Battling hyperpigmentation....

Hyperpigentation has a number of causes - sometimes it occurs in pregnancy, other times it's post breakout and, of course, it's as a result of sun damage.  It can be tricky to deal with and can sometimes make people feel less confident but fear not, there are some products out there that can help.  In my case, I first noticed some areas of hyperpigmentation on my face when I was taking medication that made my skin more sensitive to the sun. Despite wearing (and re-applying) a high SPF, I was left with two small areas of pigmentation. It wasn't just a case of me being more aware of the patches than others as my niece asked me what happened to my face! They have faded but I do notice that I have to be very vigilant or they will reappear. Today I want to share some brilliant products for tackling this issue.

Obviously, prevention is better than cure so make sure to wear SPF every day. My most repurchased face SPF is La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Cream as that is what suits my skin best and works well under makeup. I think that we all find 'the one' through trial and error. My skin is quite sensitive, it's dry and it hates shea butter so this is the perfect face SPF for me. Another one that I have loved in recent months is Caudalie Anti-Wrinkle Face Suncare, which I reviewed here. 

Serums: Nothing can instantly erase pigmentation but tackling it daily is the best way to maintain treatment but also to prevent it occurring. A serum is an easy way to do this and my top picks include Omorovicza  Daily Vitamin C, which contains a highly stable form of Vitamin C, which helps to brighten the skin leading to a more even skin tone overall. Vitamin C can be an irritant for some people but this particular serum is gentle enough to use daily even on sensitive skin.  Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum treats all types of pigmentation from acne marks to sun damage. It contains a patented ingredient called Viniferine™, which is claimed to be 62 times more effective than Vitamin C in dealing with dark spots and pigmentation.  Powerful but still suitable for sensitive skin. There is a reason that it has been the number 1 skincare product in this category sold in French pharmacies for almost a decade. Freshly Cosmetics Blue Radiance Enzymatic Serum is particularly effective is tackling post-breakout pigmentation and also in preventing further breakouts. It is radiance boosting and exfoliating and completely natural. I find that on my sensitive skin I cannot use this nightly but it works well every second night. It is also effective as an 'on the spot' treatment. 

Retinol:  Retinol stimulates collagen and elastin production, increases cell renewal and fades hyperpigmentation so it's an ingredient that will make a huge difference to any skincare routine. The down side is that those with very sensitive skin may find that it is too harsh so the advice is to start gently. A great introductory product is Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil.  This oil contains a form of retinol but it also contains blue tansy oil, which is a soothing ingredient so if you are new to retinol, this is a welcome addition as it will help to prevent any of the associated peeling. For those who have been using mild retinol products for a while and want to up the ante to get better results, my pick is Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream. This contains 1% retinol (as opposed to 0.2% in Luna) so it really is a step up and I personally wouldn't recommend using this if you haven't used other retinol products before. This cream will not only improve pigmentation but also the appearance of fine lines and texture. I recommend using once every 3/4 nights initially and build from there as it is pretty potent and will cause peeling. Full review here.

Masks: Again, there won't be instant results with face masks but regular use of these two masks, in particular, will encourage cell renewal and inhibit the production of melanin. The two that I recommend most are Omorovicza Midnight Radiance Mask and Drunk Elephant Baby T.L.C. Sukari Facial. Midnight Radiance fades red blemishes overnight due to the Salicylic Acid it contains but it also contains Sand Lily and Red Algae, both of which help to hydrate the skin as well as minimise dark spots. I always wake to better skin when I use this mask - it looks calm and translucent. Baby Facial is a mask that gives instant results in terms of retexturising the skin, however it also helps to fade pigmentation from sun damage and acne/blemishes over time with regular use. Review here. Both of these masks will improve skin overall, addressing texture, pore visibility, moisture and pigmentation.

Is hyperpigmentation something that you battle? Have you used any of these products? I would love to hear!

Thanks for reading! 

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All products are bought by me, unless otherwise stated. In this case, the Freshly Cosmetics, Caudalie and Omorovicza serums were kindly giftted to me.  Opinion is always my own. Affiliate links may be used.