I Used to Have the Worst Dark Spots, and These Are the Only Products That Helped

"The leading cause [of dark spots] is definitely UV exposure," says Lee. "Even though we are savvier with sunscreen use now in comparison to 15 years ago, there is still a general misconception that, if you are walking around and runnings errands, your sun exposure isn't as bad as laying out. UV rays are damaging to your skin whether you are laying out or walking around." She recommends physical sunscreens and touts this one from Unsun as one of her favorites.

Lee is also a fan of Suntegrity, another tinted option that comes in a variety of shades for all skin tones. The formula includes vitamins C and E in addition to peptides for full-spectrum protection and nourishment.

I got serious about wearing sunscreen every day at the height of my dark spot dilemma. That was before sunscreen became the mainstream beauty behemoth it is now, so finding options that didn't leave a white cast was a big-time struggle. I've been a huge fan of Guards Up from Versed ever since it launched earlier this year. It's a velvety gel-cream that protects the skin with non-nano zinc oxide and looks completely sheer, even on brown skin. It's not at all oily and leaves my face soft and primed for makeup.

Next on Lee's list of dark spot–busting ingredients is kojic acid. "It helps stop the production of tyrosinase, which is great because that is an enzyme that is used in melanosome formation and can lead to hyperpigmentation," she explains. This top-rated serum by SkinCeuticals (the brand known for a cult-favorite vitamin C that you've likely heard of and that we will discuss momentarily) combines it with tranexamic acid and niacinamide to target dark marks and even them out without irritation.

Kojic acid is also the hero ingredients of this IS Clinical favorite that is often categorized as a vitamin C serum. While it does contain L-ascorbic acid, it also has a potent mix of other ingredients, including kojic acid, to heal and protect the skin.

Topicals isn't one of the coolest new brands on the block just because of its cool packaging. It's beloved because of its effective products, including this one formulated with tranexamic acid, azelaic acid, niacinamide, and, you guessed it, kojic acid to balance the skin tone and generally brighten the skin.

Vitamin C is among the most commonly cited ingredients of late for brightening the skin and evening out its tone. According to Lee, it does so by speeding up cell renewal and inhibiting tyrosinase that would otherwise be converted to dark spot–causing melanin. Of all the vitamin C serums on the market, this one from SkinCeuticals is, by far, the most famous.  

This dark spot corrector also calls on vitamin C to brighten and even out the skin. The added white birch and peony extracts move the process along while protecting against oxidative damage.

Speaking of cool new skincare brands on our radar, here is yet another one offering super-effective ingredients housed in packaging you'll be proud to display on your vanity.

Lee says arbutin is another tyrosinase inhibitor that works exceptionally well for keeping the enzyme under control, thus preventing hyperpigmentation. It's also a naturally occurring ingredient that's extracted from plants like bearberry. This serum from The Ordinary has a 2% concentration combined with ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid.

The leading vitamin C serums typically have a concentration of 15 to 20% L-ascorbic acid, but this one gets the job done with a lower concentration and the addition of nature-identical arbutin.

This clearing treatment combines arbutin with some other skin-brightening all-stars like niacinamide, tranexamic acid, and kojic acid to stop dark marks in their tracks.

"Licorice is a gentler ingredient that not only helps prevent brown spot formation but helps break up existing sunspots," Lee explains. In fact, she included it in a formulation in her own line, which shares a name with her beloved skincare studio.

"I was once prescribed a very strong Retin-A by a dermatologist that was admittedly not used to working with darker skin types, and even though I was compliant with use, I ended up with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Two years later, I developed a skincare product called Pigment Remedy by The Things We Do, which is a gentle serum with brightening ingredients that include glycolic acid, licorice, kojic acid, and paired them with soothing ingredients to ease the delivery of the powerful ingredients. This serum was made with POC in mind, who may traditionally have a more difficult time finding safer formulations for their skin," she says. 

As mentioned above, Lee is all too familiar with skin injuries leading to PIH. "The irritation and inflammation caused by harsh product use, breakouts, and adverse events from lasers and chemical peels lead to brown spots and patches. Skin that is medium to dark is much more susceptible to this type of hyperpigmentation," she explains. This licorice-forward serum is a gentle yet super-effective option for those with sensitive skin types.

In this product, licorice is paired with powerful acids to act as a calming agent while also contributing to the goal of brightening and evening the skin.

Lee calls out glycolic acid as another ingredient to prioritize. "It helps speed up the cell renewal process and brightens the skin," she says. This Glycolic Acid Treatment from Sunday Riley is a perfect overnight treatment that deeply exfoliates the skin to tackle a number of issues, including hyperpigmentation and congestion, and that contains potassium lactate to boost hydration.

Of all the products I used religiously to lighten up my most stubborn dark spots, I found this serum to be one of the most effective. It does contain hydroquinone, which is a controversial ingredient, but it works so well that I was able to look past that. I was careful to only use this one as a spot treatment to ensure that the rest of my skin wasn't being lightened unnecessarily. I even would only buy the small bottle to force myself to be super conscious of my usage.

"Lighter skin types may be able to tolerate strong Retin-A effects and dodge PIH, but it usually isn't worth the risk for darker skin types with sensitive skin," Lee explains. "Instead, a gentle retinol or low-percentage glycolic acid mixed with vitamin E and hyaluronic acid can be beneficial in reducing hyperpigmentation while minimizing irritation risks." While this spot treatment is potent (it deploys a mix of glycolic acid and hydroquinone to banish dark spots fast), it also has vitamin E and rosehip oil to help replenish and moisturize the skin. 

Aside from being the ingredient derms and skin experts call out the most as the key to refining the look of fine lines and wrinkles, making pores appear smaller, and brightening the skin, "Retinol promotes exfoliation and hinders melanosome distribution," says Lee.

Urban Skin Rx is known for its super-effective formulas that keep darker skin tones front of mind while helping people will all skin tones achieve their skincare goals. While it uses a super-potent blend of retinol and acids, this formula also incorporates anti-inflammatory niacinamide. Lee advises using products that do this. "I love when these ingredients are mixed with nourishing, anti-inflammatory ingredients to ensure a softer delivery of the product to the skin to avoid PIH," she says.

If you're ready to really go for it in the retinoid department, this is a tube you should reach for. It's an over-the-counter option but is stronger than any other retinol you'll find that's not prescribed by a derm. 

Up next, This One Ingredient in Your Moisturizer Could Be Making You Break Out