By Tosin Olaniyi
I have probably never met anything that overstays its welcome like hyperpigmentation. That lady stays put and doesn't budge with ease.
Of all Fitzpatrick types, brown skin (usually from Fitzpatrick type 4-6), are most susceptible to hyperpigmentation. This is because brown skin already contains a larger amount of melanin which gives us the darker complexion color. And so, any form of trauma (pressure, pain, inflammation, eczema and such) to the skin can trigger excess melanin production. Those with darker skin tones therefore, have to diligently block such trauma by feeding antioxidants, brightening and protective ingredients like sunscreen to the skin. We also have to be mindful of harsh products because those can also cause trauma, which absolutely no-one wants or needs.
I’ve been battling hyperpigmentation (dark spots and some sun damage) for a number of years. It didn’t help that at the onset, I knew nothing about sunscreens, serums or even a moisturizer. As long as I could get my foundation shade, I didn’t really care how my skin looked. However, each time I had a pimple and it healed, it left a dark spot behind (brown skin problems!). By the time I got into learning about skincare, I had a ton of dark spots that seemed to be here to stay.
Fast forward to 2018 and I began to learn about skincare and the havoc all my years of nonchalance had done to my skin. I have been on the journey to clearing my hyperpigmentation since then so I am always on the lookout for products that contain ingredients that help fade my dark spots. Enter HYPERFADE.
What does she look like?
The HYPERFADE patch looks like a soft gel—a plastic-like material with hydrocolloid backing, layered with tiny, painless needles known as microdarts through which ingredients in the patch can transfuse into the exact part of the skin it is applied on.
This is quite different from the hyperpigmentation treatments that I’m used to: Sunscreens, serums, moisturizers, exfoliants or peels that help to protect, brighten the skin or control excess melanin production. This was my first time seeing a penetrative patch for hyperpigmentation and I was quite skeptical of the product. But, there was only one way to find out if it works or not: To test it for the full two weeks.
A little on the ingredients and how they lighten and brighten
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant that’s naturally occurring in the skin, and is known to hold a thousand times its weight in water, drawing in and retaining moisture in the skin. A lot of hydrating toners, serums and moisturizers contain hyaluronic acid because of this hydration quality, yet! few acne and dark spot products do. HA is a welcome addition here, given that most spot treatments or hyperpigmentation faders contain drying ingredients that forget to replace the moisture that their astringent or exfoliating agents suck out.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is that golden child ingredient that every ingredient aspires to be because of its sprawling list of benefits. It helps to control excess oil production, brighten hyperpigmentation, minimize the appearance of large pores, help repair your lipid barrier, and more. It’s a form of Vitamin B3 that most denizens in the skincare community cannot get enough of. It only makes sense that it is included in this formula.
Arbutin
Derived from Bearberry plants, Arbutin is a safer alternative to the controversial ingredient, Hydroquinone. It is a melanin inhibitor (blocks the formation of dark spots) and plays nice with most ingredients given its gentle disposition.
Kojic Acid
Kojic acid is a, quite frankly, underrated ingredient that a lot of hyperpigmentation treatments lack. It is derived from mushrooms, inhibits melanin production and also acts as an antioxidant (antioxidants help to fight free radicals on the skin).
Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbic Acid, also known as Vitamin C, is one of the most popular skin brightening ingredients. There are many derivatives of vitamin c for the skin but L-Ascorbic acid is one of the purest forms. Amongst all other benefits of Ascorbic acid, it is an antioxidant, brightens the skin and also protects against sun damage.
Licorice Root Extract
Licorice, another underrated ingredient for hyperpigmentation, is a gentle brightener and powerful antioxidant.
TXA
TXA is one ingredient for hyperpigmentation that has not been researched as much as most of the other ingredients on this list. I speculate that soon, it will be the next big ingredient in the industry. From the research we do have though, we know that it is great at fading hyperpigmentation, melasma and all other types of discoloration.
Macadamia Seed Oil
The addition of Macadamia Seed Oil into this formula helps with cell regeneration.
What about my experience, though?
I used a patch for specific dark spots on my face and left it overnight. I also applied a new patch to the spot every three days. I noticed that new dark spots faded faster than the old ones (which I expected). The application was also pretty painless and straightforward (wipe the spot clean, take out the patch from its pack and press it on the spot). It also adhered really well to the skin unlike some patches that could have robbed from the skin by morning).
I think HYPERFADE is an excellent way to dilute and brighten dark spots, and I had particular success with new spots, which faded faster than old ones. I definitely recommend attacking the dark spot with HYPERFADE as soon as you notice it; nipping it in the bud before it escalates. Also, ensure to wear ample sunscreen during the day to protect your skin from the sun. Like my friend, The Skin Priest says, “The hyperpigmentation you didn’t get, is the easiest to treat”.
Hyperpigmentation remains one of the toughest skincare concerns to treat but with the right ingredients as packed in HYPERFADE, you are one step ahead in your hyperpigmentation-fading journey.
Here's what a dermatologist thinks about HYPERFADE
Tosin went pretty deep on HPF's ingredients! Wanna go even deeper, though? Right here.
