Skincare Saturday: The difference between lightening and brightening

SKIN lightening and brightening – there is a difference between the two, however, certain skincare narratives blur this distinction.

So how do we spot the difference? Natasha Davel of Fundamentals Skincare, a local skincare brand, answers the most burning questions and debunks some myths around this topic.

Also read: St John Ambulance to offer free eye-screening for World Sight Day

Is there a difference between skin lightening and skin brightening?

“Most people have observed skin lightening as a process whereby they change the colour of their natural skin to become lighter in appearance. This is untrue. Skin lightening is not bleaching or skin whitening.” Rather, it is evening out your skin tone.

Skin brightening, she said, refers to increasing the skin’s radiance and glow.

“Brightening is more about restoring vibrancy to the skin, having it look healthy, clear and naturally brighter. If you suffer from tired, dull-looking skin, you are probably due for some skincare that can assist in exfoliating the top layer of the skin, resulting in brightening your skin’s appearance.”

“The verdict of skin brightening versus skin lightening is that they are similar and both aid the skin well in terms of overall health and appearance, but on the same token, they are quite different and serve a different purpose. Skin brightening gives your skin a natural glow and rejuvenates it. Skin lightening repairs your dark spots and hyperpigmentation and creates an even skin tone,” she added.

Which ingredients should we look for? 

If you’re looking to lighten and even out your skin tone, opt for ingredients such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, alpha arbutin, vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids and retinoids.

These ingredients will assist in minimising skin discolouration caused by the sun and pollution while helping your skin achieve a more youthful, smooth appearance and even tone.

“Exfoliators, like AHAs and enzymes, slough off all the dead skin cells and work on the cell surface itself, brightening the skin and helping to turn over skin cells faster. On the other hand, ingredients like niacinamide and kojic acid work on a cellular level to interfere with melanin production, so technically, they improve skin texture and turnover and as a result can lighten skin tone, too, without bleaching, irritating or aggravating your skin’s surface,” explained Davel.

Is skin lightening and brightening safe?

Skincare isn’t invasive. For this reason, if you read the ingredients carefully and understand your skin and what it needs, you will be able to use products that are suited to your skin and which will provide you with your desired outcome. Choosing products that contain the ingredients mentioned above is a safe choice. Making this part of your daily skincare routine will make the changes more effective. On the other hand, if you stop following your skincare routine, your skin may lose its bright and/or even tone and will begin to lose nutrients over time.

What else should you keep in mind when considering lightening or brightening? 

Sun exposure is the single most damaging agent to the skin. Using sunscreen daily will assist on a cellular level by interrupting damage before it gets to the layers of skin where new skin cells are formed.

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