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Causes of Uneven Skin Tone
Uneven skin tone is the enemy of your smooth skin goals.
If you’re struggling with an inconsistent skin tone it’s usually due to either hyperpigmentation or redness concerns. We explore what causes both of these issues and recommended skincare routines to encourage a smoother, more even complexion.
Hyperpigmentation
Problems with uneven skin tone often come back to the same core concern: hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation is caused by an overproduction of melanin. Melanin is the natural pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their colour and is created by melanocytes, the pigment-making cells in the skin.
When our body produces too much melanin, melanocytes offload the excess pigment into outer layers of the skin. This can cause areas of skin to darken more than the normal colour of your skin leaving your face looking uneven and patchy.
Several factors can trigger an increase in melanin production and result in hyperpigmentation.
Sun exposure
Your tan might look smooth and glowing after a day on the beach, but over time, sun damage causes skin to form darker uneven patches.
The leading cause of hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, UV rays send melanocytes into overdrive. The result? A dull skin tone, "age spots", and other patches of discolouration.
Pollution
Toxic nanoparticles from air pollution - especially traffic related pollution - are able to penetrate the skin. Once they find their way into the skin, they can cause hyperpigmentation and accelerate other signs of ageing.
Hormonal
Hormonal changes can cause uneven skin tone too.
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation that's more commonly seen in women and is directly linked to fluctuating hormone levels.
Melasma is often referred to as the mask of pregnancy because it can be triggered by an increase in hormones in pregnant women.
Melasma is more challenging to treat than other forms of hyperpigmentation and it’s also more difficult to prevent as it’s triggered by internal changes. While it is difficult to make it ‘disappear’, melasma can be managed with a good skincare regime and even in-salon treatments.
Post-Inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation happens when the skin surface has been damaged and darker reddish patches are left behind.
The most common cause of this type of hyperpigmentation is breakouts and acne. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation will usually fade over time and can be helped along with appropriate skincare and treatments.
Blotchy, red skin
Skin redness can also contribute to the appearance of an uneven skin tone. Blotchy, red patches of skin can be caused by skin issues like rosacea, sensitivity, and broken capillaries.
Skin redness can be frustrating to deal with and the more flare ups you have the redder these areas will become, which is why management is so important.
Some everyday things that may trigger the blotchy, red patches that lead to uneven skin tone include:
- Stress
- Extreme Temperatures
- Spicy food
- Fragrances and alcohol in skincare
- Alcoholic drinks – especially wine
- Smoking
Recommend products to improve uneven skin tone for hyperpigmentation
Brighten skin and improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation with these uneven skin tone products.
Cleanser
Gently removes all traces of foundation and impurities with a double cleanse while calming and protecting skin with aloe vera and camilla leaf extract.
Perfect for all skin types and concerns, the cleanser balances skin and won’t leave it dry or tight, just clean, calm, and supple.
The Uncomplicated Cleanser plus Brightening
A gentle cream cleanser enriched with Kakadu Plum extract which is bursting with Vitamin C for a lit-from-within glow and a gentle but deep clean.
Ideal for all skin types prone to dullness, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone.
Skin Treats
A potent brightening, anti-pigmentation serum with skin lightening ingredients and powerful antioxidants.
Ideal for most skin types to improve the look of pigmentation, sun damage, dull skin and enhance skin's luminosity and clarity.
The ultimate skin hydrator, this quick-absorbing serum fights dehydration for hydrated, plumper, and repaired skin.
Luxurious 24-karat gold leaf face oil nourishes for a visibly firmer, more youthful complexion - boosts skin elasticity, stimulates collagen production and improves blood circulation.
Sunrise Skin Energising Acai Duo
Ideal for all skin types to brighten a dull, dehydrated complexion prone to age spots and hyperpigmentation while stimulating collagen to firm and tone. Leaves skin soft, even and moisturised.
Gentle Foliant
Hydrating Hydrating and Ageless Volcanic Sand Gentle-Foliant
This formulation pairs the physical element of volcanic sand with the power of cranberry enzymes to encourage a clearer complexion. Ideal for all skin types.
Booster Masks
Bouncy Brightening Silky Booster Mask
A silky soft brightening mask to wake up a tired complexion and promote a smoother, more luminous skin tone.
Ideal for lightening, the appearance of hyperpigmentation his mask evens out skin tone for a smoother, brighter complexion. Suitable for most skin types.
Eye treatments
Instantly revive and illuminate tired eyes with a unique blend of plankton extract, active ingredients, and peptides to target dark circles, brightness and fine lines in the delicate eye area.
Sunscreen
Skin Shield Natural Sunscreen SPF30
Sun damage is a key cause of hyperpigmentation. Every skincare routine should include SPF protection and this non-greasy broad-spectrum SPF 30 is enriched with antioxidant protection.
Recommend prodicts to improve skin tone for red, blotchy skin
It’s important to choose gentle skincare products as part of a good, regular skincare regime to help reduce redness. This can really make a world of difference, especially during a flare up.
Cleanser
Gently removes all traces of foundation and impurities with a double cleanse while calming and protecting skin with aloe vera and camilla leaf extract.
Perfect for all skin types and concerns, the cleanser balances skin and won’t leave it dry or tight, just clean, calm, and supple.
The Uncomplicated Cleanser plus Anti-Redness
A gentle cream cleanser enriched with redness-minimising and antibacterial Tasmanian Mountain Pepper extract to cool inflammation while gently removing impurities.
Ideal to address skin prone to redness, inflammation, and sensitivity, this cleanser balances skin and delivers an improvement in redness.
Skin treats
Anti-Redness Minty Green Smoothie
Addressing the discomfort of inflamed skin, this serum cools and heals damaged, red skin. Contains potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties - the ideal anti-redness skin treatment.
A lightweight, purifying face oil with plant-based antimicrobial ingredients to cool inflammation and freshen skin while targeting blemishes.
Perfect for skin types prone to breakouts and oil balance concerns. Use instead of moisturiser to calm inflammation and redness, target acne, and regulate oil flow.
Ideal for all skin types with dehydration concerns, this nourishing oil can replace moisturiser to improve tone, calm, and hydrate while regulating oil flow.
Non-greasy, it’s perfect for combination to dry skin as a moisturiser to address dryness, dehydration, ageing, fine lines and wrinkles.
The ultimate skin hydrator, this quick-absorbing serum fights dehydration for hydrated, plumper, and repaired skin.
Detoxifying Exfoliating Charcoal Serum
This exfoliating charcoal serum will gently buff, detox, and purify for a clearer, smoother complexion.
Refreshing and Hydrating Skin Snack Face Mist
A hydrating and refreshing face mist to help replenish, rehydrate, and cool inflamed, red skin.
Gentle-Foliant
Is Rose and Bamboo the right gentle foliant recommendation to make here?
Hydrating Hydrating and Ageless Volcanic Sand Gentle-Foliant
This formulation pairs the physical element of volcanic sand with the power of cranberry enzymes to encourage a clearer complexion. Ideal for all skin types.
If you have dry skin and are dealing with an uneven skin tone due to redness, we recommend the Rose and Bamboo Gentle-Foliant.
Booster Masks
Anti-inflammation Mint Gel Booster Mask
Instantly cools the discomfort of red, irritated skin while shutting down inflammation and breakouts with powerful natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
It can also be used to cool and repair trauma after laser and IPL treatments.
Soft Skin Refining Charcoal Clay Booster Mask
Wake up dull skin with this mask’s powerful detoxifying charcoal / clay combination to buff, refine and purify for soft, bright skin. Suits all skin types, even sensitive skin.
Eye treatments
A moisture boosting miracle worker, this lightweight serum delivers continuous moisture and nourishes a tired, dehydrated eye area. Reduces puffiness while plumping and firming fine lines.
Sunscreen
Skin Shield Natural Sunscreen SPF30
Ideal for all skin types this non-greasy broad-spectrum SPF 30 is enriched with antioxidant protection and fights the first signs of ageing. Sun exposure can quickly cause flare-ups so including SPF protection in your daily routine is a must.
Need some help addressing uneven skin tone and putting a routine together? Book your free consultation with our skincare specialists.
