As much as we love our sunburnt country (and we really do), it is far from the ideal environment for anyone who is has a predisposition to hyperpigmentation. Thankfully, covering pigmentation can be done, and there are double duty beauty products available that will cover and correct all at once.
We shed light on the dark spots, scars, and uneven skin tone that so many women in Australia, and around the word, are trying to disguise with expert advice on covering pigmentation, and insights on causes and treatment.
What is hyperpigmentation?
Dr Daniel Yarosh, Senior Vice President of Estée Lauder Companies Basic Science Research, describes hyperpigmentation as, “an increase in the skin’s normal pigmentation in a particular area. There are many different skin colours, but it does not refer to any specific colour. Hyperpigmentation is simply more colour than you normally have in a particular area and can be caused as a result of exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays, acne scarring, age spots and hormonal changes.”
Uneven skin tone and dark spots have all but replaced fine lines and wrinkles as the new sign of premature ageing, and women are increasingly aware of this concern.
Debbie D’Aquino, Vice President Clinique Product Development Treatment Worldwide, blames this increasing prevalence of hyperpigmentation on the perfect storm that is the combination of the years we exposed our skin to UV without daily sun protection, and the skin’s inflammatory responses to conditions like acne and the overuse of harsh cosmetic treatments.
How can I cover pigmentation?
We asked Angelique Hogan, Clinique NSW Education Manager, about how to cover uneven skin tone. Here’s what she had to say…
Uneven skin tone can be difficult to cover, particularly if there is a dramatic shade between your skin tone and the area of discolouration. It often requires more than just one product to get a flawless natural look and a common mistake is using a lighter concealer – but it can be done!
How to cover pigmentation:
1. Prep the skin with Clinique Superprimer Colour Corrects for discolouration the peach tone help to neutralize the complexion so that concealer and foundation looks more even.
2. Apply Even Better concealer to the areas of concern to camouflage dark spots and discolourations. Use a shade that is somewhere between your overall skin tone and the dark spot for best coverage, never go lighter – this will end up looking ashy. Use a combination of a brush and fingertips for best application – the brush allows you to distribute the right amount of product and your fingertips to press the product into the skin and warm up the product for the most natural application.
3. Once you have concealed the area of discolouration/uneven skin tone there still maybe a shade difference to your overall skin tone. That is where Even Better Compact Makeup SPF 15 comes in!
Match Even Better Compact to your overall skin tone. This is a great cream to powder compact for use at home or on the go. It immediately improves skins radiance and even works to protect against future discolourations.
4. For those that are hooked on Even Better Makeup SPF 15 – Even Better Compact Makeup SPF 15 is a great touch up product to use throughout the day or night particularly for coming into the festive season when many women want to go from day to night effortlessly.
Your chance to win one of five Clinique Superprimer sets
How does the Clinique Even Better Compact Foundation work to battle hyperpigmentation and what role do antioxidants play?
The latest addition to the Even Better range, Clinique Even Better Compact Makeup, combines an antioxidant cocktail of ingredients consisting of Vitamin C and Vitamin E that work together to break up and banish the appearance of uneven skin tone.
Dr Yarosh explains how antioxidants work to combat hyperpigmentation; “Scientists recognise that the basic reaction for forming melanin is an oxidation reaction, in which colourless nutrients are converted into a colored pigment called melanin. This whole series of reactions is facilitated by the enzyme tyrosinase. Certain potent antioxidants are actually capable of opposing this oxidative reaction.
Antioxidants, especially polyphenols, are found in many extracts prepared from plants and include vitamin E, vitamin C, ferulic acid, proanthocyanidin from wine, polyphenols from green tea, resveratrol from wine, and genistein from soybeans. These all have shown some success in improving uneven skin tone.”
In addition, this handbag helper guards the skin from further UV damage with a broad spectrum SPF 15 and provides coverage light enough to wear everyday, buildable enough to be a viable base for special occasions, and durable enough to stand the ‘office to bar’ test of time.
Clinique Even Better Compact Makeup SPF 15 is available in 10 shades at Clinique counters in Myer, David Jones, and selected pharmacies nationally, Mecca Maxima, and Clinique.com.au RRP $55.00
