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Must-Have Products for Melasma
43
items Of course having the typical - cleanser, moisturizer, SPF - is essential. Finding products that contain all of the ingredients below will give your melasma the best opportunity to lighten
Sections
7
Azelaic Acid
Vitamin C
Niacinamide
Kojic acid
Tranexamic Acid
Anti-inflammatory Products
Azelaic Acid
Azelaic acid will not only gently help the skin to exfoliate but it also helps to regulate melanin synthesis which stops pigment from over-producing
10% Azelaic Acid helps calming effect for normal skin. Wheat and barley extracts, as gentle yet effective ingredients, provide deep hydration and help balance skin for a healthier-looking complexion.
Anua Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Soothing Serum
Azelaic acid will help to brighten and gently exfoliate skin
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
Targets the six most stubborn daily facial concerns. The supercharged clarity serum helps diminish breakouts, redness, blackheads, enlarged pores, post-blemish marks, and excess sebum—all at once.
ALLIES OF SKIN Azelaic & Kojic Advanced Clarifying Serum
I recommend this not only because it has 3% azelaic acid to fight melasma but if you have oily and blemish-prone skin, it will help combat that too. I love how it will also target dullness, redness, and excess oil production even on sensitive skin. M...
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment Lightweight Moisturizer
This is a nice choice for an azelaic acid product since it's a multifunctional cream. It will helps to brightens skin and melasma but also evens out texture, reduces blemishes, and provides antioxidant support. I also chose this as a budget-friendly ...
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream
This cream not only brightens unwanted discoloration but also assists in gently exfoliating and hydrating the skin
Glytone Brightening Complex 12% Azelaic Acid
Vitamin C
An antioxidant will not only help lighten melasma but will also protect melasma from free radicals that can worsen hormonal pigment
Antioxidant serum for face formulated with 10% t l-ascorbic acid, the purest form of vitamin C, to help brighten and even skin tone. Pure vitamin C can easily cost $75+ this one will only run you $28!
CeraVe Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
A stable form of vitamin C combined with Azelaic acid to gently brighten the look of dark spots, refine skin texture and tone. Hyaluronic acid is also added to boost hydration to support a healthy-looking glow.
Vitamin C Glow Serum
A powerful, dermatologically tested serum that soothes, hydrates, and protects dry, sensitive skin like never before. Improve skin’s glow after 3 Days of Use. Made with 6% Pure Vitamin C to brightens skin’s complexion. Features a lightweight, hydrati...
Physiogel Vitamin C Face Serum, Skin Barrier
Enhances skin’s natural defense system to brighten, firm and help dramatically reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin C works to fight the appearance of skin aging before it starts.
Dermalogica Biolumin-C Serum
Lightweight vitamin C serum for face contains key ceramides that help strengthen the skin barrier and improve moisture retention, leaving dull, uneven skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated
Vanicream™ Vitamin C Serum
Infused with a bottle of Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Sea Buckthorn extract, effectively swiping away visible dark spots and blemishes, giving you a clearer and more even complexion.
Medicube Deep Vita C Facial Toner Pads
This clinical-level serum features highly stable 25% vitamin C to visibly improve uneven tone, radiance, elasticity & firmness without irritation.
Paula’s Choice 25% Vitamin C Serum with Glutathione & Antioxidants
The high concentration of our complex including highly stable, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate. It is the most potent, most stable, lipid-soluble and sensitive skin-friendly form of vitamin C for a healthy glow while promoting collagen production.
Glow Getter Radiant C Serum - Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid
Totally weightless serum is absorbed instantly and penetrates to the deeper layers of the skin where it goes to work to provide long term results. A must-have preventative and corrective product. Sensitive skin that is prone to irritation will benefi...
Truth Serum - Vitamin C Serum
Formulated with 30% stabilized vitamin C and is clinically proven to increase visible skin firmness and elasticity, visibly even the skin tone, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and age spots. It's also proven to visibly r...
Medik8 Super C Ferulic Serum
Niacinamide
Niacinamide will help to strengthen the skin barrier. A weak skin barrier will aggravate melasma. This will also cause the skin become irritated from other products
Containing 10% Niacinamide, 4% Tranexamic Acid and 2% Arbutin, a powerful trio of ingredients to target dull skin, pigmentation and enlarged pores.
ANUA Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4 Serum
Start fading the appearance of dark spots within days, advanced serum begins to diminish the appearance of uneven pigmentation fast and keeps working to even skin tone over time.
Dermalogica Powerbright Dark Spot Serum
Visibly brightens, firms, hydrates & calms. Clean, effective, silky, weightless formula. Contains ingredients like PEACH EXTRACT - Full of vitamins, minerals & essential fatty acids. NIACINAMIDE - Creates a visibly brighter appearance & t...
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Serum
Multi-tasking serum that gently exfoliates, tones and boosts radiance. This antioxidant-rich formula leaves skin looking smooth, supple and glowing than ever.
belif Super Drops 5% Niacinamide & Vitamin C Serum
Concentrated extracts of kale and upcycled olives infuse skin with powerful antioxidant protection; and niacinamide and noni fruit stem cells help brighten skin and minimize the look of pores.
goop Beauty 72-Hour Hydrating Water Cream
Effectively tightens and minimizes the look of enlarged pores and bumps caused by age or sun damage.
CLINICAL 20% Niacinamide Serum Treatment
A supercharged brightening treatment serum developed with a precisely dosed, concentrated collective of vitamins (B, C, E, F, K) and botanicals to bring rich antioxidant energy to the skin.
SUPEREGG Vitamin Collective Vitality Elixir: For a bright and firm complexion
Provides intense moisture with a blend of Rice Water, Niacinamide and Ceramides, yet leaves a refreshing non-sticky finish to achieve glass skin.
ANUA Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner with Niacinamide
Kojic acid
Kojic acid also contributes to brightening skin and works well with other ingredients like Vitamin C, Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide
A dark spot corrector for face leaves skin feeling smoother. Helps reduce the look of dark spots & discolorations & reveals visibly brighter, even looking skin.
La Roche-Posay Glycolic Acid Serum with Kojic Acid and Vitamin B5
This hyperpigmentation-safe serum visibly reduces stubborn discoloration, post-blemish marks, scars, and spots—for all ethnicities and skin shades. Gentle enough for daily use, it produces visible results in as little as two weeks.
Topicals Faded Brightening and Clearing Serum
Formulated with 3% Tranexamic Acid, 1% Kojic Acid, 5% Niacinamide, and 5% HEPES, the treatment targets stubborn brown patches and post-inflammatory discolouration to even the skin tone and help to minimise the appearance of future marks with continue...
SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense
This is a great brightening serum for melasma because it also contains your azelaic acid and a form of vitamin C. I would also recommend this for those who may not only be dealing with melasma but breakouts as well that leave marks and discoloration
Allies of Skin Azelaic & Kojic Face Serum
Easy to use pads to help brighten skin troubled with melasma or any discoloration. These pads are also great for helping to smoothen skin and refine pores. These can also be used all over the body
medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Toner Pad
Tranexamic Acid
helps reduce excess pigmentation by blocking signals that trigger melanin production, leading to a more even skin tone with consistent use.
PHA, bromelain and tranexamic acid team up to visibly renew dull, textured skin without irritation. This tonique is designed to exfoliate, brighten and hydrate while preparing skin for the next step in your daily ritual. This mild exfoliating tonique...
Eminence Organic Skin Care Pineapple Refining Tonique
Reduces number, intensity, and size of pigmented spots, brightens hyper-pigmented spots, and evens skin tone and texture. A clinically proven 15% complex of three powerhouse acids - Azelaic Acid derivative, Tranexamic Acid, and Phytic Acid - combine ...
dr.brandt Dark Spots No More
I love an effective product that also is affordable (Approx $22) and use TA and vitamin C in one bottle to lighten pigmented skin
The INKEY | List Tranexamic Acid Serum
I'm obsessed with this SPF. Aside from preventing sun damage - it also helps to treat current discoloration with ingredients including in this formula like Tranexamic acid niacinamide
SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defense SPF50 Sunscreen
These pads are phenomenal! Also not a bad price - you can find them for $22 or under. Super easy to use and to get in not tranexamic acid but also niacinamide to lighten discoloration. These are also gentle enough to be used under the eye are to help...
Anua Niacinamide 5 TXA Toner Pads - Hydrating Facial
I recommend this serum for those with melasma and also have sensitive/reactive skin to most actives. Also contains licorice extract to aid in skin lightening
Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Serum
Not only does this have TXA but other important brightening ingredients to fight stubborn melasma
Glytone Micro-Peel TranEXamide™ Dark Spot Serum
A great multi-ingedient, brightening serum that is gentle enough for inflammatory skin with melasma. Helps to brighten and calm skin
Naturium Tranexamic Acid 5% with Kojic & Niacinamide
Anti-inflammatory Products
Ingredients like allantonin, colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, saw palmetto and calendula help to calm inflamed skin
A serum that not only supports brightening of the skin but also contains ingredients to help soothe and balance. Can be used on any skin type, even sensitive. Can be used on any discolored areas on the face or body
medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Serum
Sunscreen
Sunscreen for melasma should be a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ formula to protect against UV and visible light that can worsen pigmentation.
Dermatologist-approved, this non-comedogenic facial sunscreen spray adds a barrier to your face and delivers UVA/UVB protection. Our oil-free, water-resistant SPF 45 Face Mist is great for all skin types.
Sun Bum Original SPF 45 Sunscreen Mist
A lightweight, all-mineral, broad-spectrum tinted sunscreen for your face that hydrates and blocks harmful UVA/UVB rays while providing a soft, even skin tone.
ALASTIN Skincare HydraTint Pro Mineral Sunscreen SPF 36 (3.2 oz) | 2-in-1 Tinted Daily Sunblock Moisturizer
A tinted SPF 50 sunscreen with 100% mineral filters provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, while promoting natural radiance and a more even skin tone.
SKINCEUTICALS Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50
A great SPF for those struggling with melasma. Provides the best protection from UV being a mineral-based SPF but it also contains a sheer tint to help even out skin. Also contains multiple brightening ingredients to give skin the best chance for loo...
Kopari Bright as Day Sheer Mineral SPF 50
A lightweight 100% mineral tinted faces sunscreen with titanium dioxide that is gentle enough for sensitive skin. Great for skin types that prefer a matte finish.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 40 Face Sunscreen