From The Straits Times    |
whitening-tn

A whitening product which claims to be the first to directly break down melanin in your skin is now available in Singapore.

“I’m not aware of any other ingredient that breaks down melanin and I’ve been researching whitening products for 25 years,” says Dr Alain Khaiat, president of Seers Consulting. Dr Khaiat was involved in assessing the safety and efficacy of the elure range, created by Syneron Medical.

The range consists of the elure Advanced Facial Wash (left), elure Advanced Whitening Lotion (centre) and the elure Advanced Whitening Night Cream (right, $690 for the set). Both the lotion and the night cream consist of a two-step application – first, an active melanozyme layer then the bio-activator which starts the skin lightening process.

elure is supposedly good even for sensitive skins because its main active ingredient, melanozyme, is derived from a natural source – mushrooms, or specifically, the lignin peroxidase enzyme.

This melanozyme eliminates the dark spots caused by melanin formation as a result of the sun’s rays, an effect which Dr Khaiats likens to “a pacman eating melanin”.

Current formulas in the market prevent the further production of melanin since it’s too durable to be broken down. This is done with ingredients like Vitamin C, arbutin, licorice or hydroquinone, which can fade dark spots and improve skin fairness with prolonged usage.

Hydroquinone is considered the most effective skin lightening agent by doctors, according to Dr Khaiat, and served as a point of comparison for elure’s results.

However, hydroquinone is also known to cause itching and redness. “People who suffer from sensitive skin problems like rosacea find it difficult to use traditional skin lighteners as it could be the non-active ingredients in the formula which cause irritation. We were careful in selecting ingredients for elure,” adds Dr Vivian Bucay, a US dermatologist who served as an advisor to Syneron Medical.

“We tested the product at 17,000 times the recommended human dose and saw no potential for adverse events,” says Dr Khaiat.

Don’t go throwing out your whitening skincare lines though. Dr Khaiat explains melanin continues to be formed in your body naturally: “Cosmetic products are not drugs, they cannot give permanent effects. This is why you will return to your previous skin tone when you stop using the elure products for three weeks.”

Expect a lightening of one to two tones from your natural skin colour, even for dark skin tones.

Bottomline: You can still apply the department store formulas on top of elure to prevent dark spots from forming.

How about having to choose between an anti-aging and a whitening product? “Anti-aging is whitening. The first sign of ageing is pigmentation, then wrinkles. You really cannot treat one without treating the other,” says Dr Bucay.

“The most important skincare products are sunblock, something with antioxidants to minimise free radicals caused by the sun and something which accelerates skin renewal with AHAs or BHAs,” she adds.

elure is available at Woffles Wu Aesthetic Surgery & Laser Centre (6733 9771), Nu.Reflections medical Aesthetics (6222-4575), KK Hospital (6394 1511/8993/8992, Clinic Suisse (6235 4040), AsiaHealthPartners (6235 8411) and TCS@Central Clinic (6221 8221).

Coach ID Lanyard
Now $75
Original price: $168
Shop Now
Jabra Elite 4 Wireless Earbuds
Now $88
Original price: $162
Shop Now
BaByliss Air Pro 2300
Now $63
Original price: $144
Shop Now
Abib Collagen Eye Patch
Now $19
Original price: $35
Shop Now