If inflammation is your skin’s alarm system, then consider melanin your skin’s immune system. Your safety blanket, your UV shield, your free radical neutralizer. You can bet then, when we formulate products for your healthiest skin, that melanin-safe is a top priority.
So how do we formulate to brighten hyperpigmentation, without lightening? An important distinction when we’re talking about melanin. It’s about our ingredients and how those ingredients are paired to provide efficacy and anti-inflammatory properties at the same time.
Equally as important as what we use is what we avoid. Ingredients known to damage melanocytes like: hydroquinone and kojic acid- chemicals that disrupt melanin production and induce cellular stress response, leading to inflammation and autoimmune destruction of melanocytes. I know, I know. Lots of products on the market for “brightening” contain kojic acid. It’s a chemical that we personally choose to avoid in addressing hyperpigmentation.
I remember as a young girl going into the local beauty store and seeing all the lightening products. Hydroquinone and kojic acid were on the INCI listing of every product proudly touting “fair and bright” in the product names. I’m grateful to the scientists, chemists, and product developers we work with that help us create truly inclusive products that work, for all, without the chemical and emotional compromise.
All inclusive, always,
Karen & team OtP
