Here’s what you should know to achieve a lit-from-within glow.
– KEYS SOULCARE
Let’s be real: Keeping up with skincare trends can feel like a full-time job. (And, if we’re being really honest, the latest SkinTok craze can overcomplicate your skincare.) While it’s fun to keep things fresh and interesting, it’s great to have a ritual — and formulas — you can count on. Team Soulcare’s got you though, and we’re demystifying radiance by sharing three increasingly popular brightening ingredients worth digging into.
Brightening vs Whitening
First thing’s first: Skin brightening is not skin whitening. Brighteners work to lighten areas of discoloration. This type of topical treatment evens out skin tone if you’re dealing with dark spots, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and other blemishes you want to fade. Skin bleaching or whitening involves a process using harsh, skin-damaging chemicals to strip skin of its natural color. Now that we have that covered, it’s onto the good stuff.
1. Niacinamide
One of the fastest growing and relied on ingredients out there is niacinamide. (Say it with us now: NY-uh-SIH-nuh-MIDE.) As a feature ingredient in many of our best-selling offerings, including our Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum and Promise Serum, Team Soulcare can attest to the efficacy of this potent ingredient Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a water-soluble vitamin B3 that is gentle on skin. While it works to even skin’s tone, it also has some other fun perks:
- Supports the skin’s barrier to keep skin protected and lock in your ritual
- Boosts collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Improve redness to calm and soothe skin for a more even tone
2. Lactic acid
Lactic acid is one of the most popular alpha hydroxy acids on the market. In skincare, it dissolves the bonds that hold dead, dull skin cells together through exfoliation. (You get a feel for this magic with our Be Luminous Exfoliating Powder.) Some other reasons to love lactic acid:
- In comparison to more abrasive exfoliants, lactic acid is super gentle, even on sensitive skin
- Lactic acid stimulates cell turnover and supports cell renewal
- Lactic acid brightens by smoothing skin’s overall texture, for softness you can see and feel
3. Sea Buckhorn
Sea buckhorn is one of the key ingredients in our Sacred Body Oil. (Have dry skin? Layer this derm-developed blend of marula oil, baobab oil, and jojoba oil over your rougher patches to hydrate and seal in moisture.) Despite the name, you won’t find sea buckhorn under the sea. The thorny shrub actually originates from Europe and Asia. Scientifically known as Hippophae rhamnoides, sea buckhorn has seen recent recognition for its high concentration of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C. (With vitamin C levels that are 10 times higher than an orange, no wonder this “it” ingredient made our brightening list!) Need more reasons to add sea buckhorn to your radiance ritual? We got you covered:
- Fatty acids in sea buckhorn oil hydrate and treat dry skin, including eczema
- Anti-inflammatory properties reduce signs of redness and the appearance of acne flare ups
- Speaking of acne, sea buckhorn oil can signal glands to stop producing excess sebum to unclog pores and decrease breakouts
What makes your shine at full wattage? Share what brightens your skin (or your day) in the comments!
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