Read on Twitter
If vitamin C does nothing for your hyperpigmentation/dark spots, there are at least 8 other skin brighteners that are natural that you can try; which you can find in either serums, moisturizers, exfoliators &/or cleansers
Vitamin C isn’t the it all & be all of natural skin brighteners, so don’t worry if it doesn’t work for you - you have options, & honestly it is the least effective of the natural skin brighteners for dark skins.
1. Lactic Acid. Now if you someone with sensitive skin &/or just looking for something mind - this is your girl. She is derived from sour milk & is an alpha hydroxy acid, so it is one of the mildest ingredients you can use for hyperpigmentation.
2. Papaya/Papain. Papaya contains alpha hydroxy acids, which are effective in cell turnover and exfoliation; & Papain (an enzyme found in papaya) exfoliates the skin, which will give you a lighter, brighter complexion.
3. Niacinamide (or vitamin B3). It’s effective with hyperpigmentation because it decreases the number of melanin transferred to melanocytes to skin cells by a long stretch. So it won’t stop the production of melanin, but rather slow it down in the skin.
4. Willow Bark Extra. So Willow is a beta hydroxy acid that helps to exfoliate the skin and encourage cell turnover, but because it is so closely related to salicylic acid, I’d advice dry sensitive skins to stay away from using it frequently because it will strip your skin.
5. Mulberry Extra. A personal fave because it is also sensitive proof. Anyway, this cutie has a known ability to block tyrosinase; the enzyme involved in the production of melanin. So it literally cuts the noise, deadass.
6. Kojic Acid. So this is a bit harsher, so sensitive skins this one is a complete no no for you. Sorry sweeties. Anyway, Kojic acid stops the production of melanin & penetrates the upper layers of the skin causing a lightening effect. This is more likely to work faster too.
7. Arbutin. So pregnant folks, stay clear of this one at all costs because it’s a natural form of hydroquinone. It’s very strong on the skin, so those who go for this skin lightener use it gradually in the first few weeks to make sure your skin doesn’t react badly.
It will usually come in brightening face lotions and dark-spot correctors, so use sparingly & wisely at your own discretion. I’d say twice a week or so the 1st few weeks, but y’all never listen to me so do as you see fit. Don’t say I didn’t warn y’all through. It’s strong.
8. & finally, but not least - Licorice. The Licorice root has 2 ingredients that help with pigmentation: glabridin and liquiritin. I’ll explain further below.
So Glabridin helps to retrain tyrosinase, an enzyme that produces melanin which leads to pigmentation. While Liquiritin helps to break up & remove pigmentation in the skin.
Now of course, this goes without saying at this point but I’ll say it again - ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN with all these ingredients because anything that helps with hyperpigmentation opens up the skin to more hyperpigmentation if not protected, so sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen!
Fin.
