Social media influencers encourage you to have flawless skin, but as we age, we’re likely to experience some dark spots caused by sun damage or hormone fluctuations. It’s part of what makes you unique and beautiful. If skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation concerns you, don’t worry. Skincare for hyperpigmentation with the right ingredients help fade or prevent unwanted spots.
What Is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a darkening of the skin that occurs most often on your face, neck, chest, shins, and the tops of hands and arms. It happens when your skin produces too much melanin, the substance that gives your skin color, and is more common in people with darker skin, who naturally produce more melanin.1 In fact, hyperpigmentation is the most common reason people with darker skin visit the dermatologist.
Different types of hyperpigmentation, including age spots, melasma or “pregnancy mask,” and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, have different causes, such as sun exposure, hormone fluctuations, and skin injuries.1
Below are five of the best ingredients for hyperpigmentation and why they work. Look to add them to your skincare routine for healthier looking skin.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant, protects you from ultraviolet radiation exposure, and increases skin growth and healing. It also slows melanin production and stimulates collagen formation, helping fade skin discoloration and giving you smoother, fuller-looking skin. Vitamin C is also safe for most skin types.5,6
Dermatologist-formulated Foundation Skincare’s Vitamin C Lotion 20% combines the benefits of vitamin C with an antioxidant vitamin E boost in a moisturizer that repairs acne scars, age spots, and sun damage, while reducing swelling and inflammation, giving you brighter skin. It is one of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C available, in a gentle formula hydrates skin and protects against irritation.
Retinoids
Retinoids are made from vitamin A and are considered a top ingredient to help improve acne and fight the effects of aging. It helps with cell and collagen production and exfoliation, resulting in fewer wrinkles and plumper skin. By spurring skin cell regeneration, retinoids helps dead skin cells shed, bringing out new skin cells and lightening dark spots. Be careful when using because it can irritate skin, especially darker skin. Talk to your dermatologist before using if you have chronic skin inflammation, rosacea, acne scarring, or if you are pregnant.7,8
Foundation Skincare’s Night Renewal Cream is a great over-the-counter retinoid choice that is gentler on sensitive skin.
Daisy Flower Extract
Daisy flower extract comes from the Bellis perennis plant or the common wild daisy and has long been used medicinally, but isn’t highly researched. Typically, skincare products contain 1%-5% concentrations of daisy flower extract.21
Daily flower extract contains saponins or chemicals that promote collagen production and can improve skin’s firmness.20 It’s a natural replacement for hydroquinone in skin care products because it slows melanin production and evens out your skin tone without the risk of chemical irritation.13 It also has antimicrobial properties that help wounds heal faster.11
Use caution if you have a ragweed allergy and talk to your doctor before using if pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you are concerned about the lack of research on daisy flower extract, choose a product with any of the other products listed in this article, which have solid research results.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide, a type of vitamin B3, helps build keratin, a protein that helps skin look stronger, smoother, and brighter. It also boosts skin hydration by strengthening your lipid barrier, keeping moisture in and irritations out. Its anti-inflammatory properties can ease redness from acne or rosacea and help reduce pores. When combined with retinoids, it helps lighten dark spots. The effects of vitamin C on your skin are magnified when used with a product also containing niacinamide. Watch out for side effects, including itching, redness, or mild burning.14
You can get all niacinamide’s benefits from Foundation Skincare’s Niacinamide Lotion 10%, from fading dark spots and slowing melanin production to balancing oil production and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It’s engineered and tested by dermatologists for use with other skincare products and includes a moisturizer that protects your skin barrier.
Azelaic Acid
Studies show that azelaic acid decreases dark patches on the skin and makes skin appear smoother. It is especially effective on darker skin. Keep an eye out for burning or stinging when using it.18
Foundation Skincare’s Azelaic Acid 14% Cream, the highest concentration available without a prescription, not only lightens acne scars, age spots, and melasma discoloration, but helps heal and minimize breakouts and reduces inflammation and redness.
If you have hyperpigmentation, it is always important to use 30+ SPF sunscreen and protective clothing. prevent As always, talk to your dermatologist if you have any unpleasant reactions to a new skincare product. Foundation Skincare products are dermatologist created and tested with the best ingredients for hyperpigmentation and come with a money back guarantee so you can have healthy skin that helps you feel good about yourself. They’re designed to work well together so you can layer these recommendations for the best results.
References:
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https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323808
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https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22615-melanin
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https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/fade-dark-spots
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https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/demystifying-hyperpigmentation-causes-types-and-effective-treatments
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https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/vitamin-c-serum-benefits
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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5579659/
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https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/retinoid-retinol
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https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23293-retinol
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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10707873/
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22775421/
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https://www.evemilanny.com/blogs/skincare-expert-advice-tips/daisy-extract-the-new-brightening-superstar
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https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/tyrosinase
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539693/
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https://health.clevelandclinic.org/niacinamide
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https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(04)02915-9/fulltext
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https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer/survivorship/complementary-therapies/niacinamide/
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17147561/
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9829446/
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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.15923
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https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-9/wild-daisy
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https://www.paulaschoice.com/ingredient-dictionary/ingredient-bellis-perennis.html
