Note that "the sun is one of the biggest contributors to developing and accentuating dark marks," she says, so applying a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen daily is a must in order to see a reduction in dark spots. Translation: This L'Oreal serum will help stop those two causes of brown spots in their tracks. Formulated with a research-backed combination of ingredients, Uses effective, clinically-proven ingredients, Contains a powerful blend of exfoliating acids, Not for those who want to avoid hydroquinone, May not be strong enough for stubborn spots, Achieves results with only once weekly usage, Protects skin against spot-causing UV damage, Contains vitamin C to fight discoloration. Sign up for the Stuff We Love newsletter. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. We love it not only as one of our top vitamin C serums but also for its efficacy in helping reverse your dark spots appearance. The combination of vitamin C and retinol helps block abnormal pigment production and enhances shedding skin cells that contain extra pigment, he says. A Good Housekeeping Seal star, this cloud-like moisturizer from Olay contains 5% niacinamide for brightening and antioxidant green tea. Improvements are noticeable in as little as two weeks. Instead of just covering them with concealer, seek out a dark spot corrector skincare product that can help fade hyperpigmentation for good. While it may seem like those pesky areas wont brighten at all, theres a light at the end of the tunnel (or, rather, skincare product). We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector & Optimizer, Do Not Sell My Personal Information CA Residents, Takes time and consistency to see results, Also helps to prevent future discoloration, More effective against hyperpigmentation than melasma, Improvements take longer than other brands, Some users report malfunctions with the dispenser, Comes in a larger quantity than other dark spot correctors for allover use, A little goes a long way, so the product lasts, Stick form makes it convenient to carry and easy to apply, Taylor Worden, aesthetician and founder of. Dark spots have few lovers and many haters. Dr. We combined their know-how with user reviews and ratings to develop a comprehensive list of the best dark spot correctors for every skin type at every price point. Dark spots are no match for the triple threat of kojic acid, tranexamic acid and vitamin B3 in this serum, according to dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD.Its clinically proven to improve brown patches, skin discoloration, and acne marks, she says. Good news: Dark spots arent permanent! "It improved my skin tonemy skin appeared brighter and more radiant," one raved. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Pairing glycolic acid with licorice root should deliver not only brighter, more even-toned skin, but will help with enlarged pores and skin smoothness.. It scored highest in Lab digital imaging evaluations for improving radiance and earned some of the highest scores for brightening skin. in calculations with the Lab's Visia Complexion Analyzer device. Because its tinted, it also functions as a primer or concealer. The key ingredients of this serum include vitamin C, polyglutamic acid, and 5% niacinamide, Chwalek lists. Testers gave it the best marks for softening, firming and reducing wrinkles, and a few said it was perfect for wearing under makeup. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 10 Best Dog Carriers of 2022 For the Dog On The Go, 9 Best Cooling Mattresses for Hot Sleepers, 13 Best Workout Shoes for At-Home and Gym Fitness, These Are the Most Comfortable Shoes You Can Buy, Weve been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. Its formulated with 5% niacinamide, which Beauty Lab chemists say has been shown to brighten skin, improving hyperpigmentation. Consumer testers also report their feedback on factors like ease of use, cosmetic properties (i.e. Theres a reason this has been a favorite for a long time, according to Katz. The winner of the GH Beauty Lab's day cream test, this LOral Paris drugstore moisturizer is formulated with anti-aging powerhouses like vitamin C, pro-retinol and glycolic acid, plus protective SPF 30. Theres likely little you wouldnt do or try to fade dark spots on your skin, be it using foundation and concealer or trying unusual skin care tactics like slugging. My skin looked brighter as soon as I washed it off my family even noticed! one revealed. From BeautyStat, a Black-owned brand created by cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson, this multi-benefit serum contains a high 20% concentration of the gold standard brightening ingredient vitamin C, especially beneficial for dark skin tones that are prone to hyperpigmentation. These products will help remove age spots and acne scars permanently. "For those looking to naturally brighten the skin without harsh bleaching products, this is a go-to," says dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Clay. Some of the most effective active ingredients to treat dark spots are acids like tranexamic, glycolic and kojic acids. With the help of a quality dark spot corrector, over time, your face will reap the benefits of a lighter and brighter complexion. Dermalogica's professional-level lactic acid peel was the best at brightening skin the GH Beauty Lab's face peel test. With consistent daily use as well as daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen, people can expect to see skin that looks smoother, brighter, and more hydrated, with a reduction in the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles, thanks to retinol, she says. As one of our top brands for body lotions and body butters, Skinfix has a history of producing products that are sensitive-skin safe and concentrated for specific problem areas. Not only was it the best at reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles according in Lab evaluations, at-home testers raved that it was the best at firming skin and a great skin brightener. Hydroquinone the bleaching agent used to lighten dark patches of skinis another option, and it works really welluntil it doesnt. After each use, my skin looked brighter for two days," one said. Not to mention, the brands vitamin C serum ($145) is one of our favorites we reviewed. They occur when your skin revs up its production of melanin, the pigment that controls skin color. Daley Quinn is a Connecticut-born, Texas-bred beauty & wellness writer living in New York City. Safe to use on your body and your face, Urban Skin Rxs formula is a top-tier product worth snagging for less than $35. If it contains an alpha hydroxy acid like glycolic acid then you may want to limit its use to two to three times a week depending on the strength and the sensitivity of your skin.. "It addresses discoloration and hyperpigmentation of the skin and reveals a brighter, more even complexion," Dr. Birnur and the Beauty Lab chemists also conduct the brand's annual Beauty Awards selection process, a yearlong effort for the team that involves assessing hundreds of products. Dark spots dont stand a chance against Cliniques Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector & Optimizer. Expect improvement in overall skin radiance, skin tone, texture, and hydration within four weeks, she says. Another important step in your skin care routine is exfoliating regularly with a quality face scrub. Unfortunately, dark spots can be one of the most common (and, totally normal and natural!) Dark spot correctors are topical skincare formulations that target hyperpigmentation (aka brown spots in the skin), Jennifer Chwalek, MD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained dermatologic surgeon with 24 years of experience, told the New York Post. They work really well for hyperpigmentation after acne, and I like how targeted they are, so you can ensure theyre working on the area you want them to, says GH's former beauty assistant. This dark spot corrector actually bills itself as a repair cream, but is powered by heparan sulfate analog, which cools inflammation and reduces redness, along with dark-spot fighting niacinamide, says dermatologist Eva Simmons-OBrien, MD. Backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal, Olays serum is supercharged with high levels of skin tone-evening vitamin C and free of fragrance for those with sensitivities. Lipo-hydroxy acid is the powerhouse in this affordable dark spot corrector. One tester said that the formula really is removing my dark spots.. You will see results in as little as two weeks, she says. Specifically, its Vinoperfect Glycolic Peel Mask has that superstar ingredient glycolic acid thats the gold standard to help brighten your face. Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Chwalek also approves of the product, as it contains hydroquinone 2%, which is one of the most effective ingredients available when it comes to fading dark spots, she highlights. Truth be told, if we could write a love letter to Caudalies line of incredibly amazing masks, we would. This product has all the key ingredients, including three types of vitamin C, niacinamide, tranexamic acid, the antioxidant ferulic acid, and peptides to help brighten the skin, says dermatologist Hadley King, MD. This serum comes in stick form, making it super easy to apply, and includes both vitamin B3 and vitamin C to brighten skin tone. Any over-the-counter topical lightening product takes time to work. "My skin immediately felt so smooth and looked even and bright," and "it seemed to lighten brown spots," two testers reported. It is the first retinoid available over the counter and it is more gentle compared to other retinoids. I swore by this during my teen acne phase, and then again through the acne I got in my late twentiesjust be sure to top it with an ultra hydrating moisturizer or oil if you have dry skin, since (as Engelman noted) the retinoid is quite powerful in this. This mask contains Caudalies patented viniferine which, like vitamin C, can brighten and prevent dark spots as well as glycolic and natural AHAs, Chwalek explains. In the GH Beauty Lab's face peel test, Philosophys individually-packed pads, which can also be used on the body, earned the top score for brightening skin according to consumer testers and ranked highly for evening skin tone. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Ahead, find the 14 best dark spot correctors our two board-certified experts cherry-picked exclusively for you. These four extraordinary ingredients reduce hyperpigmentation on their own, but when combined, produce even better results, she says. GH Beauty Lab evaluations confirmed that 95% of women reported improvement in pigmentation and spot size after 12 weeks of use. Skip recommended stories carousel and go to main content. Here's how to fade hyperpigmentation, whether at home or heading to the dermatologist for a professional treatment: GH Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D., has led clinical and consumer testing in the GH Beauty Lab for 15 years across categories including skincare, haircare, makeup and devices. Not to mention, Alpha-H is one of our top-trusted brands for niacinamide serums. Charlotte Tilbury has quite amazing makeup products but, when it comes to skincare, her products are legendary. "It also felt softer and smoother. Chelsea Burns is the Beauty Director for Womens Health and has been writing in the beauty and wellness space for over six years with her work appearing in Real Simple, Health, Fitness, and. Neha Tandon is the E-Commerce Editor of Women's Healthshe's an expert in discovering the best products you can buy and giving recommendations. This serum evens out skin tone and fades dark spots anywhere on the body, says dermatologist Susan Van Dyke, MD. It contains a cocktail of ingredients, including kojic acid, retinol, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide. "It contains kojic acid, niaciamide, retinol and vitamin C to help with dark spots," she says. ", Meet our experts: Oma Agbai, MD, director of multicultural dermatology and hair disorders at the University of California Davis, Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, a dermatologist with NYU Langone Health, Joshua Zeichner, MD, associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, Laura Scott, MD, a dermatologist at the University of Miami Health System, Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist with Shaffer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City, Mona Gohara, MD, president of the Women's Dermatologic Society, Tiffany Clay, MD, a dermatologist in Atlanta, Britt Craiglow, MD, a dermatologist in Fairfield, CT. See below for the 19 best dermatologist-recommended dark spot correctorsfrom serums to masks, moisturizers, toners, and more. Ingredients to look for include: tranexamic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C. Tranexamic acid blocks the interaction between the melanocytes and the skin cells on your skins surface called keratinocytes. Each acid provides exfoliation to help enhance skin texture and reveal healthy new cells, she says. (Try these expert-approved face sunscreens.). review process. One of Levins favorite products for increasing brightness, SkinCeuticals' serum packs in 15 percent of brightening antioxidants vitamin C and E. It's definitely a splurge, but if you can afford it, you'll love how lightweight the water-like consistency feels despite the high concentration of potent ingredients. This makeup-removing cleanser can round out your full glowy skin routine. Retinoids can also treat dark spots by accelerating cell turnover, he adds. It left my skin feeling plump and looking smooth and glowing," one said, and another noted that it seemed to have lightened her brown spots. Powered by vitamin C, moisturizing hyaluronic acid, and soothing green tea extract, Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum brightens and improves uneven skin tone, says dermatologist Jenny Liu, MD. Denise Mann is a freelance health writer whose articles regularly appear in Readers Digest. Whether your dark spots are from the sun, post-acne scarring darkened by UV exposure or caused by melasma, these are the best dark spot correctors that really work to permanently remove dark spots and hyperpigmentation on the face and body, as tested by the GH Beauty Lab. Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists evaluate hundreds of skincare products every year, including ones that claim to correct dark spots, from moisturizers to night creams to serums and face peels. April Franzino produces and oversees all beauty editorial content for Good Housekeeping, including pitching, reporting, writing, editing and market work, culminating with the magazines yearly Beauty Awards special. This peach-toned dark spot corrector contains an encapsulated blend of retinol, lactic acid, shea butter, and a ceramide that all work together to fade dark spots and blur fine lines and wrinkles. This hydroquinone-free serum is packed with phytic acid, vitamin C, green tea leaf extract, and grape seed extract, which all work together to brighten, even, and correct discoloration on your skin, says Worden. The products are evaluated both in the Lab using technical instruments and with consumers at home, who provide their feedback on factors like ease of use and look and feel of skin brefore and after use. "It really diminished the look of age spots and kept skin well moisturized at night," one commented. It has turmeric in it, so I use this to treat inflammation on my acne-prone skin, and it also brightens it," she says. Ah, Biossances Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum. We haven't tested it in the Lab, but reviewers swear by it: Helps combat dark spots, breakouts, signs of aging, a Skinstore reviewer reported. Not to mention, Katz recommends sticking to a given product for at least one month to see if your skin has noticeable improvements, as well as target any traceable irritation, like redness or itchiness). While creams and face serums are great, sometimes bigger guns like chemical peels, intense pulsed light (IPL), or lasers may be needed for full correction. Once melanin is no longer being formed in excess, the skin has a chance to return to a more even coloration. Another effective dark spot corrector, niacinamide works by interrupting the cell pigmentation process. In an eight-week trial of this lightweight spot treatment, 85% of users agreed that it minimized the look of dark spots, GH Beauty Lab data evaluation confirmed. She is an expert in all face and body skincare product categories, including eye creams, cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, exfoliators, masks, professional treatments and more. With consistent use (combined with vigilant sun protection) you may start to see improvement within in a few weeks, but it can sometimes take up to 12 weeks to see more substantial improvement, Chwalek said. It also performed impressively at boosting skin's radiance. April works closely with the GH Beauty Lab to coordinate skincare product testing and translate test results into best-in-class, compelling, factually accurate science-backed content. After just two weeks of use, 66% of users reported their age spots, dark spots or other areas of pigmentation were visibly reduced and 72% said their skin tone was more even after four weeks, according to GH Beauty Lab data evaluation. Reviewers with acne scars particularly love this one, though it won't work overnightlike most of the products on this list, you'll want to be patient and give it at least two months to see long-lasting results. This hydroquinone-free serum includes three of Dr. Marcuss favorite ingredients for fading dark spots: tranexamic acid, kojic acid, and niacinamide. The effects usually start to appear after about two weeks of consistent use and continue to improve over time, she says. Until then, learn the right way to apply concealer. There are lots of products out there that promise to help you fade dark spots, but which is the best dark spot corrector for you? If you still struggle with acne, try these foundations for acne-prone skin. Several testers noted that it gave their skin a glow. Dark spot correctors most commonly come in serums or spot treatments, but you can also find moisturizers with sunscreen that use ingredients that will help reduce the appearance of dark spots, Bruce Katz, MD, director of JUVA Skin & Laser Center and clinical professor of dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told The Post. This little guy rose to TikTok fame recently, and with good reason. If normal peels make you red AF and dry you out, try this nourishing mask instead. 16 best cool and comfortable sandals for men in Summer 202 Las Vegas flooding: Multiple casinos, entire Strip, airport under water, Florence Pugh unhappy over Olivia Wilde, Harry Styles affair: source, Prince William, Kate Middleton party hard in viral clip of life before marriage, Giant 3D dog leaps across Tokyo billboards. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering, she recently added a professional certificate in sustainability management from Columbia University to her credentials. "Darker skin tones are more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation because they have more cells in the skin that make melanin," she says. "My skin tone appears more even," a tester reported. In addition to earning M.Eng. "Bermuda Oil works because it contains a natural exfoliant in lemon essential oil to help minimize the appearance of dark spots, and it also contains tea tree oil which helps calm inflammation.. She recommends her patients wear a mineral-based sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30we swear by this one from LiveTinted, made for and by melanin-rich skin. Avon's cream with high levels of glycolic acid showed stellar performance in GH Beauty Lab testing, earning a perfect score for helping reduce the appearance of UV spots by an impressive 12%, plus top rankings for improving skin firmness and hydration. A light yet hydrating AHA mask, this one helps diminish dark spots when applied once per week, says Gohara. When applying a dark spot corrector, generally, "if it's a serum or liquid form, it should be the first product that touches your skin after cleansing," Dr. Turegano advises. Women's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Recommended by both Dr. Turegano and Dr. In the Lab, their skin is scanned with the Visia Complexion Analyzer machine to measure changes in the size and count of dark spots, plus pores, skin texture and lines and wrinkles before and after weeks of use, as pictured below. Sure, wed all want to see results overnight, but rest assured that top formulas work when you follow the consistency is key adage. Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals from causing oxidative damage to the skin and blocks enzymatic processes that make more pigment in the skin, explains dermatologist Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. 19 Best Dark Spot Correctors That Blast Away Scars And Pigmentation, Per Dermatologists. This hydroquinone-free serum is packed with tranexamic acid, phytic acid, niacinamide, and many more powerful brightening and lightening ingredients, says Taylor Worden, celebrity aesthetician and founder of Taylor Worden Skin. Parks, M.D., dermatologist and founder of DermWarehouse in Columbus, OH. ", Why Marvel's Karen Gillan Embraces Her Anxiety, Your New Must-Try: Sauted Dandelion Toast, The Only Marathon Training Plan You'll Ever Need, Your June Horoscope: Communication Clarity, SkinActive Clearly Brighter Dark Spot Corrector, The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, 1% Bakuchiol in Olive Squalane Oil Booster, Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector, Flawless Veil Resurfacing AHA Saffron Masque, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. These hydroxy acid pads have a cult following for a good reason. This spot treatment contains niacinamide, jojoba oil (which has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to help heal the skin) as well as tea tree oil (which can help breakouts) in a tinted formula to help conceal spots, Chwalek explains.