Whether you're dealing with a dark mark left behind by a blemish, spots that indicate sun damage, or hormone-induced melasma, these typically unwanted changes in the skin all fall under the umbrella of hyperpigmentation. Caused by the cells responsible for your skin's color, melanocytes, depositing excess pigment into deeper levels of the skin, these forms of discoloration can be incredibly frustrating for those who strive for an even-toned complexion — especially since it can be tough to reverse.
"In general, hyperpigmentation is tough to treat and a chronic condition," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, tells Allure, noting that he explains to his patients that it must be taken seriously because it's so easy for it to recur. Although some patients choose to undergo laser treatments for their dark spots to address their hyperpigmentation with customized prescription compounds — Dr. Bhanusali often blends a high dose of hydroquinone with kojic acid and vitamin C for his patients — there are ways to combat discoloration without often-expensive in-office procedures and medications.
That's where these over-the-counter options come in. Often made with the same active ingredients that dermatologists use in prescription compounds, these serums and creams contribute to more even-toned skin and reduced hyperpigmentation with consistent use. "When targeting hyperpigmentation, you want to use multiple ingredients that have different functions," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD, tells us. "For example, you want to use a vitamin A derivative to increase cell turnover, alpha hydroxy acids to enzymatically exfoliate, and incorporate azelaic acid, kojic acid, or arbutin to reduce melanin production," Dr. Kim explains, adding that tranexamic acid is particularly beneficial for melasma.
But there is something else dermatologists recommend across the board to get dark spots under control: sunscreen. "Before you spend your money on antioxidant serums and retinoids to improve the tone and texture of your skin, the most important first step is diligent daily sun protection, which is key to reducing the appearance of brown spots," says board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, also based in New York City. "Otherwise you are literally throwing your money away investing in other skin-care products," she adds. Dr. Kim backs this up, adding that SPF combined with vitamin C in the morning minimizes UV damage, prevents excessive melanin production, and contributes to a brighter complexion overall.
Got your sunscreen checked off? Good. Here are some of the best dark spot correctors and hyperpigmentation-fading products to pair with it. Just ensure that you're consistent with using these products — every day, folks — and you'll see amazing (but gradual) results in as little as a month.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Dark spots and hyperpigmentation can be quite a conundrum—and a tricky one to solve. You can spend years diligently attending to your skin regimen—the right cleansers, the right moisturizers, the right anti-aging serums, the right SPF—only to have your smooth complexion struck down almost overnight by hyperpigmentation, more commonly known as dark spots.
“In fair-skinned individuals, hyperpigmentation is often caused by
sun damage and often accumulate with age,” says Omar Ibrahimi, MD, founder and medical director of the Connecticut Skin Institute. “In skin of color, meanwhile,
hyperpigmentation can be caused by anything that irritates or injures the skin. This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and acne is a common source of PIH in ethnic skin and is sometimes more disruptive than the actual acne itself.” Then of course, there’s melasma, a special type of pigmentary condition, which tends to occur during pregnancy or during other times of hormonal change (think menopause or the start of taking birth control pills), Ibrahimi adds. “Sun exposure drives
the melasma to darken.”
Dermatologists have plenty of tools in their tool belts to help patients deal with pesky darks spots. “We use laser resurfacing treatments and other light-based devices such as IPL to ‘remove’ the damaged skin and simultaneously heat the second layer to promote the formation of new skin cells with a more even texture and tone,” explains Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology
at Yale University. “Chemical peels with ingredients such as glycolic, salicylic, lactic, carbolic, or trichloroacetic acids may be used to resurface and refresh as well.” The good news? You don’t have to run to the dermatologist and shell out thousands of dollars on pricey laser treatments. There are a wide variety of dark spot correctors that really work—and are available over the counter, at every price point.
To make sure you pick the best (and most effective) product for removing dark spots, our experts recommend looking for cream or serum that contains ingredients like vitamin C (an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and brightens skin), niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3 that slows pigment production), hydroquinone (a lightening agent that inhibits the pigment-forming enzyme tyrosinase), retinol (a vitamin A derivative that evens tone and texture), or glycolic or lactic acid (which are alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate dead skin cells). And remember: Sunscreen is a non-negotiable. Gohara recommends applying a daily sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher that uses mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or iron oxides.
Ahead, we asked to dermatologists to recommend the best dark spot correctors for your face, including a budget-friendly drugstore cream and a treatment designed
specifically for darker skin tones.
Our Top Picks
• Best on Amazon:
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum
• Best
Dermatologist-Created Treatment:
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener
• Best Editor-Loved Product:
Verso Dark Spot Fix
• Best for Face:
Skinfix Correct+ Dark Spot Corrector
• Best for Dark
Skin:
Melé Even Dark Spot Control Serum
• Best for Sensitive Skin:
Glytone Enhance Brightening Complex with Azelaic & Glycolic Acids
1
Best On Amazon
Differin
Dark Spot Correcting Serum
2
Neutrogena
Rapid Tone Repair Spot Corrector Face Serum
3
Best For Face
Skinfix
Correct+ Dark Spot Corrector
4
Best with Niacinamide
L'Oréal Paris
Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector
5
Best For Night
Olay
Regenerist Retinol 24 Max Night Face Moisturizer
6
Best All Around
Scientis
Cyspera Intensive Pigment Corrector
7
Best Serum
SkinCeuticals
Discoloration Defense
8
Best For Brightening
La Roche-Posay
Pigmentclar Dark Spot Corrector Face Serum
9
Best For Dark Skin
MELÉ
Even Dark Spot Control Serum
10
Editor's Pick
Verso
Dark Spot Fix
11
Best for Black Skin
Hyper Skin
Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum
12
Best Drugstore Buy
L'Oréal Paris
Revitalift Vitamin C Serum
13
Best Dermatologist-Created Treatment
ZO Skin Health
Retinol Skin Brightener
14
Best With Sunscreen
Aveeno
Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer
15
Best for Melasma
SkinMedica
Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum
16
Best Antioxidant Serum
Skin Ceuticals
C E Ferulic
17
Best for Acne Scars
Shani Darden Skin Care
Retinol Reform
18
Best for Mild Spots
Ghost Democracy
Lightbulb Vitamin C Serum
19
Best with Vitamin C
BeautyStat
Universal C Skin Refiner
20
Best for Sensitive Skin
GLYTONE
Enhance Brightening Complex with Azelaic & Glycolic Acids
21
Best for Anti-Aging
Eau Thermale Avène
RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream
22
Best Retinol
Skin Better
AlphaRet Overnight Cream
23
Best Budget Buy
Ambi
Fade Cream
24
Best For Hands
Goldfaden M.D.
Hands to Heart Brightening Hand Treatment
25
Best Cleanser
Neostrata
Resurface Foaming Glycolic Facial Cleanser
Brian Underwood Brian Underwood is the beauty director of _O, The Oprah Magazine.