Most Common Lightening & Brightening Ingredients

Here are the most commons ingredients used in skin care products.
Legal Lightening Agent (in the U.S.):

Hydroquinone (less than 2% for non-prescription, more than 2% must be acquired by

prescription in the U.S.)

Similar to Hydroquinone:

Kojic Acid (similar in structure to Hydroquinone, found in some mushrooms)

Arbutin (glycosylated form of Hydroquinone, more gentle, found in Bearberry, Paper

Mulberry, Blueberry, Cranberry)

Mequinol (ether of Hydroquinone, used with Tretinoin, by Rx only)

Other Plant-Derived Brighteners:

Licorice Root (botanical Latin name: Glycyrrhiza Glabra, may see this as Glycyrrhizate on
an ingredient list)

Glabridin (main oil-soluble compound found in licorice root)

Pine Bark (botanical Latin name: Pinus Pinaster)

Pycnogenol (main compound found in pine bark)

Indian Gooseberry (botanical Latin name: Phyllanthus emblica)

Willow Herb (botanical Latin name: Epilobium angustifolium, one of the sources of Salicylic
Acid)

Cucumber

Exfoliating Ingredients:

Azelaic Acid

Lactic Acid

Phytic Acid

Glycolic Acid

Salicylic Acid

Trichloroacetic (TCA)

Enzymes (e.g. papain, bromelain)

Other Chemicals:

Retinoids (e.g. Retinol, Tretinoin)

Vitamin C

Niacinamide

Glucosamine

Soy (fractionated, without the estrogenic fractions, estrogen worsens melasma)

Resorcinol

Certain Peptides (e.g. Nonapeptide-1, Oligopeptide-68, Oliogpeptide-34, Oligopeptide-51)

Alpine Bearberry (Arbutin)

Which Ingredients Are Effective?

There are no definitive answers on which ingredients are most effective. But one thing is clear. To
treat hyperpigmentation effectively, a blend of brightening ingredients are needed.
The pigmentation process is a long sequence of steps. Brightening ingredients work by blocking
different steps. The more steps that are blocked, the better. And the earlier the steps are blocked,
the better.
Here are some general comments on the ingredients listed above:

Hydroquinone most effective for lightening but controversial (see below)

Kojic Acid effective but controversial (see below), has anti-bacterial properties

Licorice strong tyrosinase inhibitor, 25x better than Kojic Acid, also anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant

Paper Mulberry not a strong tyrosinase inhibitor compared with other ingredients but has
low risk for irritation and is anti-inflammatory

Azelaic acid inhibits the growth of melanocytes (the cells that produce pigment), a
tyrosinase inhibitor, mild exfoliant, anti-bacterial

Lactic acid a tyrosinase inhibitor, also hydrating, exfoliating, and anti-bacterial

AHAs & Enzymes only exfoliate skin, increasing cell turnover and washing melanin out of
skin faster, but do not target root cause of pigmentation

Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid) good for providing overall radiance and brightening

Phytic Acid works by blocking oxidation in the melanogenesis process

Retinoids suppress melanosome transfer during the pigmentation process, increases cell
turnover and exfoliates skin so that melanin is removed from skin faster

Controversial
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is a controversial ingredient. The professional skincare community is divided about
it. Some skincare professionals and manufacturers believe it poses some health risks and is
potentially irritating to skin. The dermatology community, FDA, other skincare professionals and
manufacturers believe it is safe for use on skin.
The objections and concerns about Hydroquinone are:

effective but can be irritating at >2% concentration; >4% may be cytotoxic (HQ causes
apoptosis in melanocyte cells and may cause damage in neighboring cells)

can lead to exogenous ochronosis (an increase in pigmentation that is serious and hard to
treat, skin of color is more at risk) or hypopigmentation

repigmentation may occur after treatment is discontinued in skin of color

some people are allergic (as many as one third of the population could be)

may cause contact dermatitis in some

may cause photosensitivity with extended use

not recommended for use in large areas of skin

widely thought to have carcinogenic effects, but the studies that are cited are based on
tests with high doses in mice; the FDA and dermatology community believe hydroquinone is
safe for use

more tightly regulated in other countries outside U.S. (not actually banned in Europe or
Canada, contrary to popular belief)

Kojic Acid

comparable in effectiveness to hydroquinone but has high sensitizing potential, can be an

irritant and cause contact dermatitis

usually used in concentrations of 1-4%

banned in Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland

New Botanical Brightening Ingredients

New botanical ingredients (phytochemicals) are discovered and added to skin care products every
day. Have you noticed the number of plant-based ingredients appearing on ingredient lists in recent
years? The telltale sign are Latin names. Botanicals are typically listed by their Latin name, not by
their plain English name.
Here are just a few to give you an idea:

Ascophyllum nodosum (a seaweed)

Aspergillus ferment (a mold)

Ferula foetida (giant fennel)

Mitracarpus scaber (an African weed)

Nasturtium officinale (water cress)

Palmaria palmata (red algae)

Rumex crispus (yellow dock)

Salvia miltiorrhiza (Chinese sage)

Saxifrage sarmentosa (strawberry begonia)

Sophira angustifolia (a tree)

There Is No Single Magic Ingredient, You Need A Blend

Stopping pigmentation from being formed and deposited requires multiple ingredients, not just
one.
This is because the melanin production process is a cascade of many steps. Ingredients work by
interrupting the cascade at different steps.
The best approach to stop hyperpigmentation is to use a blend of ingredients that can block
multiple steps. The more steps that are blocked, the better.

What Products Should You Use?

There are a few things you can try. Unfortunately, there is no single, magical answer. Youll have to
experiment a bit with different ingredients.
1). Use a spot treatment product on areas where you have discrete spots or small regions of
discolorations. When you evaluate spot treatments, look at the ingredient list carefully. Some spot
treatment products are nothing more than glorified Vitamin C or retinol serums. There is nothing
wrong with that (they may be very good anti-aging serums), but the amount of lightening will be
limited if they contain few other brightening ingredients.
2.) Look for a blend of brightening ingredients, not just one.
3). Look for licorice in your moisturizers and serums. Licorice is a great ingredient, not just for
brightening. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory, which helps control chronic inflammation that in
turn ages skin. Its also a strong antioxidant. Unfortunately, licorice isnt easy to formulate, so its
harder to find in skin care products.
4). Exfoliate regularly with a chemical exfoliant, such as an AHA or enzyme (except if you have
very sensitive or reactive skin, in which case you should skip the chemical exfoliation altogether).

While it wont tackle the root cause of the pigmentation, it can help lighten the areas. If you have
a darker skin tone, be careful with AHA exfoliants and strong peels, which can cause postinflammatory pigmentation (read these exfoliation precautions).
5). Use a serum containing retinol or Vitamin C (or both). Alternatively, find a moisturizer that
contains these ingredients. If you are working on anti-aging, then you should be incorporating
Vitamin C and retinol into your skin care routine regardless (unless your skin is sensitive to them).

Dont Forget Sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen and staying out of the sun is a must. Especially if you have melasma, which is
hard to treat and can take a long time to fade.
Remember sun stimulates melanin production. So if youre not shielding your skin, then the sun
will just reverse any progress youve made with topical treatments or cosmetic procedures.
Sun may also cause photosensitivity in recently exfoliated skin. So, if your spot treatment product
or brightening serum contains retinol or an AHA, you need to wear sunscreen over it.
In addition to sunscreen, wear a hat. A wide brim (3-4) and fabric with tight weave is best.

How Long Does It Take?

If the pigmentation is epidermal in nature, it takes about 14-20 days for melanin to travel from
the Basal layer of the skin (the lowest layer of the epidermis) to the Stratum Corneum (outermost
layer of skin). But it can take up to 45 days. The older you are, the longer it takes (because cell
turnover slows down with age).
If the pigmentation is dermal in nature, it takes much longer and is not likely to respond to most
brightening ingredients (because most ingredients cant reach the dermis). In this case, that
pigmentation is best treated by lasers.

Skin Bleaching
Posted by Audrey Kunin, MD There have been 0 comments
This entry was posted on December 21, 2012 by Audrey Kunin, MD.

Everyone wants to have an even, smooth skin tone. Being plagued by dark spots - whether large or small, is a definite cosmetic no-no. But
bleaching and whitening options have become so complicated it practically takes a degree to understand how to make the proper selection
and arrange them into an effective routine. Here's what you can do to reclaim a clear, glowing complexion.
Why Do I Have Skin Discoloration?
There's more than one cause of skin discoloration. Fortunately, bleaching remains the same regardless of source of the darkness.
The aftermath of skin inflammation is one common source of discoloration. Skin trauma, no matter how minor or severe can lead to
cutaneous inflammation. A small blemish, a bug bite, chronic friction; they're all you need to leave skin irritated and ultimately discolored.
Once resolved, local pools of skin pigment remain. No one is exempt from this condition known as PIH (post inflammatory
hyperpigmentation). However, your baseline skin tone ultimately dictates just how discolored the skin becomes. For instance, I have a
Mediterranean olive type complexion. PIH for me is often purplish or a faint light brown. The darker your skin tone, the darker the PIH will
likely be. And the darker the PIH, the longer it will probably take to bleach things back to normal. Even purplish discoloration may take up to
6 months to resolve. Really dark brown skin discoloration can take more than a year.
Melasma (aka the mask of pregnancy) is another common condition resulting in patchy skin discoloration. The hormone estrogen can at
times result in overactive pigment producing melanocytes. The outcome, brown patches across the cheeks, chin, forehead and about the
mouth. While you don't have to be taking supplemental estrogens or be pregnant to develop melasma, these certainly increase your risk.
The sun is your enemy. No matter the cause of your discoloration, the sun actively plays a role in deepening the disparity between your
natural lovely skin tone and the unwanted dark patches. Maybe you can place the blame squarely on all those hours spent in the sun
intentionally sun bathing or perhaps you were merely passing through on your way to less sunny conditions. But sans sunscreen, those UV
rays are going to send your pigment-producing skin cells (aka melanocytes) into overdrive.
Bleaching Basics:
The good news for treating blotchy skin discoloration is that regardless of the cause; be it due to old acne, bug bites, skin trauma, underarm
irritation, sun damage (such as freckles, "liver spots") or hormonal reasons (melasma); your bleaching basics remain the same.
It's important to understand bleaching terminology. Currently the FDA only recognizes hydroquinone as a "bleaching agent". That means
that many other ingredients incorporated into products must be referred to as lighteners, brighteners or whiteners.
Bleaches should be applied ONLY to the dark spot. Select areas that are well defined to bleach. This can help improve the ultimate
outcome. If you do not have well defined areas to bleach, or have widespread freckling, you will want to select a skin brightener that is safer
to use in more widespread areas.
Avoid applying the bleaching product to normal surrounding skin. Continued use of your bleach on normal skin will slowly lighten the regular
skin tone, too.
Bleaching should be stopped when the desired effects are achieved. Otherwise, you may end up with areas of the skin that are lighter than
your normal skin tone!
Sun protection is crucial. The sun will try to darken up the areas you are working so hard to bleach. A broad spectrum SPF 30
likeDERMAdoctor Ain't Misbehavin' should be applied daily and can be applied on top of your chosen discoloration-busting treatment.
Bleaching is not a fast process. Depending upon how dark the area is compared to the normal skin tone, it can take as along as one year or
sometimes longer.
Variety Is The Spice Of Life
Years ago, the single ingredient approach to bleaching ruled. Typically this consisted soley of hydroquinone-based treatments. And while
hydroquinone ruled both the over-the-counter (solutions up to 2 percent) and prescription markets (usually 3-4 percent), several things
happened.
The first was that this treatment simply didn't work for everybody. And it took a reallylong time. That's because when you're trying to lighten
the skin two steps need to be addressed simultaneously.

A well-rounded bleaching regimen should not only eliminate excess pools of pigment; it should also prevent unwanted skin color (melanin)
from being formed in the first place. As is always the case in medicine, the more points in the physiologic pathway you can disrupt, the
better and often more rapid the improvement. The same goes for bleaching.
Skin pigment is ultimately produced based upon the actions of the enzyme tyrosinase which catalyzes the chemical production of melanin.
Shut down tyrosinase activity and you prevent further discoloration from forming.
SHUTTING DOWN PIGMENT FORMATION
In the dark ages of bleaching, (no pun intended), single ingredient products ruled. Nowadays, when it comes to trying to lighten those bits of
brown, "the more the merrier" is the bleaching mantra. Synergy of ingredient actions works to maximize results. You'll find many different
ingredients used in nearly endless variations. Take a look:
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is just one of many agents capable of interferring with tyrosinase. And it has come under fire for causing skin irritation, an
unusualincreased darkening of the treatment site known as ochronosis, and there have been stray concerns that it could theorhetically lead
to some sort of problem with fetal development. Hydroquinone has been reported to cause some mutations in lab research on Salmonella
and hamsters. While considered to have a high safety rating here in the U.S., for these reasons, hydroquinone is unavailable for use as a
bleaching agent in Europe and South Africa. As of now, the FDA stands behind hydroquinone and its safety record.
The general rule of thumb in this situation is to discontinue hydroquinone-based bleaches after 4-6 months if improvement is not seen.
All is not lost, however if you're unable or unwilling to use hydroquinone. Two molecules, similar in structure to hydroquinone exist that help
lighten skin without the associated risks of irritation, ochronosis or mutagenicity. These are hauronoside and arbutin.
Mitracarpus Scaber Extract
Mitracarpus scaber extract is a botanically derived lightening agent from the leaves of this tropical plant. Like hydroquinone, it prevents the
actions of tyrosinase circumventing melanin formation. The active ingredient found in Mitracarpus scaber extract is harounoside, a
derivative of hydroquinone. While chemically related to it, Mitracarpus Scaber Extract is less irritating but considered more effective in skin
lightening.
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
More commonly referred to as Bearberry Extract, the active agent is arbutin. The extract is extracted from leaves of the bearberry shrub.
Another hydroquinone derivative, it inhibits tyrosinase activity and provides the same benefits while skipping hydroquinone concerns.
Neither harounoside nor arbutin break down into hydroquinone.
Dithiaoctanediol
Sugar free is one way to prevent melanin production. Preventing the chemical reaction in which a sugar molecule is added to tyrosinase
inhibits enzymatic activation. Dithiaoctanediol is added to lightening treatments to attack the pigment forming pathway in this novel manner.
Beta Carotene
This photoprotection constituent of carrot oil reduces pigment formation by blocking tyrosinase receptors on the melanocyte. In doing so,
the enzyme tyrosinase can't "turn on" the melanocyte to produce melanin.
Licorice Extract
The main active ingredient found in licorice extract for skin bleaching is glabridin. Glabridin inhibits pigmentation by preventing tyrosinase
activation. It is nontoxic to melanocytes, preventing permanent discoloration nor is it toxic to surrounding keratinocytes. In fact, licorice
extract has long been purported to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Gluconic Acid
Gluconic acid is a chelating agent, binding copper molecules necessary to activate the tyrosinase enzyme. Its addition to lightening
treatments rounds out a bleaching product's effectiveness.
Azeleic Acid
Azeleic acid is derived as a naturally occurring byproduct of metabolism of the yeast Pityrosporum ovale. Known for its use in acne therapy,
dermatologists make use of its known side effect: skin lightening. Azeleic acid selectively works on overactive melanocytes, rather than
affecting normally pigmented skin.
Paper Mulberry
Paper mulberry is another botanical plant extract shown to inhibit tyrosinase activity. It is not considered an irritant and is often incorporated
into skin lightening treatments.
Kojic acid

The end product of fungal metabolism, kojic acid is heavily used in the orient as a skin lightener. Kojic acid inhibits tyrosinase activity. With
long term exposure, melanocytes treated with kojic acid additionally lose their dendrites which reduces the ability of these cells from
passing on any residual pigment onto the keratinocytes.
Melatonin
Not normally found in skin bleaching agents, melatonin has had anecdotal reports of lightening hair follicles. It's suggested that it may
somehow affect cellular cyclic AMP rather than interfere with tyrosinase activity. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland in response to
sunlight.
Vitamin C
Several forms of topical Vitamin C have been shown to reduce melanin formation. These include l-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl
phosphate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate. Of course these play an antioxidant role as well.
Alone, each of these ingredients have an assigned niche for mildly interferring with pigment production. Together, or en masse, they can
wreak havoc upon hyperactive melanocytes. The days of monotherapy in skin bleaching and brightening are over. Look for products,
whether Rx or OTC that target the entire spectrum of melanin production.
Desquamating Discoloration Away
Preventing skin discoloration from forming in the first place is one part of the equation; the other, to eliminate undesirable uneven blotches
already present. AHAs, BHA, retinoids and sutilains all work to exfoliate discolored cells, revealing the clear skin hidden underneath.
Tretinoin and Retinol
The active agent found in such medications as Retin A, Avita and Renova, tretinoin increases cellular turnover, expediting the exfoliation
process, thus eliminating pigment already pooled in the epidermis. By increasing the rate of cellular turnover, melanocytes have less time to
be able to pass melanosomes on to keratinocytes. For those unable to obtain a prescription, retinol remains a terrific alternative. Look for
products such as DERMAdoctor Poetry in Lotion that can speed up epidermal exfoliation. But remember, while it may say 1% Retinol rather
than tretinoin on the ingredient label, retinols remain quite potent. Use with the same caution you would a prescription option or else you
may find your skin rapidly becoming chapped and dry.
Glycolic acid
Alpha hydroxy acids expedite cellular exfoliation. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are the two most commonly used for this purpose. AHAs are
frequently incorporated into a bleaching regimen.
Sutilains
A member of the keratase family which includes agents like papain, sutilains dissolve the intercellular cement, effectively dissolving the
bonds which hold the cells together and easing the desquamation process. Sutilains also improve penetration of ingredients meant to
reduce melanin production.
Here is the list of the multitalented hydroquinone-based prescription players:

Lustra- Contains 4% hydroquinone, 4% glycolic acid.

Lustra AF - Contains 4% hydroquinone, 4% glycolic acid plus SPF 15.
Alustra - Contains 4% hydroquinone and retinol.
Glyquin - Contains 4% hydroquinone, 10% glycolic acid, SPF 15 and is sodium metabisulfite free.
Tri-Luma - Contains 4% hydroquinone, 0.05% tretinoin and 0.01% fluocinolone acetonide (a potent steriod). Product must be
discontinued after 8 weeks of use to prevent skin atrophy (thinning).
Au Natural
OK, sometimes hydroquinone just isn't in the cards. Maybe you're sensitive or allergic to it. Perhaps you're pregnant, nursing or concerned
about ochronosis. Whatever the reason, a non-hydroquinone option may be just what you're looking for.
Photodynamic Therapy age spot eraser & skin brightener - energized with Noni Fruit, Mulberry, Bearberry and Licorice extracts, Azelaic
Acid, Beta-Carotene, Diacetyl Boldine, and Dithiaoctanediol.
Peel Power
Exfoliation can be a useful tool in hastening the resolution of melasma. It works to remove superficial pigmented skin cells and also eases
penetration of bleaching agents. A variety of means can be used, both mechanical and chemical. Whatever your weapon of choice, a fine
line exists between exfoliation and excessive inflammation. The unwanted outcome of too much irritation can be an increase in skin
pigmentation also known as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Exfoliation with Physical Chemistry that incorporates both a chemical peel with microdermabrasion helps lift away pigment that has already
risen toward the surface, hastening a more even complexion.
A final skin bleaching thought -- remember to stick with your program for the long haul. When you have achieved your desired results, stop
your bleach but continue your sun protection.

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. As always, I hope you have found it informative.

Audrey Kunin, M.D.

Current Trends in Skin Lightening

Ingredients:

Hydroquinone, in the past, was the standard ingredient for skin lightening treatments. Until
recently, it was thought to be the safest and most effective treatment for hyperpigmentation,
including age spots, melasma, sun damage and other discolorations. However, new research
suggests that there may be serious side effects associated with long term use of synthetic
hydroquinone. Just recently the FDA also announced its plans to possibly remove hydroquinone
based products from store shelves and limit its use to only prescription based medications.
Consequently, many manufacturers have begun to produce natural alternatives which mimic the
skin lightening properties of hydroquinone. Ingredients such as kojic acid and licorice have
become quite popular along with more advanced ingredients like Alpha-Arbutin. When combined,
these ingredients can often produce results that even surpass hydroquinone but without the
associated risks. Skin lighteners have come a long way in the past few years. With all the
available information on the internet, consumers can now educate themselves about the skin
bleaching products they buy. This page was designed to help the consumer learn about the many
different skin lightening ingredients available on the market today and ultimately choose the
best product for his/her skin.

The process of lightening the skin occurs in several stages. Most of the current skin lightening
ingredients on the market work at different stages of the process and typically provide the best
results when combined together into one product. Listed below are a few of the more popular
ingredients used by manufacturers of skin whitening products.

Alpha Arbutin:

Alpha-Arbutin is a biosynthetic active ingredient that is pure, water-soluble and is manufactured

in a powder form. As one of the most advanced skin lightening ingredients on the market, it has
been shown to work effectively on all skin types. It is the epimer of arbutin, and research has
proven that it has a stronger inhibitory action than that of (beta) arbutin. Though it is a very
expensive ingredient to manufacture, even at very low concentrations, a-arbutin has shown to
inhibit the activity of tyrosinase. Alpha Arbutin's inhibitory mechanism is different from that of
arbutin and can be up to 10 times more effective. The a-glucosidic bond found in alpha Arbutin
offers higher stability and efficancy than the B form found in the related Beta-Arbutin. This leads
to a skin whitening active that acts faster and more efficiently than existing single components.

Beta-Arbutin (Bearberry Extract):

Beta-Arbutin is often referred to as just Arbutin. As a natural extract found in bearberry (Uva Ursi)
plants, Arbutin also provides a skin lightening effect on the skin by inhibiting tyrosinase activity.
Though arbutin is a natural derivative of hydroquinone, it does not possess the same risks or side
effects. Arbutin has been shown to be a very safe ingredient and does not break down into
hydroquionone very readily. Though it is cheaper to manufacture than Alpha-Arbutin, the skin
lightening effect is much less than that of its counterpart. For this reason, many new skin
whitening products now use Alpha Arbutin as opposed to only beta-Arbutin.

Kojic Acid:

Kojic acid, often used as an ingredient in Asian diets, is a more recent discovery for the treatment
of pigmentation problems and age spots. Discovered in 1989, kojic acid is now used extensively
as a natural alternative to hydroquinone. Kojic acid is derived from a fungus, and studies have
shown that it is effective as a lightening agent, inhibiting production of melanin (brown pigment).
Kojic acid is a by-product in the fermentation process of malting rice for use in the manufacturing
of sake, the Japanese rice wine. There is convincing research, both in vitro (in a test tube) and in
vivo (on a live subject), showing kojic acid to be effective for inhibiting melanin production.

Licorice Extract:

The licorice plant serves many purposes in skin care. The ingredient that is responsible for the
skin whitening aspect of the plant is known as glabridin. Glabridin inhibits pigmentation by
preventing tyrosinase activation. Studies have shown that it can provide a considerable skin
brightening effect while remaining non-toxic to the melanin forming cells. Glabridin is found in
very small traces and therefore it is important to ensure that the correct part of the licorice plant
is used. Licorice's anti-inflammatory properties (due to ihibition of superoxide anion production
and cyclooxygenase activity) also make it a very popular ingredient in the skin care industry.
Niacinamide:

Niacinamide is commonly known as Vitamin B3 and is an effective skin lightening compound that
works by inhibiting melanosome transfer from
melanocytes to keratinocytes. Often this ingredient works best when combined with other skin
lightening treatments. Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is also known to be effective in reducing acne.

Mulberry Extract:

Paper Mulberry extract, is obtained from the root of Broussonetia kazinoki, Siebold. or B.
papyrifera, Vent. Tabl. Regn. Veget. or hybrids of both, family Moraceae. Extracts of this root are
potent inhibitors of Tyrosinase enzyme. The active constituents present in the extract are
Prenylated, polyhydroxylated mono-and bis-phenylderivatives. A 0.4% concentration of paper
mulberry extract inhibits tyrosinase by 50% compared to 5.5% for hydroquinone and 10.0% for
kojic acid. At 1% paper mulberry extract is not a significant irritant.

Glycolic Acid:

Glycolic Acid is a AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) which promotes exfoliation and a natural brightening
of the skin tone. By encouraging cell turnover, glycolic acid not only evens out skin
discolorations, but also helps to minimize fine lines and wrinkles. AHA's such as Glycolic Acid can
assist other ingredients in skin lighteners by allowing them to penetrate farther into the skin.

Lactic Acid:

Also an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), Lactic acid mimics the properties of Glycolic acid but is
typically better suited for individuals with sensitive skin. AHA's such as Lacic Acid can assist
other ingredients in skin lighteners by allowing them to penetrate farther into the skin.

Lemon Juice Extract:

Lemon juice is one of nature's most potent skin bleaching ingredients. Unfortunately it is also
very irritating to the skin and should only be used at small concentrations in skin lighteners.
Lemon juice is also known to be extremely drying to the skin if applied directly.

Emblica:

Emblica is a patented composition extracted from the plant Phyllanthus emblica. The extract
uses a multilevel cascade of antioxidant compounds resulting in a long-lasting and stable
antioxidant activity. Recent studies have shown that this natural antioxidant also provides
significant skin lightening properties when used in moderate concentrations.

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that occurs in many different forms (some stable and others
unstable) each with distinct properties. Several of these forms have been shown to reduce
melanin formation and provide a skin whitening effect when applied topically. These include lascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate. These forms
when used individually or together can assist in slowing down hyperactive melanocytes and thus
resulting in lighter skin.