I woke up the other day and my twitter feed was full of the worst comments about Ashanti. I was so confused because sis has always been undeniably beautiful and here come the ignorant brigade not understanding that her body is probably the most adequate reflection of a natural woman. For those of you who don't know how common hyperpigmentation issues are, understand that about 80% of pregnant women in Mexico & 50-75% of pregnant women in the United States are affected by melasma which is a darkening of the skin possibly triggered by sun exposure or hormonal changes. Basically, women with natural melanin production sometimes can have darker skin in certain areas. Let's get into how this happens. 

Hyperpigmentation is just dark patches or dark spots on the skin. This happens when the skin begins to produce more melanin in one spot. This can happen for a number of reasons, some more common ones are melasma and sun spots or age spots. It can also occur with a lot of friction, so thick people may have hyperpigmentation on their inner thighs and in places where the skin creases like the groin area or underarms. It can also be the sign of more serious medical conditions and can occur anywhere on the body. Other times it's harmless unless society begins to attack you for being in your natural state. 

The natural production of melanin when the body is injured or experiencing a hormonal change is a force to be reckoned with. It is easier to correct and will require constant treatment to maintain results. While many people who want to go the natural route may pick up a lemon to lighten their dark spots, lemons alone don't always have enough power to balance melanin on darker skin on its own. Here is a list of oils that help reduce hyperpigmentation when applied topically:

1. Rosehip seed - This oil is very rich in fatty acids & Vitamin A which makes it great for lightening acne scars and fading dark spots. 
2. Vitamin E Oil - Helps repair damaged skin cells & reduce hyperpigmentation
3. Lemon Oil - High in limonene which helps lighten skin tone & decrease hyperpigmentation. Always dilute as it can also cause photosensitivity which leads to exogenous ochronosis, which turns skin a bluish black which is counterproductive. 
4. Carrot Oil - Helps hinders inhibiting tyrosinase which produces melanin. It can be used to reduce the bodies natural pigment formation & to decrease hyperpigmentation.
5. Lavender - Is known for fading scars & post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
6. Sandalwood - This oil fades & softens scar tissue while diminishing discoloration and reducing hyperpigmentation
7. Frankincense - Brightens dull skin and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
8. Rose - An amazing oil for skin, but expensive. It rejuvenates your skin while brightening dull skin and decreasing discoloration. 
9. Geranium - Lightens blemishes
10. Bergamot - Regulates the bodies natural pigment & melanin distribution which aids in evening out the skin tone. 

Remember when using essential oils, you should always dilute them with a carrier oil or a butter base to avoid burning. If you aren't ready to start making your own brews, you can always look at the skin brightening options that I make and list here at Bella's Apothecary. These creams and oils have a carefully selected batch of essential oils mixed to ensure comfortable usage on the most sensitive body parts. To see a before & after with review of the Harmony Bleaching Cream, check out this YouTube video. Try out one of the products above to aid in healing sun damage or hyperpigmentation issues like melasma. If you discover that you require something stronger after 10 weeks of consistent application, email me and I will personally work on a custom blend to suit your needs. Until then, take care of yourself & love the skin you're in. Remember, the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice and you look great. 

We all have popped the occasional pimple but not all of us heal the same. Many of us have scarred and cursed ourselves for not finding a less traumatic way to rid ourselves of some unfortunately timed/placed acne. What we don't think about as we look at the evidence of a minor, yet self-inflicted wound is how aging might render similar effects upon our skin but by using the healing power of essential oils, we can combat both scarring from acne as well as dark spots that happen with aging.

The first thing to know about this product is that it is a night cream. The lemon essential oil is the most well known natural bleaching agent used in this mix, but it also can cause a sensitivity to UV rays which would also make hyper pigmentation worsen. The alpha hydroxyl present in lemon oil naturally lightens and exfoliates the skin so it's a perfect start to this dark spot correcting night cream. Coupled with Frankincense, rosehip seed oil and geranium to lighten dark spots on the skin. A bit of additional tea tree oil helps boost this effect as it has been found to be comparable to peroxide. 

Although lightening pre-existing dark spots is imperative, there is also the need to balance pigmentation. It seems really counter productive to make the dark spot too light so I added sandalwood to decrease discoloration and even out pigmentation with eucalyptus and bergamot which regulates the distribution of melanin. These last few oils make this a well rounded lightening cream that also smells amazing! 

Remember this cream is for very minor discoloration and not deep scarring from intense acne. Message me for recommendations on something stronger or a custom item. 

​Ingredients: Lemon, carrot seed, tea tree, sandalwood, frankincense, rosehip, eucalyptus, geranium & bergamot essential oils, coconut oil, aloe vera gel & grape seed oil

**Disclaimer:
All ingredients are 100% organic. However, please be careful of allergic reactions. For safety, test product on a small patch of skin first to assess any potential sensitivities. Jessica Orta and Bella's Apothecary maintain no legal responsibility for self-diagnosis and treatment or allergic reactions.  For custom orders please contact Jessica Orta at [email protected] or by clicking the corresponding button on this page.