How to Build a Regimen To Address Skin Discolouration and Uneven Skin Tone
An even-looking skin tone can be difficult to maintain. Countless factors cause skin discolouration, many of which are a regular part of our daily lives. Over time, these factors can lead to hyperpigmentation such as dark spots, sun spots, and an uneven skin tone.
The first step to supporting a balanced skin tone is understanding what impacts it. The second is identifying which skincare formulations and ingredients can help. This guide is essential reading for both.
What Causes Uneven Skin Tone?
The main causes of discolouration don’t impact your skin overnight. They tend to play the long game, contributing to uneven skin tone over time. The most common causes include:
- Sun exposure. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can damage multiple layers of your skin, stimulating excess melanin production that causes dark sun spots.
- Environmental stressors. Elements like air pollution can cause oxidative stress to the skin, leading to dark spots and dullness.
- Post-blemish marks. The inflammation around a blemish can trigger excess melanin production, leaving discoloured skin spots after the blemish has healed.
- Ageing. Your skin becomes more susceptible to sun damage and discolouration as you age.
Although we face most of these factors every day, there are ways you can help prevent and visibly reduce dark spots and uneven skin tone. By using a daily SPF and adopting a consistent and targeted skincare routine, you can improve the appearance of uneven skin tone while smoothing out textural irregularities.
Enhance Tone and Texture With Exfoliants
To help address uneven skin tone, add exfoliation to your skincare regimen. Regular exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells by promoting skin cell turnover, which helps to unclog pores and visibly improve skin tone and texture.
There are two main types of exfoliants: physical and chemical. Our skin scientists recommend a chemical exfoliating acid, since some people might find physical exfoliants irritating.
Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner is a glycolic acid toner that helps smooth the skin’s surface and visibly improve uneven tone over time. Our Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum also targets textural irregularities and the look of blemishes on the body.
Exfoliation is a powerful addition to your skincare routine, but it can also cause irritation. We recommend exfoliating 1-2 times a week to start, so that your skin can become accustomed to it.
Target Dark Spots and Dullness With Serums
To help address uneven skin tone, add exfoliation to your skincare regimen. Regular exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells by promoting skin cell turnover, which helps to unclog pores and visibly improve skin tone and texture.
There are two main types of exfoliants: physical and chemical. Our skin scientists recommend a chemical exfoliating acid, since some people might find physical exfoliants irritating.
Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner is a glycolic acid toner that helps smooth the skin’s surface and visibly improve uneven tone over time. Our Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum also targets textural irregularities and the look of blemishes on the body.
Exfoliation is a powerful addition to your skincare routine, but it can also cause irritation. We recommend exfoliating 1-2 times a week to start, so that your skin can become accustomed to it.
Target Dark Spots and Dullness With SerumsChoosing the right serums is key to crafting a skincare routine for discolouration. Certain ingredients are renowned for their ability to brighten and balance, such as:
- Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that helps improve skin texture, visibly even out skin tone, and reduce signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
- Niacinamide: A form of vitamin B3 that brightens and evens out the appearance of skin tone while reinforcing the skin barrier.
- Alpha Arbutin: A naturally-derived compound that helps fade the appearance of dark spots and make your complexion look brighter and more radiant with regular use.
- N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG): A biotechnology-derived ingredient that has been shown to target the appearance of post-blemish marks to visibly even out the skin tone.
You can learn more about these ingredients (and more) in our Ingredient Glossary. Selecting serums with ingredients like these will help you craft a regimen that truly supports your skin tone. Here are our top recommendations based on the concern you want to target most.
Serums For Brightening
Supports skin renewal for more radiant, smoother skin.
Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion
Targets the look of uneven skin tone while hydrating and supporting the skin barrier.
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
A vitamin C serum that protects the skin from visual effects of damage caused by environmental stressors.
Formulations for Targeting Dark Spots
Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion
Improves the appearance of dark spots across the face, neck, chest and arms on all skin tones.
Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner
Gently exfoliates the skin surface to help smooth uneven texture and boost radiance.
A high-strength, water-based serum formulated to minimize the appearance of dark spots.
Reduces the appearance of post-blemish marks while enhancing the look and feel of uneven skin tone and texture.
Our highest-strength retinoid formula rapidly firms skin and reduces the appearance of dark spots.
All serums listed above are gentle enough for everyday use. The only exception is our Retinal 0.2% Emulsion. Since this formulation contains a high concentration of a retinoid, it may cause irritation for sensitive or inexperienced skin.
If you’re trying retinaldehyde for the first time, be sure to patch test before use and slowly incorporate it into your regimen. We recommend starting with a weekly application and gradually increasing to twice a week or every other day, as tolerated by your skin.
Support Radiance With Hydration
Hydration is crucial for healthy-looking skin. It helps the skin look more plump and radiant, which can help improve overall complexion and texture.
For daily hydration, we recommend using a hydrating serum followed by a moisturizer to maintain a balanced, glowing complexion. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides) is a gentle yet powerful serum that hydrates and supports the skin barrier. Our Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA moisturizer mimics the composition of your skin’s natural hydration system to help your skin attract and retain water.
Protect Skin With an SPF
Sunscreen is a non-negotiable part of your skincare regimen. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF level of 30 or higher can help protect your skin from harmful UV rays that cause discolouration and dark spots. It can also help prevent premature ageing while reducing your risk of developing skin cancer, when used as directed with other sun protection measures.
A common misconception about sunscreen is that you only need it on sunny days. UV radiation can still be harmful on cloudy days. Some UV rays can even penetrate glass windows, making SPF necessary while indoors or in the car. SPF should be applied daily and reapplied every two hours to remain effective.
Consistency is Key
Preventing and addressing uneven skin tone is a journey. Incorporating exfoliation, brightening treatments, hydration, and SPF into your skincare regimen creates a strong foundation for achieving smoother, more radiant skin. Get started with our recommended formulations to target uneven skin tone.
Remember: building your routine is only the first step. The second step is staying consistent and practicing patience. Visible changes will take time. The more diligent you are with your routine, the more likely you are to see impactful results.
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