HomeSkin CareIs brightening and reducing of discoloration of the skin the same?

Is brightening and reducing of discoloration of the skin the same?

Every time you go to the store, check the over-the-counter (OTC) products in your pharmacy or supermarket or read online about them, you usually find two separate categories of them, one for brightening the skin and one for improving discoloration, but the truth is that there is no difference between these two types of products. 

The difference between these categories is mainly related to marketing. And the way you can notice they are the same is easy; you just need to go through their active ingredients and learn their functions.

It is essential for you to see the ingredients that are recommended for these concerns, so you don’t end up getting two products with the same function and wasting your money.

The product by excellence used by skincare companies to address both concerns is Vitamin C; besides improving hyperpigmentation, it is capable of reducing swelling, enhances collagen production and absorption, and works as an antioxidant protecting against UV light and DNA damage. 

There are a lot of products you can use to brighten your skin; between them, you can find:

  1. Vitamin C
  2. Niacinamide
  3. Retinoids
  4. Alpha Arbutin
  5. Alpha-Hydroxy-Acid (AHA)
  6. Kojic Acid
  7. Tranexamic Acid
  8. Azelaic Acid

Knowing the active ingredients is not everything you should take into consideration discoloration.

You must understand that some of them cannot be combined between them or with other products; doing this can result in irritation, sensitivity, and dryness because, in some cases, you can cause a double exfoliation or modify the pH of the product.

But also there is a risk of canceling the effect of both products when they are combined.

You cannot combine Retinoids with Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids (AHA), Vitamin C, or Benzoyl Peroxide. And Vitamin C with AHA.

But if you want to keep having the benefits of these active ingredients, you only need to alternate the application for different days or choose one for the morning and the rest for the evening.

Also Read: 13 Remedies To Get Rid of Under Eye Wrinkles

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