Top Skincare Products to Target Melasma and Hyperpigmentation Effectively

Guide To Find the Best Products For Melasma and Hyperpigmentation

Melasma is a skin condition caused by hyperpigmentation of the skin. Melasma and other types of hyperpigmentation should be treated with a customized skincare routine for your Baumann Skin Type® designed to target all of your barriers to skin health.

Best products to treat melasma and hyperpigmentation

The best way to treat melasma is alternating 2 skincare routines

Your skin becomes adapted to skin lightening ingredients, especially tyrosinase inhibitors.

This means that you need to chnage your skin care routine every 3-4 months. You should alternate between a treatment regimen and a maintenance regimen. Details about how to design your melasma skincare routines can be found at this link.

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and other skin problems that lead to dark spots on the skin can be treated the same way as melasma because they all are caused by the same pigment- melanin.

Melasma is harder to get rid of then other types of hyperpigmentation.

You can find tyrosinase inhibiting properties in countless popular skin care ingredients, including many natural plant oils.

How To Choose the Best Melasma Skincare for Your Skin Type?

You probably have more issues going on than just pigmentation. For example, inflammation can cause pigmentation.

If you take the Baumann Skin Type Quiz- we will tell you exactly what products are right for your Baumann Skin Type. We make it very easy. You get points towards free products when you take the quiz and you will be able to build your melasma regimen step by step- choosing from many brands and price points.

But- if you want to DIY and choose your own melasma treatment products, our melasma product guide will help.

Melasma treatments can be used on the forehead, upper lip, cheeks, arms or anywhere on the face or body. They work much better when used consistently and when combined with the correct products as a part of a comprehensive and complete skincare routine that targets melanin and any underlying causes of hyperpigmentation like inflammation.

What are the Best Skincare Products To Treat the Hyperpigmentation of Melasma?

Tyrosinase inhibitors are the strongest skin lightening and whitening ingredients. They block the production of the pigment melanin. They should be your first products to buy for melasma (in addition to a sunscreen!). Vitamin C serums are tyrosinase inhibitors but they are NOT the best choice to treat melasma for many Baumann Skin Types.

What are tyrosinase inhibitors?

Our favorite skin lightening products with tyrosinase inhibitors for dry skin are:

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Pigment Correcting Brightening Cream

$41.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

$116.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

Neocutis PERLE Skin Brightening Cream

$121.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Pigment Correcting Brightening Cream

$41.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

$116.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

Neocutis PERLE Skin Brightening Cream

$121.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Pigment Correcting Brightening Cream

$41.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

$116.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

Neocutis PERLE Skin Brightening Cream

$121.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Our favorite skin lightening products with tyrosinase inhibitors for oily skin are:

Obagi Nu-Derm FX Starter System – Normal to Oily

$470.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel PRO

$128.00

Add to Cart

Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum

$126.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 Serum

$44.99

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm FX Starter System – Normal to Oily

$470.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel PRO

$128.00

Add to Cart

Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum

$126.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 Serum

$44.99

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm FX Starter System – Normal to Oily

$470.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel PRO

$128.00

Add to Cart

Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum

$126.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 Serum

$44.99

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Dermatologist Recommended Melasma Treatment Products:

You should combine several types of products in your melasma skin care routine for best results.

Exfoliating Products To Treat Melasma

Exfoliating ingredients gently break apart the attachments between pigmented cells on the surface of the skin, allowing them to exfoliate and be replaced by younger fresher skin. You can use either mechanical exfoliators, chemical exfoliators containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), such as glycolic acid or lactic acid, or beta hydroxy acid (BHA). AHAs and BHAs exfoliate pigmented cells from the surface of the skin. We prefer using hydroxy acids in the cleanser step of your routine. These lower your skin’s pH allowing lightening serums to work better.

We prefer AHA and BHA cleansers for melasma over facials scrubs. You must be very careful with mechanical exfoliators like facial scrubs when you have melasma because you do not want to cause inflammation which leads to dyspigmentation. If you choose a facial scrub, use it gently and never on burning, stinging or irritated skin.

If you have oily skin and melasma, try a BHA Salicylic acid cleanser once a day in the morning.

BHA helps clear pores and decrease inflammation.

If you have dry skin and melasma, try a AHA Salicylic acid cleanser once a day in the morning.

AHAs are humectants so they help hydrate skin.

Dermatologist Recommended Serums For Melasma

There are many serums to treat melasma. the best have tyrosinase inhibitors. We do not love Vitamin C as the main treatment for melasma. We prefer Vitamin C serums for melasma when used in a Melasma Maintenance Routine, instead of in the Treatment Regimen because there are many tyrosinase inhibitors stronger than Vitamin C.

Read more about the 2 types of melasma routines: Maintenance Routines vs Treatment Routines here.

You do not need to buy an expensive Vitamin C, but you need one that has a low pH and is packaged properly and has not been open for more than 4 weeks. Fresh Vitamin C works much better. I would prefer to see you buy a cheaper Vitamin C and replace the bottle more often.

Retinoids to use at Night To Treat Melasma

Start with a low strength retinoid and work your way up according to these directions.

Best Sunscreens for Melasma

And last- but certainly not least- Sunscreens for melasma!

Dermatologists like myself recommend tinted sunscreens with iron oxide pigments for melasma because these pigments help protect your melasma prone skin from blue light. Yes light from your phone can worsen melasma!

Although the products we recommended above are the best skincare products for melasma in 2022 – it is MUCH BETTER if you choose products based on your Baumann Skin Type . You get points towards free products when you take the quiz and you will be able to build your melasma regimen step by step- choosing from many brands and price points.

8 Baumann Skin Types suffer from melasma and each has different skincare needs, discover your Baumann Skin Type and get a skin care routine personalized for you now.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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