How to lighten hyperpigmentation without harsh chemicals
Hyperpigmentation is an issue many people have to deal with, and for people with darker skin tones the chances of finding darkened patches of skin on the face are much higher due to a higher rate of melanin in the skin. In fact, hyperpigmentation is one of the top five most common dermatologic diagnoses in people of African descent. With that in mind, many people will look for ways to lighten hyperpigmentation, but some methods are better than others for your skin. The following methods are known to lighten hyperpigmentation, but contain harsh chemicals and present a higher risk of skin damage or making the problem worse:
- Skin lightening creams: Skin lightening creams can help, but they will often use ingredients such as hydroquinone, which is linked to thinning of the skin and can actually cause skin lightening or darkening, rather than curing it.
- Chemical peels: Chemical peels are also known to reduce the effects of hyperpigmentation and lighten the skin in those areas, but they also come with risks as they involve stripping back layers of skin, which can, ironically, result in hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation.
- Laser peels: Laser peels are another way in which people remove layers of skin, but again they come with risks of scarring, skin injury and hyperpigmentation.
In many cases, the above methods will help to lighten hyperpigmentation, but you have to ask yourself, is it worth the risk? Below are a selection of products you can use to lighten hyperpigmentation without the use of harsh chemicals or lasers.
How to lighten hyperpigmentation on dark skin
At Epara Skincare, we offer a variety of chemical free skincare products which use natural ingredients to tackle and lighten hyperpigmentation. By using these products as part of a daily skincare routine, you can lighten hyperpigmentation without using harsh chemicals which can have a damaging effect on the skin. You’ll also protect yourself against further hyperpigmentation by providing your skin with everything it needs to stay healthy.
Moisturising Face Cream
Key ingredient: Licorice Root Extract
Our Moisturising Face Cream is designed to brighten the skin using ingredients such as Licorice Root Extract. It also has anti-inflammatory ingredients such as Shea Butter which helps to prevent future cases of hyperpigmentation and Marula Oil which improves and restores skin elasticity.
Natural Cleaning Oil
Key ingredient: Plankton Extract
Our Natural Cleansing Oil uses special ingredients such as Plankton Extract to actively tackle the effects of hyperpigmentation. This product also contains Licorice Root Extract to brighten the skin and Ylang Ylang III Oil helps to soothe the skin.
Brightening Night Balm
Key ingredient: Plankton Extract
Our Brightening Night Balm is, of course, designed to brighten and lighten the skin, particularly targeting areas of hyperpigmentation. It also contains Argon Oil which is designed to hydrate dry skin, therefore improving its overall appearance.
Intense Hydrating Mask
Key ingredient: Marula Oil
Our Intense Hydrating Mask is a creamy, clay mask which clarifies the skin without drying it out. While it does contain the hyperpigmentation tackling ingredients such as Plankton Extract and Licorice Root Extract, it also uses Marula Oil to reduce blotchiness.
Eye Serum
Key ingredient: Ash Tree Bark Extract
Our Eye Serum is designed to tackle under eye shadows and dark circles, which is actually a form of hyperpigmentation called periorbital hyperpigmentation. The Ash Tree Bark Extract is designed to fight against bags under the eyes and Plankton Extract is used to further aid in the fight against skin discoloration.
Cleansing lotion
Key ingredient: Plankton Extract
While our Cleansing Lotion is designed to safely remove makeup and impurities from the skin, it also uses plant extracts and botanical brighteners to even the skin tone and brighten hyperpigmentation. It also rejuvenates the skin and fights against fine lines and wrinkles.
Hydrating Mist
Key Ingredient: Plankton Extract
As with most of our skincare products, Plankton Extract is used in our Hydrating mist to lighten areas of hyperpigmentation on the skin. However, our Hydrating Mist also uses ingredients such as Pentavitin to leave the skin smooth and hydrated and Glucam E-10 to seal the moisture in.
Balancing Face Oil
Key ingredient: Frankincense Oil
The essential oils used in most of our products are ideal for lightening hyperpigmentation, and our Balancing Face Oil is no exception. The Frankincense Oil used within this product helps to tackle the appearance of age spots, while other ingredients such as Ylang Ylang III Oil help to soothe the skin and inhibit skin pigmentation.
Hydrating Serum
Key ingredient: Licorice Root Extract
This Hydrating Serum is designed to help those looking to tackle the effects of hyperpigmentation and aging, dry skin. The Licorice Root Extract tackles hyperpigmentation while ingredients such as Onopordum Acanthium Flower have anti-aging properties, healing tired and damaged skin.
Comforting Body Cream
Key ingredient: Plankton Extract
For many people, it’s not just their faces that suffer from hyperpigmentation, but their bodies too. We have created a Comforting Body Cream designed to tackle hyperpigmentation on the body which uses ingredients such as Plankton Extract to lighten areas of hyperpigmentation and Coconut Oil to soften the skin in those dry and rough areas such as the elbows and knees.
How to lighten hyperpigmentation around mouth
One of the most common places people get skin discoloration caused by hyperpigmentation is around the mouth, particularly on the upper lip which can start to affect confidence. Although hyperpigmentation can go away on its own over time, there are plenty of ways to lighten hyperpigmentation around the mouth, some of which involve the use of chemical based products and other, more natural solutions. Find out more about how to get rid of hyperpigmentation around the mouth.