How to Get a More Even Looking Skin

A recent study at University of Vienna, Austria show that lines and wrinkles were not the only reason for an aged appearance. Uneven skin tone and poor skin texture were shown to potentially add 10-12 years to a woman’s perceived age. The study used three-dimensional imaging and morphing software to remove wrinkles and furrows from pictures, leaving only the impact of facial skin tone to determine how young, healthy and attractive the women were perceived to be. The women hose faces had a more even skin tone were judged to be significantly more attractive, healthy and younger in age, whereas the models with uneven, blotchy skin tone were judged to be significantly older.

So what causes us to lose the beautiful rosy glow of our childhood years ? The usual suspect – sun exposure – plays a big part, but there are other reasons as well. Hormonal imbalances, acne, environmental factors such as pollution, temperature changes and smoke can all cause various problems which become more pronounced as we age and our skin starts to get thinner.  Below are your tips for dealing with the various types of uneven skin. As always, prevention is key: protect your skin with a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen such as the All Over Suncreen SPF 20 or Face Sunscreen SPF20.

Uneven Skin

Dark or brown patches on the cheeks, nose, forehead and sometimes also the upper lip are often caused by melasma.  This is most common among women, especially pregnant women and those taking oral contraceptives, as well as people with thyroid disease. When melanocytes (the pigment producing cells on skin) are exposed to UV light or an influx of hormones, they get overstimulated and produce more melanin which results in brown discoloration. To lighten up your skin, we recommend Clarity which contains melanin-suppressing botanical extracts and vitamins A, C and E to prevent free radical damage and brighten skin.

Acne Scars

Even after a blemish heals, it can still leave remnants behind. Post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation is quite common and can take a long time to fade. With severe acne scars that are deep in the skin can only be fixed with lasers, fillers or excision –however with red or brown discoloration exfoliation and microdermabrasion are great alternatives.  We recommend Eraser pads which contain Willow Bark Extract that gently exfoliates the top layer of skin, helping the natural cell turnover rate to speed up. Eraser is also ideal for acne prone skin as it contains a natural antibacterial that helps alleviate inflammation. For an at-home alternative to microdermabrasion, Honey & Almond Scrub helps by exfoliating the top layer of skin, removing dead skin cells.