I’ve already touched on my hyperpigmentation treatment secrets in my SKIN CARE ROUTINE THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR MY HYPERPIGMENTATION post, but I wanted to specifically touch on the two skincare product ingredients that do the majority of work treating hyperpigmentation.
Dealing with skin acne scars, uneven skin tone, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation? Here is the dynamic duo you’ll want to check out.
NOTE: All skin is different. These ingredients are not going to “cure” your hyperpigmentation overnight.
VITAMIN C
To be honest, you might not find Vitamin C serums too often on other’s skin care favorites, routines, or holy grail lists but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t belong there. Antioxidant properties and assisting collagen production are a few of Vitamin C’s helpful traits. Vitamin C is great for treating post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) due to its brightening and skin-evening properties. But, even with it’s amazing benefits, Vitamin C is a notoriously hard-to-maintain product due to its sensitivity to light, heat, and air. Lucky for us, I finally found a formula that I’m OBSESSED with and I’m so happy to share it with you all.
My favorite Vitamin C serum is the Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop from Dear, Klairs. This Vitamin C serum has worked better (read: faster) than any other Vitamin C serum I have used. It contains 5% Ascorbic Acid (also known as Vitamin C) in a hybrid stabilized formula. The best part is it’s stabilization. Typically, Vitamin C is very sensitive to outside factors but with this formula I do not have to be as gentle. It has a silky, dry-oily-like consistency and does not burn my skin. It sinks into the skin quickly while also layering nicely with products I apply afterwards. Hands down my favorite Vitamin C serum!
VITAMIN E
First Vitamin C, then follow with Vitamin E.
After using an acid, especially Ascorbic Acid (aka the Vitamin C serum), you are going to want something moisturizing and hydrating to soothe the skin. Vitamin E has both of those traits but with an added bonus: Vitamin E increases the effectiveness of Vitamin C. I’m not a scientist, but something about combining these two ingredients leads to fantastic brightening and evening effects on the skin. Vitamin E and Vitamin C help stabilize and increase the effects/longevity of each other. When I first started using these two together, I noticed my results from both products occurring much faster than when I used just the Vitamin C serum alone.
The Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask from Dear, Klairs is my favorite Vitamin E product. It starts as a marshmallow-pudding consistency but liquifies into a milky essence texture to lock into the skin. This Vitamin E mask can be used as a day moisturizer or packed on as a sleeping mask for added hydration at night.
You can buy the Freshly Juiced Vitamin C serum and Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask as a set (and save a little moolah) from Wishtrend here!
SUN PROTECTION
Always, always, always use sun protection. It took me a long time to learn and apply this fact but better late than never. Sun protection is important no matter your age, skin type, or skin tone. Sunscreen has both preventative and protective properties. Using sunscreen helps to prevent damage from UV rays that can cause more dark spots, sun damage, and wrinkles. It also helps protect your skin while you work on removing past damage to the skin surface.
Be sure to apply sunscreen as the last step of your skincare routine. Never mix anything into your sunscreen to help maintain maximum efficiency.
If you have a deeper skin tone, I recommend looking at chemical sunscreens because they will not leave a white cast on your skin. Here are some of my recommendations for no white-cast sunscreens: