Whether it’s dark circles under your eyes, dark spots due to acne, or age spots, hyperpigmentation is annoying to deal with in the battle for a refreshed, natural, blemish-free skin look. According to Dr. Debra Jaliman, this, which is known as hyperpigmentation, happens “when melanocytes, the color producing cells, produce too much color in our skin.” It is something most people deal with in some form. These problems are especially apparent for people of color, since their skin already contains more melanin.
But have no fear! We rounded up four ways to combat pesky discoloration:
1. Sunscreen
The number one way to combat hyperpigmentation is sunscreen! Everyone (yes, we mean everyone) should wear sunscreen every day. Dr. Jaliman says, “It is important to always wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above every day, rain or shine. UV light penetrates through the clouds.” So everyday when you know you’ll be outside, spread a layer of SPF 30 over your face. The Alba Botanica Facial Sunscreen is SPF 30 and isn’t greasy or heavy, making it perfect to go underneath makeup. In addition, heaps of foundations and face products contain SPF in them, like the Clinique Even Better makeup and the Maybelline FitMe foundation.
2. Chemical peels vs. light treatment
There is often a debate between chemical peels and light treatments. Professional chemical peels can range from $150-$6,000 and are usually some form of salicylic acid peels, mandelic acid peels, or trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels. However, Dr. Jaliman advises that chemical peels are not good. In fact, her office uses light treatment. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Fraxel, and CO2 are the most common ways to combat discoloration by promoting the collagen production in one’s skin. The prices for these treatments range from $400-$4,000. So no, it isn’t cheap, but it is probably the most permanent and successful way to get rid of discoloration.
3. Vitamin C, niacinamide and retinol
As Dr. Jaliman says, “Products that contain niacinamide [vitamin B3], Vitamin C or retinol will improve the hyperpigmentation and help lighten the skin and return it to its normal color.” Some good serums that feature vitamin C, niacinamide, and/or retinol are the Murad Environmental Shield Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum Duo, the Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum, and the Derma E Vitamin C Concentrated Serum for a lower-cost option.
4. Color correcting makeup
Color correcting (CC) is the name of the game for discoloration. Dr. Jaliman is a fan of Dermablend makeup. For an added boost, try using a brightening/illuminating primer before you apply the rest of your makeup. To correct an excess of melanin, use a primer with peach undertones. The Too Faced Primed & Peachy primer is great, and the Milani Prime Correct primer is a great lower-cost option.
A good color correcting concealer, especially one with vitamin C, can really make a difference. Dr. Jaliman recommends the Cle de Peau concealer which also has SPF 25. In addition, the Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid has a great range of shades for color correcting, including a peach, for light-medium skin tones, and a deep peach, for darker skin tones.
CC cream is also an absolute necessity when combating discoloration. It’s basically a color correcting form of BB cream/tinted moisturizer, so it offers decent coverage while also evening out your skin tone. The It Cosmetics CC cream is one of the absolute best CC creams around if you have a light to medium skin tone. The Clinique CC cream, Olay CC cream, and Smashbox CC cream also offer good coverage, and also have a range of shades.
So, there you have it. While skin discoloration is definitely not fun, you have a slew of options to both prevent and erase it.