We hope you’ve enjoyed languishing in the sunshine over the warmer months. The deliciously long evenings dining al fresco punctuated by short flights to even warmer destinations across the shores make us feel utterly radiant and alive!
We hope that your focus was on protecting your skin with SPF over the summer months, as UV rays are really damaging and ageing to the skin. However, some of us spent our youthful years without being fastidious with the sun protection. As we linger in the sunshine and enjoy that glorious Vitamin D now, any skin pigmentation we endured thanks to years of lackadaisical use of sun protection is sure to appear deeper in the sun.
At EB, we focus on protecting and hydrating the skin when UV rays are strong, but throughout the summer period, one question comes up time and time again – how do I get rid of my sun pigmentation?
Frustratingly, the time when our pigmentation is at its worst and appears the darkest is the very time we need to leave it and protect our skin from further pigmentation.
Treating pigmentation with strong products during the warmer months is likely to leave skin sensitised and susceptible to developing more pigmentation.
Now the weather is cooling, we can finally start to tackle those dark spots!
Types of pigmentation
First and foremost, there are various types of pigmentation. Here, we are going to focus on sun pigmentation (the sun is the cause of over 60% of dark spots!).
Sun pigmentation appears as flat, dark patches of skin that occur on areas more frequently exposed to the sun and often appear more with age.
Our skin naturally produces melanin to protect itself from the sun, pigmentation occurs when this process is disturbed causing an abnormal accumulation of melanin. As well as this, the skin naturally produces lipofuscin (yellow/brown pigment in the skin) and this can be exasperated by oxidative stress and UV rays when the skin is not protected.
Other types of pigmentation include post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (caused by acne spots), age spots, melasma (caused by hormones and appearing on the upper lip, forehead or around the nose) – we have previously written in depth about these so do read our previous pigmentation series to better understand these.
Sun pigmentation treatment
Many people like to mark the Autumn by booking in an anti-pigmentation treatment – a strong treatment with the added boost of professional strength products.
The Soin Tâches Pigmentaires facial treatment provides instant brightening results and uses an intense fruit acid mask to peel the skin and activate skin renewal. You can then follow-up with an at-home regime.
At home pigmentation treatments
Biologique Recherche have a dedicated range designed to tackle pigmentation, all products in the range carry the suffix PIGM 400, and those are the products to look out for. They all have brightening properties and work to reduce the appearance of existing dark spots and prevent further spots from appearing.
Here are a couple of things to consider before we get started:
- Take your time: Treating pigmentation takes time, and so you must be patient. If introducing several new products into your routine at once seems daunting, we would recommend starting with the exfoliator (Lotion P50 PIGM 400) and the targeted serum (Sérum PIGM 400).
- Hydrate the skin: Anti-pigmentation products can be drying and irritating on the skin, as they are strong, so always be sure to include hydration in the routine to protect and nourish the skin. The Sérum Colostrum can be used all over the face before the targeted serum and is perfect for that.
Cleanse and exfoliate
Cleanse with a milk cleanser of your choice (for brightening, the Biologique Recherche Lait VIP 02 is best thanks to the oxygenating ingredients)
After you have cleansed, head straight for the Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM 400. It’s enriched with both the exfoliating active ingredients of the Lotion P50 and the brightening agents and antioxidants of the PIGM 400 range.
In the evening, apply a few drops onto a cotton pad. Dampen the cotton pad for the first couple of weeks to dilute the product in case your skin is sensitive, then move to a dry cotton pad. Gently dab (don’t rub) the lotion over your face for an overall exfoliation, and to brighten dark patches of pigmentation.
We always advise using the Lotion P50 range at the start of your routine, as it will prepare your skin for the other products you are about to use and increase their penetration and efficacy.
Mask
Follow the Lotion P50 PIGM 400 with the Biologique Recherche Masque PIGM 400, a cellulose-made sheet mask that fits perfectly to the face and is packed with antioxidants and brightening ingredients to instantly leave your skin looking more radiant. The masks come in a pack of four and can be used regularly to decrease the appearance of dark spots.
Serums
One of the most potent Biologique Recherche products to tackle pigmentation is the Biologique Recherche Sérum PIGM 400. This is a strong, targeted and short course treatment. Apply a small amount to target specific areas of pigmentation over a three-month period to recover a more unified complexion.
This is the best time to follow with an intense hydrating serum all over the face.
Finish with cream
Last, but not least, the Biologique Recherche Crème PIGM 400 will leave the skin brightened and unified thanks to a powerful combination of pure genistein from soybeans and wasabi extract to limit cell ageing.
And there we have it, our most powerful products and treatments to keep that pesky pigmentation at bay.
As always, if you have any questions or would like a skin consultation, please contact us.