If you suffer from pigmentation you’ll be all too familiar with the blotchy skin, dark patches, red spots and discoloration that go with it.
Today we’re talking K-Beauty hacks for pigmentation and the genius products you’ll want to add to your arsenal.
What Causes Pigmentation?
Pigmentation can be caused by a wide range of factors – acne, exposure to the sun, hereditary conditions, hormones, medications, allergic reactions, red, scratchy, irritated skin and other forms of skin damage.
Hyperpigmentation is essentially caused by the excess production of melanin by the melanocyte cells in the body.
Melanin is the pigment in skin that gives our skin its normal colour.
How To Manage It
Management of pigmentation through topical skincare involves the application of products that are aimed at shedding discoloured skin faster, encouraging new skin cells to form, targeting melanin and preventing spots from occurring in the first place.
SPF
One of the most important products to apply is a good quality sunscreen, preferably with at least 50+ SPF sun protection. A good sunscreen blocking both UVA and UVB is the key to preventing damage by the sun’s most harmful rays, which wreak havoc on the skin in the form of sun spots, pigmentation, wrinkles, fine lines and worse.
Skincare Acids
Skincare acids like lactic acid, beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are perfect for managing pigmentation, as they assist to chemically slough off dead skin cells and discoloration.
They are best introduced to a balanced skincare routine slowly, initially once or twice a week.
The Best Ingredients To Manage Pigmentation
In addition to other practical ways of avoiding pigmentation, like not picking at or squeezing at pimples, and avoiding getting a tan by wearing sunscreen and long-sleeved shirts, there are a wide variety of ingredients that can help improve pigmentation.
Many ingredients commonly found in Asian beauty products are perfect for managing pigmentation, including:
1 Vitamin C
2 Niacinamide
3 Rice
4 Galactomyces and more.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C derivatives have been shown to be effective against pigmentation, as they inhibit the skin from producing melanin, which causes discoloration in the first place.
For more on Vitamin C;
Snail Mucin
Snail mucin is one of Korean Beauty’s favourite ingredients for skin, and this includes skin afflicted by acne, acne scarring, aging and photo damage. Renowned for its ability to tighten and repair damage, snail mucin also helps with acne scars. Our favourite snail Korean beauty products include APLB Snail Cream.
Rice
Rice can assist with discolored skin cells by helping to slough away dead skin and brightening dull skin.
Licorice Extract
Licorice has skin-soothing properties and may be effective in improving the look of uneven skin tone. It is often indicated for people with a reddened complexion.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a type of Vitamin B3 that has several benefits for aging skin, including:
- enhanced barrier function;
- improved textural appearance;
- uneven skin tone;
- redness, and
- wrinkles.
Niacinamide is widely found in Korean beauty products.
Galactomyces
A byproduct of the sake brewing process, this wonder beauty ingredient is produced when fermentation breaks the yeast down into smaller components. This allows it to effectively deliver antioxidants directly to the skin, protecting it from environmental and UV damage, which cause premature aging. Galactomyces is an outstanding active ingredient that works to tone, nourish, moisturise and reduce the visible signs of aging.
The Top Korean Beauty Products To Fight Pigmentation
Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum is a brightening serum that uses the fermented synergy of Galactomyces-Bifida to boost your skin barrier and promote a radiant complexion. The luxurious essence contains an optimal ratio of high-quality fermented ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin without rolling on the surface, while maintaining an appropriate moisture balance with its hydrating, gel texture.
The best way to prevent acne marks is to get rid of blemishes cleanly and quickly. That’s why one of our favourite K-Beauty hacks of pigmentation are pimple patches.
If you get pimples in hard-to-reach places (like the side of the nose or around your mouth) then these are your patches. The thinness, stickiness and absorptive powers of Perfect Pimple Patch means they stay in place long enough to effectively tackle the pimples that other patches can’t.
This treatment essence contains skin-friendly antioxidants, proteins, elastin, and glycolic acids. It is also helpful for acne, uneven skin tone and acne scarring.
This is an oil-soluble chemical exfoliant that clears dead skin cells from deep within pores to help prevent breakouts. It is formulated with betaine salicylate that assists in achieving brighter skin.
This rich cream is packed full of brightening Sea Buckthorn fruit extracts to lighten up dull skin tone. The beautifully thick texture imparts instant hydration to the skin, filling it with vitamins and minerals.
The Vitamin C content from sea buckthorn extract contains 200 times more Vitamin C than apples and 30 more than lemons!
Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a stable form of Vitamin also gives faster visible results, and offers a much better stability profile than any known direct-acting form of Vitamin C.
This treatment essence enhances the skin’s natural renewal to deliver anti-wrinkle and anti-aging benefits.
The fermented process used in this galactomyces helps to effectively deliver antioxidants directly to the skin.
GLOWHILL Pure Peel Hydrate Cream
This hydrating moisturiser uses a unique blend of low stimulating fruit acids derived from orange, apple, grape and lime to create a softer AHA formulation. It brightens and tones skin while managing pores for a fresh, clear complexion.
Do you have any K-Beauty hacks for pigmentation? Let us know in the comments!
