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Video: The Weekly Brush Up

Fri, 13 July 2012 8:57AM

A big, happy spot-free Friday to you all, Primpers.

This week I’m touching on one of – if not THE – biggest skincare trends of the moment: Dark Spot Correction.

I know when I think of flawless skin, I dream of an even skintone that doesn’t have any pigmentation, dark spots, sun spots or age spots. But what are all these spots? Well, they’re melanin (the brown pigment in your skin) that’s been stimulated to ‘breed’, thanks to factors like UV rays, stress, ageing and hormones.

While an uneven skintone is one of the first signs of ageing, it’s one of those creepy buggers that can strike at any age. In your 20s, acne scarring and hormones can create uneven tone, while your 30s, 40s and 50s see pregnancy and menopause and periods of hormonal ups and downs. Throw years of sun damage coming to the surface into the mix and you have a recipe for dark spots at any age.

We’ve talked about pigmentation a lot on PRIMPED over the past few years, ECB did a fabulous post on it not long ago, and I touched on a few newbies a while back as well. But the products keep coming thick and fast. Here’s another batch of should-try spot correctors…

And here are the notes…

Dark Spot Solution #1: Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, $65

Great for: Spots and scarring. While this product is a winner at reducing the appearance of dark spots and giving your skin a good kick of glow, it’s also proven to reduce the appearance of acne scarring over time. Use it twice daily under your moisturiser and watch your skin come to life.

Dark Spot Solution #2: Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Lotion SPF 15, $90

Great for: Oily and very oily skin types. When you have oily skin, some of the products on offer simply don’t cater to your complexion. This one does! The super lightweight formula is specially tailored for your oily needs, plus the formula not only works to combat dark spots but control oil as well. Brilliant!

Dark Spot Solution #3: Garnier Dark Spot Corrector, $16.95

Great for: Anyone wanting a multi-tasking product that acts like a daily moisturiser, but treats dark spots at the same time. The addition of 5% pure Vitamin C also encourages gentle exfoliation so that your skin cells turn over and dark spots are faded. If you think this sounds like you, Garnier are offering an exclusive opportunity to trial the product before it goes on sale this August. Hooray! Head to their website to find out all about it, but if I were you, I enter this one quick smart.

Dark Spot Solution #4: Physicians Formula Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Brightener, $29.99

Great for: Skin that wants to look brighter and more even in skin tone. The antioxidant-packed formula helps target chronological and photoageing (the ageing caused by the sun and environment) and is best applied as a serum morning and night.

Dark Spot Solution #5: Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum, $100

Great for: All skin types and women (and guys) looking for an option that’s free from harsh chemicals, parabens, SLS/SLES and other known irritants. It’s also a serious contender for removing pigmentation, thanks to active ingredients like AHA, BHA and beauty’s wonder anti-ageing ingredient, niacinamide.

Tell me Primpers…

Is pigmentation a concern for you?

Do you want to give any of these a try?

Posted by: Yasemin Trollope

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Tags: beauty, beauty product reviews, pigmentation, skin, skincare, spot correction. garnier dark spot corrector, sun and skin, sun damage

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12 Comments

Posted by: Lorraine // Fri, 13 July 2012 09:39am

Pigmentation is my main problem. I have acne scarring as well but I know if I can get rid of the pigmentation my skin will look so much better. Saying that, I have been using a product that has made a big difference – it’s Lilian Vital Diamonds & Platinum White from eCosway. There’s an intensive cream and a day cream. Within a week of using them I noticed a general brightening on my skin. I don’t work so don’t wear makeup that often, so when I first wore makeup since starting to use the products I really noticed how much easier it was to cover my pigmentation. It’s so affordable too. Check it out.
Posted by: Ellie101 Enthusiast // Fri, 13 July 2012 10:06am

Hi Yaz, I have 8 months or so until my wedding and i would love to banish my dark spots and scars by then. I tried the body shops whitening night cream and was noticing a change, but then it caused me to break out terribly (for the first times since my teens)! I’ve just gotten my skin under control and I’m nervous about new products. Do you know if the kiehls product could cause a similar problem?
Posted by: Rebecca-1314689428 Enthusiast // Fri, 13 July 2012 11:28am

Thanks for the post Yaz! I have awful pigmentation across my forehead from the sun. I’ve been using the Clinique product you mentioned above for about 3 weeks now, I think it’s helping but I’ve heard from other people that it might take 6-8 weeks before I really see results. So now I’m waiting (im)patiently!
Posted by: Knyholm Master Fan // Fri, 13 July 2012 11:53am

Pigmentation is a concern to me, and seems to be increasing every year… great product suggestions, and fantastic that they are available in all price points. At $16.95 the Garnier one souds fab, you really cant go wront. And I love Clinique, so may just have to try that one!
Posted by: p3charmed Master Fan // Fri, 13 July 2012 12:14pm

no it’s not a concern for me at least not yet… but if it was i’d be getting that garnier dark spot corrector..or maybe i’ll get it anyway
Posted by: LD // Fri, 13 July 2012 12:42pm

Having suffered from serious acne over the years and the resultant acne scarring I have tested a lot of these products. The Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum is completely useless (have used it for 6mths with no results – just wanted to finish the bottle). The best I’ve found at reducing and also stopping the spots/scarring from forming is Neostrata glycolic ultra lotion. Fantastic stuff!! Really works. I’m not sure what it’s like for pigmentation (brown spots caused by pregnancy and ageing) however only for acne scarring and gives my skin a really beautiful glow and it’s a huge bottle that lasts for months and months (I use it on my face and body).
Posted by: Alishes Enthusiast // Sun, 15 July 2012 09:12pm

Pigmentation is a concer, although not as great a concern as my pimple scarring. However, having had one skin cancer removed already, I am pedantic about taking care of my skin and reducing pigmentation. I’m currently using Estee Lauder’s Idealist and I’ve really noticed a brightening of my complexion since I started with it four months ago. My pimple scars seem to be slowly fading too.
Posted by: meedee Master Fan // Sun, 15 July 2012 11:27pm

I havent tried any of these but i have tried the Palmers Eventone which i liked.
I dont really have major problems with pigmentation…my big thing is Rosacea
Posted by: Britty1 Master Fan // Wed, 18 July 2012 04:16pm

i have got some noticable red marks on my forehead, left temple, and between my eye brows from angry acne in the recent months, and i also have freckles all over my face which started appearing from a young age…due to the sun i guess!
Posted by: Praf // Fri, 10 August 2012 03:11pm

I would really recommend Even Skintone by Ultraceuticals. It really has worked on reducing a lot of the dark spots I had and its gentle, I have really reactive skin, but no probs with this Serum. Give it a try.
Posted by: Monika // Wed, 15 August 2012 02:13pm

Can’t recommend Ultraceuticals enough. I use a multitude of their products and I particularly love this one, as it makes my skin instantly smooth, literally like velvet. And has reduced my pinkish undertone. Love!!!
Posted by: Monika // Mon, 27 August 2012 03:45pm

I love Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum. I have mild pigmentation and I saw it reduced noticeably in about 2 weeks of using it. I was stoked cause I have spent so much money on products that have done absolutely nothing.