Growing up in a coastal location is something I loved. Now even though I have moved away from the beach and to the city, I’ve still been left with the tell-tale signs from my sunkissed roots – skin pigmentation! Yes, freckles! Whether you love them or hate them (I fall into the latter category) these ‘signs of character’, as my mum would tell me, are a lasting effect of too much exposure to the sun. Unfortunately for pigmentation sufferers there is no easy way to completely reverse this damage to the skin; unless you look into professional treatments. However there are a few easy and affordable solutions you can work into your current skincare routine to help improve skin pigmentation and diminish those dark spots for good!
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1. SPF
Seeing as sun exposure is the culprit for dark spots and pigmentation, SPF should be your first step in stopping damage in its tracks. Whether you prefer a chemical or physical sunscreen, layering SPF on everyday is one of the easiest ways to help improve skin pigmentation. Not only will it prevent your current spots from darkening but it will also protect you against new spots forming – yes please!
If you like physical sunscreen: Try SunSense Sensitive Invisible SPF 50+
If you want a multitasker: Try Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 30+
If you wish to layer SPF under makeup: Try Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen SPF 50+
2. Brightening face masks
Face masks are definitely a pamper night essential, but they can also provide serious results for your skin if used as a regular part of your routine. To tackle dark spots and freckles, look for brightening and whitening masks. These types of masks are formulated to help exfoliate by removing the dull, dead, top layer of skin to reveal a brighter and more radiant complexion. This type of brightening effect can help improve dark spots and skin pigmentation. My go-to favourites are The Body Shop Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask and Real Nature Lemon sheet masks.
3. Chemical exfoliators
The same principle of exfoliating dull skin to reveal a brighter (and lighter) complexion is what makes chemical exfoliators so useful in treating skin pigmentation. These exfoliators are formulated with AHA’s like glycolic and salicylic acids to resurface the skin and work like an overnight facial to refresh dull and tired complexions. Used a few times a week these types of exfoliants can keep skin pigmentation looking clear, bright and revitalised.
bh loves Alpha-H Liquid Gold Rose and Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA.
4. Natural oils
Natural oils such as rosehip are great go-tos for treating dark spots and freckles as they can help to renew and repair your skin including sun damage. Try using formulas with added antioxidants to give the skin an extra boost of hydration while also defending the skin against further free radical damage.
We recommend: Essano Rosehip Certified Organic Rosehip Oil with Acai Berry
5. Vitamin C
Vitamin C has many widely known health benefits for the body but what may surprise you is the multitude of benefits it can have on your skin! Vitamin C is an antioxidant so it works to improve skin pigmentation by neutralizing free radical damage. While also assisting in the skin’s natural regeneration process, giving skin a healthier overall appearance. Plus Vitamin C can impact your skin’s melanin production meaning dark spots are harder to form in the first place!
bh loves: DMK Direct Delivery Vitamin C, DermaE Vitamin C Concentrated Serum and Vanessa Megan Two Phase Vitamin C Brightening System.
Do you suffer skin pigmentation? What are your go-to methods for improving dark spots?
I actually don’t mind how the pigmentation all joins up and makes my face look healthy and tanned lol! So I think I’ve accepted mine too. ; ) It’s the blotch ones that I don’t like.
Vitamin C is an amazing thing isn’t it?!!
Nothing beats the SkinCeuticals Vitamin C serum! Amazing stuff and worth the price tag
Yes they are good for quick and permanent removal. high sunscreen is a must afterwards and you can’t use retinol products for a week before it either.
I have a cousin with skin like that – she even had it as a young girl – I think it was the lack of sunscreen in those days (70’s) and her freckles went beserk.
Me too cityglenda – I bought one today from Clinique – I think it might be a new mask they’ve put out – not sure but I have high hopes!
Thanks Trish – I just found your comment! Takes me a while! I might have to get some more of this.
Maybe it’s the vitamin C in it that does the job?
Interesting – I’ve never used ‘missha’!
There was no such thing as sunscreen when I was a kid – mum would put a t shirt on us, a bit of zinc (coloured!) on our nose and let us know when to sit under the umbrella (if it looked like we were getting too much ‘colour’), That was all she had when I was a kid – I do wish I had sunscreen slopped over me like the way I did with my kids. So much available these days it’s great!
A drink that gets rid of pigmentation?! lol I’m not that gullible.
I’ve been targetting one spot in particular with some Vitamin C serum every night and I actually do think it’s starting to lighten it up. I’ll keep going and see if it gets even better.
I’ve just purchased the Clinique Brightening Mask so I’ll see how that works for me. Has great reviews so I’ve got high expectations!