My Skin Is Prone to Dark Spots—These 10 Hyperpigmentation Products Make Them Disappear So Quickly
I swear by this routine.
As a teen, I had two mortal enemies: The Twilight saga and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). While I’ve outgrown the former (let’s just say it’s now a problematic fave), the latter still haunts me. While I face far fewer breakouts now than I did in my youth, I still encounter the errant zit or ingrown facial hair—and when I inevitably pick at it, or honestly just look at it too closely, it leaves a dark spot in its wake.
Thankfully, skincare has improved immensely since the days of Henley shirts under graphic tees, and the options for treating hyperpigmentation are much better than they were 20 years ago. And as a beauty editor, I get to test out many of them. Over the years, I’ve tried scores of vitamin C serums—the Simone Biles of PIH ingredients, really —niacinamides, and exfoliants, all to varying degrees of success. And while my rotation is always changing (trying new things is quite literally a job requirement), there are a handful of texture- and tone-improving products that I continually return to. Scroll on to see ‘em.
Eden Stuart using one of her favorite hyperpigmentation products.
The Cleansers
Every house needs to be built on a strong foundation, and every skincare routine needs to be built on squeaky-clean skin. For me (an avid makeup wearer), that means double cleansing.
I’ve tried many, many cleansing balms, and most can remove everything or avoid stripping your skin, but not both. Juno & Co’s Clean 10 is one of the few that succeeds on both fronts, leaving my skin feeling soft and hydrated while removing every last bit of makeup and sunscreen.
What good is a balanced cleansing balm if you negate all that equilibrium with your cleanser? Phyla’s pH Balancing Cleanser helps keep the dry areas of my face from flaking, while still cutting through the sebum of my oily T-zone.
The Exfoliants
I have pores that are visible from outer space, so chemical exfoliants are a must. What does that have to do with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, you say? The smaller my pores are, the fewer blackheads I get; and the fewer blackheads I have, the less likely I am to pick at my skin. Plus, they increase cell turnover, helping fade discolored spots faster.
A longtime staple in my skincare routine, these peel pads include glycolic acid, a top-tier ingredient for cell turnover, as well as clog-clearing mandelic and salicylic acids.
Kojic acid is another derm-fave brightener, often recommended for hyperpigmentation and melasma. It’s the star ingredient in these pads, boosted salicylic acid and vitamin C.
The Serums
Next up, we have the serums. Formulated specifically to target dark spots, these potent potions are powerful tools in any pigmentation-busting arsenal.
LRP’s Melasyl—the key ingredient in this serum—is a very nifty, patented ingredient that targets dark spots, specifically. It’s gentle, but super effective. The accompanying face wash is great, too.
Eadem’s Milk Marvel serum has an elegant, super-lightweight formula that dries down without any stickiness or residue. Every time I use it, I notice an immediate difference in the depth of my dark spots and my overall radiance.
The Sunscreens
You’ll undo all your hard work if you aren’t locking in your skincare routine with a hefty dose of sunscreen. And yes: You really should be wearing it every single day. (And reapplying!)
No one is doing sun protection like the K-Beauty brands, and I will not debate this topic. This mineral formula has a great shade range and imparts a gorgeous little skin-perfecting blur.
Even though I typically prefer mineral formulas, not everyone does—especially melanated folks with no desire to wear foundation or a skin tint. This chemical formula is white cast-free and wears beautifully under makeup.
The Tools
I like to call these my little treatment treats: Once every week or two, I use these high-tech beauty tools to help boost the efficacy of my skincare regimen. (And for a cute little self-care moment.)
Remember what I said earlier about my pores? Well, no matter how dedicated I am to my skincare routine, as a makeup lover with gigantic pores, I still need a little help unclogging them from time to time. This device helps me vacuum out the gunk without any picking or pain.
What does hair removal have to do with hyperpigmentation? For me, a lot: The more errant hairs I have, the more likely I am to take a tweezer to them—thereby touching my face and irritating my skin. So, my Dermaflash offers a one-two punch: Boosting my glow and giving me fewer opportunities to touch my face. Plus, dermaplaning helps exfoliate and slough off dead skin cells.
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