If hyperpigmentation, dark spots or discoloration is dulling your glow both inside and out, we’re here to help.
We talk through what hyperpigmentation is, its causes, the preventative measures and share our 5 step skincare routine for fighting hyperpigmentation naturally for a clearer, brighter and healthier complexion for all skin types and skincare concerns.
What Is Hyperpigmentation + Dark Spots?
Sunspots, dark spots, age spots or pigmentation all fall under the term hyperpigmentation and are derived from sun exposure. Hyperpigmentation is excess melanin (or pigment) that causes patches of skin to become darker in color than the surrounding skin and leaves you with uneven skin tone.
Commonly it appears on your face, neck or décolletage and can affect any skin type. It is a harmless skin condition, but the unwanted pigmentation can be concerning to those who don’t know what it is.
What Causes Hyperpigmentation?
Sunspots & Sun Damage
Most causes of hyperpigmentation are due to excessive sun exposure. UV rays stimulate melanin production in the skin which is why when you’ve been out in the sun your freckles may become more prominent, your skin may darken in color overall and hyperpigmentation may occur.
The melanin production is our bodies way of trying to protect our skin from being damaged by harmful UV and UVB rays.
Melasma
Other forms of hyperpigmentation include; Melasma which can be caused by hormones, contraception, fertility treatments and pregnancy and is often found as blotchy patches on the forehead, cheeks and upper lip.
Injury, Inflammation + Acne Scars
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which can be caused by skin injuries, skin irritations and skin trauma like popping a pimple, acne or inflammation, can result in acne scarring. This injury forms melanin to present as dark pigmented spots on the skins’ surface once healed.
Always be sure to consult your doctor as to the cause of your hyperpigmentation, monitor for any changes in appearance or irregularities and if you notice anything, please visit your doctor or medical professional.
How to Prevent, Fade + Fight Hyperpigmentation
SPF Sunscreen
Wearing an SPF sunscreen serum like our Silky Sun Drops for daily sun protection is a must! Whether it’s raining, sunny or an overcast day there are still damaging UV and UVB rays and there’s no excuse not to be wearing SPF. UV and UVB causes your discoloration so wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen helps to protect your skin from aging, hyperpigmentation and further damage. Hyperpigmentation might also not show up right away but can form with age so don’t skip the protection and act now.
Physical Protection
The first thing we think of for sun protection is sunscreen but physical protection such as wearing a hat, sunglasses or protective clothing when you’re out in the sun is just as important to provide protection against direct UV exposure.
Limit Your Exposure
Limiting your direct exposure to UV Rays during its most harmful time can be beneficial. Avoid being outside between 10am and 4pm when the UV rays are usually at their strongest. If you can’t avoid the outdoors during these ties, seek shade if it’s sunny or take protective measures as listed above.
5 Step Skin Care Routine For Fighting Hyperpigmentation
A skin care routine to fade hyperpigmentation and dark spots will take time. Using a product to fade hyperpigmentation involves regular exfoliation to increase cell turnover and/or has active ingredients that naturally brighten the skin will help you achieve a more even skin tone and radiant complexion, while removing excess pigment.
Try our organic skincare routine for hyperpigmentation:
Step 1. Cleanse
Did you know that our oil-based gentle cleanser has mild AHAs in it? We use Lactic Acid to give your skin a gentle, mild and daily exfoliation to help fade hyperpigmentation every time you cleanse.
Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil
Our oil-based gentle cleanser once shaken transforms into a creamy milk to gently and thoroughly remove dirt, oil and makeup. This blend also helps bind moisture to skin, leaving skin feeling hydrated and plump.
Active Ingredients
Silver Ear Mushroom
A natural alternative to traditional Hyaluronic Acid that contains high levels of antioxidants that help bind moisture to your skin to increase hydration and improve appearance of aging and stressed skin.
Babassu Oil
Rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants that contain powerful skin soothing properties and help nourish, soften and smooth your skin.
Apple Seed Oil
Good source of omega 6 & 9 fatty acids to help moisturize skin and leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft.
Sunflower Seed Oil
Rich in oleic and linoleic fatty acids that help improve skin condition and contains cleansing properties to remove excess oil and dirt.
Why Miranda Loves It
“This cleansing oil is so gentle and soothing. It turns into a milky texture that melts away all of my makeup and leaves my skin clean, soft & super smooth.”– Miranda
Why You Love It
“I love this product. It’s a gentle cleanser that is thorough and removes make-up. I don’t need a toner or make-up remover, so it saves times. It makes my skin so soft and supple. I am addicted!” – Emily
Step 2. Exfoliation Mask
Regular exfoliation helps to promote skin cell turnover. As the outer dead skin cells are shed and new, fresh skin comes to the surface, the pigment causing discoloration and dark spots within your skin will lighten and naturally be exfoliated over time.
Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Our Turmeric 2 in-1 face mask and scrub polishes and resurfaces skin to promote healthy cell renewal, and helps to soften the appearance of discoloration, pigmentation and sun damage. It’s a great mask and treatment scrub for pigmentation.
Use our Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask, two to three times a week for a fresh and revitalized glow.
Active Ingredients
Turmeric
This ancient spice is well known for its ability to brighten and even skin tone while reducing the appearance of pigmentation.
Rosehip
Helps soften the visual effects of sun damage, pigmentation, scarring and other environmental influences that lead to signs of aging.
Papaya
Papaya enzymes help to clear clogged pores, dissolve dead skin cells and stimulate renewal for brighter looking skin. It’s also known to help diminish the appearance of scars and blemishes.
Why Miranda Loves It
“I’m obsessed—this is my at-home instant facial! The super-fine granules deeply exfoliate, leaving my skin soft and glowing. I also suffer from pigmentation and this mask has made a dramatic difference in lightening my dark spots.” – Miranda
Why You Love It
“This mask is a miracle in a tube. My skin feels like new after applying this mask, and it holds true to It’s name, it brightens and exfoliates the skin delicately. The peppermint essential oil awakens the senses and gives a beautiful, cool freshness!” – Neda
Step 3. Vitamin C Serum
Known as one of the best anti-aging and brightening ingredients, Vitamin C is a great treatment serum to fade hyperpigmentation and boost collagen production.
Vitamin C is the key to combat dark spots, fade pigmentation, sun damage, anti-aging and dullness thanks to its high concentration of antioxidants that help protect and neutralize the damage caused. A Vitamin C serum helps to both brighten and firm the skin, lighten pigmentation, prevent dark spots or sunspots from forming, and reduce enzyme activity that forms melanin.
Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Serum
Our Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Serum is a daily dose of Vitamin C and essential nutrients to keep your skin even-toned, bright and glowing. It’s powered by a blend of Vitamin C, antioxidant-rich superfruits, and Hyaluronic Acid to smooth the appearance of fine lines, improve skin tone and radiance, boost collagen production and protect from the visible effects of environmental damage.
Apply daily onto clean skin in the morning before moisturizing for a bright and glowing skin tone.
Active Ingredients
Kakadu Plum
The world’s richest source of Vitamin C, helps energize dull skin by visibly boosting skin’s radiance and luminosity.
Vitamin C
One of the gentlest form of stabilized Vitamin C, Ascorbyl Glucoside, improves skin tone and dullness for brighter, younger looking skin.
Acerola Cherry Ferment
Natural source of Vitamin C that promotes a smoother, more radiant complexion.
Hyaluronic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate, a form of HA that attracts moisture and helps reduce skin dryness.
Why Miranda Loves It
“I like to use this serum every morning to ensure that I am protecting my skin. I love how it firms and brightens!” – Miranda
Why You Love It
“Love how it brightens and heals my hyperpigmentation scars from breaking out.” – Kaewen
Or AHA Serum
Regular use of Alpha Hydroxi Acids and Beta Hydroxi Acids such as Glycolic acid, Salicylic acid, Azelaic acid and Lactic acid can target pigmentation, naturally remove dead cells. and reduce further melanin production.
AHAs are a group of alpha hydroxy acids, whereas BHAs are a group of beta hydroxy acids; both are beneficial to inhibit tyrosinase.
Alpha Hydroxi Acids – AHAs
AHAs are made from sugary fruits and can dissolve in water to encourage peeling dead skin from your skins’ surface. Evenly pigmented skin can then firm in its place.
Beta Hydroxi Acids – BHAs
BHAs are dissolved in oil which enables deeper penetration into the skin pore to remove dead skin and excess sebum. This is good news for acne-prone skin, oily skin and combination skin.
Noni Night AHA Resurfacing Serum
We chose naturally occurring AHAs and BHA to promote a clearer, brighter and smoother looking complexion in our Noni Night AHA Resurfacing Serum. To renew your skin through gentle exfoliation, and in turn, improve skin tone and texture for a smoother, brighter, and more even complexion.
In a nutshell, it removes dead skin to help your skin glow.!
This powerful treatment serum for pigmentation is formulated with an 8% AHA blend of natural sources made from exfoliants like Lactic Acid, Lemon Peel and Caviar Lime. Antioxidant-rich Noni and Tonka Bean also protect the skin from visible signs of environmental aging.
Active Ingredients
Lemon Peel Ferment
A natural source of AHA to provide antioxidant benefits and help brighten and balance skin tone.
Caviar Lime
Gentle fruit acids improve skin exfoliation and help to reduce dullness caused by pigmentation and dark spots.
Tonka Bean Ferment
Provides antioxidant benefits against environmental aging and increases the skin’s luminescence to reveal a healthier glow.
Why Miranda Loves It
“I’ve been using this serum every night for the last 6 months and I’ve noticed a big difference, my pores are smaller and my pigmentation has minimized.” – Miranda
Why You Love It
“I have been using the AHA for several years. Of all the products I have tried it is the most gentle yet hardworking. I do believe it has helped with the blemishes I had as a result of Melasma during my 4 pregnancies. I will keep using this range and recommend it highly to others.” Lidiya
Step 5. AHA Moisturizer
Turmeric Glow Moisturizer
Our Turmeric Glow Moisturizer also contains mild AHAs for gentle daily exfoliation! We’ve added Lactic acid to help fade hyperpigmentation every time you nourish your complexion.
This unique blend specifically targets the appearance of pigmentation, dullness thanks to Liposome Technology. Dry skin loves this boost of hydration to strengthen the skin’s barrier.
What is Liposome Technology and how does this work exactly?
Our custom Liposome encapsulates Noni, Licorice, and Turmeric to deliver anti-aging, soothing, and nourishing benefits directly into the skin for powerful results. Liposomes are a way to deliver products into the skin more efficiently to combat skin aging.
Active Ingredients
Turmeric
Contains potent antioxidants that visibly brighten, even and improve skin tone and help soothe the skin.
Rosehip Oil
Rich in Vitamin A, C, E, and essential fatty acids to help improve the overall look of skin, boost collagen production and help to brighten and promote a more even skin tone.
Desert Date Oil
Contains high levels of essential fatty acids to hydrate and condition skin and boosts moisture to visibly plumps skin.
Marine Microalgae
A powerful source of carotenoids and essential fatty acids that promotes soft, hydrated, supple looking skin and helps to improve the appearance of skin.
Why Miranda Loves It
“This ultra-rich moisturizer is my go-to skin savior. I use it morning and night. It deeply hydrates, brightens and soothes. I love that it gives my skin a radiant glow!” – Miranda
Why You Love It
“This is my third time purchasing this moisturiser. I always come back to this one. This is the one! My pregnancy hyperpigmentation is already fading and it’s been a week since I received my last order. Highly recommend.” – Renee
Hyperpigmentation FAQ’s
What not to do with hyperpigmentation?
Many aestheticians believe that professional laser treatments can hinder the treatment of pigmentation by stimulating more pigment through laser heat. Laser can also make the skin more susceptible to sun damage, which in turn can create sunspots and sun damage..
We suggest wearing sunscreen daily to avoid further creation of pigmentation, not only outside but for inside as well. Many buildings, offices in particular, have UV rays in their lighting.
Is hyperpigmentation the same as uneven skin tone?
Uneven skin tone is a general term which can incorporate hyperpigmentation as well as describe blotchy skin. Whatever the source of your uneven skin and pigmentation concerns, it is the result of melanin formation within the skin that presents as flat brown spots on the skins’ surface.
Why is hyperpigmentation more common for darker skin tones?
People with dark skin tones tend to be more susceptible to an overabundance of melanin pigment. This is because melanin forms more in dark skin tones; and the more melanin created the greater the risk of uneven skin tone.
Whatever your skin concerns or pigmentation concerns, use of a daily sun protection product is necessary to prevent and protect against harmful UV and UVB rays. So please remember to wear sunscreen throughout the day!
You may also want to read about the difference between our serums and to our double cleanse ritual for the organic power of fighting hyperpigmentation!
Very interesting read! It was very well researched and loved how different products were also mentioned. As a practising dermatologist, it is always a recommendation to do a patch test of the products and using a sunscreen that suits their skin type. A must read article for everyone! Good Job!