This $19 Drugstore Face Cream Visibly Reduces Dark Spots

To find the best dark spot corrector products, GH Beauty Lab scientists conduct both rigorous clinical and consumer testing, recruiting women of all ages and skin types to assess the products’ results after at home use. In the Lab, their skin is scanned with the Visia Complexion Analyzer machine to measure changes in the size and count of dark spots, plus pores, skin texture and lines and wrinkles before and after weeks of use, as pictured.

Consumer testers also report their feedback on factors like ease of use, cosmetic properties (i.e. texture, scent), application and the look and feel of their skin following the testing period. The clinical and consumer data is then tallied to find the products that really perform.

When shopping for dark spot correcting treatments, which can include serums, moisturizers and exfoliators like peels, our experts suggest look for terms directly addressing dark spots or “brightening” and “skin tone-evening” on the packaging. Dr. Parks recommends seeking out formulas that contain skincare ingredients like:

✔️ Vitamin C, an antioxidant that brightens skin
✔️ Niacinamide (a.k.a. vitamin B3), which slows pigment production)
✔️ Hydroquinone, which “interrupts melanin synthesis to even tone,” says Sara Hogan, M.D., a dermatologist in McLean, Virginia.
✔️ Retinol and alpha or beta hydroxy acids (like glycolic and salicylic acids), which increase skin cell turnover to get rid of hyperpigmented cells
✔️ Tranexamic acid, kojic acid, alpha-arbutin, cysteamine, azelaic acid, resorcinol, soy and licorice root extract can also lessen hyperpigmentation, Dr. Turegano says.

“The sun is one of the biggest contributors to developing and accentuating dark marks,” Dr. Turegano says, so applying a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen daily is a must in order to see a reduction in dark spots.

Dark spots are also common in deeper skin tones. “In darker complexions, the presence of more and larger melanosomes, organelles produced by skin pigment cells that contain skin color, increases the likelihood that hyperpigmentation, or unwanted darkening, can develop,” explains Dr. Hogan.

Most importantly, use a dark spot corrector according to the instructions on the product packaging, especially regarding frequency, which can vary from once to twice daily or one or two times per week for products like peels.

But generally, when applying a dark spot corrector, “if it’s a serum or liquid form, it should be the first product that touches your skin after cleansing,” Dr. Turegano advises. “If the dark spot corrector is in a lotion or cream form, it can be applied after a serum.” Always follow up with a broad-spectrum SPF to prevent more dark spots from forming.

Good news: Dark spots aren’t permanent! Here’s how to fade hyperpigmentation, whether at home or heading to the dermatologist for a professional treatment:

• Commit to a skincare regimen for at least one month. The topical dark spot correctors you use at home can really work, but “any at-home age spot-fading skincare product, like a serum, must be used daily as directed for at least four weeks,” explains GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D.
• Wear SPF. “Strict sun protection is the best way to prevent hyperpigmentation,” says Janelle Vega, M.D., a dermatologist in Miami, Florida. Any dark spot correcting product must be used “along with a broad-spectrum facial sunscreen SPF 30 or higher to allow it to work and prevent further damage,” Aral says. Slather on face SPF every single day in any season and no matter what your skin tone. “Using SPF is still very important for darker skin tones,” adds Jenny Liu, M.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.
• Head to the derm. For stubborn spots, a dermatologist can offer faster, more high-tech solutions, like prescription or laser treatments. It’s always a good idea head to your dermatologist for yearly skin checks to be sure none of your spots are precancerous or cancerous.

GH Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D., has overseen clinical and consumer skincare product testing in the GH Beauty Lab for 15 years, including products with dark spot correcting claims. In addition to earning M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering, she recently added a professional certificate in sustainability management from Columbia University to her credentials. Birnur and the GH Beauty Lab scientists also conduct the brand’s annual Beauty Awards selection process, a yearlong effort for the team that involves assessing hundreds of products.

April Franzino is the Beauty Director at Good Housekeeping and has over 15 years of experience researching, writing and editing skincare-related content, utilizing the expertise of the Institute’s Beauty Lab scientists and top industry professionals. For this piece, April worked closely with the GH Beauty Lab to report on the Lab’s top-tested dark spot correcting products, as well as testing protocols and usage advice. She also interviewed dermatologist experts for their tips on how dark spot correctors work, how to shop for and use dark spot correctors and product recommendations.