What is hyperpigmentation?
Speckles, freckles and sometimes unwanted blemishes. Otherwise known as hyperpigmentation, or nature very much doing its thing in terms of protecting your sensational skin from the sun’s harmful rays. And in her own way, nature is a talented artist popping the finishing touches or beauty spots just where we like them. Or, on the other hand, sometimes going slightly off-piste and making her mark just where we don’t want her to. Hyperpigmentation is light brown to black skin spots or patches appearing in any shape or size, in clusters or solo. They’re very common and are mostly harmless.
What are the characteristics of hyperpigmentation?
SUN SPOTS
Sun spots are the most common type of hyperpigmentation. We know these are caused by the body’s natural defence when we over-expose it to the sun’s harmful UV rays, but what do they look like? They tend to appear on the parts of your body that see the sun the most, so your face and hands mostly. They can be black, brown or grey and show mostly as freckles or splodges.
POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION (PIH)
This is when skin changes colour anywhere on your body after damage such a wound, a rash or sometimes acne. That’s because melanin is produced when skin is healing and overproduction can form patches of a different skin colour, ranging from white, pink to red, purple, brown, or black, depending on your skin tone. Always see your doctor if you have any concerns.
MELASMA
Melasma is another type of hyperpigmentation where your skin responds to hormonal changes in your body. It tends to be more common in women, quite often during pregnancy or if you’re using hormone based contraception. Here skin tends to form patches of black or brown on the face or sometimes your tummy. Do talk to a doctor or dermatologist if you’re worried.
Top recommendations
For a more luminous and even skin
So, we know how to behave sensibly in the sunshine. Let’s look at how best to look after skin where hyperpigmentation may have come home to roost. You could try our angelic skincare range called Drop of Light™, infused with North Atlantic red algae, helping your skin feel plumped with moisture and ready to set your inner and outer radiance free.
Drops of Light™ Brightening Cleansing Foam is a great way to start the day the pure and simple way. Massage on with a splash of water and feel its rich creamy lather help purify and cleanse the skin. It’s so gentle it won’t over-dry or strip the skin of precious moisture. Now you’ve got a beautifully clean palette you could try Drops of Light™ Brightening Essence Lotion. It’s a wonderful gel-to-water toner that helps to even out skin tone and helps prep the skin to gratefully receive radiance-enhancing moisture.
Enter Drops Of Light™ Brightening Serum, this little beauty is particularly helpful to skin that’s wanting to get more of an even skin tone. The wonder of serum is that it’s made up of smaller molecules to help get deeper into the skin so it feels moisturised, suppler and softer. It has a lovely light texture that helps skin feel refreshed and look more luminous. There’s a lot to love in this serene pot.
And now it’s the turn of Drops of Light™ Brightening Day Cream to delight your skin with a gentle yet super-smart splurge of hydration – talking to your skin tone in ways it understands. This lightweight yet nourishing day cream helps skin appear brighter and healthier – as though your skin tone has evened itself out somewhat. It’s a life affirming credit to the power of the range’s naturally inspired radiance-inducing formula.
Get your glow back
If you feel like your speckles are messing with your radiance, try giving your glow a boost with our Vitamin C skincare range. The Vitamin C range is a said to be a powerhouse when it comes to getting skin cells up to shine forth. One of our brightest stars is Vitamin C Glow-Protect Lotion SPF30. It’s a triple whammy where moisture, sun protection and glow meet in perfect harmony to help soften, smooth and go-go-go your glow.
If you feel like your skin’s got a sulk on you could try our specialist smooth talker – Vitamin C Skin Reviver Instant Smoother. This sheen machine has light-reflective particles which helps inspire dull and grumpy skin to sparkle forth. And for that winning ‘I’ve arrived’ radiance, try our Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser, infused with vitamin C rich camu camu from the Amazonian rainforest in Peru. It helps the skin to feel hydrated, awakened and energised, so you can go forth and shine with immediate effect.
Daily moisturiser with SPF
Skin Defence Multi-Protection Lotion SPF 50 + PA++++
Every smiley face needs to wise up to our friend the sunshine. With all the good stuff it brings, also come UVA and UVB (ultra violet short and long rays) and these are not our skin’s ally whether you're worried about hyperpigmentation or not. But our Skin Defence Multi-Protection Lotion SPF 50 + PA++++ certainly is. It’s dreamy all-round best buddy to your gorgeous mug even if you have sensitive skin – a great daily moisturiser with high sun protection, enriched with red algae that’s high in vitamin C. Helping set your luminosity free while staying on guard against the sun’s darker side.
"Absolutely love this product, I suffer from hyperpigmentation and recently, a dull complexion, but this product made my skin look brighter, glowy and well rested."
– Thehonesttruth
About Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser