Just like a diary, your skin tells a story. An uneven skin tone and dark spots on the face can reveal information about your lifestyle habits, environment, and skin health over the years. This can be particularly annoying when you’ve worked hard to clear up blemishes or texture while still being left with blotchy skin… even more so when spots seemingly pop up out of nowhere. Luckily, this diary isn’t written in pen, and there are ways to both prevent and treat uneven skin tone. But we do have to start at the beginning. Let’s go over why you may be seeing a less-than-clear complexion, and how to work your way to brighter skin.
What Causes Uneven Skin Tone?
Most unevenness in the skin can be categorized as hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is a condition caused by the skin increasing the production of melanin—your skin’s pigment— resulting in a darker color than your natural skin tone.
There are several factors that may trigger excess melanin production. The most common include:
Sun Exposure: As your skin is exposed to the sun, it creates melanin to protect itself from damage. This is what creates the much-coveted suntanned look. Unfortunately, overexposure can result in uneven excess melanin production. Instead of a tanned glow, you’re left with dark splotches! According to Mayo Clinic, the sun also causes blood vessels in the skin to stretch, which can lead to a patchy appearance.
Acne: Inflammation is one of the most common reasons for hyperpigmentation, and it’s why you may see a dark spot left behind where acne or other skin injuries used to be. Need help clearing up congested skin before tackling the dark spots? Check out our tips here.
Pollution: The environment around you plays a bigger part in your skin health than you might realize. According to a 2023 study, particulate matter (solid and liquid particles in the air) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide, typically from burning fossil fuels) both contribute to the formation of pigment spots. You can read more about how pollution affects your skin in our post here.
Hormones: When we think about how hormones affect the skin, your mind most likely jumps to puberty and acne. However, hormonal fluctuation can continue to show up on the skin well past the teen years. For example, many people see skin changes— including dark spots— during pregnancy when the body is experiencing a spike in estrogen and progesterone levels. You may also see this while taking hormonal birth control, or even during your regular menstrual cycle.
Aging: As we get older, our skin becomes thinner and cell turnover slows down significantly. Often, age spots appear in areas that have had excessive sun exposure over the years. That’s right… you could be developing sun damage now that won’t visibly show up for years!
How to Prevent and Treat Uneven Skin Tone
Being proactive is always easier than trying to turn back the clock on skin damage, but you may already be seeing unevenness and are now looking for advice on how to get rid of dark spots.
Tackling hyperpigmentation with your skin care routine relies on using the right ingredients.
Best Skin Care Ingredients for Hyperpigmentation:
AHAs: AHAs— short for Alpha Hydroxy Acids— are chemical exfoliants that help accelerate cell turnover, removing dead skin cells and making way for new, ideally clearer layers to reveal themselves.
Niacinamide: A form of Vitamin B3, Niacinamide is a multitasker that supports the skin barrier, moisture retention, and has been shown to significantly decrease hyperpigmentation.
Vitamin C: It doesn’t just fight colds! Studies show that Vitamin C can brighten and prevent the appearance of dark spots by reducing melanin production. Its antioxidant properties also help protect skin from sun damage by neutralizing free radicals.
Black Rice: A Korean skincare powerhouse rich in antioxidants that moisturize and nourish the skin for a firmer look and feel. It can fight skin damage from pollution and the sun, while also improving the appearance of fine lines.
SPF: Sun protection is probably the most effective step you can take to prevent dark spots. Using products with broad-spectrum SPF will help shield your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Products for Dark Spots and Uneven Skin Tone
Cleansing twice a day is the foundation of any great skin care regimen. In the morning, you’re removing oil, sweat, and dead skin cells that have accumulated in your sleep. At night, not only are you washing away any makeup and SPF you’ve been wearing, but also any impurities collected from your environment throughout the day. (Remember those particles we mentioned?)
You can easily get two jobs done at once with the Haruharu wonder Black Rice Triple AHA Gentle Cleansing Gel. This fragrance-free face wash deep cleans pores and gently exfoliates with a Triple AHA blend, all without drying out your skin.The tartaric acid, mandelic acid, and citric acid work together to dissolve dead skin, regulate oil, even skin tone, and promote a firmer complexion.
Aside from the gentle exfoliation our cleanser provides, you can further target specific areas you want to lighten with a dark spot corrector like the Haruharu wonder CENTELLA 4% TXA Gel Serum.
This potent serum treats hyperpigmentation at the root, using Tranexamic Acid and Niacinamide to diminish existing dark spots and prevent new ones, while also brightening and clarifying texture. In clinical trials, users saw 146% improvement in skin tone after 4 weeks of use. Suitable for all skin types, it can be used all over the face to even out your complexion and as a preventative step, or as a spot treatment to target stubborn areas.
The Haruharu wonder Centella 5% Niacinamide Radiance Gel Cream is a multitasker that effectively soothes, hydrates, and evens skin tone with the Niacinamide and Vitamin C power couple, plus squalane— the “it” hydrator in skin care. The thin, lightweight gel cream absorbs into the skin quickly, making it perfect to layer under SPF and makeup. In clinical trials, users saw 30%+ improvement in hyperpigmentation. It’s perfect for even the most sensitive skin, calming redness and preventing irritation.
Since most of us can’t avoid the sun completely, its UV rays are the most prevalent risk for most skin concerns. Aside from burns, premature aging, and even cancer, sun damage on the face can cause dark spots and uneven skin tones.
But we get it: finding your Goldilocks sunscreen is hard. For years, there were only greasy options that felt heavy while interacting weirdly with makeup, leaving many skipping the step entirely.
Luckily, that’s not the case anymore! Lightweight, unscented, and hydrating with a velvet finish, the Haruharu wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ is the sunscreen for people who don’t like wearing sunscreen.
The non-greasy formula has the consistency of a moisturizer and plays well with makeup as it absorbs quickly with no white cast and no sticky residue feeling. Aside from UV protection, the ingredients work to improve skin texture and even out your complexion while preventing moisture loss. Plus, it’s reef safe!
Skin Care Routine for Dark Spots and Hyperpigmentation
Here’s an example of how to incorporate the above products into a skin care routine for brighter, glowing skin:
Step 1: Black Rice Triple AHA Cleansing Gel
Step 2: TXA Gel Serum
Step 3: Centella 5% Niacinamide Radiance Gel Cream
Step 4: Night Cream OR Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen
Now understanding what causes uneven skin tone and the skin care ingredients that fight it, you can take your first steps in preventing– and treating– hyperpigmentation to get the glowy skin of your dreams.
Meet the Author
Miranda has been a trusted voice in the online beauty community since 2012, sharing her reviews, tips and tutorials on social media and her blog. Her expertise has earned her recognition as a repeat judge for the Glamour Beauty Awards and features in publications like Seventeen Magazine and Allure Magazine. One of Miranda’s main missions centers around uncovering the best bang for your buck in the beauty aisle, sharing budget-friendly beauty products that perform like high end options. When she’s not elbows deep in makeup, you can find her curled up with a book and her two cats, alongside her gamer husband. Find more from her on her blog, Slashed Beauty.
Get the Glow You Want: How to Get Rid of Dark Spots and Uneven Skin Tone
Just like a diary, your skin tells a story. An uneven skin tone and dark spots on the face can reveal information about your lifestyle habits, environment, and skin health over the years. This can be particularly annoying when you’ve worked hard to clear up blemishes or texture while still being left with blotchy skin… even more so when spots seemingly pop up out of nowhere. Luckily, this diary isn’t written in pen, and there are ways to both prevent and treat uneven skin tone. But we do have to start at the beginning. Let’s go over why you may be seeing a less-than-clear complexion, and how to work your way to brighter skin.
What Causes Uneven Skin Tone?
Most unevenness in the skin can be categorized as hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is a condition caused by the skin increasing the production of melanin—your skin’s pigment— resulting in a darker color than your natural skin tone.
There are several factors that may trigger excess melanin production. The most common include:
Sun Exposure: As your skin is exposed to the sun, it creates melanin to protect itself from damage. This is what creates the much-coveted suntanned look. Unfortunately, overexposure can result in uneven excess melanin production. Instead of a tanned glow, you’re left with dark splotches! According to Mayo Clinic, the sun also causes blood vessels in the skin to stretch, which can lead to a patchy appearance.
Acne: Inflammation is one of the most common reasons for hyperpigmentation, and it’s why you may see a dark spot left behind where acne or other skin injuries used to be. Need help clearing up congested skin before tackling the dark spots? Check out our tips here.
Pollution: The environment around you plays a bigger part in your skin health than you might realize. According to a 2023 study, particulate matter (solid and liquid particles in the air) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide, typically from burning fossil fuels) both contribute to the formation of pigment spots. You can read more about how pollution affects your skin in our post here.
Hormones: When we think about how hormones affect the skin, your mind most likely jumps to puberty and acne. However, hormonal fluctuation can continue to show up on the skin well past the teen years. For example, many people see skin changes— including dark spots— during pregnancy when the body is experiencing a spike in estrogen and progesterone levels. You may also see this while taking hormonal birth control, or even during your regular menstrual cycle.
Aging: As we get older, our skin becomes thinner and cell turnover slows down significantly. Often, age spots appear in areas that have had excessive sun exposure over the years. That’s right… you could be developing sun damage now that won’t visibly show up for years!
How to Prevent and Treat Uneven Skin Tone
Being proactive is always easier than trying to turn back the clock on skin damage, but you may already be seeing unevenness and are now looking for advice on how to get rid of dark spots.
Tackling hyperpigmentation with your skin care routine relies on using the right ingredients.
Best Skin Care Ingredients for Hyperpigmentation:
AHAs: AHAs— short for Alpha Hydroxy Acids— are chemical exfoliants that help accelerate cell turnover, removing dead skin cells and making way for new, ideally clearer layers to reveal themselves.
Niacinamide: A form of Vitamin B3, Niacinamide is a multitasker that supports the skin barrier, moisture retention, and has been shown to significantly decrease hyperpigmentation.
Vitamin C: It doesn’t just fight colds! Studies show that Vitamin C can brighten and prevent the appearance of dark spots by reducing melanin production. Its antioxidant properties also help protect skin from sun damage by neutralizing free radicals.
Black Rice: A Korean skincare powerhouse rich in antioxidants that moisturize and nourish the skin for a firmer look and feel. It can fight skin damage from pollution and the sun, while also improving the appearance of fine lines.
SPF: Sun protection is probably the most effective step you can take to prevent dark spots. Using products with broad-spectrum SPF will help shield your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Products for Dark Spots and Uneven Skin Tone
Cleansing twice a day is the foundation of any great skin care regimen. In the morning, you’re removing oil, sweat, and dead skin cells that have accumulated in your sleep. At night, not only are you washing away any makeup and SPF you’ve been wearing, but also any impurities collected from your environment throughout the day. (Remember those particles we mentioned?)
You can easily get two jobs done at once with the Haruharu wonder Black Rice Triple AHA Gentle Cleansing Gel. This fragrance-free face wash deep cleans pores and gently exfoliates with a Triple AHA blend, all without drying out your skin.The tartaric acid, mandelic acid, and citric acid work together to dissolve dead skin, regulate oil, even skin tone, and promote a firmer complexion.
Aside from the gentle exfoliation our cleanser provides, you can further target specific areas you want to lighten with a dark spot corrector like the Haruharu wonder CENTELLA 4% TXA Gel Serum.
This potent serum treats hyperpigmentation at the root, using Tranexamic Acid and Niacinamide to diminish existing dark spots and prevent new ones, while also brightening and clarifying texture. In clinical trials, users saw 146% improvement in skin tone after 4 weeks of use. Suitable for all skin types, it can be used all over the face to even out your complexion and as a preventative step, or as a spot treatment to target stubborn areas.
The Haruharu wonder Centella 5% Niacinamide Radiance Gel Cream is a multitasker that effectively soothes, hydrates, and evens skin tone with the Niacinamide and Vitamin C power couple, plus squalane— the “it” hydrator in skin care. The thin, lightweight gel cream absorbs into the skin quickly, making it perfect to layer under SPF and makeup. In clinical trials, users saw 30%+ improvement in hyperpigmentation. It’s perfect for even the most sensitive skin, calming redness and preventing irritation.
Since most of us can’t avoid the sun completely, its UV rays are the most prevalent risk for most skin concerns. Aside from burns, premature aging, and even cancer, sun damage on the face can cause dark spots and uneven skin tones.
But we get it: finding your Goldilocks sunscreen is hard. For years, there were only greasy options that felt heavy while interacting weirdly with makeup, leaving many skipping the step entirely.
Luckily, that’s not the case anymore! Lightweight, unscented, and hydrating with a velvet finish, the Haruharu wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ is the sunscreen for people who don’t like wearing sunscreen.
The non-greasy formula has the consistency of a moisturizer and plays well with makeup as it absorbs quickly with no white cast and no sticky residue feeling. Aside from UV protection, the ingredients work to improve skin texture and even out your complexion while preventing moisture loss. Plus, it’s reef safe!
Skin Care Routine for Dark Spots and Hyperpigmentation
Here’s an example of how to incorporate the above products into a skin care routine for brighter, glowing skin:
Step 1: Black Rice Triple AHA Cleansing Gel
Step 2: TXA Gel Serum
Step 3: Centella 5% Niacinamide Radiance Gel Cream
Step 4: Night Cream OR Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen
Now understanding what causes uneven skin tone and the skin care ingredients that fight it, you can take your first steps in preventing– and treating– hyperpigmentation to get the glowy skin of your dreams.
Meet the Author
Miranda has been a trusted voice in the online beauty community since 2012, sharing her reviews, tips and tutorials on social media and her blog. Her expertise has earned her recognition as a repeat judge for the Glamour Beauty Awards and features in publications like Seventeen Magazine and Allure Magazine. One of Miranda’s main missions centers around uncovering the best bang for your buck in the beauty aisle, sharing budget-friendly beauty products that perform like high end options. When she’s not elbows deep in makeup, you can find her curled up with a book and her two cats, alongside her gamer husband. Find more from her on her blog, Slashed Beauty.