Getting rid of persistent skin pigmentation might sound too good to be true, however, using the best dark spot correctors you can eventually end up treating hyperpigmentation. We’ve looked high and low to bring you all the best serums, spot treatments, scrubs, overnight treatments, and at-home facials to get your skin even and glowing! Bid adieu to dark spots with the help of these dark spot correctors and hyperpigmentation treatments.
1. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial
This at-home acid peel from Drunk Elephant is one of the best hyperpigmentation treatments. The different kinds of AHAs in it slough away the damaged, pigmented skin, while niacinamide helps to brighten the skin, and antioxidant-rich extracts prevent any further damage from taking place.
All it takes is 20 minutes once or twice a week, to reveal refreshed skin. Please note that face sunscreen is absolutely mandatory when using this kind of skin-resurfacing product! As long as you don’t have sensitive skin, you can pick up this magic bottle at Sephora.
2. Omorovicza Refining Facial Polisher
A physical scrub can also help with hyperpigmentation, but it must be extremely gentle – that’s where this face polisher comes into play! It gently exfoliates, while antioxidant-rich ingredients help to heal and strengthen the skin. It’s a great choice for all skin types, including mature skin. You can pick it up from Nordstrom.
3. Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
Lactic acid is a super gentle chemical that you can use every day to resurface and hydrate your skin. In this lovely serum, it’s combined with lots of soothing and healing extracts as well as licorice root extract, which is known for its ability to reduce melanin production and brighten the skin over time. Get this dark spot treatment serum at Sephora to brighten your skin on multiple levels!
4. PCA Skin Pigment Gel
The philosophy behind the creation of this dark spot remover must have been “keep it simple, stupid!”. It contains 2% hydroquinone, a controversial but definitively effective skin-brightening ingredient, along with all kinds of skin-smoothing and exfoliating acids. It’s a great choice especially for people with oily and acne-prone skin! You can buy it online through Dermstore.
5. Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum
This is another serum with hydroquinone, the best of all dark spot correctors. It sits in a more anti-aging and exfoliating skin formula, with peptides, acids, and antioxidants galore. A little goes a long way, as this serum is guaranteed to remove hyperpigmentation fast. You can pick it up at Sephora.
6. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Acid
The vitamin C in this serum is fortified with antioxidants vitamin E and ferulic acid, so it is super stable, anti-aging, and effective! This dark spot treatment is excellent if you’re avoiding hydroquinone, and it doubles as a preventative measure against other signs of aging like wrinkles. No matter your skin type, you cannot go wrong with this daily serum, so try it for yourself through Dermstore.
7. Glamglow FLASHMUD Brightening Treatment
This unique clay mask treatment contains all the best skin-brightening ingredients to remove dark spots gently and in a luxurious way. It’s best to first use a few days in a row, leaving it on for 20 minutes each time, to thoroughly remove a few layers of dead skin build-up with the help of both physical and chemical exfoliants, and then later on to use it a few times a week.
It’s a great choice for those with combination, oily, and acne-prone skin. It can be purchased via Sephora both online and in store!
8. Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correction Serum
This concentrated serum is loaded with natural skin-brightening extracts that will help gently brighten the skin over time. Great for all skin types, this serum will take at least a few good weeks to show a difference, but it will also seriously help hydrate and protect the skin. It can be purchased through Nordstrom.
9. Kiehl’s Since 1851 Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
This serum boasts vitamin C paired with salicylic acid, peony and white birch extracts, which make for gentle hyperpigmentation treatments that are excellent for all skin types. You can’t go wrong with this light daily serum. Buy yourself a bottle from Sephora.
10. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
This dry exofliant powder gently removes dead skin when paired with water or a cleanser and massaged in. By leaving it on for a few minutes you can let the brightening acids and extracts in it do their magic and fade hyperpigmentation. You definitely want to pair this product with a daily serum. You can pick it up at Dermstore.
11. Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial
This gentle overnight facial hydrates the skin, and helps brighten it and diminish dark spots with the help of a form of vitamin C called Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate. Pair it with a regular acid-based serum or facial for comprehensive hyperpigmentation treatments. It can be bought from Sephora.
12. Aveda tulasara Wedding Masque Overnight
This is another option if you’re a fan of overnight masks. It’s an ultra-moisturizing and repairing option that is excellent for dry and mature skin, with lots of natural brightening extracts. It is best paired with a few stronger serums or peels. You can purchase a jar from Nordstrom.
13. OleHenriksen Invigorating Night Transformation Gel
How can you not love this blend of natural extracts, AHAs, vitamin C, algae, and even licorice root extract – everything you need for powerful, natural skin renewal and dark spot removal? This gel is great for overnight use, just don’t skip the sunscreen in the day! It’s a great choice for all skin types, and is available for sale at Sephora.
14. Obagi Obagi-C Rx System C-Exfoliating Day Lotion
This is a hydrating day lotion that also exfoliates the skin with the help of glycolic acid. Vitamin C is responsible for skin brightening, in a straightforward formulation that is effective but not hard hitting. A sunblock is a must with this lovely lotion that suits all skin types. It can be purchased through Dermstore.
15. Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Foaming Cleanser
I love a two-in-one product, and this one fits the bill. This cleanser contains skin-renewing glycolic acid to help remove damaged skin and reveal fresh, young, bright skin below it. It’s not quite a replacement for an exfoliant, but it certainly helps fight dark spots, so pick it up for yourself from Nordstrom.
16. Kate Somerville D-Scar Scar Diminishing Serum
This dark spot treatment comes in the form of a rollerball, so you can apply it only where it counts, to help diminish hyperpigmentation caused by scars (although it might help with other kinds of hyperpigmentation too!). This formula contains repairing silicones, vitamin C, and some rejuvenating peptides, and it’s great all of skin types. You can buy it from Sephora.
17. Replenix All-trans-Retinol Plus Smoothing Serum 5X
Retinol definitely deserves a mention because it is a serious skin-renewing ingredient. This formula brightens, hydrates, and prevents further damage with the help of caffeine and green tea polyphenols, and it works on all kinds of skin types and scars. It is available for sale through Dermstore.
18. Paula’s Choice Resist Triple-Action Dark Spot Eraser 7% AHA Lotion
Paula Begoun does not play around, so this dark spot treatment contains a healthy dose of glycolic acid along with the proven skin brightener hydroquinone. It’s an effective and powerful formula that is ideal for those with serious hyperpigmentation and hearty skin. If you’d like to give it a try, grab it from Nordstrom.
19. Andalou Naturals Honey Glycolic Mask
This all-natural mask utilizes decadent pumpkin and proven dark spot treatments glycolic acid and vitamin C to rejuvenate and refresh your skin. Ideal as a bi-weekly treatment, this mask comes in a jar and works for all skin types. Best of all, it doesn’t break the bank, so try it for yourself by purchasing from Ulta!
Photos via Sephora, Nordstrom