The Best Dark Spot Correctors For Brighter, Glowing Skin
From powerful serums to supple moisturisers.
Whether a byproduct of an aggressive breakout, sun damage, or a greater skin condition, dark spots and hyperpigmentation are a common issue. "Any inflammation in the skin can also lead to a light or dark mark, which can be subsequently be worsened following sun exposure," Robert Finney, a board-certified dermatologist at Entière Dermatology in NYC tells BAZAAR.com. "So the most common cause of discoloration of depends on age, with acne of past reigning supreme in younger patients, UV damage in older patients, and many other factors in between."
Most dark spot correctors use a powerful combination of active ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, and kojic acid to effectively brighten skin. Erica Stevens, a dermatologist at Buda Medical Center in Buda, TX, says one of the most potent brighteners is hydroquinone—which is available over the counter or through a prescription from your dermatologist—which is the "gold standard" in dark spot correction. And for sensitive or combination skin types dealing with hyperpigmentation, acne, and rosacea, finding a product containing powerful yet gentle azelaic acid is key.
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While topical treatments can help drastically fade an uneven complexion over time, experts recommend accompanying your serum or cream of choice with a sunscreen containing at least SPF 30 to keep skin protected. "One of the least acknowledged truths about treating hyperpigmentation is that sunscreen is the very first step the most important step in improving them. Sunscreen is extremely important in protecting the skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays and also visible light which drives hyperpigmentation in melanin-rich skin more than other skin tones," says board-certified dermatologist and founder of Tone Dermatology in Chicago, IL, Caroline Robinson. "In these cases sunscreen is more that just protective it is essential in the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Sunscreens that contain iron oxide and carry a tint tend to provide better protection against visible light. After consistent sunscreen I recommend topical tone correctors that contain a blend of antioxidants and proven actives and in office treatments like chemical peels, microneedling, and laser. As always pigment is tricky and stubborn pigment is reason to see a board-certified dermatologist."
To help you fade hyperpigmentation and lingering marks even faster, we've rounded up a few of the best dark spot correctors on the market that are worth adding to your range of skincare staples.
Featuring 10 percent vitamin C, plus white shiitake mushroom and vegan squalane, just two to three pumps of this potent, fragrance-free formula is all that's needed for your face and neck.
Another hit from Skinceuticals, this hydroquinone-, and paraben-free skin brightening serum contains a blend of niacinimide, tranexamic, and kojic acids to minimize the appearance and reoccurrence of hyperpigmentation.
Here's a sensitive skin-friendly serum that uses vitamin C and phytic acid to help minimize uneven skin tone and discoloration.
You can snag this best-selling hydroquinone fade cream that's optimized for melanin-rich skin for 55 percent off right now.
Since azelaic acid is often used to treat acne and rosacea, Stevens also recommends this best-selling moisturizer to clients (which contains 10 percent of the ingredient) to combat post-breakout marks.
Just a single pump of this fast-acting serum aims to minimize dark spots in days, since it uses light-diffusing technology to blur the appearance of uneven skin tone, plus a combination of niacinamide and shiitake mushroom to fade hyperpigmentation.
This highly popular brightening serum from Sunday Riley has close to five-stars and over 66,000 loves at Sephora, with one customer describing how the product, "really changed my skin texture from dry and dull to hydrated and bright."
This best-seller from Kiehl's is powered by vitamin C and peony extract to help minimize hyperpigmentation and uneven tone. One customer explains that with this potent solution, "little goes a long way."
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Hyperpigmentation and sun spots are no match for this vitamin C and niacinamide-powered serum, which also contains ingredients like licorice root and kiwifruit to brighten.
A trio of acids (salicylic, ellagic and hydroxyphenoxy propionic) exfoliate dull skin cells from the surface while gradually fading discoloration and dark spots for better skin.
This top-rated, skin-evening moisturizer has over 9,000 customer reviews on Amazon, and features a featherweight consistency with broad-spectrum SPF 30 to prevents spots from getting even darker.
Harnesses the known whitening properties of a vine sap derivative credited with erasing the spots on the hands of winemakers for centuries.
This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR US