essence health hyperpigmentation Kiehl's Mizon serum Shiseido skin skincare sunscreen

Due to my Asian heritage, I am highly prone to getting hyperpigmentation, which occurs when my skin overproduces melanin. When I used to get lots of blemishes, they would always leave really ugly dark spots on my skin that took ages to disappear. Nowadays, I worry about getting hyperpigmentation from photosensitivity.

For me, the best way to avoid dark spots is prevention. Here are some of the ways I prevent hyperpigmentation from forming.

1. I protect my skin from sun exposure.  Based on my observations on my own skin, sun exposure elicits sun spots to form and darken my acne scars. Thus, I always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVB and UVA rays, rain or shine. It is important to apply it even when it is cloudy because clouds do not protect you from UV rays.  Some of my favorite sunscreens include Shiseido's Urban Environment UV Protection Cream, and Kiehl's Super Fluid UV Defense 50+ . Regardless of what sunscreen you use, make sure to reapply it throughout the day, especially if you are exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Unfortunately, using sunscreen does prevent you from getting Vitamin D; however, I get my daily dosage of vitamin D from my diet (specifically from salmon, fortified cereal, and eggs) and supplemental pills.

2. I use a brightening essence or serum. Every night, I use a brightening essence religiously. I'm currently using Mizon's Mela Defense White Capsule Essence (pictured above), which has worked so well for me. This product is the reason why I rarely get any sunspots and my blemishes don't leave nasty marks anymore. I didn't see any lightening effects until 4 weeks of using this product, but I definitely think this is much better as a preventative measure, rather than as something you use when you have a severely dark spot. I also think this is perfect for my sensitive skin because it relies on gentle ingredients like cherry blossom extract to brighten dark spots.I have not gotten any adverse reactions from this. In addition to the brightening benefits, this makes my skin glow and feel soft to the touch. One note I must add is that when selecting brightening treatments, avoid harsh chemicals like hydroquinone and other bleaching agents; though they do work to lighten dark spots, I personally would stay away from these because they are extremely harsh on skin, particularly on sensitive skin.

3. I eat fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C.  I've been eating food rich in vitamin C such as tangerines, kiwis, bell peppers, and spinach. Intaking vitamin C is great for preventing hyperpigmentation because it inhibits your skin from producing too much melanin. Also, Vitamin C in general is just good to have for your overall health (duh!), regardless of whether or not you are prone to getting dark spots.


So tell me: Is hyperpigmentation something that you worry about like I do? Do share!

Till later,

Eva


FTC statement: This is not a sponsored post. Links provided above are not affiliate links.  Item pictured above was purchased by me.

acne beauty health probiotics skin

When I was in high school and college, my skin suffered from moderate to severe acne. My lower cheeks, neck, and forehead were speckled with red, inflamed spots that left unsightly post-acne marks. I was frustrated and couldn't understand how to make the hot mess on my face just go away!

There is no doubt that stress and the harsh skincare products I was using at the time may have aggravated my skin condition. But I later realized that poor digestive health was a possible contributor to my acne. A dermatologist I saw actually suggested that I re-examine my dietary habits and make sure that I was taking care of my gut. This makes sense to me now; in fact,  some evidence suggests that "gut microbes," along with other factors (like stress, low fiber, and a high fat diet) may have implications for the development of acne (Bowe & Logan, 2011; Katzman & Logan, 2007). When we get stressed and or fail to eat a healthy diet, the good bacteria in our stomach change and decrease, and more unhealthy bacteria form. This eventually releases toxins into the bloodstream, which leads to inflammation.  This whole process may lead to breakouts on the skin, mainly for people who are predisposed for getting acne.

For five years now, I've been doing everything I could to make my skin look and feel better. I've been exercising to decrease stress levels, using higher quality products on my skin, avoiding processed food, and increasing my intake of fiber. But I believe the most significant change that I made to my lifestyle was eating yogurt regularly and taking probiotic supplements. Based on my own observations, I believe this made such a big difference not only to my skin (as I rarely get pimples now), but to my overall health and well-being. My stomach has been feeling very happy and my skin has never looked better! 

If you're experiencing acne and or digestive health issues, talk to your doctor and see if taking probiotics is the right thing for you. I'm happy to say that it worked for me, and I hope it will work for you, too!

Till later,

Eva


FTC statement: This is not a sponsored post. Links provided above are not affiliate links.  Item pictured above was purchased by me.