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If you’ve had acne, you probably have also had to deal with hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation occurs when patches of skin become darker than the normal surrounding skin. This is because there is an excess of melanin and the brown pigment that produces normal skin color forms deposits in the skin. Although it can occur after a tan or even because of a tattoo—hyperpigmentation is a common after-effect of picking and popping acne (don’t do it!). If you are a picker, and you are dealing with the consequences of acne scars and hyperpigmentation, you’ve probably tried all kinds of ways to lighten those stubborn dark marks. From lightening creams, to chemical peels and microdermabrasion—there are a LOT of options to treat hyperpigmentation, but some of them are pricier than others, and some are slower than others when it comes to showing results. But there is something you can use to treat hyperpigmentation easily and quickly at home. Enter: the serum you’ve been waiting for— The INKEY List Alpha Arbutin Serum.
According to medical aesthetician and industry expert, Cassandra Bankson, this serum, “Gives you an amazing treatment that soaks into skin with a glow. It also has 0.5% squalane and peptides to nourish the skin. I like to use it as a treatment step underneath a moisturizer, because I am acne prone, and it blends onto my skin nicely and helps to decrease the pigmentation left behind from previous breakouts. For people who are super oily, you can even use this serum without a moisturizer as a nice lightweight hydrating serum for summer! I recommend this formula for people who are more acne prone.”
You might remember Cassandra from her early YouTube videos in which she shared her acne-covering makeup routines. If you’ve seen her videos over the past couple of years, you’ll see that she not only has cured her acne, but has treated her hyperpigmentation—and loves this serum. With over 2 million subscribers online, Cassandra is the “skinfluencer” Cassandra Bankson with a penchant for recommending the best acne-related products. So what makes this serum so great? The key ingredient: Alpha arbutin—a stable, water-soluble compound related to hydroquinone that has been shown to safely and visibly brighten skin and fade hyperpigmentation without irritating or being too harsh on the skin.
A bonus ingredient in the INKEY List Alpha Arbutin Serum is a dermatologist-favorite: squalene. Squalene not only balances oil production, it also has powerful anti-aging properties and anti-inflammatory benefits to help with acne.
For a more luxury product with similar benefits, try Obagi's Vitamin C and Alpha Arbutin Serum— a clinical-grade, luxury product with science and years of experience to back it up. Cassandra explained, “This formula contains vitamin C as well as Alpha Arbutin. Both of these work together to brighten the skin and help decrease the amount of pigment the skin makes after damage (i.e. a blemish or over exfoliation.) This serum is potent – both for your skin and by the way it smells. But it penetrates deep into the skin to work. This product is also helpful for those who struggle with fine lines and wrinkles, and I often recommend it to clients and patients who are concerned about fine lines and wrinkles.”
