For many people, covering up the dark spots with makeup is their first line of defense. Unfortunately, doing this is equivalent to repainting a run-down building without filling in the cracks—it's still going to crumble.
Why so? Applying makeup over your dark spots blocks your pores, leading to increased hyperpigmentation. What's more, the process of removing makeup after a long day may cause irritation and inflammation, which only exacerbates the problem.
So, we suggest trying out ways that deal with the actual problem and not only hide but significantly reduce the appearance of dark spots on your face in the long run. The solutions we suggest may not give you a quick fix like covering the spots with makeup, but they'll help you achieve the skin glow you've always desired eventually.
Step 1 - Use a Gentle Exfoliant
Proper cleansing and exfoliation help to get rid of dead skin and diminish the appearance of dark spots. Exfoliating using the right product will also help to:
- Clear dead skin cells
- Unclog pores
- Enhance product absorption
- Reduce excess pigment production
- Gradually speed up cell turnover
Gentle exfoliation involving both physical exfoliants such as an exfoliating cloth and chemical exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and retinoids is the goal.
Chemical exfoliants with AHA help to renew your skin and improve its texture and appearance while being gentle enough not to cause irritation. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are two of the best AHAs that promote faster skin renewal and help to clear dark spots.
Civants's AHA Exfoliating Serum combines glycolic acid and lactic acid with capryloyl salicylic acid, an effective antiseptic and anti-inflammatory to restore your skin's natural glow. It also contains hyaluronic acid, a powerful moisturizer, and vitamin E, a preferred antioxidant in skin care products.
Step 2 - Include Antioxidant Serums in Your Daily Skincare Regimen
Antioxidants, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, have been common ingredients in skin care products. However, recently they've hit the market as individual products that help consumers deal with a lot of skin issues.
Antioxidants are revered for their ability to:
- Calm and soothe inflamed skin
- Prevent sun damage and photoaging
- Prevent skin cancer
- Stimulate collagen production
Antioxidant serums are highly effective as they absorb quickly into the skin and allow the skin to absorb more active ingredients. Their higher concentration of active ingredients also makes them very effective at addressing specific skin problems like dark spots.
The table below highlights some of our favorite antioxidant serums that’ll help you hide dark spots.
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Antioxidant |
Reasons To Use For Black Spots |
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Vitamin E |
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Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) |
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Retinol (Vitamin A) |
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Step 3 - Apply Topical Tone Correctors With Active Ingredients
Effective tone correctors for addressing dark spots contain a healthy blend of antioxidants and skin-brightening active ingredients. Meladerm is a skin-brightening topical cream that has been helping people reduce the appearance of dark spots, melasma, and hyperpigmentation for the last 20 years. It contains a perfect blend of proven active ingredients that work together to kick skin discoloration to the curb.
Most of the ingredients, including niacinamide and alpha-arbutin, are derived from natural extracts, including mulberry, licorice, and bearberry plants. We then micronize and filter these ingredients to provide you with a product that outperforms similar products on the market. Meladerm also combines unique and high quality ingredients to provide you with the best results. These include:
- Alpha-arbutin: An effective skin brightening ingredient with spot fading and sun protection properties.
- Sepiwhite: A skin brightener made of natural amino acids that’s suitable for all skin types.
- Symwhite: A brightening ingredient that works to reduce the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage.
Meladerm is also free of hydroquinone, a commonly used skin-brightening product that is now restricted by the FDA for safety concerns. Hydroquinone is even banned in other regions, including Europe, because it puts users at risk of exogenous ochronosis and leucoderma.
Meladerm delivers initial improvement within 2–4 weeks of daily use, then consistent results will be noticed in 2–3 months, depending on your skin type. You don't have to take our word for it. Instead, check out what our customers say:
"I don't even need to put on makeup as my skin is smooth, clear, and no dark spots." -Ellen
"I've been using Meladerm for about 2 months and have seen almost a complete fading of the spots." -Naye
Step 4 - Wear a High SPF Sunscreen Daily
Adding sunscreen to your daily skincare routine is an easy, affordable, and effective way of hiding and diminishing dark spots.
Sunscreen of at least SPF 30 applied daily, even on cool and cloudy days, prevents your skin from overproducing melanin, which we've already mentioned as the cause of the dark spots you're struggling with. It also prevents the darkening of existing dark spots.
Tinted sunscreen is perfect if you're looking for a quick fix, as its light tint may hide the dark spots when you're leaving the house. It also provides you with sun protection without clogging your pores.
Other features to look for in a sunscreen when you want to deal with dark spots include:
- Broad spectrum protection: Protects you against both UVA and UVB sun rays—the two kinds of UV light that cause sun damage and skin cancer.
- Water resistance: Keeps you covered for at least 40 to 80 minutes when you're sweating or swimming.
- Mineral sunscreen: Containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide—active ingredients that limit sun damage by reflecting sun rays away.
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Comfortable formula: Gels are great for oily skin, thick creams for dry skin, and specialized formulas for sensitive skin.
The Civant SPF 50 Sunscreen meets these criteria and provides you with the sun protection you need. Our wide spectrum formula works on all skin tones and types without leaving any white residue.
Golden rule: Reapply sunscreen every two hours if you're going outside for maximum protection.
"Meladerm in combat with the serums and sunscreen. Amazing." -Laura
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes dark spots?
Dark spots can appear as a result of sun exposure, aging, hormones, and skin injuries. The hormonal changes we speak of are those experienced during pregnancy, menopause, or when using birth control. Skin injuries may be caused by acne, eczema, chemical exposure, burns, and cuts.
Are there different types of hyperpigmentation?
Yes. There are three types of hyperpigmentation.
- Melasma is mostly triggered by hormonal changes and characterized by dark brown patches.
- Age spots are caused by sun exposure and are common in older people.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a flat discoloration that's caused by acne, eczema, or cosmetic procedures and persists long after healing.
Can dark spots fade away naturally?
Yes. However, this may take a long time. Diminishing dark spots is never a cause of medical concern, and anyone who wants to seek help does so for cosmetic reasons.
