The 16 All-Time Best Dark Spot Correctors, According To Beauty Pros

This is a product that skyrocketed to the top of “best of lists” across the internet, has earned countless glowing reviews, and (at one point) amassed a 3K waitlist. The people have spoken: This is an obsession-worthy dark spot corrector. The delivery system (called “Smart Melanin Technology” ensures that only the appropriate dosage is released into the skin only where it's needed, so as to not spur irritation (which can make dark spots worse) or affect the surrounding areas. The serum uses workhorse ingredients such as licorice root, niacinamide, algae, vitamin C, and fruit enzymes.

What our reviewers say:

This is an mbg beauty team favorite. Just take it from beauty editor Jamie Schneider, “It has the most deliciously creamy texture that feels like heaven on the skin. Every time my complexion looks a little dull or inflamed, I grab for Milk Marvel like it's a safety blanket. It's the skin care hero I consistently come back to in a pinch." 

Or as assistant beauty editor Hannah Frye wrote, “The one-stop-shop for easing dark spots, melasma, post-acne spots, and overall reviving a dull complexion. In my experience, the formula is lightweight and so easy to layer with other products. As someone who loves a dewy glow, I'm as obsessed with the instant shine the serum gives my skin every morning. The second I apply it, my complexion goes from dull to dewy, almost like magic.”

Folks with sensitive skin have to walk a thin line with any sort of “treatment” product, such as dark spot correctors. Irritation only makes dark spots worse, and sensitive skin is triggered quite easily. This serum, first-and-foremost, works to soothe inflammation and restore the skin barrier—two things folks with sensitive skin and dark spots need. It also uses a special tri-algae complex and licorice root extract to specifically target pigmentation issues. 

What our reviews say:

If all I used for the rest of my life was Tata Harper’s SuperKind collection, my skin would be very happy. The serum is smooth, silky, and has the most deliciously earthy natural scent (it has no added fragrance, but the natural ingredients inherently have a natural aroma). My skin just drinks it up, and leaves my complexion lifted and bright. 

Acne marks—or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation—are especially frustrating, no? First you have to deal with the blemish itself, then you’re left with its residual stain. This cult-favorite treatment uses several ingredients to help clear things up. Niacinamide helps balance sebum production and reduce breakouts. Centella asiatica soothes inflammation. Azelaic acid helps manage redness, acne, and dark spots. Finally, licorice root, kojic acid, and tranexamic acid are two brighteners that work to stop the overproduction of pigment triggered by inflammation.

For those whose dark spots have started developing overtime due to sun exposure (up to 80% of visible signs of aging are due to UV damage, after all), look for something that can help reverse that damage. This cocktail uses a blend of licorice root and tranexamic acid to stop melanin production at the cellular level. It’s also infused with the antioxidant niacinamide to soothe skin, pomegranate seed oil to ease fine lines, and peptides for rejuvenation.   

Maybe you don’t need a full face serum. Maybe you’re just in the market for a spot treatment that can help target a few marks. Well this super concentrated gel works wonders at fading dark spots just where you need it. Made with four of the biggest names in brightening (tranexamic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, licorice root extract) at potent doses, this is ideal for honing in on stubborn marks.

This silky face cream uses vitamin C, a holy grail ingredient that’s not only great for brightening but helps boost collagen production and fights free radicals. The base is the brand’s signature squalane, which is an excellent source of lipids to hydrate the skin. 

What our reviewer says:

This cream makes me look dewy, dewy, dewy. (It’s one of my favorite face creams actually.) The rose-tinted formula really brings that splashy hydration and glow. Thanks to the vitamin C, I’m definitely seeing improvements in my overall tone. I’ve found that it pairs well with other products, too, so you can definitely use it with a more potent dark spot serum (like some of the above) for extra brightening capabilities. 

If you want to wake up dewy and fresh, grab yourself a jar of this overnight dark spot correcting cream. It works through gentle, yet thorough, exfoliation. First up, it contains glycolic acid, an AHA that helps buff away pigmentation issues and refines texture. It also uses fruit enzymes for an extra exfoliation boost. Finally, it contains a patented botanical extract (called Vine Sap Viniferine) that helps soothe inflammation and helps prevent dark spot formation. 

This luminous formula instantly brightens skin with “banana powder inspired pigments,” which basically just means that it provides a soft-focus glow that’s universally flattering. But it’s not just a superficial boost, it uses the power of niacinamide and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to brighten tone, help fade dark spots, and protect the skin from further damage by neutralizing free radicals. 

What our reviewer says:

I can’t say enough good things about this sunscreen. (It made my list of favorite natural sunscreens, too!) The texture is next-level smooth. It just envelops on the skin, providing a perfectly soft-focus finish. It’s ideal for both makeup-free days, as well as under foundation. I love the formula so much, I’d be tempted to wear it daily even if it didn’t give me sun protection.

AHAS and BHAs can help buffer away dark spots, encourage skin cell turnover, and help reduce blemishes. This makes them excellent additions to a routine that’s targeting pigmentation concerns. This serum uses an AHA blend that contains lactic, glycolic, and citrus acids—as well as willow bark extract, which is a natural BHA. The formula is chock-full of antioxidants and hydrators, too, to help ease any irritation. . 

What our reviewers say:

Cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline sold me on this formula, saying: “"There was a time when everyone was using lots of acids. I'm not a fan of acids, especially outside of the spa. But I love this product because it doesn't have a crazy amount of acid and has just the right amount of moisturizers too. It's the perfect formula for what it does. I use it once or twice a week." And she’s right—it’s exfoliating without being too harsh.

A powerhouse product, this vitamin C serum contains a staggering 20% of the antioxidant. It uses a patented encapsulated form of L-ascorbic acid that’s released only when in the skin. This means that the formula is highly stable throughout its use. And I should note that vitamin C is not only great at brightening the skin and reducing free radical damage, but it’s used in the collagen synthesis process—meaning this serum can also help with skin firmness and fine lines. 

Niacinamide is featured quite a bit on this list for a reason: the B vitamin is an excellent dark spot corrector. Research indicates that niacinamide inhibits melanosome transfer, resulting in brighter skin and reduced appearance of dark spots. It also has hydrating properties, supports the skin barrier, and acts as an antioxidant. 

There is a reason that retinol is loved by skin care pros, beauty editors, and dermatologists: It does just about everything. The ingredient upregulates collagen production, helps manage acne, and increases skin cell turnover. The last point makes it excellent at helping get rid of dark spots. This serum actually uses retinal (clock the “A” there), which is the most potent form of vitamin A you can get your hands on without a prescription. 

What our reviewer says:

There’s no one I trust more than top derm & mbg collective member Whitney Bowe, M.D. And this serum only further confirms she knows how to make a good product. This installment of Bowe’s skin cycling routine is the holy grail of vitamin A products. But if all this talk of high-powered ingredients is scaring you off, please note that I have very sensitive skin and can still tolerate it a few times a week.

Using 7% niacinamide, alongside ferulic acid and amino sulfonic acid, this lightweight serum targets pigmentation concerns with aplomb. Instantly your skin will look brighter (it has a slight pearlescent finish), while the ingredients get to work to clear up dark spots.

Ourself is, ahem, an investment—but it’s a brand that is creating some of the most innovative formulas around. The biotech company uses special delivery systems, peptides, and brand new ingredients to radically transform the skin. In the case of this dark spot serum, it uses several new-to-market peptides, a stabilized vitamin C, niacinamide, and 4-Butylresorcinol. The new-ish ingredient, 4-Butylresorcinol, is one of the most effective dark spot correcting ingredients that rebalances melanin production to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation.