If you thought you could relax on your skin care routine throughout winter – think again! The cooler months are the perfect time to focus on bringing back your skin’s natural radiance and brightness through skin brightening treatments and procedures. Over winter your skin has much less exposure to the sun which is the main cause of pigmentation and skin discoloration. Leopard print may be in, but not on your skin, start your search for optimum radiance here with our top 10 whiteners and brighteners.
by Anna McDougall
Clinique’s skin expert and guiding dermatologist, Dr Davide Orentreich, sheds some light on the main causes of uneven skin tone and pigmentation, “There are a whole variety of cuases for hyperpigmentation. The number one, by far, is sunlight. Skin that has been injured or healing is even more sensitive to sunlight. The skin manufacturs more pigment to form an umbrella to protect this skin.” Dr Davide also cites pregnancy, hormonal changes and birth control pills as other causes of pigmentation in the skin.
His advice is to make use of daily sun protection in rain, hail or shine and “to use a daily skin program that incorporates exfoliation. By increasing epidermal turnover, we help to remove the pigment that is formed and thereby reduce the darkening”.
Shiseido White Lucent Anti Dark Circles Eye Cream
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and sometimes you may feel like your dark circles are the windows to last night! Save some face with Shiseido’s White Lucent Anti Dark Circles Eye Cream. This intense eye cream targets the two major causes of dark circles, pigmentation and poor microcirculation, in three effective ways. The eye cream sources the root of the cause, prevents it’s formation and addresses the microcirculation in the eye area. Dark circles are visibly reduced creating a youthful look and flawless, even-toned finish. Enriched with Super hydro-Synergy Complex N, maintain your skin’s moisture and achieve desired results by applying twice daily.
RRP: $88 15ml David Jones, Myer and selected pharmacies nationwide
Did You Know?:
We all know dark circles add years to our complexion, but sleep deprivation is not the only cause. The research experts at Shiseido cite melanin pigment and poor microcirculation as the main causes on the thinnest skin on your body. Their research reveals as you get older circles go from a light bluish colour to circles that are larger, surround the eye more and are dark brown in colour.
Aveda Enbrightenment Brightening Correcting Serum
Wipe out dark spots and discolouration on your face, neck and décolleté with Aveda’s Enbrightenment Brightening Correcting Serum. Plant-powered and highly concentrated there is no end to the benefits of this brightening product. The serum breaks down the appearance of dark spots through exfoliation and helps to prevent spots waiting to happen with with antioxidants that help to fight free-radical oxidation. Skin is left soothed, hydrated and illuminated thanks to the healthy dose of mulberry root, grape extracts, vitamin C, brown algae, just some of the beneficial ingredients.
RRP: Nationally across Australia and New Zealand. For stockist details please call 1300 300 054.
Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 15
Treat and protect your present and future skin’s colour with the patent-pending CLINIQUE Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 15. For daily use and optimum hydration this multi-targeted moisturizer takes the breakthrough hyperpigmentation technology and successfully addresses visible dark spots. And it doesn’t stop there, this little go-getter includes advanced photostable, broad spectrum 3:1 UVB/UVA protection and moisturisation benefits. As well as locking in intense moisture, the cream provides effective brightening results by breaking down microparticles for less visibility.
RRP: $45 Available from Myer and David Jones nationally www.clinique.com.au
L’Occitane Immortelle Brightening Instant Exfoliator
Scrub those spots away with L’Occitane’s innovative Immortelle Brightening Instant Exfoliator to brighten, smooth and create glowing, even-toned skin. The unique texture changes to a lotion with the addition of water and a flawless, more pure complexion is achieved from the exfoliating plant-based powders – Bellis perennis extract clarifies and evens the skin and pure organic essential oil smoothes and regenerates for anti-aging action.
RRP $45 Please call 02 8912 3000 for stockists
Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective White Toner
The message is clear! To improved the skin’s clarity Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective White Toner gently retexturises skin and reigns in melanin production. With birch, peony extract and activated C working together to brighten the skin, you can achieve hydrated and noticeably cleaner skin for a more clarified complexion.
RRP $38 Selected Myer and David Jones stores and Kiehl’s boutique. www.kiehls.com.au
Clarins White Plus HP Whitening Velvet Emulsion
To ensure your makeup looks as velvety as your skin, Clarins White Plus HP Whitening Velvet Emulsion, or although not light on the name, is light on the skin as the moisturising fluid absorbs easily for more radiant skin. This product is on call day or night to revive an ailing complexion, assisting in the evening out of skin tone. It also Enhances make-up and prolongs it’s hold with the active ingredients Sea Lilly, Alchemilla, and Raspberry.
Biotherm White D-Tox Bright Cell
The newly renovated White D-Tox Bright Cell by Biotherm lets you achieve that squeaky clean feeling as it removes dead skin cells that promote uneven melanin in the skin. Perfect for removing dirt, makeup and whatever else you may encounter during your day, your skin will look brighter with this micro-scrub cleanser faster than you can say, Phyto-Marine extract, Blue scrub-beads and Pure Thermal Plankton.
Ultraceuticals Even Tone Skin Complex
The Even Tone Skin Complex by Ultraceuticals works as a miniature peel, specifically designed for those experiencing advanced signs of ageing. This powerful serum features the highest strength AHA and BHA of all the Even Skintone products and will reveal significantly smoother and brighter skin. Not for the faint-hearted this super-product best for thickened skins and those needing a higher level of treatment. Lactic Acid & Citric Acid help to chemically exfoliate and improve moisture content while Salicylic Acid exfoliates and helps improve the texture of the skin.
La Praire White Caviar Illuminating Serum
La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Serum combats all signs of aging to bring back your skin’s natural radiance as part of a three-step system. Age spots, pigmentation, loss of firmness, general dryness – you name it, White Caviar has got it covered, a product as luxe as it sounds and worth it’s weight in (white) gold! With a plethora of ingredients to brighten dull and aging skin the serum includes, oligopeptide-34, dioic acid, licorice and swiss garden cress sprout extracts and vitamin C as well as an exclusive cellular complex work to moisturize and protect.
RRP: $610
