16 best hyperpigmentation products for dry, sensitive and acne-prone skin

This is a particularly good serum for those with UV pigmentation, as it’s designed to target dark spots. This is partly thanks to its unique formula, which comprises niacinamide, hepes and hyaluronic acid. The product is smoothing, hydrating and exfoliating with just a few drops. It’s suitable for all skin types, too, so, there should be no issues regarding dryness or sensitivity.

We noticed an improvement in dark spots after using the serum in the mornings for a week. It also had a great all-round brightening effect and you don’t need to use very much of it each time, so it should last a while.

This light, creamy serum can be applied twice a day after your morning and evening cleanse. It takes a little longer for any noticeable effects but, after roughly four weeks, we saw a reduction in age spots and an overall brighter complexion. It also includes Nivea’s luminous 630 formula, which is one of the brand’s USPs, thanks to a decade of research that went into creating a set of ingredients that work at a cellular level to brighten the skin and tackle dark spots.

This is an all-round delightful product, providing instant results in terms of brightening. Over longer-term use, we noticed a major reduction in dullness and a firmer complexion, with dark spots and discolourations appearing lighter and less obvious.

The serum’s high potency of vitamin C helps to combat signs of ageing, and gives you more protection from the sun when paired with an SPF.

We also love the stylish orange bottle that it comes in, which is true to form for all Sunday Riley products. It’s no wonder this is one of the brand’s most popular offerings.

This is a particularly good product for anyone struggling with melasma, as we found it reduced signs within just two weeks of regular use, in addition to brightening and evening out our complexion.

Fans of Pai will know its products are made with organic ingredients, with this one including natural vitamin C sourced from corn and coconut; marine algae that helps with pigmentation control; hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin; as well as vitamin E, which reduces inflammation. It also comes in a stylish recyclable bottle, making this an all-round good choice.

Dr Sturm’s products never disappoint, and this vitamin C serum is no different, giving users a brighter and firmer complexion within one week of regular use.

We love how easily it is absorbed into the skin, and how it also contains aloe vera, for added moisture. It also contains zinc, which helps to activate the vitamin C on the skin and provide the all-round glowing effect. It isn’t as strong as some of the other products listed here when it comes to reducing pigmentation, but it offers a more all-round boost for the skin that is hard not to love.

This is one of the most expensive skin products money can buy but it really is worth every penny. As the name suggests, it contains white caviar pearls combined with Swiss golden caviar extract, which means it’s rich in minerals that help to even out skin tone and enhance the skin’s ability to reflect light, subsequently reducing signs of ageing and sun damage.

Beyond that, though, it instantly creates a more luminous skin tone and targets dark spots quickly – we saw a reduction within just a few days – while also helping contribute to improving elasticity and even reducing any blemishes, too. It’s an all-round exceptional product for every skin tone, with a price tag to match. It also lasts longer than you’d expect, given how loose the serum is.

This is a hyperpigmentation product that is not strictly a hyperpigmentation product. However, thanks to its high vitamin C content, it still does a brilliant job at reducing pigmentation and evening skin tone.

We loved the way it brightened our skin, resulting in long-lasting hydration and a non-greasy complexion. We’d recommend using this underneath your go-to sun protection face cream, for maximum protection against further pigmentation caused by UV exposure.

It’s a light cream that goes a long way, too, so, this tub should last you a while.

This serum contains some unique ingredients, such as azelaic acid usually found in grains, which aim to brighten and even skin tone while also evening out skin texture. We noticed a difference after just a few days of use – it managed to get rid of some blemishes, too.

It’s mostly made from natural ingredients, so it’s a good option for those who favour these sorts of products compared with purely acidic ones. It’s also vegan-friendly and cruelty-free as well as being a good, all-round skincare product suited to all skin types.

This serum is excellent for all skin types, but it works particularly well if you have combination and dry skin. It uses a patented blend of ingredients to reinforce the skin’s natural function while boosting overall texture and tone. We found the results to be immediate – we noticed a smoother, more hydrated texture after just one application. Plus, over time, skin tone became brighter all round, and sun spots faded.

It’s a slightly thicker serum than some of the other products listed here, but dries surprisingly quickly, so you can use it as part of your normal skin regime quite easily.

This serum is incredibly hydrating and, after just one application, it made our skin feel and look plumper. It’s very light to apply, and dries almost instantly.

It’s made from antioxidant plant stem cells and uses this to lighten existing pigmentation marks, and we did notice a slight difference after about a week of usage. The fresh and floral scent is subtle but pays homage to the brand’s organic make-up.

If you like this product, we’d recommend investing in the rest of Katherine Daniels’s range, to use alongside it, for maximum effect.

This is another product that isn’t strictly for pigmentation but helps with it nonetheless. It has a light-blue colour to it, which might put you off at first but don’t let it – on application, it’s completely clear and has an instantly soothing effect on the skin, almost as if you’ve just put aloe vera on a fresh burn.

After two to three days, skin appeared smoother and more even, while existing blemishes also started to fade – another added bonus of this multi-use gel.

We would recommend this for all skin types as an essential product for any discolouration or texture issues, while its price is also fairly decent for such a high-end brand.

This is one of the most expensive skincare products available, but for those who can afford it, it’s a worthwhile investment. Not only does it effectively reduce dark spots, it also doubles up as an anti-ageing serum.

You can feel the benefits as soon as you apply it. Our complexion appeared firmer and smoother instantly. It doesn’t tighten the skin like some other anti-ageing serums but makes it feel smoother and lifted. It has a non-greasy texture, too, and dries very quickly, meaning it’s great for those on the go.

We used it in the morning and evening and noticed a huge difference in dark spots after just one week. For those who can stretch their purses this far, we would definitely recommend the investment.

This is a particularly concentrated serum, so, despite its measly size and large price tag, it should last you a while. With 20 per cent highly stable vitamin C, the product is designed to brighten and tighten the skin while also boosting collagen, resulting in a reduction in the appearance of fine lines. We noticed a difference within a week of using it right before our moisturiser each morning. It also contains entirely plant-based ingredients, such as lysophospholipids obtained from soybean seed, which is said to boost the skin barrier.

This product noticeably reduced the appearance of dark patches on the skin within two weeks, thanks to its high volume of Thiamidol. We love that it also contains hyaluronic acid, meaning it hydrates as well as smoothes the complexion.

The strong spa-like scent reminded us of stepping into a luxury hotel. Plus, it’s very reasonably priced and you only need to apply it once a day after your regular cleanser. Benefits are said to increase the longer you use this serum.

With its thick, creamy texture, this product is entirely unique from the others listed here. Being cream-based, as opposed to a serum, means it works a little more like an additional moisturiser than a purely hyperpigmentation product. Nonetheless, it leaves the skin feeling bright and tight after just one application. Plus, it contains kakadu plum, which is the richest natural source of vitamin C you can find, meaning it delivers results quickly. We noticed an improvement in radiance within a few days.

Like all of The Ordinary’s products, this one is stripped down to the bare bones in terms of packaging and marketing. This is part of the brand’s shtick: to promote good, non-fussy skincare at a reasonable price.

To those who might not necessarily know much about skincare, the technical product name – ascorbic acid 8 per cent + alpha arbutin 2 per cent – could be off-putting but it’s actually very simple. These two ingredients are brightening agents that, when combined, help to radiate the complexion and improve pigmentation. After a few days of usage, there was little improvement, but after a full week, there was a notable difference in skin tone and brightening.