Beyond the pale

This summer, followers of whitening products have loads of new formulas that boast new active ingredients, technologies and techniques to keep them happy. These latest options developed for dark spots and skin discolouration may well be the way towards a much wanted radiant complexion.

- Because of its downy leaves covered in sparkling drops of morning dew, alchemists in the Middle Ages believed that alchemilla had magical powers and so did Clarins, who combined this plant with raspberry and vitamin C as key ingredients of Clarins White Plus HP.

- Double defence with DiorSnow Sublissime UV Base SPF 50 followed by Whitening Powder Makeup SPF 30 PA +++ and you are ready to brave the sun, and at the same time boast brighter skin.

- A whitening formula coupled with sunscreen SPF 24, Olay White Radiance Intensive Whitening Cream gives a high concentration of anti-ageing and whitening agent niacinamide or vitamin B3.

- Give dark spots a twice daily massage, says Clinique, who developed Derma White Micro-Motion C Serum featuring a light-weight gel-serum with a tri-ball massage roller dispenser to deliver key ingredients including vitamin C, yeast extract and mulberry root extract.

- A 10-minute rejuvenating treatment for skin prone to spots, Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Brightening Mask soaks the skin with a soothing essence containing Multi-target Vitamin C.

- Biotherm's White Detox Bio A-[2] contains glycolic acid, a bio-acid found in sugarcane, to help improve the quality of the skin's surface by exfoliating melanin-filled dead cells.

Tips from the experts

For a bright complexion and even toned skin this summer, try out these beauty tips from Clarins.

Hydrate your body

Drink a large glass of water in the morning when you wake up, then 1 litre of still water throughout the day. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Stop smoking

Smoking releases free radicals, shocks the skin and is damaging to overall health and beauty. After just a few smoke-free days your skin will be more radiant.

Protect skin from the sun and pollution

Use a day cream and foundation with sunscreen all year round. Strengthen your defence by wearing a broad brimmed hat or pop up an umbrella whenever out in the sun.

Deep cleanse before bedtime

By leaving makeup on at night or not properly cleansing the skin, cosmetic and oil residues may get oxidised, causing skin darkening. Cleansing is an important step of daily skincare.

At night, continue to fight pigmentation

Apply a whitening night cream to tackle hyperpigmentation, as the process triggered during the day continues as you sleep, long after exposure to UV rays.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Sunday April 08, 2007