15 Best Dark Spot Correctors for Radiant Skin, According to Experts
Achieve a more even complexion with these powerhouse serums, lotions, and spot treatments.
There are many solutions for you to get your glow back.
Step 1. Best Overall Dark Spot Corrector Cream: Avon Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Night Cream
This cream by Avon is formulated with high levels of glycolic acid and performed extremely well in testing. The cream earned a perfect score for helping reduce the appearance of UV spots by 12%.
Step 2. Best Value Dark Spot Corrector: Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Retinol + Vitamin C Dark Spot Corrector
Neutrogena’s dark spot corrector serum combines retinol and vitamin C for a brightening match made in heaven. This formula effectively targets stubborn dark spots and provides an overall brightening effect in addition to addressing concerns like fine lines and wrinkles.
Step 3. Best Targeted Dark Spot Corrector: Versed Out Of Sight Dark Spot Gel
During an eight-week trial of the “lightweight” dark spot corrector, 85% of users agreed that it minimized dark spots. The product contains a powerful list of ingredients including kojic acid, licorice extract, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid alongside botanicals like aloe and orange fruit extract.
Step 4. Best Dark Spot Corrector for Acne-Prone Skin: La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 Dark Spot Corrector Serum
Dr. Lal touts glycolic acid as a fantastic exfoliating ingredient for banishing dark spots. This serum is also “really good for acne-prone skin,”says Dr. Lal.
Step 5. Best Dark Spot Corrector for Sensitive Skin: Vanicream Vitamin C Serum
This dark spot corrector serum is “non-comedogenic tested, so this is a good option for acne-prone skin, and one of the best options for sensitive skin,” explains Dr. Mikailov. This serum contains ceramides to help soothe and repair skin as well as vitamin C for overall skin radiance.
Step 6. Naturium Tranexamic Topical Acid 5%
Tranexamic acid is one of Dr. Lal’s “favorite” ingredients for lightening dark spots. This potent serum is contains 5% tranexamic acid, as well as kojic acid, licorice root extract (more of Dr. Lal’s go-to’s), and niacinamide.
Step 7. Best Brightening Dark Spot Corrector: DS LABORATORIES Advanced Dark Spot Corrector
If you’re looking for overall brightening as well as targeted dark spot correction, look no further than this serum that’s formulated “with proven ingredients like tranexamic acid, kojic acid, and niacinamide to treat dark spots,” says Dr. Mikailov. “This formula features an encapsulation delivery to keep the ingredients stable,” he adds.
Step 8. Best Anti-Aging Dark Spot Corrector: SKINTENSIVE Dual Renewal PM Cream With Bakuchiol + Retinol
If you’re looking to treat both dark spots and address signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, you’ll want to choose a formula that includes retinol. This nighttime cream is “designed for sensitive, dry skin,” Dr. Mikailov explains.
Step 9. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Dr. Lal “loves” azelaic acid for brightening the skin and reducing dark spots, and recommends this affordable formula from The Ordinary. This lightweight cream contains 10% azelaic acid to help address dark spots and textural irregularities while promoting a brighter, more even skin tone.
Step 10. Best Dark Spot Corrector for Melasma: SkinMedica Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum
“When I talk about tranexamic acid and kojic acid containing products, one of my favorites is the Skin Medica 2.0 Lytera,” explains Dr. Lal. “That is a phenomenal product that has been shown to reduce skin discoloration—it’s really good for melasma and it’s safe on all skin types.”
Step 11. Best Dark Spot Corrector Night Cream: Algenist Overnight Restorative Cream
This night cream proved to be a standout product in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab’s testing for minimizing the look of dark spots by 10.5%. It also earned the highest moisturization scores from consumers and boosted skin hydration by 33% over six hours in Corneometer machine measurements.
Step 12. Scientis CYSPERA Intensive Pigment Corrector
This product contains cysteamine, which is a “really powerful bleaching agent that’s great for dark spot correction,” explains Dr. Lal. The formula also contains glycolic acid to help exfoliate the skin and a vitamin B3 derivative that the brand says is more effective and less irritating than niacinamide to help promote overall skin health.
Step 13. Best Dark Spot Corrector for Dark Skin Tones: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
This serum is a “favorite” of Dr. Lal’s and one that he calls the “OG” (a.k.a original) in terms of vitamin C products. It’s also “great for darker skin types and one of the best overall for dark spot correction,” says Dr. Mikailov.
Step 14. ISDIN Melaclear Advanced
“This blend of tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and licorice root extract along with a PHA (gentle versions of AHAs) work well together to brighten dark spots without irritating the skin,” explains Dr. Mikailov. However, Dr. Mikailov notes this gel-serum formula is not ideal for general moisturizing, and should be used with another moisturizer for those with dry skin or those living in dry climates.
Step 15. Perricone MD Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Deep Crease Serum
This elegant formula by Perricone MD is “a really great glutathione-containing product,” recommended by Dr. Lal. Glutathione is considered a skin brightener, and is effective for promoting overall skin radiance as well as for treating isolated dark spots.
How to choose the best dark spot corrector
Dr. Lal says to keep the following in mind:
Decide if you want to brighten skin. If so, try a brightener.
Think of exfoliating. Exfoliants “exfoliate the skin and give your skin an overall light peel to help decrease that hyperpigmentation,” Dr. Lal explains.
Consider a targeted approach. Lightening agent ingredients are used “specifically for darkness” and are “great for local areas,” says Dr. Lal.
Fight inflammation with anti-inflammatories. “If you have dark spots that are from inflammation [like from an injury], something that you should consider using is 1% hydrocortisone, which is a great anti-inflammatory agent and it also does lighten the skin,” Dr. Lal explains.
Do dark spot correctors work?
While a dark spot corrector can take many forms (likes spot treatments, creams, or serums), they are generally extremely effective at diminishing hyperpigmentation, evening skin tone, and bringing radiance back to skin. There are lots of ingredients that are helpful at targeting dark spots, but those with dark skin tones may need to be more careful while using some of these products.
How we chose the best dark spot correctors
We spoke with Karan Lal, D.O., M.S., F.A.A.D., skin of color expert and double board-certified adult, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatologist with Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ.; and Anar Mikailov, M.D., F.A.A.D., board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Skintensive. We also sifted through countless online reviews to find the best dark spot correctors available.
The Best Overall Dark Spot Corrector Cream, the Best Targeted Dark Spot Corrector, and the Best Dark Spot Corrector Night Cream were tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab.