I will be applying this test
Q1) Are harmful chemicals present?
Yes. This fairness cream contains parabens, which I avoid. Parabens are cheap and effective preservatives that are endocrine system disruptors (estrogen mimickers). (See also Chemicals to Avoid - Parabens).
If you are completely fine with using a fairness cream with these chemicals, then I respect that. Please continue reading.
Q2) Are skin lightening ingredients present? (Q3) Strategy for skin lightening?
Whitening ingredients are Niacinamide (4th) and Ascorbyl Glucoside (26th listed ingredient, which I am going to ignore because it’s not present in sufficient quantities to have a meaningful impact on the skin).
Sunscreen filters are: Octisalate (3rd), Octocrylene (6th), Avobenzone (8th) and Titanium Dioxide (11th).
The product achieves skin lightening on two levels. First, by the effect of sunscreen filters and then the Niacinamide.
Sunscreen filters: One of the immediate body responses to over-exposure to UV radiation is that our body produces more melanin.
(Melanin is the pigment that is primarily responsible for our skin colour (see also What gives our skin its colour?))
More melanin results in tanning and darkening of skin complexion. The purpose of the sunscreen ingredients is to prevent this cascade of events caused by UVR exposure.
Essentially, less melanin means reduced tanning /darkening of skin complexion.
Niacinamide: is a great skincare ingredient; its non-irritating and is a formidable skin lightener. It does not interfere directly with the synthesis of melanin.
Instead, Niacinamide reduces the amount of melanin being transferred to the epidermis (the topmost layer of our skin).
By default, this means lighter skin. (See also, see Niacinamide as a skin lightener).
Would I buy this product again?
No, as it contains parabens. But if you are fine with it, then this is a skin lightening cream that you could consider buying. This is more expensive than Hindustan Unilever alternatives (Pond’s, Fair & Lovely and Citral) because the sunscreen filters are more expensive.
Other points to note:
- After about 4 weeks, you may not see any difference in your complexion, despite continuous use of this product. This is consistent with studies that show the impact of Niacinamide in topical treatments plateaus after 4 weeks. This isn’t unique to Niacinamide but also applies to other skin lighteners (e.g.) retinoids.
- If you do plan use to use this product, please absolutely use a separate sunscreen product with at least an SPF 30, and that protects your skin against both UVA and UVB.
See also Top 5 sunscreen recommendations
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