These are the most effective dark spot removal treatments you can buy.
One of the most common complexion gripes is dark spots (a.k.a. sun spots, age spots or hyperpigmentation), which can make skin appear uneven, less clear and dull. Dark spots can appear on your face as well as body areas such as 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, and often become more prevalent with age.
An easy fix: dark spot corrector skincare products that are created to help fade unwanted hyperpigmentation. “Dark spot correctors are used to lighten and diminish skin hyperpigmentation resulting from acne, sun damage or an otherwise uneven skin tone,” says Alan J. Parks, M.D., dermatologist and founder of DermWarehouse in Columbus, Ohio. “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.” GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek recommends treatments that contain ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide and kojic acid.
Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab scientists evaluate hundreds of skincare products every year, including ones that claim to correct dark spots, from moisturizers and pore minimizers to serums including anti-aging, antioxidant and vitamin C serums. The products are analyzed both in the Lab using technical instruments over a set time period and with consumers at home, who provide feedback on factors like ease of use and look and feel of skin before and after application. Hundreds of data points are then collated to find the most effective dark spot correctors.
Whether your dark spots are from the sun, post-acne scarring darkened by UV exposure or caused by melasma, read all about the best dark spot correctors that work, as tested by the GH Beauty Lab and recommended by dermatologists. Pair the right dark spot corrector for your skin with one of our top-tested night creams or anti-aging wrinkle creams.
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BEST OVERALL DARK SPOT CORRECTOR CREAM
Avon Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Night Cream
Avon’s cream with high levels of glycolic acid showed stellar performance in GH Beauty Lab testing, earning a perfect score for helping reduce the appearance of UV spots by an impressive 12%, plus top rankings for improving skin firmness and hydration. Several testers noted that it gave their skin a glow, though some commented that they didn’t like the “strong perfume scent.” “It really diminished the look of age spots and kept skin well moisturized at night,” one commented.
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BEST VALUE DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30
The winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s day cream test, this L’Oréal Paris drugstore moisturizer is formulated with anti-aging powerhouses like vitamin C, pro-retinol and glycolic acid, plus protective SPF 30. The drugstore bargain proved the best at improving UV spots (by 11.2%) in the Lab’s clinical study and testers agreed — they rated it top at perfecting skin tone. Avoid the eye area when applying, though, as it could cause eye irritation or watering. “It improved my skin tone…my skin appeared brighter and more radiant,” one raved. All for a bargain price!
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BEST ANTI-AGING DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
Roc Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30
This all-in-one daily moisturizer with SPF 30 sunscreen from Roc was the consumer favorite in the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging day cream test and scored high for reducing visible spots by 4.5%, over four weeks in Lab measurements. Testers gave it the best marks for softening, firming and reducing wrinkles, and a few said it was perfect for wearing under makeup. “It left my skin feeling plump and looking smooth and glowing,” one said, and another noted that it seemed to have lightened her brown spots. A few users weren’t fans of the product’s “strong” scent.
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BEST LIGHTWEIGHT DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
Versed Out of Sight Dark Spot Gel
This GH Beauty Award winner from Versed contains a potent blend of ingredients (kojic acid, niacinamide, licorice extract, tranexamic acid), balanced by botanicals like aloe and orange fruit water, that work to fade hyperpigmentation. In an eight-week trial of this “lightweight” spot treatment, 85% of users agreed that it minimized the look of dark spots, GH Beauty Lab data evaluation confirmed. A gel formulation, some reviewers found that it was tacky upon application.
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BEST HYDRATING DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
Olay Regenerist Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Face Moisturizer
To moisturize skin and reduce dark spots at the same time, smooth on this Good Housekeeping Seal star Olay face cream made with brightening antioxidant vitamin C and niacinamide. It significantly improved dark spots and brightness, plus increased skin’s hydration by 31% over six hours after four weeks, GH Beauty Lab data evaluation confirmed. (A caveat: Some reviewers noted that it caused irritation.) In a 180-woman study, 91% said their skin had a healthy glow after five days of use.
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BEST DARK SPOT CORRECTOR FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Olay Regenerist Max Tone Serum with Vitamin C
Backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal, Olay’s serum is supercharged with high levels of skin tone-evening vitamin C and free of fragrance for those with sensitivities. In a split-face study, imaging analysis showed significant improvement in spots and evenness in skin tone and color starting after two weeks of use, GH Beauty Lab data evaluation found. A caveat: Some users had difficulty with the dropper and excess product leaking out.
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BEST TARGETED DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
Rodan + Fields Targeted Dark Spot Corrector
The slim, pointed applicator of this Rodan + Fields treatment helps zero in on specific dark spots. “It has faded a sunspot on my face noticeably over two months of use,” GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann revealed. (Note that some reviewers complained they didn’t see results quickly when using this.) “It contains known ingredients that can combat dark spots, including niacinamide and licorice root extract,” she explains.
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BEST DERMATOLOGIST-RECOMMENDED DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
SkinMedica Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum
Recommended by both Dr. Turegano and Dr. Parks, SkinMedica’s serum is made with a plethora of proven dark spot-reducing ingredients, including tranexamic acid, niacinamide, phenylethylresorcinol and phytic acid. “It addresses discoloration and hyperpigmentation of the skin and reveals a brighter, more even complexion,” Dr. Parks says. Note that a few users reported bumps or breakouts after application.
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BEST DARK SPOT CORRECTOR NIGHT CREAM
Algenist Overnight Restorative Cream
A standout night cream in the GH Beauty Lab’s test, Algenist was the best at minimizing the look of dark spots (by 10.5%!) in calculations with the Lab’s Visia Complexion Analyzer device. It also earned the highest moisturization scores from consumers and boosted skin’s hydration by 33% over six hours in Corneometer machine measurements. Though some didn’t like the formula’s thickness, one tester reported it “really is removing my dark spots.”
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BEST DARK SPOT CORRECTOR MASK
Pipette Overnight Brightening Mask
Pipette’s translucent gel exfoliating mask, a GH Beauty Award winner, is left on overnight to illuminate skin using lactic acid and citrus extracts. In a study, 82% of users agreed that it improved the look of discoloration and gave skin a healthy glow, Lab data analysis confirmed. Note that it could sting a bit upon application, some users commented.
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BEST BRIGHTENING DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel
Dermalogica’s professional-level lactic acid peel was the best at brightening skin in the GH Beauty Lab’s face peel test. An impressive 100% of testers agreed that it brightened their skin, improved skin tone and left skin looking smoother. All reported they’d use it again, although the tubes can be difficult to open. It also performed impressively at boosting skin’s radiance. “My skin immediately felt so smooth and looked even and bright,” and “it seemed to lighten brown spots,” two testers reported.
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BEST DARK SPOT CORRECTOR FOR ACNE SCARS
ZitSticka HyperFade Microdart Blur Patch for Dark Spots
These innovative ZitSticka patches, infused with a laundry list of brightening ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin C, arbutin, licorice root extract and kojic acid, pinpoint and tackle dark marks from acne. Know that the kit includes four sets of patches to be used over the course of two weeks, and some users didn’t see results during that time period since dark spot correctors often require a longer period for benefits to be noticeable. “They work really well for hyperpigmentation after acne, and I like how targeted they are, so you can ensure they’re working on the area you want them to,” says GH’s former beauty assistant.
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BEST EXFOLIATING DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
La Prairie Cellular 3-Minute Peel
A GH Beauty Lab face peel test winner, La Prairie’s fast-acting formula with a potent blend of exfoliating lactic, glycolic and salicylic acids is splurge-worthy. It scored highest in Lab digital imaging evaluations for improving radiance and earned some of the highest scores for brightening skin (though some testers commented that it took effort to rinse off). My skin looked brighter as soon as I washed it off — my family even noticed!” one revealed.
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BEST DARK SPOT CORRECTOR SERUM
Biopelle KNR Brightening Serum
Mamina Turegano, M.D., a dermatologist in Metairie, Louisiana and co-founder of Skintap.com recommends this multipurpose Biopelle serum, which is blended with both dark spot-fading and anti-aging ingredients. Though it is a splurge, the treatment is packed with active ingredients: “It contains kojic acid, niaciamide, retinol and vitamin C to help with dark spots,” she says. “The formula also has peptides to help rejuvenate the skin.”
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BEST RETINOL DARK SPOT CORRECTOR
Kate Somerville DermalQuench Liquid Lift + Retinol
Effectively tackle dark spots with the anti-aging ingredient retinol in this GH Beauty Award-winning Kate Somerville serum, which dispenses as a foam to accelerate absorption. In GH Beauty Lab digital imaging tests with the Visia Complexion analyzer, it reduced UV spots by nearly 10% over four weeks of use, yet wasn’t irritating as some retinol treatments can be. “My dark spots are fading,” and “It lightened my melasma,” two testers reported. Several commented on how the formula evened their skin tone, though the unique mousse-like texture was polarizing.
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BEST DARK SPOT CORRECTOR FOR BODY
Philosophy The Microdelivery Triple-Acid Brightening Peel
In the GH Beauty Lab’s face peel test, Philosophy’s individually-packed pads, which can also be used on the body, earned the top score for brightening skin according to consumer testers and ranked highly for evening skin tone. Great for use before a special event, a few testers found their skin glowing for days after application. “After each use, my skin looked brighter for two days,” one said. “It also felt softer and smoother.”
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BEST DARK SPOT CORRECTOR FOR DARK SKIN
BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner
From BeautyStat, a Black-owned brand created by cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson, this multi-benefit serum contains a high 20% concentration of the gold standard brightening ingredient vitamin C, especially beneficial for dark skin tones that are prone to hyperpigmentation. Though it hasn’t been tested by the GH Beauty Lab, reviewers swear by it: “Helps combat dark spots, breakouts, signs of aging,” a Skinstore reviewer reported. “It’s a miracle product that truly tackles it all.” Note that a few users found the texture too rich and that it irritated their skin.
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BEST DARK SPOT CORRECTOR FOR WRINKLES
SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3
Treat dark spots on the face and wrinkles simultaneously with this serum from dermatologist-recommended brand SkinCeuticals, a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging serum test. Not only was it the best at reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles according in Lab evaluations, at-home testers raved that it was the best at firming skin and a great skin brightener. It’s formulated with 5% niacinamide, which Beauty Lab chemists say has been shown to brighten skin, improving hyperpigmentation. “My skin tone appears more even,” a tester reported. Though it’s not a moisturizer, a few commented that it wasn’t hydrating enough.
