Skin Lightning - Know the ingredients of your skin lightning creams

In previous blog posts, we've discussed the dangers in using Hydroquinone. This does not mean that you should stop using your skin lightning products, but we still want you to know which ingredients are safe to use.

Alpha-Arbutin for example is a pure, water soluble, biosynthetic active ingredient. It is the more effective, faster, and safer approach to promoting skin lightening and an even skin tone on all skin types. Alpha-Arbutin blocks epidermal melanin biosynthesis by inhibiting enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine, minimizes liver spots, and reduces the degree of skin tanning after UV exposure.

Beta-Arbutin, often referred to as just Arbutin, is a natural extract found in Bearberry plants. Alpha-Arbutin’s effect on skin lightening is much better than Arbutin. Therefore many new skin whitening products now use Alpha-Arbutin as opposed to Beta-Arbutin.

Glycolic Acid not only evens out skin discoloration, but also helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Glycolic Acid can assist other ingredients in skin lighteners by allowing them to penetrate farther into the skin.

Lactic Acid mimics the properties of Glycolic Acid but is typically better suited for individuals with sensitive skin.

Vitamin C interacts with copper ions of the tyrosinase active site and reduces oxidized dopaquinone, thereby changing melanin from jet black to light tan.

You can find all of these natural substances in the skin lightning creams by Makari - embracing beauty and skin care one face at a time..

What Causes Liver Spots on the Skin and How can Can I Remove Liver Spots?

Liver spots on the skin appear as flat patches of increased pigmentation on the backs of hands, forearms, shoulders, forehead and face.

What causes liver spots is thought to be a combination of age - typically affecting those age 40 or higher - as well as overexposure to the sun and ultraviolet light. These patches are painless, but may affect an individual’s appearance.

Although no treatment is needed in most cases of liver spots, that’s why many seek a solution for liver spot removal. Other than relatively expensive laser treatments used to destroy liver spots, skin bleaching lotions or creams can generally be used for liver spot removal.

Makari’s line of Skin Repairing & Clarifying Serum and our Beauty Lightening Milk helps remove liver spots.

The Clarifying Serum is a concentrated bleaching gel that uniformly lightens the skin and prevents premature aging. The Lightening Milk is a face cream for whitening skin and lightening and moisturizing your dark skin.

Visit Makari for more information on the effect that these products will have on liver spots and for more questions about your skin and your personal health.

Get rid of dark under eye circles for good

Dark under eye circles are normally caused due to lack of sleep, heredity or bruising. Many people live with these circles, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t find treatment.

In most cases, eye circles are actually blood vessels that are visible through the skin surface. The thinnest skin in the body is located around the eyes and when blood passes through the veins and under the eyes – dark circles appear.

Lack of sleep is also a modern symptom which causes paleness and makes the veins appear darker. Even age has to do with dark circles under the eyes.

So what can you do about it? Cooling and moisturizing, Makari’s Eye Contour skincare gel takes particularly good care of the most delicate area of your face. Its gentle yet visible tightening effect ensures smoothing of expression lines, crow's feet and is especially recommended for dark under-eye circles.

All you have to do is apply the cream gently, starting from the inner corner of the eye and working your way outwards. Visit Makari for more information or questions about your skin and retrieve that youthful sparkle in your eyes.

Looking for skin lightning and whitening products? Here are 3 substances to avoid!

1. Hydroquinone does not make your skin lighter. So what does it do? Hydroquinone interferes with your skin structure, altering your natural state and limiting the production of melanin – the substance responsible for your natural skin color. Which means? You take away your skin’s natural protection, making it vulnerable to skin cancer. The use of hydroquinone is dangerous and it is even illegal in several countries around the world.

2. Mercury. True, mercury lightens dark spots. But Mercury poisoning is very dangerous. Headaches, fatigues and memory loss, even severe kidney damage are all associated with Mercury poisoning. Mercury based cream can also cause rashes, irritation and changes to the skin. Long term effects are impossible to reverse.

3. Steroids. The use of steroids can cause skin thinning and create deep stretch marks. Steroids side effects are associated with cellulites, eczema, fungal infection, even acne and further pigmentation disorders.

So should skin lightning or skin whiting products should you use? Only natural products that are derived from plant extracts or caviar extracts, like Makari’s Caviar Face Lightening - a high performance brightening treatment that intensively targets hyperpigmentation to give the skin an extraordinary radiance and beautiful even coloration.

Visit Makari for more information or questions about your skin and your personal health.