I’ve tried tons of dark spot serums over the years to tackle sun spots, uneven skin tone and pigmentation, and I’m sharing the best ones that actually work. These are super strong products, so if you’ve got sensitive skin be sure to patch test first.

My tips to get rid of dark spots

I used to worship the California sun in my teens and I have skin that hyperpigments easily, so I’ve been battling dark spots my entire adult life. I’ve tried all sorts of treatments from lasers and chemical peels to PRP and professional skincare over the years. All of these help, but it’s what you do daily that matters most. So here are my best tips to help get rid of dark spots:

• Stay out of the sun! Like it or not, visible and invisible UV rays are the biggest contributor to dark spots, sun spots, age spots and hyperpigmentation. Avoiding the sun will prevent new ones from forming and current ones from getting worse.
• A Vitamin C every single day in the morning is a non-negotiable. You can add a bunch of other actives in your routine to fight discoloration, but Vitamin C shouldn’t be skipped.
• Prioritize wearing tinted sunscreen daily, not just regular sunscreen, especially if you have melasma. Tinted SPF effectively blocks visible light that can worsen hyperpigmentation. Don’t forget to reapply every few hours when out in the sun and even indoors because blue light from our electronic devices is known to be just as damaging.
• The most effective actives that get rid of dark spots are hydroquinone and tretinoin, which sadly are known to be risky for your health in the long term. Skincare has advanced so much, that there are healthier, hydroquinone-free ways to fight uneven skin tone today.
• Look for actives like Vitamin C, arbutin, tranexamic acid, niacinamide, alpha arbutin, Hexylresorcinol, growth factors, green tea extract, astaxanthin, and microalgae.
• Exfoliation is key! I personally prefer to get my AHAs like glycolic, mandelic, and lactic acid through a toner or exfoliating pads.

I tried Calecim Professional Pigment Solution

When I first tried Calecim’s Professional Pigment Solution I was turned off by its sulfury smell, but this is the most advanced hydroquinone-free dark spot serum I’ve used. It not only has Butylresorcinol, PPT-6, growth factors, cytokines, and exosomes, but also the usual blend of heavy-hitters like niacinamide, alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid, glutathione and Vitamin C. While most drugstore dark spot correctors are made with a couple of commonly used actives, Calecim Professional is made entirely of the most high-tech actives. I used this for over a month and it completely faded the stubborn marks left over from recent breakouts.

• PTT-6^®, a combination of growth factors, cytokines and exosomes, fibronectins, glycoproteins, collagen, and hyaluronic acid
• 4-Butylresorcinol to inhibit tyrosine production, which causes hyperpigmentation
• Glutathione to reduce melanin production
• Niacinamide, Arbutin, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, cobra lily, and tranexamic acid

Price: $148 for 1 oz
Actives: PPT-6 (growth factors, cytokines, and exosomes), 4-Butylresorcinol, fibronectins, glycoproteins, collagen, Arisaema Amurense, niacinamide, Alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid, glutathione, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, cobra lily, Sigesbeckia and green tea extract

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I tried Luzern Lab Serum Absolut V15

I’ve tried dozens of natural Vitamin C serums and Luzern Lab’s V15 is hands down the best in clean beauty I’ve used. Not all vitamin C serums are created equal, and my skin responds best to this product. It’s amazing at fixing discoloration, fading dark spots and brightening skin overall. When my sun spots look darker after sun-filled vacations, Luzern Labs works so well at getting my skin back to pre-summer. It seems pricey, but you actually get double the amount of product than other serums in the market. The formula has got 15% Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), fermented minerals, hyaluronic acid, red algae extract, and a variety of organic Swiss Alpine plants. The pH is also optimal at 3.2 to maximize absorption into the deeper layers of the skin.

Price: $215 for 2 oz
Actives: 15% Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), fermented Zinc, Copper, Calcium, and Silicon, hyaluronic acid, red algae extract, organic Swiss Alpine plants and flowers

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I tried Mother Science Molecular Hero Serum

This is the only serum on the market that contains Malassezin which is 10x more powerful than vitamin C. It’s created by and patented by the brand, so Mother Science is the only ones using it. I can actually feel this working on my skin, which means it responds well to this innovative active. It’s also got niacinamide and alpine rose extract to even out skin tone, but I wish it also had astaxanthin. I find the consistency to be creamy and pleasant and it absorbs well. It doesn’t have as many actives as other dark spot correctors so it is more affordable than the others in my list. However, I do feel that it’s effective in making my skin even and my dark spots less noticeable.

Price: $89 for 1 oz
Actives: Malassezin, Niacinamide, Alpine Rose Extract

I tried Motif Power Brightening Bicelle Serum

This is a super clean, vegan and powerful dark spot corrector with one of the most well-rounded blend of actives. It’s got a blend of advanced clinical actives AND botanical plants like Oxyresveratrol, Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide, Bakuchiol, Hexylresorcinol, Rice Ceramide, Licorice Root extract. Plus, I really appreciate there’s no water or filler ingredients that dilute the formula. I love that evens out any patchiness I might be experiencing and makes brown spots less noticeable. Overall, my skin looks clearer and brighter too.

Price: $115 for 1 oz
Actives: Oxyresveratrol, Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide, Bakuchiol, Hexylresorcinol, Rice Ceramide, Licorice Root

I tried Herbal Face Food The Serum

Herbal Face Food is the only dark spot serum in this list that’s 100% natural and made entirely with whole plants. It depends solely on plant science and every ingredient is an active made by nature. I love that it has Jojoba seed extract, astaxanthin, everlasting flower extract, clove flower extract, cardamom seed extract, tangerine extract, lemon peel, tea tree leaf oil, manuka leaf extract, eucalyptus leaf oil, carrot seed oil, yarrow extract, rosemary leaf oil, cinnamon leaf oil, lemon balm leaf oil, niaouli leaf oil, lemongrass leaf oil, Chinese cinnamon extract, hyssop extract, blue mallee eucalyptus oil, bladderwrack seaweed extract, elecampane root extract, angelica root extract, frankincense resin extract, dragon’s blood resin, and Australian pencil cedarwood extract. I feel like my skin is on fire but the sensation eventually subsides. In my experience, using this consistently for a few months has a similar effect to getting a professional chemical peel.

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Price: $240 for 1 oz
Actives: astaxanthin, hyssop, tea tree, dragon’s blood resin, lemon balm, angelica root

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