Glowing, Even-Toned Skin with MyChelle's Apple Brightening Series

Even when summer's over, warm thoughts of days in the sun linger—but unfortunately, so might those dark spots your skin has picked up as a result of too much sun exposure. Fortunately, nature provides safe and effective solutions that can smooth out your skin and leave it bright, vibrant, and supple. MyChelle has harnessed several of the most powerful brightening ingredients into its Apple Brightening Series, designed to make those lingering unwelcome summer memories fade away. What's more, MyChelle uses only the safest, most nontoxic ingredients available—unlike common skin lightening products, which rely on health-damaging chemicals.

It's no secret: Excess sun exposure damages skin. In the short-term, the sun's UV rays can cause painful burns, blisters, and discoloration. Over the long term, it can cause wrinkles, uneven skin tone, changes in skin texture, and even skin cancer.
 

When skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun, its pigment-produc- ing cells (melanocytes) are activated. The pigment they produce is called melanin. Pigmentation disorders can occur when the number of melano- cytes in the skin changes, or when they increase or decrease their melanin production. Increases in melanin production can cause hyperpigmentation, or irregular darkening of the skin. Decreases can cause hypopigmentation, resulting in small light spots on the skin.
 

The Dark Side of the Sun
 Too much unprotected sun exposure over the years can contribute to a number of skin issues, such as the ones below. MyChelle's Apple Brightening Series calls on several safe, natural ingredients to help mitigate them.
 
* Uneven skin tone. Patchy skin with some areas that are darker than others can result from uneven melanin buildup in the skin. When exposed to UV rays from the sun, the areas of the skin with more melanin darken more quickly than other areas, resulting in uneven skin coloration.
* Lentigines. Also called liver spots or sun spots, lentigines spots are flat, oval spots that range from tan to brown and occur mostly on the face and the backs of the hands as a result of chronic sun exposure. They typically appear during middle age and increase with age. Although evidence does not link liver spots directly to melanoma, they are a risk factor for it.
* Melasma. Usually occurring on the face, melasma consists of dark patches with clear edges. It occurs mostly in pregnant women (in which cases it's called chloasma or mask of pregnancy) and women taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy. In these cases, estrogen and sun exposure are both factors in the skin darkening. Melasma is more prevalent in people with darker skin.
* Freckles. Most visible on people with fair complexion, freckles are dark spots caused by clumped melanin in the skin. They result due to heredity and UV exposure. Freckles themselves are not a health concern, but they almost always indicate that the skin has had too much sun exposure - and they're a good reminder to take better care to protect yourself from the sun.
* Premature wrinkles; leathery, rough, and sagging skin. Repeated UV exposure damages collagen fibers, causes scar tissue buildup, and interferes with the creation of new collagen, which is necessary for healthy, supple skin. Over time, this results in skin that doesn't spring back the way young skin does - and leaves it looking wrinkled, leathery, and sagging.
 

MyChelle's Apple Brightening Series
 The most important—and most effective—way to prevent sun damage is through protection. Every time you are exposed to sunlight, even on cloudy days, you should cover up with sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and MyChelle Sun Shield, a nontoxic, reef-safe sunblock with ZinClear™ and organic aloe (SPF 28).
 

For skin that has already suffered the effects of sun exposure, we've for- mulated the Apple Brightening Series, which can help restore even, glowing, healthy skin—both on the surface and deep down at the cellular level. Why apples? Apples are particularly helpful in addressing sun damage because they contain a key compound called Applephenon that inhibits the enzyme elastase, which is essential to melanin production.
 

The Apple Brightening Series calls upon a whole team of powerful bioac- tives and antioxidants that together brighten and rehydrate the skin, treat uneven skin tone, reverse hyperpigmentation, and prevent future UV damage.
 
* Applephenon™ (Pyrus malus FrUit extract). A unique ingredient derived from unripe apples, Applephenon has powerful antioxidant properties. It may control melanin formation and absorb UV rays.
* Resveratrol. An antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes and giant knotweed, resveratrol has impressive antiinflammatory effects and fights free-radical damage.
* Açai Fruit Extract. Açai is a sustainably grown rainforest fruit. Its antioxidant-packed extract helps fight free-radical skin damage.
* Daisy Flower Extract. From the pure and beautiful daisy flower comes an effective and safe skin-lightening agent that alters melanin production.
* L-ascorbic Acid. A form of vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid is a potent antioxidant that strengthens collagen, combats wrinkles, and smoothes skin texture.
* Gallic Acid. Abundant in the leaves of witch hazel, mango, pomegranate, rhubarb, and sumac, gallic acid inhibits the production of the enzyme tyrosinase, which melanocytes require in order to produce melanin.
 

Simple Regimen for Glowing Skin
 Curious to see how it works? Take a picture of yourself now, before starting the following regimen. After a month of consistent use, take your picture again and compare - you'll be amazed at the difference.*
 
* Apple Brightening Cleanser <http://www.mychelle.com/applebrighteningcleanser-21oz.aspx> . A sulfate-free cleanser that brightens skin and gently exfoliates dead, hyperpigmented cells with natural apple fruit acids. Powerful antioxidants protect against free-radical damage.
* Apple Brightening Peel <http://www.mychelle.com/applebrighteningpeel-trialsize-1.aspx> . Made with green apple fruit, lemon bioflavonoids, gallic acid, and L-arbutin, this peel effectively diminishes hyperpigmentation due to age and excessive sun exposure. Exceptional antioxidants such as açai and green tea extracts protect against free-radical damage and strengthen skin against future damage.
* Apple Brightening Serum <http://www.mychelle.com/applebrighteningserum.aspx> . This light and refreshing serum contains nature's most effective skin brighteners such as Applephenon™, azelaic acid, alpha-arbutin, and lemon bioflavonoids to maximize skin brightening.
* Apple Brightening Mist. <http://www.mychelle.com/applebrighteningmist21oz.aspx>  A spray-on toner containing daisy extract and natural apple fruit acids brighten skin. Powerful tropical antioxidants protect against free-radical damage, while heavy water effectively hydrates dry, sun-damaged skin.
 

*You must be consistent, use as directed, and use all four products together. Results depend on the severity of the sun damage. aids skin healing and cellular repair.
 
 article 513, december 2009