Battling Post-Summer Dark Spots?

Summer is all about fun in the sun, but an unfortunate souvenir comes in the form of dark spots. To make matters worse, dark spots – or hyperpigmentation – will hang around way past summer if you don’t make adjustments to your skin care routine.

Fortunately there are ways for you to minimize the appearance of dark spots on skin. We’ll tell you how to lighten dark spots, how to prevent more sunspots from appearing, and how to maintain a balanced complexion post-summer and beyond.

With fall a short hop, skip, and pumpkin spice latte away, it’s time to assess any stubborn summer souvenirs clinging to our skin.

Sun damage is a slow-burn; it is the accumulation of UV skin damage that becomes more apparent towards the start of autumn. Even if you were applying sunblock all summer, chances are a few spots slipped through the cracks and have no plans to disappear. This means that many of us – especially those fair complexions – will be kicking off boot and scarf season with sun-damaged skin.

Hyperpigmentation is a response to consistent UV exposure. It happens when skin cells overproduce melanin, the main pigment in our skin. This is ultimately a protective measure, since melanin is able to prevent UV radiation from damaging our DNA and, potentially, causing skin cancer. Triggered by excessive sun exposure, these cells will defend themselves against further damage by forming melanin-rich dark spots, or freckles.

While freckling can be cute, those sun-kissed speckles are a sign of too much sun exposure – and can be dangerous! You may notice dark spots on areas of skin more accessible to the sun. This includes the face, chest, shoulders, and backs of hands.

Now that we know the main culprit of hyperpigmentation, we can explore ingredients for diminishing dark spots!

By now, we know that the sun can work in mysterious rays. Skin that’s been overexposed to the sun can be prone to excessive dryness, or lose its inability to retain water. This can lead to flaky skin, uneven tone, large pores, and wrinkles.

If you’ve been battling dark spots thanks to that fiery ball in the sky, here are some of our favorite daytime products for diminishing signs of sun damage!

Fermented Rice Water Cleanser
If you enlist the help of brightening ingredients, you can keep that summer glow well into autumn. Our Fermented Rice Water Cleanser uses enzymes and beneficial nutrients from fermented rice water (sake) to brighten, hydrate, and soften your skin.

A supporting cast of shiitake mushroom, licorice, and citrus can help to balance skin tone and naturally lighten dark spots.

Fermented Rice Water Toner
For optimal brightening of your complexion, toning is an absolute necessity. Designed to brighten, soften, and re-hydrate, our Fermented Rice Water Toner ticks all the boxes for getting glowing skin.

A base of skin-lightening white mulberry water rinses away daily impurities, while shiitake mushroom, licorice, and citrus inject tone-balancing nutrients into dull or hyperpigmented skin.

Green Tea SPF 30
No daytime routine is complete without sunscreen – especially if you’re looking to minimize dark spots. The Green Tea SPF 30 defends against harmful UV rays with broad spectrum protection from zinc oxide, while nourishing and rehydrating thirsty skin with green tea and aloe.

Brightening Serum
This formula is a shoe-in for your brightening routine. Our formula uses collagen-boosting vitamin C and sake to rejuvenate skin texture and tone while you sleep. Aloe and rose hydrosol help to soothe, hydrate, and replenish sun-stripped skin. Gentle fruit acids from lemon, cranberry, and pink grapefruit help to gently resurface dull skin and reveal a gorgeous, glowing complexion.

Dark Spot Remover
Sake is a melanin-regulating ingredient, meaning it can minimize hyperpigmentation and naturally lighten dark spots. Our Dark Spot pairs sake with matsutake mushroom, another plant-based lightener that works to fade scars and dark spots. Aloe juice and rosehip oil help hydrate and restore dehydrated post-summer skin. This formula is ideal for spot treating not just summer dark spots, but acne scars too.

Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Serum
Arguably the most potent serum for depleted skin, our reparative Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum definitely backs up its name. This ultra-concentrated concoction packs potent dosages of 10% vitamin C, 10% niacinamide, 10% vitamin E, 1% retinol, and 1% CoQ10 – a literal dream team for balanced, luminous skin.

Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Cream
Working hard while you sleep is the aim of our Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Ultra Riché PM Treatment. In addition to softening skin and boosting youthful suppleness, this nighttime formulation is designed to brighten and even skin tone.

This night cream works hard to lighten excess pigmentation and promote a more balanced glow, while plumping skin with replenishing hydration while you sleep. Retinol promotes cellular turnover to encourage fresh, more youthful skin when you awake.

Vitamin C Mask
Perhaps our most potent brightening treatment to date, this powder mask treatment is made to send dark spots packing. Camu camu extract, turmeric, and vitamin C join forces with enzymes from papaya and pineapple to deliver a one-two punch to dark spots. This concentrated formula is specially designed to boost radiance and support collagen levels that have been damaged by the sun.

Though summer is coming to an end, that doesn’t mean the sun will completely disappear from your life. Proper sun protection is a yearlong deal! While you may not have to rock a zinc-face on the beach for much longer, you’ll still need to remember a daily SPF to keep sun damage and dark spots at bay.

Stubborn dark spots may require patience and regular maintenance to diminish their appearance. Weekly exfoliation is supremely beneficial for those with stubborn hyperpigmentation and uneven texture. It’s also an especially popular anti-aging strategy – double benefits!

The name of our fall game is to focus on diminishing dark spots on skin, while maintaining balanced skin. It’s important to keep your skin care game going strong year-round! For more tips on sun damage, hop over to our Sun Damage Guide!