All About Kojic Acid: The Brightening Beauty Ingredient You Need in Your Skincare Toolkit

For gentle skin brightening and erasing discoloration, this year’s trending ingredient to try is kojic acid. If you’ve been looking for something new to add to your routine, kojic acid is a real skincare superstar and a must for your daily ritual.

The Amazing Benefits of Kojic Acid

Kojic acid comes from various types of fungi, but is also a byproduct from the fermentation of soy sauce, miso, and sake, also known as Japanese rice wine. Though it may be generating a buzz at the moment, kojic acid has actually been a tried and true beauty secret used for centuries. In recent years, it has found its way into more and more cosmetic formulas due to its potent preservative properties for the skin. It is naturally antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-aging.

Beyond being a youth-boosting ingredient, kojic acid is also known to drastically transform uneven pigment in the skin, as it has the ability to inhibit melanin production. One of its most common applications is in formulas that brighten dullness, dark spots, melasma, or sun damage, making it an amazing alternative to more aggressive lightening treatments and ingredients like hydroquinone. It can even be useful in addressing the appearance of scarring and reducing discoloration as a result of acne.

Three Products Featuring Kojic Acid to Know About and Love
If you are ready to experience some of the incredible benefits for yourself, Mitchell Brands has a number of recommended products that feature kojic acid. These essentials can be easily incorporated as part of your regular skincare routine, or simply follow these steps in order for a complete protocol that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and looking luminous.

 

• Step #1: Geisha Beauty Secrets Exfoliating Soap with Kojic Acid - For mild exfoliation and cleansing, this simple formula soap is a perfect first step in any brightening beauty ritual. It blends kojic acid with a high-grade virgin coconut oil for a combination that helps purify, refine, and smooth the skin. 

 

• Step #2: Geisha Kojic Acid Face Brightening Serum - Following cleansing is the perfect time to infuse the skin with a rich concentration of active ingredients, and for this we love the Kojic Acid Brightening Serum. Featuring kojic acid alongside calming niacinamide, hydrating aloe vera, and nourishing botanical oils–including papaya seed, jojoba, and vitamin E–this beautiful elixir can be used to treat not only the face but the body as well. 

 

• Step #3: Geisha Active Lightening Cream with Kojic Acid - Providing replenishment and all over body moisture, the Active Lightening Cream makes an ideal finishing touch to seal in all the benefits of kojic acid. With its lightweight and fast absorbing formula, the cream compliments any daily ritual, and is appropriate even for sensitive skin. It can also be re-applied throughout the day as needed to nourish a dry or dehydrated complexion.