Here are two ways that lightened my hyperpigmentation – Essence

Hyperpigmentation is a standard skin problem for a lot of black people. Despite this, iconic beauty brands that sell products that reduce dark spots – reminiscent of Duet Topicals for discoloration AND Brighter Not Lighter Trio by EADEM–– with the growing popularity of retinol, kojic acid, and turmeric soap lately, an increasing number of solutions have emerged.

However, despite similar skin concerns, everyone’s skin is different and these products is probably not as effective on everyone’s skin. But before I share my best beauty hacks, we first need to grasp how hyperpigmentation works.

While darker skin tones are regarded as well shielded from sun damage on account of their high melanin content, we are also more vulnerable to hyperpigmentation. According to the NIH, our lively melanin, combined with inflammation — often attributable to pimples — can result in discoloration and scarringThis happens because our skin tries to guard us from inflammation by producing more melanin, which can lead to dark spots.

As a beauty author, I’ve tried product after product. In other words, my bathroom sink is flooded with the newest innovations in skincare for dark spots. I’ve tried the whole lot from award-winning retinol and every day chemical peels to cult essences and pricey skincare treatments.

That said, I’ve noticed that most products have a month-long timeframe (the typical skin cycle is five to 6 weeks) to see results. This means that sometimes you’ll need to make use of several bottles without seeing a difference in your skin.

This reality is the explanation I began using pharmaceutical products. French pharmacy brands in trend on TikTok (think: La Roche-Posay) and dermatologists rating the very best products, my two holy grails — dark spot correctors — turned out to be low-cost, over-the-counter purchases.

Instead of spending over $100 on products that promise greater than they deliver, spend $20 tretinoin AND Benzoyl peroxide it’s an actual hack. In lower than per week I’ve seen more visible improvement in my skin than I did in months of using viral, cult-favorite products.

Tretinoin is an artificial type of vitamin A used as an pimples medication (which is a must if you might have pimples-induced inflammation). Unlike retinol, it is way stronger and its concentration ranges from 0.01% to 0.1%, so requires a prescription. However, in lower than per week, I watched my dark spots disappear in real time and my skin texture became more even, soft, and smooth.

Then I added non-prescription benzoyl peroxide (10%) to my routine, using each product as much as thrice per week. Benzoyl peroxide has strong antibacterial and mild anti-inflammatory effects that help my skin avoid irritation while I sleep.

In the evening I wash my face with a mild cleanser (I take advantage of Shani Darden Cleansing Serum) then apply benzoyl peroxide gel over the tretinoin cream. Although this duo is my go-to, I wash them off my skin within the morning after which apply La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum for dark spots and dark spot correcting sunscreen to begin the day.

Since starting this routine lower than a month ago, my skin has gone from riddled with discoloration, dark spots, uneven texture, and enlarged pores to the clearest it’s been in years. I haven’t had a single breakout since, which provides my skin time to heal from the inflammation (even from every day sun exposure) — allowing the sweetness beneath my skin concerns to indicate through again.