Arbutin may be the secret skin-lightener that most people never hear about.
Arbutin is commonly found in the list of ingredients of many skincare products, like serum facials, overnight masks, and water creams. It is a substance derived from the dried leaves of bearberry, according to Drug Bank Online. It is also synthetically made.
Although there are many brightening skincare products, they may be too harsh, causing dryness on sensitive skin. But
Here are its benefits and uses for an even and brighter skin tone that is not drying and not too harsh.
Arbutin: The Secret Skin Lightening
Los Angeles-based dermatologist Michael Lin said in an interview with beauty care website Byrdie, that Arbutin extract lightens the tone of the skin and prevents the formation of skin pigmentation . That means it prevents the dark spots on the skin that are produced by cells called melanocytes.
These cells are activated when they come in contact with ultraviolet or UV light, creating freckles and "sunspots" that develop if a person spends too much time exposed to the sun. Since arbutin works as an inhibitor, it blocks the formation of dark spots on the skin.
There are two types of arbutin and people should be aware of which one is recommended for the skin and which is not. Alpha-arbutin is the "good stuff," while the beta-arbutin is a cheap version and not stable.
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Benefits of Using Arbutin
According to the beauty care website Get Healthy Skin, using arbutin can give three benefits to the skin.
First, it is a natural skin lightening agent that treats hyperpigmentation, like dark spots, age spots, acne scars, and melasma, a skin condition that appears as brown or blue-gray patches "freckles".
It also prevents the formation of freckles and hyperpigmentation even after a sunburn.
Second, arbutin brightens the skin's complexion. It gives an even-toned skin to make it look healthier and vibrant. It is like a skincare beauty blender that blends the skin tone to make it even. Arbutin reveals the beaming and beautiful skin that is hiding from within.
Last, it is less aggressive than hydroquinone which is used to lighten the skin. Arbutin is safe but still powerful in brightening the skin, unlike other products that dries and are too harsh on the skin. These products may contain hydroquinone that is traditionally included in many skincare products.
Arbutin is a much safer and natural topical treatment that has all the good side effects and none of the bad side effects of hydroquinone.
How to Use Arbutin
Dr. Claire Chang, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York, said that arbutin could be used twice daily because it is gentle to the skin and can be used in combination with other skin lightening products like retinol. She added that it should be used before and after cleansing with moisturizers.
Cosmetic chemist Ginger King said that it is best to mix arbutin with other ingredients that also have brightened effects, like Vitamin C and Alpha Hydroxy Acid.
As always, caution is still a must when trying a new product to prevent undesirable side effects.
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