Trinh Wonders If Lumedia Is Safe For Skin Whitening:
I wanted to know whether you think Bremenn Lab’s new product, Lumedia Facial Brightener, is safe to use. They stated that it’s 100% Hydroquinone free, but I don’t know whether to believe it because they are in controversy right now for false advertising. What is your opinion on this?
The Right Brain Says Hydroquinone Can Brighten Her Day:
We’re not familiar with this Lumedia product or the problems at Bremenn Labs but we wouldn’t be surprised if these claims are a bit misleading. “Facial brightener” isn’t really a very well defined product benefit. Companies could argue that their product “brightens” skin simply by moisturizing and/or exfolliating.
On the other hand, hydroquinone is very well defined: it’s an over the counter drug product used for skin whitening. Whitening and brightening are not necessarily the same thing, so don’t assume that a brightening product has to have hydroquinone. And as far as safety is concerned, we can’t tell without looking at the full ingredient list.
We hope this helps and thanks for asking The Beauty Brains. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to take another bottle of Borba water to the Left Brain…
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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
There is a brand called Makari (sold on http://makari.com) that claims to be free of hydroquinone. Their products lighten and whiten, do you think these aresafe?
Sherika, the Makari products are likely safe as are most any other cosmetic product you can buy in the US. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that the products will work as they imply. From a quick scan of their ingredient lists, there is nothing in these products that will lighten your skin anywhere near as effectively as hydroquinone.
Several things to consider. One, if you want to achieve results, buy from your physician-science has to be proven to the doctor with his/her “blessing” in order for a physician to make products available. Second, Hydroquinone is BANNED all over the world–South Africa, the EU, England, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Jamaica… and is currently pending a decision here in the U.S. It is effective, but does that mean it’s safe? THERE ARE OTHER INGREDIENTS that physicians use in those countries to combat melonocytes and pigmentation issues–know your ingredients. Lastly, new to the U.S. professional skin care market (sold through physicians) is MODUS–HQ-free and developed by a renowned plastic surgeon trained in the EU and USA. Hydroquinone is a class 2 (in most countries above) carcinagen. We could all stand to use alternatives that fade sun spots a little slower and effectively.
Now I’m confused here, Beauty Brains. You seem to be telling us that skin lightening products that contain hydroquinone are safe & effective while people are posting on your website (or suggesting links) that tell us that hydroquinone is banned in other countries and is a known carcinogen. If I Google hydroquinone + carcinogen, I have to admit that it gets a little scary!
I just ordered Porcelana, a relatively inexpensive cream which contains hydroquinone, in an attempt to save big bucks, since my friendly dermatologist wants to use a laser to remove freckles and other brown spots from my skin that’s a result of too much sun.
Carcinogenic Creams or expensive lasers? What’s a girl to do?
HELP BEAUTY BRAIN!!!
Karen,
The jury is still out on hydroquinone. Right now the FDA is reexamining the data to determine whether they should remove it from store shelves. (It will likely always be available as a prescription medicine.) Yes, hydroquinone is banned in some countries but that doesn’t mean a lot. We ban things in the US that are not banned anywhere else. It is really a matter of the opinions of the governments and not reflective of how safe a material is or not. For me, I’d stick with the hydroquinone cream. A short term exposure is not going to be harmful.
Thanks, Beauty Brains, for once again helping us sort through the facts to make the “beautification process” a little less overwhelming to your loyal following!
Hydroquinone is not banned in whole EU. It is banned in France.
Judge for yourself. Hydroquinone is banned in the EU, Switzerland and England. It is so stated from the labs on this scientific site. Those that give professional advice should be versed in correct data. Based on the data collected around the globe, I would NEVER use hydroquinone. There are too many other alternatives (U.S. physicians are seeking alternatives, due to the controversy) that achieve similar results. If there are safer alternatives, why would one consider using something that is controversial and banned throughout the world due to severe and irreversible skin damage? If it’s not okay to use long term, why use it? Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons and medical aestheticians know of the best alternatives in the medical grade arena. Trust the medical professionals to guide you to what is best–some do think hydroquinone is fine, others are worried about the long term effects.
The link in Swtizerland to the above….sorry….
http://www.kantonslabor-bs.ch/files/berichte/Bleichmittel2006%20(3)1%20en.pdf
Hi, everyone. I’d like to say that after trying a zillion products that promised to reduce pigmentation spots I had NO results and I also tried the expensive ones. All of them were without Hydroquinone because as you all said, in England where I live, it’s banned. Then I went to the U.S. for holiday (in March) and bought Esoterica, which contains 2% of Hydroquinone. And… I’ve been using it for less than 4 weeks, but oh my God!, the results are amazing! I can virtually see it working. My skin looks great, some of the spots dissapeared completely! This is the first time I tried a cream with Hydroquinone and it was only $6.50, anyone could afford that. One more thing – I am only using it once per day, before I go to bed. I love that the cream delivers what the label promised. I am definitely going to continue using it until my skin tone improves. Well… if I can somehow find it in England.
It’s true that some places have banned hydroquinone. But things get banned for all sorts of governmental (not-scientific) reasons. Avoid hydroquinone if you are naturally worried.
For the record Marjorie, the alternatives to hydroquinone do not work as well. If they did, no one would use hydroquinone anymore just because of the bad press it receives.
The ingredients list for Lumedia’s Facial Brightener can be found on this page at Amazon.com
I wonder if “full-spectrum luminizer” is just another way for Bremenn Research Labs to get away with claiming “facial brightening” benefits?
To state that nothing else works as well as hydroquinone is misleading and misinformed. If one believes that physicians in the EU, the UK, Japan, Australia, Africa and the other countries that have banned hydroquinone–have not found other alternatives is negligent and is simply wrong. There are many, many alternatives that have been proven to work as well or better and with safer applications. Dr. Leslie Baumann, University of Miami, is a LEADING dermatologist in the US that lists several alternatives, although she uses hydroquione for many patients–she notes these ingredients: Vitamin C, Arbutin and others. Hydroquionone is the most frequently used lightener in the US–that doesn’t mean it’s the best performer–some derms may say this, but others do not concur. The EU, the UK and the others have found alternatives that have SCIENTIFICALLY been found to be effective–arbutin for one. So, again, advise with correct information. If we should both need to cite peer reviewed medical literature in this discussion, please do not hesitate to inquire. There’s plenty to reference on these statements.
Thanks as always for your comments Marjorie.
Please provide your sources for scientifically proving that other things work BETTER than hydroquinone.
The fact that Dr. Baumann still uses hydroquinone indicates that she thinks other products don’t work as well. Why else would she use it?
I searched through Pubmed.com and found no comparative study showing that Vitamin C worked as well as hydroquinone. Perhaps you could direct us to some of the SCIENTIFICALLY proven evidence that Vitamin C, Arbutin and other work as well as hydroquinone.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/skintype/432/consider-your-skin-lightening-options
This debate has many opinions…..I rest my case…..write on! Scientifically many feel HQ is an issue, others do not like the parameters of which tests have been conducted. It is up for scientific debate–we are all here (at this web site and others) to collect the information, not slanted. The countries which have banned HQ, are banned based on scientific data. To suggest a government “just decided to ban a product”, would be ambiguous. Hydroquinone is in pubmed.com because of its testing for the FDA, cosmetic products, like Vitamin C, kojic acid and the like, are not required to develop studies that are peer reviewed. Hydroquinone is an effective lightener. There are other options, as well. Best wishes
I’ve read in a study that even short term use of hydroquinone was linked with ochronosis, a condition where the skin becomes dark and thick.
That’s exactly what were trying to avoid. So, if you’re not scared of the carcinogens, be worried about these potential side effects.
btw… you go Marjorie. What you say is true.
Birdy, according to dermatologists (the American Academy of Dermatology)the condition of ochronosis occurs infrequently. They estimate 200 cases out of millions of users. The fact that some people experience ochronosis is not a good reason for most people to avoid hydroquinone.
It’s a matter of where you put your faith. Do you believe dermatologists? scientists at the FDA? or marketing companies out to scare the public into buying their product?
And incidentally, countries that haven’t banned HQ have also done so for scientific reasons. It’s possible for 2 countries to look at the same scientific data and come to different conclusions. Things are never banned strictly for scientific reasons.
Hydroquinone is banned in ALL EU countries. As a matter of fact products that contain Hydroquinone are harmfull for your skin and might cause cancer so don’t use it.. there a other products in the market that work slowly but effectively to fade spots.
I am interested in buying your product, please let me know where I can find it? Thanks!!!
I use Lumedia’s facial brightener, it works GREAT!!!!! I never got so many compliments on my skin…I was a little aprehensive about spending $100 on it, but after using ALL of the free sample from Sephora I was hooked and had to invest in a bigger bottle!!!! =)
I think you’ll just have to agree to disagree. There are many trains of thought on the ’scientific evidence’ – which incidentally is based on experiments on RATS with massively higher doses of hydroquinine. I think the ban in the EU was a knee jerk reaction…. they have a habit of it and even banned bananas that are too curved! Crazy
Thank goodnes there are more measured responses and further investigation to be had…..Hydroquinine is as yet UNRIVALLED for treatment of hyperpigmentation
http://www.skinandaging.com/article/6562
One of the biggest causes of cancer is STRESS which can cause cell mutation – it can be the first step in cancer development (directly from the mouth of Prefessor Karol Sekora, World Health Organsion leading cancer expert who I met last year at a conference) …..so chill out people. Life’s too short.
Keep up the objectice advice Beauty Brains
I agree on nazarella one hundred percent I agree on your statement and comment about the cancer and hydroquinine.
I’m a health conciuos person but I use product with hydroquinine but not on a prolong period of time. When it lightens my skin I stop using it then when I needed it again I continue using it until my spot problem is resolve.
I’m thinking maybe all of you ladies ought to have just stayed out of the sun as you have been told TIME and TIME again. Do not expect any cream, ointment, serum or potion to erase your mistakes. If there is a possibility something may cause cancer, I would certainly avoid it. That holds true for the sun. Invest in a great sunscreen with both PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL barriers (ex- one with meroxyl). Also, the cream used for those suffering from rosacea, Azelex tends to whiten hyperpigmentation as well as work against possible cancer cells in the skin by impeding their cellular meiosis. Just remember, instant gratification can be a vice. You must be patient. And spread the word to youth to PROTECT their gorgeous skin from the sun!
To Carrie, not all hyperpigmentation is caused by the sun. Most hyperpigmentation just like melasma is caused from an unbalance of hormones in the human body. Stress can easily throw your whole body out of whack. I never go in the sun, used an spf 15 for 15 years and bang…hyperpigmentation. Spf 15 is useless by the way if it doesn’t contain at least a 10% combination of zinc or titanium oxide. Chemical sunscreens break down over a period of time while your in the sun. Reapply and reapply.
Olay is cancer causing, just about any product you buy now is. Go over to the cosmeticdatabase.com and look up your favorite shampoo and cream.
Hydroquinone causes cancer if you abuse it. People abused it in many countries and that is why it was pulled, plus companies where putting in more of a % of hydroquinone that what the law allowed. There are, I think the last time I checked 63 cases of cancer from using hydroquinone in the US. The very sunscreens, shampoos, lotions, hair coloring you put on your face, hair and body, is also cancer causing and worthless. Research scientific data, not a company website.
Hydroquinone is still the gold standard for hyperpigmentation. Alpha arbutin and it has to be the ALPHA is worth speaking of, because I know it works. DHC makes a good product or buy your own and dump it in your favorite cream, that way you get the % you want. I did.
http://www.treatment-skincare.com/Hyperpigmentation.html
Wonderful site to get honest and factual answers. Make sure you check out http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com as well.
By the way there is nothing in Makari and Lumedia that will do any wonders for your hyperpigmentation, save your money and buy a tube of hydroquinone for $18.00! The active ingredient should be no less than 3rd on the ingredient list for it to work. Research and study, don’t take others words, use scientific journals!
@Maria – Olay is not causing cancer. That’s just nonsense. Please provide some references for inflammatory statements.
The Skin Deep database is filled with inaccurate information. They do not rely on science when making charges. It is better to get information about materials from legitimate medical literature like Pubmed.com. Skin Deep is written by lawyers with an agenda.
@left Brain…I will look up the ingredients on the Olay Body Quench, since that is the one I am presently using, and see if I break down the ingredients used from scientific information.
It’s not anymore of an inflmmatory statement than your stating Skin Deep’s datbase is filled with inaccurate information.
In the meantime, you can also look up the ingredients and see if they are cancer causing. Also, I know for a fact their skin care that protects the skin from sun is about useless, from other articles I have read. Give me a few days and I will come back and post where I got the information.
Guys…the sun’s radiation causes cancer, grilled beef causes cancer, aflatoxins cause cancer…chill. Short term exposure to HQ is not half as bad as baking yourself in the sun without using sunscreen. HQ works better than any other skin whitener, it’s true. Marjorie, did you not even read the link you sent? You were talking about Arbutin as a “better” alternative to skin lightening…it’s banned in some European countries too. If you’re scared to use it, don’t, but don’t talk down to those of us who do. We know the “risks” and are willing to take a chance. You take a chance every time you get behind the wheel, you take a chance eating meat, you take a chance eating food loaded with antibiotics and hormones…I’m a senior bio student…not worried. Thanks.