Best product for hyperpigmentation

[ather]

What is your favourite product or products for hyperpigmentation??? Thanks!!!

[rebal]

I just started to take care of my skin I never had to. I’m 54 and It’s not easy I have sensitive and dry skin now and I feel like I ‘m behind the 8ball Rebal with out a cause lol

[melrn8487]

Dr. Dennis Gross AHA/BHA exfoliating pads with Sunday Riley’s Vitamin C and Luna oils! Fading won’t happen overnight, but it does help!

[ather]

@melrn8487  Thank you I’ll definitely check it out. I was looking at the dr Dennis goss cleanser. I saw a short video from sephora that it helps dissolve blackheads 

[PenelopeBT]

Use sunscreen to protect your skin from hyperpigmentation. I really like the FARMACY - Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen.

The Vitamin C serum that has worked for me in terms of evening out my skin tone is the Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL

[ather]

@PenelopeBT  Thank you!! I’ve tried the CEO cream but not the serum. I’ll definitely try it out!! 

[snoflakefaerie]

@ather this may be an obvious question, but are you using sunscreen every day and what SPF is it? Given you're using the products you are, I would think the hyperpigmentation wouldn't last as it has. Especially if they are from zits that pop up from time to time? Or is it pregnancy related? I wonder if sun exposure is causing your hyperpigmention to last longer than normal?

I also recommend incorporating retinol in your routine. If you can tolerate it, I have read retinol works best when applied to bare skin, so I would avoid putting anything underneath unless you need a buffer, and allow it to sit on your skin for 10-20 minutes before continuing on with your routine.

I personally have found a good routine rotating retinol and Framboos every other night, while using C-Firma daily. I've also Incorporated either CosRx Galactomyces essence, The Ordinary Niacinamide or Buffet twice a day. I'll occasionally use an acid peel mask or a physical exfoliator. I've been trying to move away from the Drunk Elephant products, but my skin seems to clog up when I try other things, unfortunately. 

A last recourse would be to try hydroquinone (I have never tried it). There are some intense side effects, so I would read up on them to see if it's something you would consider. I don't think you are supposed to use it if you are breastfeeding, fwiw.

[ather]

@snoflakefaerie  I use COOLA - Mineral Face SPF 30 - Matte Tint

I have some from zits some from sun maybe my younger years. I have been getting more acne lately I’m guessing from hormonal changes. I’m not breastfeeding anymore so I’m good to go on any products. I have a retinol and I was trying to incorporate it into my routine but I think I need to do it more slowly. I will try again. Maybe even with a decreased strength.

Side note. I bought buffet from TO and I was reading that you can’t use it when using cfirma. Did you hear about that or is it mostly for a regular high potency vitamin c? I stopped using it because I was afraid it would cause more issues.  

[snoflakefaerie]

@ather I have been using the original TO Buffet for a year or two in addition to C Firma and the TO vit C + F serums, and it seems that they created the warning about using buffet/peptides and acids/vit C when they introduced the buffet + copper peptides, so I assume the warning is due to copper peptides. I have used other non-copper peptide serums with vit c serums, and my face hasn't exploded? I didn't notice anything making my face worse. Obvi, if you have access to a dermatologist, they can give you better advice about the issue. 

On that same note, there is info saying not to use niacinamide with vit c, but apparently it's due to flushing/redness that might happen (perhaps hasn't ever been tested on live humans idk). I've never had an issue with that either.

Wrt to retinol, it's crappy because you have to get through the first few weeks of using it and purging/peeling. I started my retinol experience with Differin, using it once every 3-4 days and following with rose hip seed oil. I gradually built up to using it every other night over about 3 months. Then I Incorporated Framboos over another few weeks to months, and then C Firma if I recall correctly. It definitely was a 6-9 month process to get to using all the things. I have normal to oily skin, which I think helps me acclimate to actives easier than drier skin types. It's also possible your skin hates retinol, but I would give it at least 2 months before making that determination.

What retinol have you tried? (Also sorry for the rambling.)

[ather]

@snoflakefaerie  I’m glad your face hasn’t exploded! That’s a good sign. I never understood the warning because the protini from drunk elephant has polypeptide in it and drunk elephant says you can mix everything. 

I bought the ordinary 1% in squaline and I’ve been mixing with rose hip seed oil to make it more of a half strength. I was thinking about doing it once a week for a month then gradually adding more. I also have the ordinary alpha lipodic acid I use like once a month to help with texture. I’m not sure it helps but I need to see a derm to find out what’s good and if I’m doing to much. It’s hard I’m in a small town and I would have to wait for a referral and then drive 3 hours to the city. 

[EmilyLuxe]

Good Genes by Sunday Riley

[jen81]

I’m currently trying to help fade a good sized area of hyperpigmentation on my cheek. I recently had BBL on my face which helped a little bit. I’m using de Dennis Gross vit c serum daily, retinol 4x a week, getting back into leave on exfoliants (acids) because letting my skin calm down after treatment.   I recently purchased good molecules discoloration defense serum and daily brightening serum. Which I will start soon. I’m trying these because they have transdexamic acid and arbutin. there is research that tranexamic acid helps block melanin formation so am trying this before investing in something similar like skinceutical skin discoloration defense serum.  I’m going to see derm at end of month to see what else these suggest as I really hate the way it looks.  I’ve used OTC hydro quinolone (paulas choice has one treatment that combines with glycolic acid . 

[ather]

@jen81  Thank you. I will definitely look for those products and try them out too. Mine aren’t horrible but bad enough I can’t cover it with concealer or foundation. I maybe could but I have clear skin otherwise and I don’t like to do a thick amount just for a few small spots. I’d rather make them disappear. 

[WinglessOne]

@ather  I have large patches of hyperpigmentation on my cheeks and temples, plus a wide band across my forehead. I also have some small acne scars, but those tend to fade on their own with time. Anyway, here’s what I use: 

The INKEY List Retinol Fine Lines and Wrinkles Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL to encourage skin cell turnover deep below the surface. I use it 3-4 nights a week. 

FIRST AID BEAUTY - FAB Skin Lab Resurfacing Liquid 10% AHA to remove the top layer of dead skin. On no-retinol nights, I layer this over Paula’s Choice Clear Regular Strength BHA exfoliant. On some retinol nights, I layer it under retinol. If I layer BHA under retinol instead, I’ll sometimes apply this AHA the next morning. 

Vitamin C in the morning: I’m currently working through a bottle of YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Superfood Firm and Brighten Vitamin C Serum and won’t repurchase it. Once this bottle’s empty, I’ll start my DS of FARMACY - Very Cherry Bright 15% Clean Vitamin C Serum with Acerola Cherry.

That combo is definitely working for me, gradually. My cheek patches are much lighter now; I still see them, but they’re less noticeable. My forehead’s getting splotchy as the dark band’s size is reducing. This reminds me to look up which peptide(s) can block/reduce melanin production, and see if any of those are in my skincare products. 

I also have a high potency vit C spot treatment by Paula’s Choice; I forget the name of it, but it’s in a tube and has a very thick cream consistency. I haven’t tried it yet because I keep forgetting I have it. 😂 But soon I’ll dab it onto some of my acne scars and see what happens. 

[ather]

@WinglessOne  Thank you! I’ve been using cfirma and tlc framboise from drunk elephant but I’m not noticing much difference in my hyperpigmentation. I like how it’s making my skin look. But I’ll definitely try those out. Do you mix retinol and your acids the same night or do it on another night?

[WinglessOne]

@ather  How long have you been using those 2 Drunk Elephant products? Results can take 2 months or longer to start seeing. Honestly, the only fairly quick turnaround products are laser treatments and chemical peels done by a dermatologist (or medical esthetician, depending on your local laws). But I’m glad the DE products are improving your skin in other ways! TLC Framboos is a stronger AHA product than the FAB AHA I use, so you might not wanna give up on it just yet. 🙂 

On retinol nights, I layer my retinol serum over one chemical exfoliant. I choose either my BHA leave-on or my AHA leave-on. (I don’t layer all 3 on the same night because I’m not sure my skin would tolerate that.) So on those nights, my routine looks like this: 

1. Wash 
2. Exfoliant (either AHA or BHA) 
3. Retinol (everywhere but under my eyes) 
4. Eye serum (also contains retinol; I use this every night) 
5. Any other serum or mask, if needed 
6. Rosehip oil (to reduce inflammation) 
7. Moisturizer 

Whether or not you can layer retinol and AHA depends on your skin’s tolerance. Since you’ve already been using TLC Framboos, your skin’s probably used to AHA by now. When introducing retinol, use it just one night a week for 2-3 weeks—and don’t use your AHA on retinol night. You’ll want to see how your skin tolerates retinol before you attempt to layer it over AHA. You can also apply your retinol at night, and then apply AHA the next morning—as long as you also wear sunscreen, which we should all do everyday anyway. 

[ather]

@WinglessOne  I’ve been using cfirma and tlc for maybe 3 years now. I took a break while I was pregnant and breastfeeding because I was worried it was bad. (Apparently they are fine) I also use THE ORDINARY - Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%

but maybe only once a week suppose to help with bumps which I have a texture issue as well. I have a retinol from the ordinary that I mix with rose seed oil to decrease the potency but I haven’t used it in a month or two since I got my new cat and she like to exfoliate my face every night before bed. She’s stopped which means I can carry on with my skincare again. But these pesky spots don’t want to budge.  I may need to resort to laser or a chemical peel. I live in a small town (6,000) people so I would need to travel to a larger city I’m guessing for that. 

[WinglessOne]

@ather  Oh wow—yeah, after 3 years (even with an interruption; better safe than sorry when breastfeeding), I’d say you know by now that your current products aren’t doing everything you want them to. 😂 

If you want to try one more thing before getting a pro treatment done, you could try a high percentage vitamin C spot treatment cream. I finally looked at my tube of that stuff: it’s Paula’s Choice C25 Super Booster. I can’t say whether or not it works because I haven’t tried it yet. But I’m sure other brands have a similar product, perhaps with an even higher % of vit C. 

As others have mentioned, niacinamide can help reduce hyperpigmentation. So can azelaic acid. My skin hates that stuff—my face’s current irritated state is due to an unsuccessful trial of Paula’s Choice azelaic acid booster. 😡 But that doesn’t mean it won’t work for anyone else. Always spot test azelaic acid before using it on your whole face, not only for potential irritation (funny: I patch-tested it with no irritation, yet my face still flipped out when I used it all over) but also in case you’re unknowingly severely allergic to it. (I’m not sure how common that allergy is.) Other helpful ingredients are hydroquinone, kojic acid, and alpha arbutin. I have an unopened tube of THE INKEY LIST - Alpha Arbutin I’ll test once my skin’s calmed down enough. 

Also: aw, I miss having a lovable feline overlord to exfoliate my face (and fur up all my dark colored clothing, inspect my bed making efforts before I’ve even put the flat sheet on, use my big fluffy powder brushes on her own face, taste test my unattended food, etc)! 😺 Someday I’ll adopt another cat. Anyway, congrats on your new kitty! 

[lmaster]

@ather I use TO niacinamide also, along with farmacy very cherry bright omg this stuff is amazing!! and herbivore bakuchiol

[ather]

@lmaster  Thanks I’ll definitely check them out!! I’ve been wanting to try the cherry one!!

[lmaster]

@ather not trying to enable... But the FARMACY - Very Cherry Bright 15% Clean Vitamin C Serum with Acerola Cherry is to die for!!! It smells so delicious, and does not have a sticky texture to it