

* Emblica Powder – This is an extract from the Phyllanthus Emblica plant. This powerful, natural antioxidant has significant skin lightening properties.

* Vitamin C – A natural antioxidant with melanin reduction properties, in certain forms, thus resulting in skin lightening.

* Glabridin (Licorice Extract) – Glabridin is a trace extract taken from a certain part of the Locorice plant. It has proven, safe, skin brightening properties.

* Lemon Juice Extract – This is undoubtedly one of nature’s most potent skin bleaching ingredients. Because it can be very irritating to the skin, it should be used in small quantities.

* Mulberry Extract – Taken from the roots of Paper Mulberry plant, it is another naturally derived skin lightening agent. It’s a good ingredient to look for in any worthwhile skin lightening product.

* Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) – An effective skin whitening compound, that works best when combined with other skin lightening treatments. It is well known for its usefulness in reducing acne.

* Bearberry Extract (Beta-Arbutin) – This is a natural extract found in bearberry (Uva Ursi) plants and provides a skin lightening effect by inhibiting tyrosinase activity.

* Alpha Arbutin – Manufactured in powdered form, it is water soluble and one of the most expensive and advanced skin lightening ingredients on the market, today.

All the above ingredients inhibit the production of melanin (the substance that gives skin, its colour) and help in the making of an effective skin lightening product.