Skin Whitening Products

Hydroquinone is the most common skin whitening ingredient used in the U.S.  It is available in concentrations of up to 2% in over-the-counter products, and stronger solutions (up to 4%) can be prescribed by a dermatologist.  However, hydroquinone is banned in Europe and parts of Asia and Africa due to fear of a cancer risk.  Hydroquinone works by inhibiting melanin production and is very effective after 4 weeks of continuous treatment; using hydroquinone products for longer than 3 months is not recommended, however, because overuse can actually cause darkening of the skin.

Kojic acid also inhibits melanin production.  Derived from a fungus, it is a more natural skin whitening alternative to hydroquinone.  Kojic acid is more effective when combined with glycolic acid, and can be extremely irritating to sensitive skin, so try a small test patch first.  People using kojic acid products will usually see results within 8 weeks.  Many Japanese skin whitening products use kojic acid as the active ingredient.  Recent studies have also called kojic acid’s safety into question, however. 

Arbutin is a relatively new skin whitening ingredient that is made from bearberry extract. Since it also has soothing properties, it’s an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin. However, it hasn’t been tested as extensively as the other skin whitening treatments, so its efficacy is as yet unproven. 

Vitamin C can also be effective at inhibiting melanin production.  However, the tests that show it to be effective have used a concentration of over 5%, which is much more than what is usually used in cosmetic products.  Vitamin C is also notoriously unstable, which means that by the time a cosmetic product containing it gets home to you it may have broken down and become useless.  For this reason, Vitamin C is a last resort skin whitening treatment for those who can’t use the other topical treatments for one reason or another. 

For those for whom topical skin whitening treatments don’t work, laser resurfacing or visible pulsed light treatments, available from a dermatologist’s office, may do the trick.  These treatments, which need to be repeated periodically to be effective, cost from $3,000-$5,000 for a set of four treatments.  Laser resurfacing and visible pulsed light are not recommended for people with dark skin, as they can leave disfiguring scars. 

Whichever active skin whitening treatment you choose, make sure to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 daily. Using skin whitening treatments without sunscreen actually accelerates sun damage and makes it worse.

The Right Skin Product

Protect your skin from sun

There are huge range of top brands sun creams, lotions and blocks are available. It is important to use the right one for your skin because excessive tanning ages your skin and laos increased the chances of skin cancer. Remember to safely follow our 2-step skin care plan:

Step 1. Know your SPF’s

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The higher the number of of the SPF, the more protection the product will give you from the burning sun rays. For example, an SPF 2 will let you stay out in the sun for twice as long as you usually could before burning, whereas an SPF 8 will let you stay out eight times as long.

Step 2. Go by Skin Type

In order to choose an SPF for your skin, you will need to know how vulnerable your skin is to the sun’s UVB rays. Always ensure when traveling that your skin is well protected.

Safe Tan Plan for Holidays

Apply suntan lotion every time before you go into the sun and before you dress to make sure that you don’t miss any areas.

If possible, try to stay out of the sun between 12 noon and 3 p.m. This time sun is at its hottest. Move into the shade or cover up.

If you are playing a lot of sport or swimming, then select a sunscreen with special sports formula or waterproof formulations.

For lips protection from suntan, use a good lip-screen.

If you have sensitive skin type, always choose hypoallergenic products.

Beast Facial Skin Care Routine

Skin Cleansing

A facial skin  that is not cleaned thoroughly or regularly can never be a healthy skin. When you clean your face, you clean pores in the skin from excess oil, dust and waste matter. For this reason, the importance of a thorough cleaning cannot be over-emphasized.

Skin Toning

A skin-toner or skin freshener, as it is sometimes called, stimulates the blood circulation in the skin, giving life and color. It also contracts the pores in the facial skin, keeping it taut, and helps firm the skin tissues.

Skin Nourishing

Nourishment given to the skin helps it to maintain and restore its natural oils. It also helps to rejuvenate the skin, keeping it smooth and firm. For this reason, it is important to use a nourishing lotion or cream. A vitamin skin cream helps to give skin vitality and strengthen facial muscles.

Skin Moisturizing

Keeping skin smooth and supple means keeping it moist. Skin is moisturized by sealing in water. Moisturizing is vital for the skin. Nothing else you do will count for much if you omit this. A moisturizer does not really penetrate the skin. It acts as a clinging film, preventing moisture from seeping out from inside and, anything else from seeping in from the outside. This is why moisturizing the best time to use a moisturizing lotion or cream is right after a bath or shower when your face skin has taken in water.

First Things First

The skin on your face is delicate – it is not like the skin on your body. So, the way you apply body lotion does not fly when we are talking about moisturizer. I would not go so far as to call it an art, but there is a certain level of technique involved.

1 . Apply moisturizer when your face is still damp from cleansing. This will prevent the water from evaporating.

2. Dab it on with the pads of your fingers.

3. Gently massage in the moisturizer with upward strokes . Do not rub, tug, or pull!

Find the Right Moisturizer for your skin type

Moisturizer for Oily Skin

Unless you are using acne medication that leaves you flaky, you probably do not need moisturizer. In the acne-meds case, use a gel or serum formula only on the dry areas. Or, use a moisturizer containing salicylic acid or benzyl peroxide, all over.

Moisturizer for Dry Skin

If your skin is dry or flaky, go for a rich cream based formula – avoid gels, lotions, serums. Look for ultra-hydrating ingredients like shea or coca butter, avocado oil and lanolin. Keep in mind that even dry skin can break out, so if you are acne-prone, try an oil-free moisturizer.

Moisturizer for Combination Skin

To avoid aggravating both your dry and oily areas, stick to a light skin-balancing lotion or hydrating toner.

Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin

Stick to light, oil and fragrance free formulas contaning skin-soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile or vitamin E to calm down an irritated or reactionary complexion.

Moisturizer for Hyper pigmented Skin

Yes, even women of color need SPF. First of all, we do get cancer – not as often as fair-skinned women, but it happens. On an aesthetic level, sun overexposure can give you dark spots, freckles and patches. Prevent this by always wearing an SPF-infused moisturizer. To treat existing spots at bedtime apply a fade cream containing hydroquinone, retinol or glycolic acid over the dark area. If the marks do not fade with over-the counter treatments, consult a dermatologist.

Moisturizer for Normal Skin

Try a lightweight tinted moisturizer. Think of it as the skin-care equivalent of Ashanti: light, complicated, pretty.

Find the Best Facial Cleanser for Skin Type

Facial Cleanser for Oily Skin

How can I make you understand that oily skin is not dirty skin? The two are as mutually exclusive as a trendy restaurant and good service! Women with oily or acne-prone skin are apt to scrub a little too enthusiastically, using harsh soaps. In doing that, they strip the skin of its natural oils, causing the oil glands to panic and overproduce sebum – ultimately leading to  breakouts. Skip the scrubbing and the soap, please! Instead use an oil-free gel or foaming cleanser – either will remove excess oil and dirt without dehydrating your skin.

Still feel oily after cleansing? Clear out your pores further by steaming your face. Follow this simple recipe:

• Bring three cups of water to a boil. Pour into a bowl.
• Add about five drops of your favorite essential oil. For those of you who are late to the aromatherapy party, essential oils are concentrated extracts of plants that come  in a variety of heady, delicious scents. You can buy them at beauty, bath, or health-food stores, and online.
• Drape a towel over your head and the bowl, and let the steam envelop you for five to  ten minutes.
• Rinse your face with cool water.

Facial Cleanser for Dry Skin

To avoid that tight, parched feeling you can get after washing your face, use a rich, cream-based cleanser containing emollients like fatty acids or glycerin. After rinsing, pat dry with a soft washcloth, and leave your skin slightly damp. If your skin is super-dry and flaky, try a tissue-off cleanse – it leaves a thin layer of moisture on the skin.

Cleanser for Combination Skin

Do not err on the side of dry or oily skin – stick to cleansers formulated specifically for the combination skin. These ultra-gentle cleansers will help balance your complexion, perfectly prepping it for your moisturizer.

Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

Go for a thin cleansing lotion that is hypoallergenic, allergy-tested or fragrance free. However, keep in mind that the claim “fragrance free” can be tricky. Just because the cleanser does not have fragrance added to it does not mean that it is without a distinct scent. Try the cleanser only on your neck for a few days. If it irritates your skin, try something even milder. Many pros sing the praises of “all-natural” or “organic” cleansers for sensitive skin – but are they really more gentle on your skin? Here is a mini-guide to the most popular natural ingredients out there:

Moisturizers: Olive oil, shea butter, avocado oil, honey, milk. 
Skin-soothers: Aloe vera, lavender, chamomile, geranium, green tea
 Oil-fighters: Tea tree oil, citrus (lemon, orange, bergamot), ylang-ylang, rosemary.

Cleanser for Normal Skin

The great thing about normal skin is that you don’t need to pick a formula that fixes anything! Go for an SPF-infused cream cleanser or a pack of disposable cleansing cloths for normal skin (so refreshing and great for the gym if you are a no-fuss type). Just make sure your cleanser leaves you feeling supple, not tight.

Cleansers for Hyperpigmented Skin

The best cleansers for you are those that exfoliate, because they slough off the top layer of skin, along with dark marks. Avoid cleansers containing manual exfoliators like micro-beads, salts, ground nuts; and so on they can cause irritation, which leads to more dark spots. Instead, look for those containing glycolic acid, which do the job gently.

Does your skin irritate easily?

Is your skin often red or blotchy?

Do you have allergic reactions (stinging, itching, burning, etc.) to certain beauty products?

Do you sunburn easily?

Do you have broken capillaries beneath the surface of your skin?

Sensitive Skin Information

Any skin type can be diagnosed as sensitive, since it’s nothing more than a negative reaction to outside factors, like wind, sun overexposure, allergies to certain products, and overzealous scrubbing (and who isn’t guilty of this from time to time ?). The thing to do is notice how your skin responds to things, and use the gentlest products possible.

Are your cheeks dry, but your T-zone oily or pimple-prone?

Are you oily or pimple-prone along the perimeter of your face, but dry everyplace else?

Do products that help one part of your face hurt another?

Combination Skin Information

Many of us have combination or unbalanced skin, since the T-zone naturally contains more oil  glands than the rest of the face. Also, using the wrong products can result in skin that’s drier in some places and oilier in others. Maybe you should stop using toner  as  harsh astringents can be  very dehydrating. Or switch to a light, oil-free moisturizer to prevent breakouts. It’s all about experimentation.

Does your skin feel itchy or tight, especially after cleansing?

Do you have rough, flaky or red patches?

Did you make it through adolescence with no acne?

Are you sensitive to the sun, wind, and cold?

Does your complexion look dull?

Dry Skin Facts and Information

Dryness occurs when your skin doesn’t produce enough moisture and sebum. This can happen if you live in an arid climate, because the dry air saps the skin of its moisture. You can also experience dryness because of artificial heaters, sun overexposure or chlorine from swimming pools. Dryness can make your skin look great – with fine pores and a clear surface – but it can also be uncomfortable and make your skin rough to the touch.

Are you prone to pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads? Do you have large pores?

Does your face look shiny when you wake up, especially in the T-zone? The T-zone is the area across the forehead and down the nose, to the chin.

Does your foundation wear off after a couple hours?

Oily Skin Facts and Information

Your skin tends to overproduce sebum, making it feel and appear oily. This is a good thing, actually, because it means your skin is always well moisturized, and you’ll have fewer wrinkles as you age. On the other hand, you’re more prone to breakouts, since sebum has the tendency to mix with dead skin cells in your pores; this clogs them and produces pimples.

It is normal for your skin to change thoughout the year

Skin is extremely susceptible to outside factors – the season, your diet, whether or not you smoke, whether you live in an arid, humid, or highly polluted climate. It can also change with your period, if you are pregnant, or when you’re stressed. Do not fret – you will just need to tweak your regimen a little.

Most important, hardly anyone has just one skin type.

A woman with oily skin might also have sensitive skin; someone with dry skin might also have acne-prone skin. Diagnosing yourself as one type and buying a whole line of corresponding products is a very old-fashioned way of approaching skin care – and it is not effective. Really look at the way your skin behaves. If you have acne but your skin is dry, normal oil-absorbing acne products will irritate your skin. All your symptoms should be taken into consideration when you choose products. Now, here are the major skin types; you can mix and match to find your perfect diagnosis.