How to Add Arbutin to Your Skin-Care Routine

You can safely use concentrations up to 2 percent in creams and 0.5 percent in body lotions,adding that the ingredient is "safer and less aggressive than hydroquinone."(Although hydroquinone in concentrations above 1% has been banned in cosmetics by the European Union, Japan, Australia, and several countries in Africa, arbutin is safe at these concentrations because hydroquinone is released slowly.The skin won't be exposed to too much, and you can use it whenever you want, she explains.) You can choose to use more than one brightening ingredient in your routine,pairing arbutin with retinol to enhance skin cell turnover and improve product absorption.The good news is that arbutin works well with other ingredients."There are no known interactions with other skincare ingredients." When using arbutin, she recommends taking it once or twice a day Apply to entire face, or use as a topical treatment for specific areas.

You also need to be wary of sun exposure as this can lead to hyperpigmentation in the first place.Every day, "protect your skin from overactive melanin pathways with a good SPF 50 mineral sunscreen."If you can't do sun protection, it's not worth spending money on whitening products."Use arbutin for two to three months before assessing results.Talk to a board-certified dermatologist to help create the best routine, incorporating complementary ingredients for your skin concerns.

How to Apply Arbutin 

Try hard:

Always do patch testing! Start by applying an arbutin product at night to a small area on your forehead (where the skin on your face is thickest).If there is no irritation within 24 hours, begin applying the product to skin every night as a spot treatment.If there is no irritation after a week and you want to treat more aggressively, start using arbutin products morning and night.

Apply to entire face or as a spot treatment:

You can apply arbutin directly to areas of your face affected by hyperpigmentation as a spot treatment, or you can apply arbutin products all over your face (avoiding the eyes, lips, and mouth).Besides your face,your chest and hands are other areas that hyperpigmentation can affect.So you can also apply arbutin to your palms and chest.

The Do’s and Dont’s of Layering with Alpha Arbutin:

Aging is a natural process, but the signs of premature aging are not natural.While some people worry about fine lines and wrinkles, many more worry about dark spots, uneven skin tone, and hyperpigmentation.Brands have been grappling with serious skin concerns like dark spots uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation.They've formulated brightening skincare products enriched with ingredients like vitamin C, kojic acid and licorice that promise dramatic results for all skin types.However, those with sensitive skin know all too well the difficulty of trying a new lightening procedure.Vitamin C, licorice, kojic acid and other ingredients are all excellent whitening agents,but arbutin is second to none. Arbutin, a naturally occurring compound from different plant sources such as mulberry, bearberry, and pomegranate, has been found to be one of the most effective skin brighteners.

Arbutin vs Alpha Arbutin?

Arbutin and alpha arbutin are two different names for the same ingredient, and the terms are often used interchangeably. In fact, the original compound is called arbutin, and its chemically synthesized version is called alpha arbutin.Additionally, there is another arbutin variant on the market called beta arbutin.However, dermatologists advise you to ignore this variant entirely, since alpha arbutin is ten times more potent.