Do skin brightening products really work? This is what we are going to talk about, and with science as our guide to say so. Quite often we see ads on television and online or on print, which promise us if we use a certain brand of cosmetics, our skin tone would get lighter and a few shades fairer to what we were originally born with. Such miracle fairness creams, lotions and potions are rampantly being sold in the market. And most work wonders too. But wait, did you know that the chemicals in the skin brightening formulas can be very harmful for you? It could do more harm than good in the long run! Take a look at all the research and studies done by the medical world experts on skin brightening formulas, and then decide if you really want to buy them or not.
Let’s define the term ‘brightening’
When we say ‘brightening’, we mean fading away the dark spots, bleaching off the pigmented areas on the skin, lightening the skin tones to a few notches; but does this always happen? What about the ingredients in these products that do the job, and the side-effects on the skin which we aren’t aware about? Studies and research says that there are ingredients that block the production of pigment in the skin, which is why your skin in due course of time looks fairer.
What about kojic acid and gluthatione?
The Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand did a study on ingredients such as gluthatione that claims to lighten and brighten the skin, across sixty students in their campus. According to the report “The research team concluded that “oral glutathione administration results in a lightening of skin color in a small number of subjects. However, long-term safety has not been established and warrants more extensive clinical trials”.
With regard to the use of Kojic acid in brightening formulas to induce skin brightness, research was done to check if the acid was safe for our skin. But where does it come from. Originated in Japan, Kojic acid is a chelation agent which is obtained from a certain fungi species- Aspergillus oryzae, known popularly as koji. The chelating agent as we know it to be is an organic based one and is a by product of wine made from Japanese rice and sake. So, it is natural and safe as per the reports we read to use, which is why most skin brightening products use kojic acid for skin brightening.
The trick lies in only opting for reputed and branded skin brightening products available at a myriad range of formulations and prices at Kohls.com. While you can check for Kohls events and daily deals at their sales and events page, there are many online reputed deal websites that offer a range of Pandora’s Box of relevant deals every single time. Alternatively, you can sign up for them too to stay on top of all-things-coupon.
Alternatives to skin brightening treatments and creams
DIY any day is the best to use when it comes to skin brightening, and there are many home-based remedies that can be used over time to lighten the tone of the skin. Starchy fruits and veggies, for example radish and potato when mashed into paste and applied on the skin, helps lighten the skin. One can even rub half a lime on the skin everyday which is a natural bleaching agent.
Whatever your choice maybe, we would ask you to first check with a certified skin aesthetician and then make a decision! Yes, over the counter skin brightening creams work, but they have side-effects too!