What is the best dark spot cream from a scientific point of view?
This is what we will find out today.
Dark spots on the skin, and in particular dark spots on face are a common situation that usually occurs with advancing age.
As always, the discussion is open at the bottom of the article, in the comments section. You can ask me any questions!
When we talk about dark spots on the skin we refer to a hyper-pigmentation of the skin that commonly occurs when advancing with age. These highly pigmented spots occur when a localized area of melanin accumulates on a specific area of the skin. They can be placed on the forehead, nose, cheekbone or cheek area.
But are there REAL quality dark spot removers on the market?
And above all, which are the most effective?
IN ANY CASE, REMEMBER THAT IN 90% OF CASES dark spots CAN BE TREATED WITH TARGETED PRODUCTS, WITHOUT USING any surgical treatment!
Just remember
1) Depigmentation via a dark spot remover is a delicate process and must be carried out with care. We should always have to ask ourselves “which is the most suitable product for my specific needs?”
2) Creams for dark spots can provide concrete results, but this depends as much on our constancy as on the ingredients. Knowing what we are putting on our skin is crucial, and it is (also) the purpose of this article!
3) As we will see, the best dark spot removers work with a combined effect. Usually, they first act by peeling using exfoliating agents, just like in the case of scar creams. At the same time, they use lightening active ingredients to create a depigmenting effect. If there are no such ingredients, any dark spot cream will be perfectly useless.
Best cream for dark spot – Overall TOP 9 [Updated]
Best cream for dark spot – Top USA & EU
10. 1001 Remedies – Magic Skin Repair
1001 Remedies is a French brand specialized in natural cosmetic products. The acne and dark spot treatment is a cream known worldwide for the quality and effectiveness of the formula.
Unlike other acne and dark spot creams, 1001 Remedies is a treatment totally based on natural ingredients.
Based on 14 Essential Oils with cleansing, soothing, and antioxidant properties, this dark spot remover provides a full skin detox. It is designed to clean the skin, fight acne, and significantly decrease the presence of dark spots.
Myrrh and Tea Tree oil soothe and protect the skin from acne. Aloe vera gel and Chamomile Oil act as a moisturizer and calming lotion soothing redness. Immortal and Cistus essential oils could also partially help with scar removal. Its light texture penetrates the skin easily and doesn’t leave any residue.
All these ingredients allow a 360° effect, which tries to treat all the main problems that can affect the skin.
Above all, this cream is definitely different from any other dark spot cream we will ever meet.
The number of plant active ingredients is so high that it is impossible for me to do a complete analysis of the possible effects. We find helichrysum italicum, aniba rosaedora wood, eucalyptus citriodora, cistus ladanidferus leaf, thymus flower, chamomilla, cymbopogon, melaleuca alternifolia, menthe piperita, lavandula latifolia, melaleuca leucadendron, and pelargonium graveolens oil.
The combination of all these plant extracts guarantees two reliable results:
- A high antioxidant (and therefore potentially anti-aging power)
- A high amount of different vitamins, which also help to fade the dark spots
For example, aniba rosaedora wood oil promotes skin cellular regeneration, melaleuca viridflora oil is known as cleansing, blemishes and dark spot corrector, while Cistus Essential Oil helps treating acne or even rosacea. Just to name a few!
From my point of view this cream for dark spot is actually a very high-level product. Especially if we are looking for a product that works “out of the box” and tries to treat the skin from many points of view.
However, the absence of specific active ingredients for dark spots can make it less effective than other products against more specific for the problem.
INGREDIENTS
Aqua, alcohol, cetyl alcohol, sorbitam stearate, commiphora myrrha oil, melaleuca viridflora oil, polyglyceryl-2-dipolyhydroxystearate, lauryl glucoside, sodium stearoyl glutamate, arachidyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, glycerin, helichrysum italicum flower oil, aniba rosaedora wood oil, eucalyptus citriodora oil, cistus ladanidferus leaf oil, thymus flower oil, chamomilla recutita flower extract, cymbopogon martini motia leaf oil, melaleuca alternifolia oil, menthe piperita oil, lavandula latifolia oil, melaleuca leucadendron cajaput oil, pelargonium graveolens oil, xantham gum, sodium dehydroacetate, maltodextrin, behenyl alcohol, arachidyl glucoside, sorbic acid, dehydroacetic acid, citral, citric acid, farnesol, benzyl benzoate, eugenol, linalool, geraniol, citronellol, limonene.
Perfect for…
1001 Remedies is a product that I put “at the bottom” of the ranking because it has a somewhat high price. It does not use the classic ingredients for depigmentation, but only uses the antioxidant effect and the countless plant extracts it includes. The results, above all, are excellent and documented both in Europe (where it is produced) and in the USA where it’s a bestseller. If we are looking for a 100% natural dark spot cream, it is certainly one of the best choices ever.
1001 Remedies – Magic Skin Repair – Price: $$
Best skin lightening cream for hyperpigmentation
9. EnaSkin – Dark Spot Corrector
Enaskin Dark spot corrector is one of the best selling products on Amazon. As reported by the manufacturer, “designed in Washington and made in China”.
The reason for success is linked to the excellent price in relation to effectiveness.
Overall it is a product with an excellent formula since it uses effective active ingredients (and for the most part vegetable) to some synthetic preservative (for example PEG 40).
Now, I don’t know if the description of the product written on Amazon is written by the seller or by the manufacturer, but of course there are inconsistencies between real INCI and product description.
The ingredients, as we will see, have 3 main active ingredients: Kojic Acid, Arbutin and Licorice Extract.
In the description instead we speak of Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Butylresorcinol. In the bottle viewed by me, these last 3 ingredients are not present … so I don’t know what they are talking about!
Now, let’s briefly see the ingredients.
By avoiding the formation of Melanin, Kojic Acid prevents the formation of spots on the skin, which is why it is one of the most used ingredients among the best dark spot products.
As we have seen, the highest concentration is Kojic Acid. Kojic acid acts by deactivating the enzyme tyrosinase, which, through various processes, transforms tyrosine into melanin. The molecule of this acid, being very similar to Tyrosine, acts as a “competitor” for tyrosinase and partially inhibits its function. This makes it an ideal ingredient for the best skin lightening creams for hyperpigmentation.
Dark spots on the skin are caused on a accumulation of melanin, the pigment which, together with beta-carotene and hemoglobin, is responsible for the color of the skin. Melanin is produced by the tyrosinase enzyme. Arbutin and Kojic acid inhibit this enzyme (tyrosinase) with consequent depigmentation effects
The second truly effective ingredient is arbutin. Arbutin, a derivative of hydroquinone, and is a substance used to whiten the skin, melasma and marks left by sunstrokes, as well as to regulate melanogenesis.
Finally, the last noteworthy ingredient is Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Extract skin. This extract is known for its depigmenting properties. The most active part is called glabridin. The topical application of 0.5% glabridin was shown to inhibit UVB-caused pigmentation of guinea pigs. Some studies even suggest that licorice could be more effective than the gold standard skin-lightening agent hydroquinone. All in all, licorice is considered to be one of the safest skin lightening agents with the fewest side effects.
Glabridin is a very expensive ingredient, so if you are after the depigmenting properties try to choose a product with at least a 5% amount (like this cream for dark spots).
INGREDIENTS
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Kojic Acid, Arbutin, Glyzyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Extract, Cornus Officinalis Extract, Phragmites Communis Extract, Lycium Chinense, Methylparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil essence
Perfect for…
Enaskin dark spot is a depigmenting cream that I sincerely like. The ingredients it uses are really effective, and indeed in some cases they are safer than the classic hydroquinone.
I penalize it in the ranking because of the confused online description: it does not reflect the ingredients actually contained in the formula. In my opinion, this is not professional behavior. However, effectiveness is demonstrated by the success both in US and Europe marketplaces (as well as the quality of some ingredients).
EnaSkin – Dark Spot Corrector – Price: $
Best dark spots remover – Organic
8. Lily Ana Naturals – Vitamin C Serum
Lily Ana Naturals is a serum, specific for blemishes on the skin and face, and is a dark spot corrector made in the USA that has met with considerable success among the many vitamin C serums used as dark spot removers.
The proposed vitamin C serum contains 20% of vitamin C, making it truly efficient when it comes to balancing hyperpigmented skin. The fact, for example, that the container is not transparent, is a great plus because guarantees the quality of the product. In fact, the transparent glass containers allow light to oxidize the vitamin complexes inside them.
Vitamin C is one of the greatest antioxidants, meaning it protects skin cells from damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure.
Vitamin C also inhibits melanin production in the skin, which helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots, even out skin tone, and enhance skin radiance.
Vitamin E will help with hyperpigmentation, fade scars and reduce fine lines. It also makes a great dark spot corrector for face. In some cases, it is also 6used around the under-eye area to help with dark circles and wrinkles.
The serum is almost totally organic (it contains 76% of organic substances), it is odorless, without sulfates, parabens, dyes and harmful chemicals. I did not find any special antiaging effect, but it is instead excellent for the treatment and care of general blemishes, scars, acne, dark spots and facial blemishes due to aging.
INGREDIENTS
Aqua, Botanical Hyaluronic Acid (5%), Vitamin C (20%), MSM, Organic Aloe Leaf Juice, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Vitamin E, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Gotu Kola Extract, Horsetail Extract, Wild Geranium Extract, Organic Dandelion Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Perfect for…
A vitamin C serum among the best-selling in the USA, because it practically uses only natural and organic ingredients (apart from acrylates, used as preservatives). Vitamin C has lightening and anti dark spots properties at concentrations above 10%, and here we have 20%. The result is to even skin tone and correcting most of the dark spots. The presence of Jojoba Oil, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E also makes it a good antioxidant, useful for hydrating and nourishing the skin. A good age spot remover with great value for money.
Lily Ana Naturals – Vitamin C Serum – Price: $
Best cream for Hyperpigmentation and dark spot
7. InstaNatural – Dark Spot Corrector
Instanatural dark spot remover serum is an excellent made in the US product. Instanatural is well known also in the European market thanks to the value for money of its products.
This dark spot remover is committed to use only natural ingredients, (even if it’s not organic) and manages to guarantee excellent results.
This dark spot corrector that works particularly effectively through the high dose of Niacinamide (vitamin B3) in combination with Glycolic acid. Both substances not only help reduce blemishes but also help improve complexion and smooth wrinkles for more toned skin.
Specifically, this lightening cream uses Phenylethyl Resorcinol which is a renowned agent used as a lightening and brightening ingredient in skin care products, hair lightening products, and cosmetics.
In combination with Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) it stimulates the production of collagen, normalizes the production of melanin, inhibits hyperactive melanocytes, prevents the formation and transfer of melanosomes and acts against iron chelation (which is the cause of stains from treatments traumatic).
I found little information about the “Nasa Stem Celle technolgy”, so I cannot make considerations in the Skin Discoloration capacity.
Glycolic acid, on the other hand, acts on the surface layer of the skin, removing dead cells and impurities and promoting cell renewal thanks to its exfoliating action. The peeling effect of glycolic acid is perfect for treating dark spots, scars, imperfections and even acne.
INGREDIENTS
Aqua, Propanediol*, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid*, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Culture Conditioned Media, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Culture Conditioned Media, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Niacinamide, Polyglutamic Acid*, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin. *Naturally Derived
Perfect for…
Instanatural is a US company that offers a dark spot corrector gentle on the skin, but effective in the ingredients. The key ingredients are Niacinamide (brightener) and glycolic acid for the peeling effect. The combination manages to guarantee skin tone to looks even and bright. Actually, it’s not as powerful as other dar spot creams, but without a doubt, it has one of the best value for money at all.
Insta Natural – Dark Spot Corrector – Price: $
Best dark spot remover for face (chemical peeling)
6. Perfect Image – Glycolic Acid 30% Gel Peel
Another high-level product, made in the USA.
Renowned for its ability to exfoliate, plump and brighten the skin almost instantly, glycolic acid has been the world’s daily bread for skincare for quite some time.
Belonging to the AHA family, or alpha-hydroxy acids, this ingredient works by dissolving the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and stimulating the skin to accelerate cell renewal at a deeper level.
This makes AHAs like glycolic acid treatment for fine lines, acne and acne scars, dark spots and pigmentation.
Since glycolic acid has the smallest molecular weight of all AHAs, it is fast-acting, hence its popularity among dermatologists and its wide use also in the cosmetic field.
Glycolic acid is one of the few active ingredients capable of stimulating the superficial exfoliation of the skin, helping to gradually eliminate pigmented cells.
Note that the INCI is essential and the only noteworthy dark spot remover ingredient is glycolic acid.
Among the other ingredients, we find Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract and Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract are both useful agents to keep the skin hydrated and protected.
Cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, in particular, is well known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-conditioning properties.
Overall, it is a serum that energetically exfoliates the skin, but on the other hand, moisturizes it to avoid inflammation.
INGREDIENTS
Deionized Water, Glycolic Acid, Octoxynol 10, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Retinol Palmitate.
Perfect for…
Glycolic Acid at 30% concentration is a rather powerful chemical peel. Among the dark spots remover in this ranking, it is the one with the highest exfoliating power. Peeling does not always translate into skin lightening, depending on the issue. In any case, it is a really powerful product, to which pay attention the first times you use it.
Perfect Image – Glycolic Acid 30% Gel Peel – Price: $$
Best products to even out skin tone
5. Caudalie – Vino Perfect Radiance
Caudalie Vinoperfect is probably the most famous anti-dark spot serum in Europe, widely used in France, where it is produced.
It is a highly concentrated dark spot remover, used to improve an even skin tone and to increase the brightness of the skin.
All the serum is essentially based on a great intuition, namely the use of Vitis Vinifera Fruit vine juice, which has a phenomenal lightening effect.
It is an ingredient derived from grapes which is exclusive to the French brand of skincare products, Caudalie. For this reason, there aren’t actually many independent scientific publications about it, but the brand claims that it is a very effective ingredient to fade dark spots.
The Radiance Serum that contains it (and does not contain any other skin lightening ingredient!) is an international bestseller and to be honest I have seen good results on different types of skin myself.
The main Active ingredients, or Vitis Vinifera Fruit, is an exclusive Cudalie. There is very little scientific literature in this regard, but it is known that it is a powerful antioxidant with effective lightening properties for the skin. ideal to use to even out the skin tone.
Having to pronounce myself, I can only appreciate this serum. It is light, it uses an active ingredient of natural origin and it’s actually one of the favorite products of thousands people around the world, who would never replace it.
In my opinion, it is ideal for giving tone and brightness to the skin tone. Thanks to its features, a definitely improving optical effect are obtained even for those suffering from melasma or delocalized dyschromia.
Unlike a face dark spot cream, this is an illuminating and balancing serum that can be inserted regardless of any woman’s daily routine. The results will always be positive.
INGREDIENTS
Aqua/Water/Eau, Butylene Glycol*, Glycerin*, Squalane*, Tocopheryl Acetate*, Ceteareth-20, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract*, Glyceryl Stearate Se *, Bisabolol*, Parfum (Fragrance), Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate*. *Naturally Derived
Perfect for…
As I pointed out, it is a super appreciated European bestselling serum, because its illuminating power is real. However, I do not call it a true stain remover, because that is not what this is about. The only active ingredient for this purpose is an antioxidant capable of shaping and giving brightness to the skin tone, therefore the results would be excellent on any woman! (And in fact many use it in the normal daily routine). It’s also a powerful ally to even out skin tone. I consider it an excellent product if we have slight delocalized discolorations on the face that we want to mitigate, but certainly not to eliminate a particular dar spots
Caudalie – Vino Perfect Radiance – Price: $$
Best vitamin C dark spot remover
4. Asterwood Naturals – Vitamin C Serum
Asterwoon Naturals is a Utah-based company specializing in high purity topical serums.
I really like their Vitamin C serum, because it combines high purity (more than 10%) with excellent value for money. In fact, the 8 oz serum offers vitamin C-based treatments that can last up to 6 months!
For those who do not know, Vitamin C is really a special substance. It is able to slow down the aging process by preventing damage caused by free radicals, to stimulate the production of collagen, to reduce inflammation and irritation, to decrease the pigmentation of the spots, to illuminate the complexion, to improve the natural healing response of the skin and increase the effectiveness of sunscreen.
Therefore, it is widely used in home treatments especially with anti-aging and whitening functions. Topically, vitamin C also provides a small amount of UV protection, although it is not comparable to that of sunscreens.
Vitamin C products are the best dark spot remover for face if we are looking for natural, but effective ingredients.
Excellent the addition of hyaluronic acid, which helps reduce the visibility of lines and wrinkles retaining moisture to the skin, creating a plumping effect. When the skin is protected and hydrated, increased skin cell production can take place, as the skin isn’t busy fighting for hydration. This leads to smoother, plumper skin cells.
INGREDIENTS
Distilled Water (Aqua), Vitamin C (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Organic Vegan Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate), Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid.
Perfect for…
The properties of Vitamin C as one of the best dark spot remover ingredients are documented by countless scientific papers. Asterwood serum, compared to the 1 or 2 oz that most Vitamin C serums come in, it’s easily the least expensive per oz. Overall, I do like this product. The skin may not react at first, but after a while dark spots will begin to fade and the skin will have a more even and brightened tone.
Asterwood Naturals – Vitamin C Serum – Price: $$
Best dark spot remover for sensitive areas
3. Evagloss – Lightening Serum
Evagloss lightening serum is a dark spot removal cream that I consider truly ideal for those of us with sensitive skin.
It’s one of the best cream for dark spots on face because it works hard to avoid aggressive ingredients for the skin. For this reason, it could also be excellent for Intimate areas.
If we look at the ingredients, we understand that it is actually a rather light brightener, which certainly will not do any harm to the skin.
Glycerin is among the first ingredients and is an excellent addition. It is a natural anti-dryness ingredient, and on the other hand it has sebum-regulating and emollient properties. This substance also promotes the regeneration of epidermal cells and can also be used on skin affected by eczema and psoriasis to soften it and find relief.
Proceeding with the ingredients we meet Tranexamic acid. This acid provides a powerful and specific anti-inflammatory action, inhibiting the tyrosinase synthesis in melanocytes. At the same time, it blocks the transfer of pigment from melanocytes to keratinocytes in the epidermis. This makes it a real good addition to the hyperpigmentation power.
The presence of 3-0-Ethylascoric Acid is interesting. It is rare to find it in cosmetic formulas. Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is a molecule produced by modifying Ascorbic Acid, commonly known as Vitamin C. As demonstrated by several scientific studies, Vitamin C helps to inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase, which helps to prevent melanin production. Plus, it significantly lightens pigmentation but does not lighten normal skin.
Over time, long-term use of kojic acid may make your skin more susceptible to sunburn. Just do 2 month sessions and then 2 weeks off from the product.
Finally, we find Kojic Acid. As we’ve seen before, Kojic acid inhibits and prevents the formation of tyrosine, an amino acid that’s needed to produce melanin. Because it inhibits the production of melanin, kojic acid can have a lightening effect on visible sun damage, age spots, or scars. This could also result in an anti-aging effect on the skin.
INGREDIENTS
Water, Butylene, Glycol, Glycerin, Laurocapram, Tranexamic acid, Kojic Acid, 3-0-Ethylascoric Acid, Fullerene, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, essence
Perfect for…
An actual gentle dark spot product. Widely used in US to treat hyperpigmentation and other skin pigmentation issues. The results on most types of skins could be astonished. Particularly suitable if the skin is very sensitive, with no burning sensation or irritation in its use. A powerful product to choose if we prefer the most gentle Kojic acid over Hydroquinone.
Evagloss – Lightening Serum – Price: $$
Best cream for dark spots on face
2. SkinCeuticals – Advanced Pigment Corrector
SkinCeuticals is a USA company characterized by products with high technological content formulas and top-of-the-range quality. Indeed, prices of this brand are always quite high.
Advanced Pigment Corrector is one of the best dark spot creams, and has to be mentioned.
SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector is an advanced corrector that aims to contrast stubborn discoloration thanks to a formula designed to restore the natural brightness of the skin.
It is essentially based on salicylic acid (0.3%) for peeling, a substance capable of exfoliating the skin and capable of dissolving existing dark spots, as well as being able to favor the absorption of the other active ingredients thanks to the removal of the surface layer of skin.
We note the presence of propionic hydroxyphenoxylic acid (1%) known to inhibit the production of melanin, preventing further hyperpigmentation.
Above all, we are talking about a face spots cream known all over the world, widely used in the USA and designed by one of the best known cosmetic (pharmaceutical) houses in the world.
Finally, we find ellagic acid (0.5%) which is an active ingredient used only in recent years, because it shows evidence of skin depigmentation even on harder dark spots.
The latter active, to be honest, has been studied in recent years so I cannot guarantee its effectiveness.
The results are certainly excellent and the gentles ingredients ensure a safe effect even on most sensible skins. The biggest flaw is the price, which is really high. But it is a cream that should be used punctually on a dark spot, therefore a pack can last over a month.
INGREDIENTS
Aqua/Water/Eau, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Pentaerythryityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PTFE, Methylsilanol/Silicate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid, Ammounium Polyacrydimethyltauramide/Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldmethyltaurate/Steareth-8 Methacrylate Copolymer, Dimethiconol, Cl 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Salicylic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Flax Extract/Yeast Extract/Extrait De Lavure, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Mica, Disodium EDTA, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Citric Acid.
Perfect for…
For those of us looking for one of the overall best cream for dark spot. Perfect if we have one or two specific spots on the face that we want to fade or remove. In this sense it is a truly excellent US product, capable of giving visible results after a few weeks of use. The price is calibrated to use it precisely on the spot, not in large areas. If, on the other hand, the problem is not localized, and we are looking for a cream to be used uniformly all over the face, I suggest moving on to another product.
SkinCeuticals – Advanced Pigment Corrector – Price: $$$
Best dark spot remover for face
1. PCA skin – Pigment Gel
PCA (Professional Grade Products) was founded in 1990 by an aesthetician and developed by a dermatologist. Today is a valuable company based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The “Pigment gel” is a serum designed for fading blemishes and dark spots, controlling hyperpigmentation. It is a recommended product for the most serious cases of dark spots, since it combines a lightening power with an exfoliating power.
The basic active ingredient is 2% hydroquinone, but unlike other products based on hydroquinone, this adds several active ingredients to balance the general skin tone.
But first things first.
As just mentioned, the main active ingredient is hydroquinone 2%. Hydroquinone is used to lighten the dark patches of skin (also called hyperpigmentation, melasma, “liver spots,” “age spots,” freckles) caused by pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone medicine, or injury to the skin. This Active works by blocking the process in the skin that leads to discoloration.
It’s effective also on hormonal, sun-induced and breakout-induced hyperpigmentation.
PCA Skin is a powerful dark spot remover that should be used after washing the skin. It may be used twice daily. I do not recommend using it under makeup, at least the first few weeks, to see how the skin reacts.
The added value of this cream derives from the presence in good concentrations of Phenylethyl resorcinol, Azelaic acid and Kojic acid altogether.
Phenylethyl Resorcinol is used for long term face and hand brightening as well as for evening out skin tone. It also possesses excellent moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
Azelaic acid is a particularly useful ingredient for treating acne and melasma. In fact, it has been shown to have a bacteriostatic and bactericidal action against microorganisms that are found on the skin, on the most superficial layers, and that cause those lesions that are typical of acne.
Finally Kojic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), with brightener power and able to repair sun damage and hyperpigmentation. It acts as a tyrosine suppressant, the enzyme that helps the body to produce melanin and therefore prevents the abnormal behavior of melanin in the formation of acne spots.
It is an active principle capable of stimulating cell renewal, as well as preventing excessive pigmentation, helping to regulate excess melanin produced.
In my opinion, this is the best product for hyperpigmentation, capable of evening out the skin tone thanks to the use of many specific active ingredients for the purpose.
INGREDIENTS
Active Ingredient: Hydroquinone 2%. Other Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, SD Alcohol 40-B, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Alcohol, Kojic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, BHT, Glutathione, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract.
Perfect for…
A Serum specifically designed to fade dark spots, discolorations, hyperpigmentation as well as acne marks. It contains 2% hydroquinone, a maximum strength hyperpigmentation fading ingredient, but also AHA and differents antioxidants capable of improving the overall tone of the skin. Among the many dark spot products on the market, it is the one that convinced me the most.
PCA skin – Pigment Gel – Price: $$$
So here are the best dark spot removers on the market today.
I remind you that I periodically update the products, therefore the ranking will always be updated.
For any doubt or question, do not hesitate to ask me in the comments below!
