Latina Beauty

Did all that summer fun leave you with fond memories but with an uneven memento on your complexion that’s making you look older? While the sun is a well-known cause of uneven pigmentation and dark spots, there are other culprits such as hormone levels and skin color.  In fact, Latinas and African Americans are at particular risk.   According to research done by Johnson & Johnson, darker complexions have a higher level of inflammation mediators, which are proteins that build up in skin and possibly produce pigment.  The theory? Those mediators fuel blotches by rushing into inflamed skin when you get a zit, scrape the skin or get sunburned.

¿Que hacer? Give your skin mucho TLC! Dermatologists recommend avoiding abrasive scrubs since its gritty texture can irritate skin and produce more pigment.  You can also use creams and serums that suppress excess pigmentation as well as lighten existing spots.  And one thing that I can’t say enough is to always wear sunscreen regardless of your skin tone.

Wanna get even? Here are some of products that can help.

Dr. Susan Taylor’s RX For Brown Skin Bright and Even Exfoliating Cleanser is superb on darker complexions. Formulated with glycolic acid, it gently exfoliates to reveal a more even tone without irritating skin. It sells for $21 and you can find it here.

Olay ProX Discoloration Fighting Concentrate targets and repairs the exact dark spots.  It repairs the look of discoloration deep within the skin’s surface with N-acetyl Glucosamine (NAG) and Undecylenoyl (UPA), which condition and improve color eveness. It sells for about $42 and you can find it in drugstores nationwide.

Origins Brighter By Nature Skin Tone Corrective Serum is a gentle alternative to a beautiful and even complexion.  This serum addresses and prevent uneven tone with natural ingredients such as Japanese basil leaf, cucumber and vitamin C.  It sells for $39.50 and you can find it in department stores nationwide.

Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20 breaks up pigmentation over time while protecting skin from the sun.  This CEW Beauty Award Winner delivers soothing hydration as specialized ingredients break apart surface spots and exfoliate it away.  It sells for $39.50 and you can find it here.