Natural Ingredients That Lighten Skin

Skin lightening has become very trendy in recent years and the demand for such products to give you an even, bright complexion has increased. The danger is that it can cause you to reach for unhealthy products instead of those containing natural ingredients to nourish your skin and make it more luminous.

Some of the worst chemical skin-lightening ingredients include hydroquinone and mercury. Both are potentially dangerous to your skin and have been banned in several countries.

• Hydroquinone, although regarded as the gold standard of skin lightening, comes with many dangers. It can lead to a condition known as ochronosis, which causes blue-black patches of skin that can never be cured. Animal studies have also found that hydroquinone causes cancer in rats, so it could very well have carcinogenic properties for people, too.

• Mercury, found in some skin-lightening products, has been warned about its danger by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mercury is toxic to skin and can damage various body functions, including the nervous system. It's not just dangerous to people using these skin-lightening products but also to those around them because mercury fumes get released by them.

The Natural Ingredients To Use Instead Of Chemical Ones

Your skin is valuable and shouldn't be treated with such damaging, toxic ingredients. That's where skin-lightening products containing natural ingredients come in handy. Here are some of the top ones to look for on ingredients lists when you want to lighten and brighten your complexion with a skin-lightening cream. And the bonus is that they also contain other skin-boosting benefits so that you can have clearer and healthier skin.

Kojic Acid

This has become an interesting skin-lightening ingredient because it is derived from fungi and research shows it can be powerful to lighten skin without the negative effects of hydroquinone. It treats a variety of skin pigmentation, such as melasma and freckles. However, kojic acid is most effective when teamed up with other natural whiteners, such as glycolic acid that exfoliates skin to remove pigment from the surface layer.

Bearberry

Even Dr Oz has stated that bearberries are good for skin-lightening! The bearberry extract is effective at removing signs of aging such as dark spots on the skin. This is because it contains arbutin, a natural skin-whitening ingredient that blocks the skin's production of enzymes that form melanin in the skin. This enables less pigment to get produced, zapping pigmentation issues right at the source. Bearberries also offer your skin greater sun protection while being filled with antioxidants to fight free radicals.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C-rich skincare products have increased in popularity because Vitamin C is an antioxidant with various skin benefits. Eating Vitamin C is good for your skin, but it's even better to apply it topically. Vitamin C is a natural skin-lightener, while also offering anti-ageing effects. It boosts the skin's production of collagen, which keeps skin firm and elastic. Sometimes Vitamin C is listed on products as ascorbic acid while citrus fruits such as lemon are a great source of this powerful nutrient.  

There are many easy and natural ways to heal your skin from pigmentation and lighten it without putting your skin's health at risk. Look for the above ingredients in natural skin-lightening products so you can face the world with a gorgeous, clear and healthy complexion.