These lightening products incorporate
natural ingredients that help turn back time.
Wrinkles may be the most well-known visible sign of aging, but brown spots are just as much to blame for making skin look older.
Caused by an overproduction of melanin, these dark patches can be triggered by prolonged exposure to the sun, hormonal fluctuations during menopause, or even cases of adult acne.
The gold standard in turning back the clock is hydroquinone, but its use is controversial because in animal studies it has been shown to cause cancer in high doses. (Some medical spas still use small amounts in cases of severe discoloration; as a preventive measure, medical supervision is recommended for doses above 2 percent.)
Fortunately there are safer alternatives for getting a youthful, even complexion. Like hydroquinone, the following ingredients work by blocking the enzyme tyrosinase, which activates pigment formation, but these botanically based formulas are mild enough to use at home.
