Kojic acid

Kojic acid is just like an eraser for your skin. Confused? Well, Kojic Acid is a skin-lightening agent extracted from fungi. It is often extracted from koji mold or Aspergillus Oryzae during rice fermentation. Kojic acid was originally discovered in Japan and has gained popularity in the skincare and cosmetic industry ever since. It has proven to deal with hyperpigmentation, dark spots and even uneven skin tone. 

Kojic acid sends signals to the skin to slow down melanin production, a pigment which gives color to the skin. Overproduction of melanin in the skin leads to dark spots. Apart from skin lightening properties, Kojic acid has shown antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This makes it an effective ingredient to be used in skincare products targeting concerns like pigmentation, acne marks and sun damage. However, it should be noted that the concentration of Kojic acid should remain between 1% to 4% in skincare and cosmetic products.

Benefits of Kojic Acid

Kojic Acid is a magical ingredient used widely in skincare products to tackle hyperpigmentation, dark spots, acne scars and generally to improve skin texture. Learn about benefits of Kojic acid in detail below:

Reduced Hyperpigmentation

Often caused by sunburn, sun damage or acne scarring, hyperpigmentation is every girl’s nightmare. Dermatologists recommend Kojic acid based skincare products to address these concerns at their source. Kojic acid restricts tyrosinase and slows down melanin production at one spot. This helps in reducing melanin synthesis; thereby helping get rid of dark spots and hyperpigmentation over time. Studies prove that application of even 1% of Kojic acid formulations regularly for 8 weeks have reduced appearance of sun spots and melasma.

Tackles Uneven Skin Tone

When you spend days on a stretch out in the sun, you are most likely to notice uneven skin tone. This also leads to pigmentation in certain areas of your skin. This is when Kojic acid comes to the rescue. It has the ability to block melanin and normalize its distribution in the skin. When used with other brightening ingredients like Vitamin C or Niacinamide, Kojic Acid brings out a brighter and uniform complexion, making it a prominent ingredient in brightening serums and creams.

Faded Acne Scars

Ever heard of PIH? Well, PIH or Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation happens after acne breakout. Although your acne heals, it leaves behind dark marks which may take months to fade. Using Kojic acid may fasten the process. This happens as a result of reduced melanin activity on the scarred area. While Kojic acid may not help in healing the acne itself, it certainly plays a huge role in healing the marks and patches left by breakouts, especially when combined with ingredients like salicylic acid or other Alpha Hydroxy Acids.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory

A study conducted in 2022 proves that Kojic Acid has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents. It helps in skin prevention against oxidative stress on skin from environmental factors such as UV exposure and pollution. Regular use of Kojic acid paired with licorice extract, Vitamin C or Niacinamide can help make skin resilient and delay signs of premature aging. 

Improved Skin Texture

Kojic Acid is often paired with exfoliating and soothing agents making it a hit among skincare products that promise to improve skin texture. Dermatologists recommend consistent use of Kojic acid based products to those who struggle with hyperpigmentation, dark patches, fine lines and bumpy skin. 

How Microplastics Reduce Kojic Acid’s Efficacy?

Kojic Acid is a highly efficient ingredient to lighten and brighten the skin but when microplastics are mixed into the formulations, the effect is considerably reduced. Microplastics in skincare products negatively impact the skin by causing irritation, deterring skin’s outer layer and hindering the absorption of active ingredients. Not only this, microplastics form a layer on the skin which does not allow Kojic acid to fully penetrate into the skin which in result can cause breakouts as well.

How to Use Kojic Acid in Your Skincare Routine?

Kojic acid is a highly effective ingredient which when used in concentrations between 0.5% to 4% can show transformative results. You can find Kojic acid in various skincare products including: serums, creams, cleansers and face masks. This is how you can add Kojic acid to your daily skincare.

• Start with a low-concentration. You must first do a patch test and observe if you have any reactions. Ideally you should start with lower concentration products.
• Use cleanser and moisturizer with Kojic acid just once a day initially.
• Do not forget to apply a generous layer of sunscreen on your skin.
• Do not use any strong AHAs along with products with Kojic Acid in them as they may oversensitize your skin.

Who Can Use Kojic Acid?

Although Kojic Acid is relatively safer, it is not really for every skin type. If you have a sensitive skin type, you may experience irritation or redness. If you suffer from eczema or rosacea, please consult a dermatologist before using skincare products with Kojic Acid.

Apart from having brightening properties, Kojic Acid is a science-backed skincare ingredient that has found its place in the industry after great research. Anyone who is looking to reduce hyperpigmentation, even skin tone and improve skin texture can use Kojic Acid based skincare products for maximum benefits.