Tag: Skinposium

Kojic acid is a skin-care ingredient that’s been brightening your skin while fading hyperpigmentation without you even knowing it. Derived from fermented mushrooms, kojic acid isn’t as well-known as its popular counterparts, like glycolic acid and salicylic acid. While these acids deserve recognition for all they do for the skin, kojic acid is due for a turn in the spotlight.

The word “acid” can be a bit daunting, especially if you’re testing out new skin-care products, but fear not, kojic acid may just be the answer you’ve been looking for if you experience acne scars and dark spots. You read that right: this skin-brightening dream tackles those pesky marks that often seem impossible to diminish.

Skin-care enthusiasts boast this hero ingredient’s benefits, but if you’re still unfamiliar, allow us to change that. Ahead, get the scoop on what kojic acid does for the skin, how to use it, and if there are any potential side effects to look out for.

What Is Kojic Acid?

While other acids will exfoliate the skin by turning over layers of dead skin cells, kojic acid halts the production of melanin and works to lighten hyperpigmentation, board-certified dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, MD, tells POPSUGAR. The powerful antioxidant is produced from various types of fungi and “stops the abnormal production of pigmentation and has antimicrobial effects, which is why it’s effective for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.”

Because of its antioxidant properties, Dr. Saedi says it helps reverse the effects of oxidative stress – an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body that can speed up the skin aging process, leading to the loss of collagen and elasticity, and resulting in texture changes, discoloration, and sagging skin, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Dr. Saedi explains that kojic acid can also assist in reversing the effects of UV damage. This often leads to premature aging of the skin, damage to your skin’s barrier, and potentially skin cancer, per Cleveland Clinic.

Kojic Acid’s Benefits For Skin

There are a handful of benefits for your skin when using kojic acid. It’s known to fade dark spots and brighten skin, but there are a few other benefits worth mentioning.

Stops the production of melanin: Kojic acid works to limit melanin production by preventing skin from forming tyrosinase (an enzyme that creates melanin), resulting in slowing melanin production. Dr. Saedi says this is why it makes it “a good ingredient for treating hyperpigmentation.” Case in point: it can lighten sunspots, acne scarring, and even melasma.

Treats hyperpigmentation without hydroquinone: Hydroquinone is found in skin-lightening products but is absorbed by your body, leading to potential rashes, swelling, and permanent skin discoloration. Dr. Saedi explains that kojic acid is free of hydroquinone, making it a better alternative to products made with the controversial ingredient. It will lighten hyperpigmentation without toxic side effects.

Acts as an antioxidant: As Dr. Saedi mentioned, since kojic acid is an antioxidant, it puts a stop to the overproduction of pigmentation. This means it fights against free radicals and repairs the damage it’s done to the skin while assisting in lightening hyperpigmentation.

Works as an anti-aging ingredient: Due to its ability to fight against free radicals, kojic acid is extremely helpful when it comes to anti-aging. It diminishes fine lines and wrinkles and boosts elasticity in the skin.

How to Use Kojic Acid For Skin

For most people, using kojic acid daily shouldn’t cause any issues; it’s pretty easy to incorporate into your skin-care routine to target dark spots. “I often recommend using products that contain kojic acid, especially for patients with pigmentation,” Dr. Saedi explains. There are plenty of products that incorporate it: cleansers, serums, masks, creams, and even soaps.

However, if you have super sensitive skin, it’s recommended to only use kojic acid-based products a few times a week. This allows your skin to adjust to it over time.

Side Effects of Kojic Acid

While there aren’t very many potential side effects of kojic acid, if you have sensitive skin, Dr. Saedi recommends doing a patch test before using it on larger parts of your body.

This lowers your risk of experiencing contact dermatitis, which can present itself as redness, irritation, rashes, and itchy and uncomfortable skin.

Ingredients That Shouldn’t Be Mixed With Kojic Acid

A great thing about kojic acid is that it enhances the effects of other ingredients such as glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that removes the top layer of dead skin cells, further reversing sun damage, and hydroquinone, which lightens dark patches of skin caused by pregnancy, birth control pills, or even injury to the skin, according to the National Library of Medicine.

With that being said, pairing it with ingredients like these two can cause irritation and dryness at first. For that reason, Dr. Saedi doesn’t recommend using any exfoliants or drying agents when you are beginning to use kojic acid. “That will make your skin very irritated,” she says. It’s always best to start slow.

When it comes to popular skin-care procedures, chemical peels are probably some of the most misunderstood of the bunch. Thanks to a certain episode of “Sex and the City,” the thought of getting one sounds a lot scarier to many than it actually is, but the truth is that they’re very safe to get when done by a professional, and they boast a ton of skin-care benefits.

In case you’re curious about what a chemical peel is and why it serves as a great facial treatment from time to time, we’re here to break it down for you – with help from a couple of experts, of course. Learn all about the different types of chemical peels, as well as their benefits and safety information.

What Is a Chemical Peel?

According to dermatologist Azza Halim MD, a chemical peel is “a formulation of various chemicals that are intended to help remove the top layer of the skin to reveal healthier skin.” There are several different types of chemical peels, and each one can address various skin concerns. “Glycolic acid peels are great for exfoliating, as they penetrate deep into the skin,” Dr. Halim says. “Lactic acid peels are derived from milk and gentle for sensitive skin, as well as moisturizing for dry skin. We also have salicylic acid peels, TCA peels, retinol peels, and so much more, and each can be used alone or combined, depending on the skin’s needs.”

Chemical Peel Benefits

Chemical peels have a long list of benefits. They usually help minimize dullness, pores, the appearance of fine lines, scars, and hyperpigmentation.

“These are great for anyone that desires more rejuvenated skin, as well as to treat various conditions such as acne and acne scars, hyperpigmentation, sunspots, pores, fine lines, aging skin, uneven skin tone, [and] texture, as well as balancing oil secretion,” Dr. Halim says. “I always recommend to my patients to get peels in between laser treatments to maintain and prolong the results of their lasers, as well as for skin health.”

Are Chemical Peels Safe?

Despite what you may have heard (or seen on TV), chemical peels are typically safe when performed by a dermatologist or aesthetician. They’re typically customized according to your skin type and its needs, but generally speaking, you can get a chemical peel if you’re experiencing a myriad of skin concerns.

How to Prep For a Chemical Peel

If you’ve made a chemical peel appointment with a dermatologist or aesthetician, the first thing you should do is discontinue your use of retinol, acne treatments, and prescription topicals for at least seven days before the treatment. “Stay away from irritating products because you don’t want to aggravate your skin further,” dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD, previously told POPSUGAR.

You should also head to your appointment with clean skin that’s free of makeup. “We don’t want sebum or oil to prevent the peel from penetrating the skin,” Dr. Nussbaum says.

Chemical Peel Aftercare

The best thing you can do for your skin after getting a chemical peel is to make sure you’re keeping it hydrated and wearing sunscreen. “You don’t want to cause burning or hyperpigmentation, so sunscreen is important,” Dr. Nussbaum says. You should also stay away from harsh and abrasive products that might irritate the skin further.

– Additional reporting by Aimee Simeon

When you hear the word peptides, your mind might flash to the label on your dietary supplements, like your vitamins or protein powder, but there can also be peptides listed as a skin-care ingredient in your beauty products. Most people know that peptides are good for the body, but the knowledge on the subject stops there – many don’t know exactly what they are or what they do.

Peptides for skin boast a long list of benefits, including anti-aging, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory properties, and many people can profit from incorporating them into their skin-care routine. But how? To answer that question, plus the question of exactly what peptides are and what they do for the skin, we asked two skin-care experts.

What Are Peptides For Skin?

You know amino acids? Peptides come from those. “Peptides, also called polypeptides, are short chains of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins such as collagen, elastin, and keratin in the skin,” board-certified dermatologist Christine Choi Kim, MD, tells POPSUGAR. Julie Algier, an aesthetician at JECT in New York City, adds: “Peptides are essential to our skin structure and are present in all human cells.”

Just like amino acids, peptides occur naturally in the body, but you can also get them from external things, like food and skin-care products. “Exogenous sources of peptides in skin-care products are usually either synthetic or plant-based,” Dr. Kim says.

Peptides Benefits For Skin

Now that we’ve covered that peptides are essential to the body, you should understand what they do for the skin specifically. Peptides are anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hyperpigmentation fighting, hydrating boosting – and those are just a few of the benefits.

“Because of their small size, peptides can more easily penetrate the outer layer of the skin, unlike larger proteins,” Dr. Kim says. “They can then act as messengers to give signals to other cells.” Peptides increase collagen production and decrease collagen breakdown in the skin, which helps fight signs of aging; smooth fine lines and improve uneven texture; strengthen the skin’s structure; decrease pigmentation; increase hydration; decrease inflammation; speed the healing of wounds; relax muscles; and slow the spread of microorganisms.

“Once we enter our 20s, we begin to produce approximately one percent less collagen each year,” Algier says. “By adding in peptides to our skin-care routine, we are increasing elasticity, firmness, and collagen, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and volume loss.”

Who Should Use Peptides in Their Skin-Care Routine?

While anyone can use peptides in their skin-care routine, Dr. Kim says they’re especially beneficial for anyone over 20 and who has photo-damaged skin. “Starting to use products with peptide formulations in your 20s, when we begin to produce less collagen, is a great time to start,” Algier says. Generally, you don’t have to worry about them reacting negatively with other products in your routine. “Peptides are not as potentially irritating as other ingredients like retinol or AHA/BHAs, so they are a great introductory product for any anti-aging skin-care regimen,” Dr. Kim says.

How to Use Peptides For Skin

There’s no wrong way to start using peptides in your skin-care routine – they come in cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and face masks – and Dr. Kim says they’re safe for all skin types, unless, of course, you have a known allergy to them. “Peptides are generally well-tolerated even by sensitive skin types,” she says.

Dr. Kim and Algier both prefer serums, moisturizers, and even eye creams as opposed to wash-off products (like cleansers and masks) because they tend to deliver better results. Algier adds: “It is important to find the right formulation for you as most products have other supporting ingredients.”

Again, unlike some active skin-care ingredients, you don’t need to worry about peptides reacting with other products in your skin-care regimen. “Combining products such as vitamin C and peptides in the morning will enhance collagen production, as well as retinoids and peptides in the evening to improve the skin’s firmness,” Algier says. She also recommended you “be as consistent as you can, applying your products morning and evening.”

The only exception to this rule is copper peptide, which shouldn’t be applied with pure ascorbic acid. “While not harmful, you will miss out on the full antioxidant benefits of your topical vitamin C,” Dr. Kim says.

If you’re a human being with anything close to a basic skin-care routine – and if not, we can help you with that – then there’s a good chance you’ve used a facial product with any of today’s most buzzy skin-care ingredients, like niacinamide or hyaluronic acid. Another popular one is antioxidants, which are often found in many products you use, but outside of knowing that they’re supposed to be good for your skin, do you actually know what antioxidants are?

To help clear up any confusion, we asked a dermatologist to explain. Ahead, you’ll learn what antioxidants for skin are, how to add them to your routine with facial serums, and more.

What Are Antioxidants For Skin?

“Antioxidants are molecules that neutralize free radicals in your body, which are unstable molecules that can damage to your cells,” dermatologist Shari Sperling, MD, of Sperling Dermatology tells POPSUGAR. Free radicals naturally occur in the body, though they can also come from environmental factors like pollution, cigarette smoke, and other chemicals.

“Prolonged stress from free radicals can cause damage to your DNA, which can then lead to certain diseases and skin aging,” Dr. Sperling says. “Antioxidants can be found in some foods such as fruits and vegetables and plants, but you can also get antioxidants from skin products.”

Types of Antioxidants For Skin

According to Dr. Sperling, antioxidants found in vitamins C, A, and E are effective and can be used topically on the skin. Vitamin A is also known as retinol, and even though it’s a popular ingredient in many acne products, it can also improve the skin’s elasticity, exfoliate, and prevent and fade sun damage.

After vitamin A is vitamin C, a skin-care hero that you can find in tons of serums, moisturizers, and eye creams.

“Vitamin C is a super antioxidant, which protects the skin from environmental damage and prevents premature skin aging associated with UV rays and pollution,” Saira Vasdev, co-founder and medical director of Skin and Sanctuary, previously told POPSUGAR. “It penetrates deep into the skin’s surface and acts to neutralize free radicals which are toxic to skin cells, as well as stimulating cell renewal and supporting new collagen synthesis. Visible benefits include brighter skin with improved texture, softening of fine lines and wrinkles, and increased firmness and elasticity.”

Others, like ferulic acid and niacinamide (vitamin B3), can help to increase the skin’s firmness and elasticity, reduce inflammation, and brighten dark spots.

How to Use Antioxidants in Your Skin-Care Routine

Antioxidants work best when they’re paired with other products. “It is best to use a vitamin C serum (with A [and] E) in the morning and some even use it at nighttime too,” Dr. Sperling says. For best results, you should use an antioxidant-rich product in your morning routine and follow it with a moisturizer and SPF.

– Additional reporting by Tori Crowther and Jessica Harrington