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Product Recommendation: Arcona Lightening Drops

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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Product Recommendation: Arcona Lightening Drops

Photo Credit: Arcona

It's been awhile since I've done a product recommendation. I'll be honest and say I haven't been looking much in the market. Mainly because I've been so content with my current regimen, but I've also been a bit busy in other things.


Fortunatley I found a good skin lightening product (though the full title of the product does say skin brightening treatment - it's definitley a skin lightener) recently though. I was searching for azealic acid products for a reader of the blog who was interested in using one, and I stumbled upon the Arcona Lightening Drops, Skin Brightening Serum. I have to admit, the ingredients in this product are pretty good. Azealic acid in OTC skin lighteners is hard to find, let alone be a worthwhile product. The best azealic acid treatment is through prescription and that is Finacea Gel, which has been proven to induce hypopigmentation (opposite of hyperpigmentation) and help fade dark spots, acne marks and promote an even skin tone, as well as treat acne.

The Arcona Lightenings Drops come in a 30 ml vacuum sealed pump tube. It's active skin lightening ingredients are azealic acid, lactic acid, vitamin c ester, kojic acid and arbutin. I love the fact the product is designed for all skin types, and has no common comedogenic ingredients (or very little inactive ingredients in total). It's a great skin lightening serum that should yield results. I would recommend this for anyone looking to fade dark legions on the face or neck like melasma, freckles, acne marks. Overall it should lighten/brighten the skin and even things out well.

With most 'two-in-one' skin lighteners out there, the Arcona Lightenings Drops lighten skin in a synergy. The exfoliant and penetration enhancing properties of azealic acid, galic acid and lactic acid enhance the effects of the kojic acid, arbutin and vitamin c ester. Also azealic acid and lactic acid (high on the ingredient list) inhibit melanin production on their own as well. Two in one skin lighteners also help you save money as well, since you don't need to get an extra alpha hydroxy acid product to help with penetration.

This product runs for about $30- $35.00. You can find it at drugstore/beauty.com, amazon.com and ofcourse ebay has some great deals on it.

Ingredients:
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract (Witch Hazel), Azelaic Acid, Gallic Acid, Lactic Acid, Ascorbic Acid Ester (Vitamin C), Kojic Acid, Arbutin, Red Raspberry Extract (Rubus Idaeus), Bilberry Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract (Citrus Gandis)

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posted by Mileena at 5:20 PM

8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Mileena

What's the difference between spf 15 and spf30 sunblock?

Thanks

July 1, 2010 at 8:51 AM  
Blogger Mileena said...

SPF is the measurement of UVB rays.

An SPF of 15 allows your skin to withstand an additional 150 minutes before getting sun burnt. That is if you apply it correctly (1/4 teaspoon over face).

Likewise with SPF of 20, it allows you to endure an additional 300 minutes.

This time frames are not completley accurate. Generally if you get a lot of sun exposure daily, an SPF of 30 is recommended. If it's just incidental sun exposure (walking in and out of your car to work/home) then an SPF 15 can suffice.

PPD ratings are also crucial as well. They measure UVA rays which are the culprit for pigmentation induced damage. PPD ratings can be calculated:

http://allaboutskinlightening.blogspot.com/2009/06/calculate-ppd-rating-of-your-sunscreen.html

=)

July 1, 2010 at 1:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Mileena! First let me say that this is a great blog - highly informative and I am so glad to have finally found it! I live in the US and I have another sunscreen question. I had been using Neutrogena spf 70 sunblocks because of the helioplex and lately, Enviromental Working Group (EWG) has come out with statements that the oxybenzone in these products can be endocrine disrupters. So I am trying to go with strictly physical blocks, because almost every chemical screen contains oxybenzone. BTW, EWG website is AWSOME - it gives the UVB and UVA rating of almost every sunblock in the US as you evaluate each individual sunblock.

I live in the deep south part of the US where it is very hot and humid, so I need water resistant sunblocks. I am still struggling to find a good block that is not too greasy or the zinc will "collect" in my smile lines, etc.

Blocks that are promising - Shiseido PAA 60, Blue Lizard Baby (although not sure how water resistant), and I am hoping to try Thinksport soon.

Question - how long do sunscreens last? Don't they wear off after 2 hours, even if you are not swimming? I know to reapply it every two hours at the beach, but for day to day, going inside and outside, how long does it last? Is applying once a day enough? Would a zinc oxide block last longer than chemical?

July 3, 2010 at 4:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Mileena

Thanks a ton, can u suggest a good cleansing oil or cleanser for acne prone skin to remove make up.

Thanks

July 3, 2010 at 9:37 PM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Hi!

Thanks for liking my blog ;)

I have definitley been aware of the oxybenzone being an endochrine disruptor issue. I avoid it completley and have bloogged about it on here as well.

I'm glad EWG has come out with a statement. Even with non-concrete evidence/studies I still avoided it because I just didn't want to take that risk. Plus oxybenzone burns/stings my skin too much.

Water-resistant, matte sunscreens are very ideal for hot and humid weather. Japanese sunscreens are my favorties since they are incredibly water resistant, sweat resistant and very matte. I personally use the Sofina UV Perfect SPF 50 (zinc oxide and octinoxate). I should note that I do use a cleansing oil to remove it since it is so matte and water resistant.

There are a couple more I like, like Kanebo Allie Comfortable Sunscreen Ex ( Perfect ) Spf 50 PA+++ .

PA+++ basically stands for a PPD (UVA protection) of 12 or above. Which is a good amount.

Usually once a day application of sunscreen is fine, as long as you don't have excess sweating, rubbing, swimming etc. Matte sunscreens like the ones I mentioned are even more resilient against these things.

Depending on the SPF and PPD factor, you can scope out how long a sunscreen can protect you. An SPF 60 is 60 times more likely to prevent burning, if you burn in 10 minutes (so 600 minutes in sun exposure). PPD is a little more complex to determine but generally a PPD of 10-12 is perfect for everyday wear. Anything higher is excellent for longer times in the sun.

Physical sunblocks like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do last a bit longer since they are just like micro encapsulated masks over your skin. Though chemical sun filters are more protective. Together they work really well (kanebo and sofina both contain both high levels of physical and chemical).

The best all physical sunblock out there I think is Devita SPF 30, though it's a bit moisturizing it's great for sensitive skin types that cannot tolerate chemical filters.
=)

July 4, 2010 at 8:24 AM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Hey,

Cleansing oils are mainly used for very matte makeup or sunscreen (japanese sunscreens). Other than that, a good makeup removing cleanser or foaming cleanser should do the job.

But if you are interested in using one, here are my favs. I use the Fancl cleansing oil which I get off bobodave.com:

Fancl Cleansing Oil
Garden of wisdom cleansing oil
Shiseido cleansing oil

Here is a link with some good tops on how to best use a cleansing oil:

http://www.androcco.com/Oil-Cleansing-Method.html

;)

July 4, 2010 at 8:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi There
Thank you for this review - I am very interested in this product. Could you please let me know how you use it? As in AM or PM and layered with anything? Thank you

July 6, 2010 at 6:06 PM  
Blogger Mileena said...

Your welcome =D

Though I am not currently using it, I think it's a great product. It can be used day or night. I personally (and this is just personally me) like to use lighteners at night, especially ones with strong exfoliant properties like this one which has lactic acid and azealic acid.

But it can be worn during the day, underneath your sunscreen ofcourse. It can be used perfectly alone at night as a treatment to both lighten and exfoliate so it's great in that way. ;)

July 6, 2010 at 7:23 PM  

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