In today's article, I will be sharing the best products, the best routine, in just three steps—all you need to get rid of discoloration and hyperpigmentation on your skin. You will also achieve a brighter and more even-toned complexion!

So many people have sun damage spots, hyperpigmentation, little discoloration spots... and they want them gone. Everyone wants more even-toned skin. I'm going to share the best products that are super effective with all the ingredients you absolutely need, at the best potencies, within the best formulations.

Let's go over the main products and ingredients you need to get rid of hyperpigmentation. Just three steps will get you there!

1. L-ascorbic acid vitamin C
2. Discoloration Defense
3. Brightening Treatment

L-ascorbic acid vitamin C

L-ascorbic acid is the most potent version of and the golden standard for vitamin C and the best at fading sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and discoloration on your skin. It has been clinically proven to also brighten up your skin. However, L-ascorbic is a difficult ingredient to work with. It's harder to formulate with as you need to get it stable and delivered to your skin cells effectively. A lot of brands choose to use other forms of vitamin C because they are easier to work with, but L-ascorbic is worth it!

My top picks for L-ascorbic acid have amazing formulations, and you will see incredibly good results.

SkinCeuticals: SkinCeuticals is the antioxidant authority. They are the ones who put L-ascorbic vitamin C on the map! There is so much research, science, and technology behind the brand. They were just named the number one medical-grade skincare brand for 2021, and for a good reason—their formulations always follow advanced science.

Their L-ascorbic acids have somewhat of a cult following; there are a few options you can choose from: the C E Ferulic is one of their top-sellers, and there's also the Silymarin CF containing salicylic acid, which perfect for oily, acne-prone skin. Another one of my favorites is the Phloretin CF. There's a vitamin C for every skin type! All of their formulations are top-notch, so you'll notice the difference in the brightening of the skin and fading of discoloration.

Photozyme MD: The product I recommend from this brand is the Vitamin C+E Ferulic Acid Serum with DNA. With one product, you can get your vitamin C and DNA repair all in one. This contains 15% L-ascorbic acid and an amazing formulation.

Discoloration Defense

SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense is a serum that soaks right into your skin. It's really light, so it's easy to layer on your other serums and products. You can just take a couple of drops and rub it into your skin right on top of your L-ascorbic acid. This product contains 3% tranexamic acid which is one of the top, most clinically-studied ingredients for fading out hyperpigmentation.

The other option you've probably heard of is hydroquinone, which is the most potent ingredient used for fading hyperpigmentation. The problem with this ingredient is that it can actually make your hyperpigmentation worse when you have to stop using it; your skin can relapse, and you can't stay on hydroquinone forever. You can typically use hydroquinone for a couple of months before you have to take a break. During that break, hyperpigmentation can bounce back, trapping you in a vicious cycle. A better solution is to find something with the best mix of non-toxic ingredients that are still able to do a good job.

The Discoloration Defense also has kojic acid which is another great natural way to help fade hyperpigmentation. Then the 5% niacinamide is amazing for achieving even-toned skin.

The combination of all these ingredients just works!

Brightening Treatment

This is a brand new product just released by SkinCeuticals: the Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment Daily Corrective Moisturizer. I have been waiting for this to launch because it is so good. The ingredients are amazing, and I'm loving it. It's a lightweight moisturizer gel, which is a great summertime moisturizer if you have oily skin. If you have dryer skin, you can use this for its great ingredients but also apply a second moisturizer that really suits your skin.

The ingredients in this moisturizer are amazing for brightening the skin: 3% azelaic acid and 2% arbutin. Azelaic acid is a very anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps bring down redness and brighten the skin to achieve a more even tone. As an bonus, it also helps to minimize pores! Arbutin is another natural lightening ingredient, similar to the tranexamic acid from the Discoloration Defense. Arbutin has been researched and clinically studied for its use in fading out hyperpigmentation and repairing sun damage. There are also many botanical hydrating ingredients that make it feel so good and soothing on your skin. I am in love with this new product!

Making your routine

These are the three steps and key ingredients that you really need to be using on a daily basis to get an even skin tone. These three types of products go hand-in-hand to produce the most amazing results. You can use these steps both day and night, or just during the day if you'd like. For nighttime use, the Discoloration Defense is very effective mixed with a vitamin A. You can also use the Discoloration Defense with a retinol or Retin-A—whichever form of vitamin A you're already using—and this will help you continue to achieve amazing results overnight.

Here's a quick recap of what I would recommend as a great daytime and nighttime routine for fading hyperpigmentation.

AM Routine

1. Your L-ascorbic acid vitamin C product of choice
2. SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense
3. Photozyme Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment Daily Corrective Moisturizer
4. (For dry skin) Your moisturizer of choice

PM Routine

At night, I would skip the vitamin C. The SkinCeuticals products especially are so potent that they will stay in your skin for over 24 hours. You can apply it in the morning, and your skin will retain and keep using those ingredients throughout the day and night. Even when you're getting ready for bed, washing your face, and applying your nighttime skincare routine, you're still getting all the benefits of the SkinCeuticals vitamin C products!

Instead, I recommend you start with the Photozyme Youth Recovery Facial Serum. This serum helps repair the DNA damage within your skin which can eventually lead to sun damage and hyperpigmentation. You want to heal your skin from deep within so it repairs all the sun damage sitting under the surface. Then follow with your preferred vitamin A, the Discoloration Defense, and finally a nighttime moisturizer.

In summary:

1. Photozyme Youth Recovery Facial Serum
2. Your vitamin A product of choice
3. SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense
4. Your nighttime moisturizer of choice

My personal favorite for vitamin A is the Photozyme MD GFS Plus Night Serum.

All together, these products are extremely effective and make up quick, easy routines you can trust are backed by science and great ingredients.

I hope this helps all of you out there who have issues with discoloration, hyperpigmentation, or sun damage. Let's all achieve our perfect, even-toned skin!