Skin brightening

Ingredients with the function of lightening the skin help to make the tone more even and visually reduce the severity of age spots, traces of post-acne and dullness. They usually work by reducing the formation of melanin, slowing down the transfer of pigment to the upper layers of the skin, or gently accelerating surface renewal, making the complexion look fresher and more uniform. In cosmetics, this function refers specifically to the effect on the skin; it affects the texture of the product indirectly, as the assets are more often injected into serums, creams and lotions for regular care. The European CosIng database identifies skin brightening as a separate cosmetic function, and dermatological reviews link the lightening effect with a reduction in visible hyperpigmentation. (single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu)

Typical examples of such components are niacinamide and stable forms of vitamin C. Niacinamide helps to even out the tone and is often used in skin products with post-inflammatory pigmentation, while vitamin C derivatives additionally act as antioxidants and give the skin a brighter, "rested" appearance. At the same time, it is important to understand that cosmetic lightening should be gentle and safe: the FDA warns separately about the risks of illegal mercury products and indicates that hydroquinone in over-the-counter skin lightening products in the United States is not considered an acceptable OTC ingredient due to possible serious side effects. Therefore, preference is usually given to more gentle cosmetic assets and mandatory sun protection, otherwise new pigmentation may appear again. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)