As one of the hardest skin care conditions to treat, hyperpigmentation can oftentimes require in-office treatments like lasers or microneedling to fade those dark spots. And while it is possible to improve hyperpigmentation at home, it can be hard to sift through the multitude of products that claim to work, especially because most cases require such a long-term commitment to certain products before finally seeing results. Knowing this, we can’t help but to always be on the lookout for something that will cure even the most severe dark spots over time, and luckily, we might have just found the solution.
Recently, Reddit user Dolliesimpson took to the website to share a before-and-after of herself showing just how well her current skin care routine is treating her post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). The results displayed in the image are so dramatic that viewers immediately flooded Dolliesimpson’s post with questions about the exact products she used, to which she replied with a complete explanation of her routine.
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Here’s the rundown: In the morning, Dolliesimpson uses the Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Anti-Aging Serum ($15) and sunblock. But at night, she changes her routine to include a quick cleanse with La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar ($26) followed by an application of the The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% ($5). “Wash with La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar (love this!) Then the Ordinary Niacinamide 10% zinc 1%. Moisturize with Ceramide Rosette Gel before bed,” she explained on the post.
Not only is it impressive that it took so few products to produce these results, but one of the skin care items—The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%—retails for only $5. Affordable and effective, The Ordinary serum repairs rough skin texture, as well as treat blemishes and congestion. The La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar and Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Anti-Aging Serum, on the other hand, both work to exfoliate the skin and help shed dark cells from the skin’s service, therefore reducing the appearance of deep-rooted hyperpigmentation over time.
Unsurprisingly, all the ingredients found in the products Dolliesimpson is using to fade her dark spots are key for creating a brighter, clearer complexion. However, it’s important to note that products containing vitamin C and niacinamide should not be mixed. Instead, they should be applied at alternate times (one in the morning and one at night)—just like Dolliesimpson did—in order to preserve the effectiveness of both products.
