Do you have pigmentation?

In the 'Anti-ageing' world, there's a lot to address if you're invested in it. But most of us seem to prioritise symptoms like wrinkles and sagging skin. Sorry to add yet another step to your beauty regime - but what do you know about pigmentation (or melasma), and are you treating it? Some research indicates it can make you appear up to 12 years older - eek!

Pigmentation is discolouration on your skin, often darker than it's usual tone. It's produced by melanin when your cells become damaged or unhealthy, and usually appears in patches on your cheeks, forehead and above the upper lip.

How does this happen? Well it's usually from hormones (often during and after pregnancy), sunlight, medications and friction and heat trauma.

I spoke to Dr Bryan Tan, the founder of Dr JW, about all the exciting science-y ingredients, and how they can make our skin glow and prevent further pigment from forming.

"KOJIC and GLYCOLIC ACID are well known traditional skin whitening ingredients that have been tried and tested.

"The novel peptide is LUMIXYL, which acts at a cellular level to inhibit the activity of melanin. It blocks the enzyme tyrosinase (affects melanin levels) and makes your skin brighter and more radiant.

"HYDROQUNIONE is an immunosuppressant and goes by the theory that inflammation causes pigmentation."

What's important to remember too, is that a great deal of pigmentation can be avoided, if you take consistent care to protect yourself from sun damage. Always visit your GP if you're not quite sure how to identify what's what.

And also, it isn't just the ladies that are susceptible to it - men need to take just as much care of their skin too, despite often needing a little more encouragement!

I've recently got my hands on a bottle of the luscious DP cream, which I apply in the morning under sunscreen, and use in conjunction with the Dr JW Anti-Wrinkle cream in the evening, of course!

I can't wait to share my results with you all in a month or so.

Stay beautiful,

- SJ x