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We updated this article in May 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, additional expert commentary and three new GH Beauty Lab top-tested products.
Also
called sun spots, age spots or hyperpigmentation, dark spots can pop up on your face, hands and décolletage as a result of sun exposure, genetics, hormones and inflammation, says Howard Murad, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of
Murad Skincare. Instead of just covering them with concealer, seek out a dark spot corrector
skincare product that can help fade hyperpigmentation for good. "Dark spot correctors are used to lighten and diminish
skin hyperpigmentation resulting from acne, sun damage or an otherwise uneven skin tone," explains Alan J. Parks, M.D., dermatologist and founder of
DermWarehouse in
Columbus, OH. "They work by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for the production of melanin in the skin, and may also increase the rate at which skin cells renew themselves, ridding the skin of the dead, damaged cells faster and making way for fresh, new cells."
Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists evaluate hundreds of skincare products every year, including ones that claim to correct dark spots, from
moisturizers to night creams to
serums and face peels. The products are
evaluated both in the Lab using technical instruments and with consumers at home, who provide their feedback on factors like ease of use and look and feel of skin brefore and after use. Whether your dark spots are from the sun, post-acne scarring darkened by UV exposure or caused by
melasma, these are the best dark spot correctors that really work to permanently remove dark spots and hyperpigmentation on the face and body, as tested by the GH Beauty Lab.
Our top picks:
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Best Overall Dark Spot Corrector Cream
Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Night Cream Avon
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-
Best Value Dark Spot Corrector
Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30 L’Oréal Paris
Read More
-
Best Dark Spot Corrector for Sensitive Skin
Regenerist Max Tone Serum with Vitamin C Olay
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-
Best Hydroquinone Dark Spot Corrector
Skin Success Anti-Dark Spot Fade Cream Palmer's
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-
Best Anti-Aging Dark Spot Corrector
Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 Roc
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Best Overall Dark Spot Corrector Cream
Avon
Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Night Cream
Best Value Dark Spot Corrector
L’Oréal Paris
Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30
Best Dark Spot Corrector for Sensitive Skin
Olay
Regenerist Max Tone Serum with Vitamin C
Best Hydroquinone Dark Spot Corrector
Palmer's
Skin Success Anti-Dark Spot Fade Cream
Best Anti-Aging Dark Spot Corrector
Roc
Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30
Best Dark Spot Corrector for Dark Skin
BeautyStat
Universal C Skin Refiner
Best Dark Spot Corrector for Acne Scars
ZitSticka
HyperFade Microdart Blur Patch for Dark Spots
Best Dark Spot Corrector for Body
Philosophy
The Microdelivery Triple-Acid Brightening Peel
Best Dark Spot Corrector Serum
Biopelle
Biopelle KNR Brightening Serum
Best Illuminating Dark Spot Corrector
Olay
Luminous Whip Face Moisturizer
Best Dark Spot Corrector Night Cream
Algenist
Overnight Restorative Cream
Best Brightening Dark Spot Corrector
Dermalogica
Rapid Reveal Peel
Best Dermatologist-Recommended Dark Spot Corrector
SkinMedica
Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum
Best Targeted Dark Spot Corrector
No7
Laboratories Dark Spot Correcting Booster Serum
Best Dark Spot Corrector for Wrinkles
SkinCeuticals
Metacell Renewal B3
Best Exfoliating Dark Spot Corrector
La Prairie
Cellular 3-Minute Peel
Best Dark Spot Corrector for Oily Skin
Mary Kay
TimeWise Tone-Correcting Serum
Best Natural Dark Spot Corrector
Versed
Out Of Sight Dark Spot Facial Gel
How we test dark spot correctors
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 below.
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.
What to look for when shopping for the best dark spot corrector
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 inhibits an enzyme that produces melanin
✔️
Retinoland
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.
What's the best way to use a dark spot corrector?
When applying a dark spot corrector, generally, "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." Note that "the sun is one of the biggest contributors to developing and accentuating dark marks," she says, so applying a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen daily is a must in order to see a reduction in dark spots.
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.
How can I remove dark spots permanently?
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 options 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. 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.
- Head to the derm. For stubborn spots, a dermatologist can offer faster, more high-tech solutions, like a laser treatment. 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.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D., has led clinical and consumer testing in the GH Beauty Lab for 15 years across categories including skincare, haircare, makeup and devices. 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 Beauty Lab chemists 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 such as dermatologists and aestheticians. She is an expert in all face and body skincare product categories, including eye creams, cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, exfoliators, masks, professional treatments and more. April works closely with the GH Beauty Lab to coordinate skincare product testing and translate test results into best-in-class, compelling, factually accurate science-backed content.
Nicole Saporita is a former member of the Good Housekeeping editorial team that spent years working with the GH Beauty Lab to interpret and report on product testing.
Nicole Saporita Nicole Saporita was an editor and writer at Good Housekeeping from 2014 to 2020, where she researched, wrote and reported original content for the Good Housekeeping Institute and several other departments, including health, travel and family.
April Franzino Beauty Director April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content.