Powerful Skincare Products for Hyperpigmentation I am Obsessed With RN

BY CRESCENCIA NGA CHE

New at-home skincare products for tackling hyperpigmentation that are coming on the market are increasingly delivering impressive results. Here are some of my favourites.

Like many people with melanin rich and dark skin tones, dealing with hyperpigmentation for me is an exercise in patience; it is a gentle, lengthy process with many twists and turns. 

So, recently, I decided to revamp my skincare routine by exploring a few at-home products for hyperpigmentation that can work well with my sensitive, eczema and acne-prone skin. 

Through a process of many trials and errors, I have come across a few skincare products that genuinely work wonders at fading a few dark marks on my face I’ve been battling with for quite some time. 

From the fabulous thiamidol to a superb vitamin C formula, linoleic acid, and other skin brightening actives, here are my current favourite at-home skincare products for hyperpigmentation I can’t get enough of. 

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The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Regenerative Oil – Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ Sunscreen – fresh Umbrian Clay Pore-Purifying Face Mask – Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturiser – Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Face Serum – Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream – Drunk Elephant Bouncy BrightFacial – Skinceuticals Daily Moisturise – The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution – Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel – SheaMoisture 100% Pure Argan Oil – Paula’s Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione

The Cleanser

The first step in my skincare routine is cleansing. So, I decided to experiment with the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel. Right now, I am very thrilled by how it has transformed my skin for the better. This rather fancy cleanser with its soft millennial pink shade turns into a milky texture when in contact with water to easily remove impurities from the face. 

The potent concoction of enzymes and vitamins help soften and unify the skin complexion to give me that glow! Calming chamomile and rose extracts effortlessly soothe my skin that I gently wipe with a damp cotton pad or a muslin cloth after a wash. 

The Toner

One of my absolute favourite skincare products to tackle hyperpigmentation at the moment is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. This highly potent formula delivers amazing results when used properly and sparingly over time. 

Let me explain – two to three times per week in my evening skincare routine, I tend to use it after cleansing my face. I simply dab a cotton pad and gently apply it on my face, and I let it sit for up to 10 minutes to allow the active ingredient to absorb into my skin before jumping into the next step of my skincare routine. The key is to be patient with it to allow your skin to cool down. I will also recommend you using it once or twice per week maximum at night time if you have super sensitive skin to avoid any irritation. 

I need to add that when using this toner, wearing a sunscreen is a must to shield your face from photosensitivity. Whether you are into reef-safe sunscreen, SPF sun drops and powder sunscreen for regular touch-ups throughout the day, make sure to wear sun protection. I even have a curated list of sunscreens for those with darker skin tones. So, you simply have no excuse to expose your skin to sun damage.

The Facial Oils

In light of their high content in unsaturated fatty acids, organic cold-pressed 100% pure argan oil and rosehip oil are my go-to- facial oils I lean on to help fade very superficial dark spots on my face and even my skin tone.  

These plant-based oils that I use in my skincare routine have excellent brightening and soothing properties for my very sensitive skin. I like to alternate them in my evening skincare routine to deeply moisturise my face an hour before bedtime.

The Moisturisers

One of the biggest mistakes many of us make when treating hyperpigmentation  is to use the wrong moisturiser, which in many cases can hinder our progress.  What we really need to consider using is a moisturiser with the right level of skin brightening ingredients and unsaturated fatty acids such as alpha-oleic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. 

Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream is my absolute darling at the moment, as it is literally formulated for dry skin and uneven skin tones. So if you are trying to even your skin complexion, fade melasma, and gradually get rid of hyperpigmented patches on your skin, this moisturiser should definitely be on your radar. Its powerful blend of linoleic acid, ceramides, sweet almond oil, and carrot root extract just to name a few, delivers fantastic results  over the time. 

Alternatively, Skinceuticals Daily Moisturise and Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturiser are other options you can consider. If none of them takes your fancy, give unrefined organic shea butter  (my best kept secret!) a try, and come to thank me later.

The Serums

When it comes to treating hyperpigmentation, there is no such thing as one magic product. You need a well rounded skincare routine that targets all the multiple different pathways that lead to melanin overproduction in your body.

I have just got hold of Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Face Serum that is specifically formulated to tackle pigmentation disorders and dark spots, and my goodness, this little gem is a workhouse. The star ingredient thiamidol, a patented ingredient developed by Eucerin, is considered a viable alternative to hydroquinone minus the latter side effects. 

After 2 weeks of regular use in the morning and evening, I started to notice how the dark marks on my cheeks that have resisted all types of treatment have gradually started to fade. Fingers crossed, this can become my new holy grail product if things continue this way. It also doesn’t hurt that the formula contains the super hydrating hyaluronic acid that helps to keep my skin healthy and supple as the day goes by.

Another fantastic product for hyperpigmentation issues that I came across last year is Drunk Elephant Bouncy BrightFacial serum.  The vegan and cruelty-free formula contains  skin brightening active ingredients azelaic acid and salicylic acid which are really good to improve the appearance of fine lines, discoloration, wrinkles and tackling acne. As chemical exfoliants they gently lift away debris and pollutants to help reveal a softer and more even skin texture.

I also love the fact that this formula expertly blends green tea, pumpkin, chia, and marula oils together with niacinamide and ceramides and unsaturated fatty acids to help strengthen a healthy skin barrier and elasticity.

In the Vitamin C product category,  Paula’s Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione serum is the star of the show for me. The highly stable vitamin C formula, courtesy of THD (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate), is able to deeply penetrate the skin to minimise sun damage, unify skin tone, and  support skin firmness and elasticity with only a few drops. This is a great product to use as part of your morning skincare routine before exposing your face to environmental pollutants and daylight. It will help block damaging UVA and UVB rays that can harm your skin.

This serum contains another natural antioxidant, glutathione, that I really like because it helps reduce irritation to the skin and boosts the serum’s protection against environmental stressors that can trigger discolouration.

The Sunscreen

I have been using Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ Sunscreen on my face and body for about 5 months now. This sunscreen does not leave a white cast, and yes, it requires shaking for a few seconds before applying it to ensure the cream effortlessly glides and penetrates the skin. Just a quick shake and you’re good to go. It is “greasy” when I first spread it on my dark skin, but it settles into the skin nicely and leaves me with more of a glow than a greasy look. The combination of sun blocking agents Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, and Octocrylene make this sunscreen highly resistant to water, perspiration and heat.

I personally don’t wear a foundation on a daily basis, so this is the last step in my skincare routine. But, the days when I put makeup on, I would wait about 5 minutes after application to really let it settle into the skin prior to priming and makeup application.

The Face Mask

I have been quite enamoured with fresh Umbrian Clay Pore-Purifying Face Mask for the past 2 months. I use it once a week as part of my skincare routine for a deep cleanse. I apply this non-comedogenic, mineral-rich clay mask on my face and leave it to dry for 15 minutes. I dare say that everytime I use it, I am  astonished by how smooth my skin becomes and how my pores appear visibly tighter and clearer. My complexion also looks  much brighter and healthier. I also use this clay mask as a spot treatment to help dry out the occasional pimple that might pop up, and it tends to dry it out without leaving any dark marks on my skin. 

This wraps up some of my current favourite products for hyperpigmentation issues right now. The key is to remember to have a well rounded skincare routine that focuses on different steps of melanin production to successfully fade black spots on your skin over time. 

There is no one-size fits all approach since we are all unique and have different lifestyles. It’s about careful experimentation to get the results for the healthy looking skin you are after. Keep at it! 

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