As a medical aesthetician, I treat c lients on a daily basis with concerns such as discoloration from childhood mosquito bites, recurring acne that leaves scars, hormonal fluctuations that induces melasma as well as surface contact hyperpigmentation that causes dark knees and elbows.

The use of professional treatments such as lasers or chemical peels have been proven to significantly improve discoloration, but in most cases I also recommend pairing it with natural topicals to enhance the results as well as to maintain them.

Natural products are overall safer and nourishing for the skin, compared to chemicals that have numerous side effects such as thinning skin, acne, rebound hyperpigmentation, and can also cause cancer.

Detailed below is a comparison of natural and chemical skin lighteners.

Natural Skin Lightening vs. Chemical Lightening

• Time Frame: With natural skin lighteners, results typically take weeks to be seen. With chemical skin lighteners, results can be quick, especially with laser methods or peels

• Skin Safety: Natural skin bleaching methods are safe and gentle on the skin, while with chemical methods, skin burning, irritation, thinning skin, acne, stretch marks, rebound hyperpigmentation, and with prolonged use, ochronosis (permanent darkening of the skin) occurs.

• Overall health: Natural skin lightening is safe for your body as only natural ingredients are used. Ingredients used have other health benefits to nourish and replenish the skin while brightening. With chemical skin lightening, some of the chemicals used are poisonous and leaves the skin irritated and vulnerable to the sun, which is linked to cancer.

• Legitimacy: Natural skin- lightening methods have reliable results — skin won’t get darker if you discontinue. Chemical lightening has mixed results with high occurrences of rebound hyperpigmentation due to irritation.

• Comfort: Natural skin lightening leaves skin feeling better than before. On the contrary, chemicals can irritate skin and have strong, unpleasant smells.

After years of research on effective natural alternatives for chemical skin lighteners, Body Studio Cosmeceuticals was created. This all-natural skin-brightening line includes a vitamin C Soap, vitamin C Serum, Glutathione Body Lotion, and Glutathione Pills.

Vitamin C Serum

Non-greasy formula includes: vitamin C for brightening and anti-ageing; glutathione for fighting free radicals that cause cancer and inflammation; retinol to combat acne; Argan oil to moisturise.

Vitamin C Soap

A fresh way to start your day is lemon-scented and packed with glutathione to fight free radicals that cause inflammation and cancer, with vitamin C and E for skin brightening and anti-ageing.

Glutathione Pills

• 1000mg glutathione for fighting free radicals that cause cancer and inflammation;

• 200mg vitamin C for brightening and anti-ageing;

• 200mg alpha lipoic acid for cell rejuvenation;

• 100mg collagen for skin tightening.

Glow Fast Body Lotion

Non-greasy formula includes: vitamin C for brightening and anti-ageing; glutathione for fighting free radicals that cause cancer and inflammation; kojic acid for whitening, and exfoliation; arbutin for whitening stabilising melanin production; vitamin A to combat acne; aloe vera to moisturise.

Body Studio Cosmeceuticals natural skin-brightening line improves discoloration on the face and body without the negative effects associated with chemical skin lighteners. A combination of vitamins, antioxidants and natural ingredients not only brightens the skin, but soothes and nourishes while replenishing skin cells.

Michelle Vernon is a phlebotomist medical aesthetician who operates the Body Studio Skincare, located at 20 Constant Spring Road, Mall Plaza, Kingston 10, and Fairview Shopping Centre, Montego Bay. She may be reached at telephone 908-0438 or 684-9800; IG @ bodystudioskincare; E-mail: bodystudioskincare@gmail.com; Website:www.bodystudioskincare.com.