Featured Ingredient: Licorice Extract

A popular skin lightening ingredient that has strong anti-inflammatory effects - licorice extract is the featured ingredient of this week. I knew if I was going to cover licorice extract, I had to shed more light on it and talk about ways to make the most out of it. Most of us who have used natural skin lightening or skin brightening products before have run across this ingredient, but many don't know why or how it works as a skin lightener.

The actual skin lightening ability in licorice extract is from Glabridin (the central ingredient that makes up the extract). Licorice extract is strictly a tyrosinase inhibitor. It blocks the enzyme that is responsible for creating melanin. It is a very useful and vital ingredient in a skin lightening regimen.

Licorice extract works best in the prescence of two other skin lightening notions or agents I should say: an ingredient which disrupts the transfer of melanin and an exfoliator. Like I stated earlier, licorice extract simply blocks the formation of melanin, however that is never a 100% complete process. Obviously some melanin does get produced (albeit less concentrated) so it makes sense to use something that blocks the transfer of the melanocytes to other cells (a domino effect). An exfoliator removes any excess cells that have gotten the 'leftover' melanin load.

It's all a process, I will be blogging more extensively on this process in another upcoming post.

The great thing about this ingredient is that it inhibits the enzyme responsible for melanin production without being cytotoxic like hydroquinone or potentially irritating like kojic acid. The intense anti-inflammatory ability is what makes this suppression so gentle and non-irritating. I think I've covered it in several posts, but anti-inflammatory agents are very important when skin lightening since inflammatory and irritation leads to a potential increase in melanin production.

Interesting Articles/Studies to read:

The inhibitory effect of glabridin from licorice extracts on melanogenesis and inflammation.

Natural Alternatives To Hydroquinone

Recommended products that contain Licorice Extract:

Vichy Bi White Double Reveal Whitening Essence

Bioderma White Objective Night Serum

Meladerm Pigment Reducing Complex

DDF Brightening Cleanser

Makeupartistschoice Lactic Acid Peel + Licorice Extract

MD Formulations - Vit-A-Plus Illuminating Serum

Dermaline Black Licorice Soap



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