11 Best Dark Spot Correctors, Based on Beauty Lab Testing
You’re going to want to see these before-and-after photos.
Tested by Danusia WnekSenior ChemistMedically reviewed by Mona A. Gohara, M.D.Board-Certified DermatologistExpert consulted: Chiara ButlerBeauty and Personal Care Lab Reviews Analyst
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No matter what our age, most of us have peeked into the bathroom mirror at some point only to be greeted by unwanted dark spots (wah, wah). Whether you call them sun spots, age spots, or hyperpigmentation, these marks can make skin look uneven, less clear, and dull—and are notoriously stubborn. One at-home solution that dermatologists often recommend to me as a beauty editor: dark spot corrector skincare products. These can include serums, moisturizers, and exfoliators like peels that are made to help fade hyperpigmentation and often contain treatment ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide, and kojic acid, says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek.
Our top picks:
✔️ Best overall: Avon Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Night Cream
In addition to reducing dark spots by 12% after four weeks of use, it also improves firmness and hydration.
✔️ Best value: Roc Skincare Multi Correxion Even Tone + Lift Moisturizer SPF 30
Besides minimizing dark spots, the bargain buy softens, firms, and reduces wrinkles.
✔️ Best with SPF: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30
Safeguard your skin while smoothing fine lines and fading dark spots with retinol.
✔️ Best serum: SkinMedica Even & Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment
The winner of the Beauty Lab’s dark spot serum test.
✔️ Best for sensitive skin: Mother Science Molecular Hero Serum
Tough on spots but gentle on delicate complexions, this stood out for its radiant results.
To find the best dark spot correctors that actually work, GH Beauty Lab scientists use technical instruments in the Lab to measure their spot-fading effects over a set time period and evaluate them with consumer testers for their feedback on ease of use and results. In the GH Beauty Lab's most recent dark spot serum test, experts analyzed 1,276 consumer tester responses to identify the most effective formulas. Our top pick, the Avon Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Night Cream, was a standout for reducing dark spots by 12% after four weeks of use. Read all about the winners and everything you need to know about dark spots from dermatologists, below.
Best Deal
Pros
- Faded dark spots by 12% in four weeks in Lab testing
- Effectively firms and hydrates skin
- Brightens and boosts radiance
Cons
- Scent may be polarizing
Avon's night cream with high levels of glycolic acid was a stellar dark spot minimizer in GH Beauty Lab testing. It reduced the appearance of dark spots by an impressive 12% in four weeks of use, according to measurements with the Lab's Visia Complexion Analyzer device. It also ranked top for improving skin firmness and hydration. Many testers noted that the cream brightened and gave skin a glow.
TESTERS SAID: Two consumer testers remarked that it "diminished dark spots." The formula was "rich" and "luxurious," several added, though some commented that they didn't like the "strong perfume scent." One tester concluded: "The following morning, my skin appeared moisturized and softened and had improved tone."
RELATED: Best Night Creams
Features At A Glance
| Product type | Night cream |
| Key ingredients | Glycolic acid, peptides |
| Size | 1.7 oz |
Pros
- Reduced dark spots by nearly 5% in four weeks in Lab tests
- Firms and minimizes wrinkles
- Softens skin and wears well under makeup
- Contains SPF
Cons
- Scent was too strong for some
This drugstore face moisturizer with SPF 30 sunscreen from Roc Skincare was a winner of the GH Beauty Lab's anti-aging day cream test and minimized visible dark spots by 4.5%, over four weeks in Lab calculations with the Visia Complexion Analyzer. The bargain buy was a tester favorite; they gave it the best marks for softening, firming, and reducing wrinkles, and a few said it was perfect for wearing under makeup.
TESTERS SAID: "I noticed a difference in skin tone and texture," one consumer tester reported, and another noted that it seemed to have lightened her brown spots. “It left my skin feeling plump and looking smooth and glowing," commented a tester. A few didn't like the product's "strong" scent, however.
Features At A Glance
| Product type | SPF day lotion |
| Key ingredients | Vitamin C, resorcinol |
| Size | 1.7 oz |
Pros
- Contains SPF 30
- Reduced dark spots by 13% after 8 weeks
- Helped smooth laugh lines
Cons
- Scent was polarizing
Yes, sometimes you can use a retinol during the daytime, especially when it contains SPF 30 like this one. Retinol helps smooth fine lines and fade dark spots, plus the moisturizer also has hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump. In Lab calculations with the Visia Complexion Analyzer, the moisturizer reduced UV spots by an impressive 13% after eight weeks of daily use.
TESTERS SAID: Our GH Beauty Lab experts found that it contains stable and fast-acting forms of retinol, which measurably increased skin firmness in our testing. Plus, it improved the look of some consumer testers’ nasolabial folds (a.k.a. laugh lines) after eight weeks of daily use. Some consumer testers didn't like the scent, though others found it wasn't noticeable.
Features At A Glance
| Key ingredients | Moisturizing cream |
| Product type | Retinol, hyaluronic acid |
| Size | 1 oz |
Pros
- Minimizes the look of dark spots
- Brightens and evens skin tone
- Increases radiance
Cons
- Formula can be sticky and take time to soak in
A worth-it splurge, SkinMedica was the best in the Beauty Lab’s dark spot serum test, delivering the most hyperpigmentation-correcting power of the products assessed. Made with proven dark spot-fighting ingredients such as niacinamide and tranexamic acid, the serum excelled on nearly every front, from evening skin tone to brightening.
The overall tester favorite, this treatment received the top score for making dark spots less visible, brightening skin, boosting radiance, and evening tone in four weeks of use. While some liked that it was fragrance-free, others wished it had added scent. Many also found the formula was tacky and took time to absorb.
TESTERS SAID: “I saw actual results in just two weeks,” one tester said. Another reported, “I got compliments on how glowy my skin looked.”
RELATED: Best Face Serums
Features At A Glance
| Product type | Serum |
| Key ingredients | Niacinamide, tranexamic acid, resorcinol |
| Size | 2 oz |
Pros
- Contains a breakthrough skin-brightening ingredient
- Boosts skin radiance
- Doesn't irritate
- Soaks in fast
Cons
- Testers were divided on dark spot reduction effects
Mother Science's cutting-edge serum targets dark spots without irritation by using niacinamide and malassezin, a molecule derived from yeast. The gentle, fragrance-free formula was a top performer in the GH Beauty Lab's dark spot serum test for its glow-boosting results and effortless application.
It earned the highest score for making skin look more radiant and not causing redness or irritation per Lab assessment after four weeks of use. A full 100% of testers agreed that the serum absorbed quickly. GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann was also impressed by the brand's proof of efficacy, including "extensive clinical studies using instrumentation, Visia photography, expert grading, and consumer perception."
TESTERS SAID: Though some testers didn’t see much of an effect on
their hyperpigmentation, others did: “I have many dark spots after years in the sun, and this is the first serum I've tried that actually faded them," one commented.
Pros
- Minimized dark spots and evened skin tone
- Didn't cause irritation
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing formula works for oily skin types
- Contains a retinoid which can help fight acne
Cons
- Fragrance was polarizing
Made with a 10% concentration of niacinamide, a skin clarifying retinoid, and a new molecule that prevents excess production of skin pigment, this “luxurious” La Roche-Posay formula was a winner in the Beauty Lab's dark spot corrector serum test. Testers praised the liquid’s “light” texture that “melted into skin," which is ideal for those with oily or combination complexions.
It came in near the top at fading dark spots, evening skin tone, and not irritating skin after four weeks of application in Lab evaluations. Testers were divided on the “floral” scent, with one calling it “sophisticated” and another “strong.”
TESTERS SAID: "My skin was not oily after applying it," one reported. Another raved about the results, revealing “I am obsessed with how it diminished the dark spots left behind by my pimples.”
RELATED: Best Retinol Serums
Features At A Glance
| Product type | Serum |
| Key ingredients | Niacinamide, retinyl palmitate, melasyl |
| Size | 1 oz. |
Pros
- Contains several hero brightening ingredients
- Evens skin tone and increases glow
- Easy to use and soaks in fast
Cons
- A few testers found it irritated skin
Turn to Peter Thomas Roth‘s “creamy” serum starring super-antioxidant vitamin C to help treat and prevent hyperpigmentation—and give skin a glow. Blended with an extensive list of brighteners including niacinamide, tranexamic and kojic acids, and alpha arbutin, it produced visibly more even-toned, illuminated skin in the GH Beauty Lab’s dark spot serum test.
The formula scored high marks for ease of use, speedy absorption, and leaving skin glowing and looking more even in Lab evaluations after four weeks of use. It performed moderately at reducing dark spots over the testing period, but note that two testers experienced irritation.
TESTERS SAID: Several consumer testers noticed increased vibrance, with one remarking that “skin looks a little brighter each morning."
Features At A Glance
| Product type | Serum |
| Key ingredients | Vitamin C, niacinamide, tranexamic and kojic acids, alpha arbutin |
| Size | 1.7 oz. |
Pros
- Effectively minimized the look of dark spots
- Boosted skin radiance and brighteness
- Evened skin tone
- Portable single-use capsules
Cons
- May not soak in quickly
Pop open a single-dose, travel-friendly Elizabeth Arden capsule—a GH Beauty Award winner—to reveal a “velvety” serum containing skin-brightening vitamin C and softening ceramides. Testers gave it top marks for reducing the look of dark spots and making skin appear more radiant, bright, and even after four weeks. The serum wasn't as fast-absorbing as other formulas, however.
TESTERS SAID: “I really noticed a difference in my dark spots," one consumer tester reported. Another loved the "immediate boost in skin elasticity and glow” the serum provided.
Features At A Glance
| Product type | Serum |
| Key ingredients | Vitamin C, licorice root extract, resorcinol |
| Size | 30 count |
Pros
- Minimizes lines and firms
- Brightens skin
- Doesn't cause irritation
Cons
- Pricey
Treat both dark spots and wrinkles simultaneously with this formula from SkinCeuticals, a winner of the GH Beauty Lab's anti-aging serum test. Not only was it the best at reducing the look of lines in Lab evaluations in four weeks of use, testers found that it was great at firming and an excellent skin brightener. The serum is formulated with 5% niacinamide, which has been shown to brighten skin, improving hyperpigmentation. Despite its strong effects, 100% of testers agreed it didn't irritate skin.
TESTERS SAID: Two testers reported that their "skin tone appeared more even," and one said it "lightened dark spots." Though it's not a moisturizer, a few commented that it wasn't hydrating enough.
RELATED: Best Anti-Aging Serums
Features At A Glance
| Product type | Serum |
| Key ingredients | Niacinamide, peptides |
| Size | 1.7 oz. |
Pros
- Exfoliates and smooths skin with powerful actives
- Brightens and boosts radiance
- Doesn't cause flaking or peeling
Cons
- May be difficult to rinse off skin
A GH Beauty Lab face peel test winner, La Prairie's fast-acting formula with a potent blend of exfoliating lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acids is worth the splurge. It scored highest for improving radiance in Lab digital imaging evaluations with the Visia Complexion Analyzer and earned one of the best scores for brightening skin in two weeks of use. Though some testers commented that it took effort to rinse off, 100% reported no peeling or flaking after application.
TESTERS SAID: "My skin looked brighter as soon as I washed it off—my family even noticed!” one revealed. Another echoed: "My skin was smoother and brighter following two uses."
Features At A Glance
| Product type | Exfoliating cream |
| Key ingredients | Glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids |
| Size | 1.4 oz. |
Pros
- Effectively brightens skin and boosts radiance
- Visible effects for days
- Can be used on body skin
Cons
- Single-use
These individually-packed glycolic acid peel pads from Philosophy excelled at improving skin tone in GH Beauty Lab testing and can also be used on the body. They earned the top score for brightening skin according to consumer testers and ranked highly for evening skin tone in two weeks of use.
TESTERS SAID: Great for before a special event, a few testers found their skin glowing for days following application. “After each use, my skin looked brighter for two days," one said. "It also felt softer and smoother."
Features At A Glance
| Product type | Exfoliating pads |
| Key ingredients | Glycolic, mandelic, and malic acids; niacinamide |
| Quantity | 12 |
How we test dark spot correctors
To evaluate dark spot corrector products, GH Beauty Lab scientists conduct Lab and consumer testing, recruiting women of all ages and skin types to assess the products' results after at-home use. In the Lab, scientists scan testers’ skin with the Visia Complexion Analyzer device (pictured) to track changes in the size and number of dark spots, as well as pores, skin texture, and wrinkles before and after several weeks of use.
Consumer testers report feedback on product ease of use, texture, scent, application, and the look and feel of their skin after the testing period. In the most recent dark spot serum test, 135 products were distributed to testers and our scientists analyzed 1,276 survey responses to identify the top-performing formulas.
What to look for when shopping for dark spot correctors
"Dark spot correctors are used to lighten and diminish skin hyperpigmentation resulting from acne, sun damage, or an otherwise uneven skin tone," explains Alan J. Parks, M.D., dermatologist and founder of DermWarehouse in Columbus, Ohio. "They usually work by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for the production of melanin [pigment] in skin, and may also increase the rate that skin cells renew themselves, ridding skin of the dead, damaged cells faster and making way for fresh, new cells."
When looking for dark spot correcting treatments, seek out mentions of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, "brightening," and “skin tone-evening" on the packaging, GH Beauty Lab experts suggest. Dr. Parks recommends choosing formulas that contain skincare ingredients like:
✔️ Vitamin C, an antioxidant that brightens skin and may help reduce the appearance of dark spots, Wizemann says.
✔️ Niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3), which is also "shown to brighten skin and at a 5% concentration can lighten dark marks," Wizemann explains.
✔️ Retinol and alpha or beta hydroxy acids (like glycolic, lactic, azelaic, and salicylic acids), which increase skin cell turnover to get rid of hyperpigmented cells.
✔️ Kojic acid, which "inhibits melanin production and has been studied for its spot-lightening abilities, particularly for conditions like facial melasma," Wizemann notes.
✔️ Tranexamic acid, alpha-arbutin, cysteamine, resorcinol, soy, and licorice root extract, as these can also lessen hyperpigmentation, adds Mamina Turegano, M.D., a dermatologist in Metairie, Louisiana and co-founder of Skintap.com.
✔️ Hydroquinone, a potent, fast-acting dark spot brightener. "It interrupts melanin synthesis to even tone,” explains Sara Hogan, M.D., a dermatologist in McLean, Virginia. (Note that this ingredient is only available by prescription.)
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 15 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and performance testing. The number one skincare rule she lives by: never go to bed with makeup on.
Mona Gohara, M.D. is a Yale-trained, board-certified dermatologist, Oberlin College-bred feminist, medical media expert, and member of the ELLE Beauty Advisory Board. Mona enjoys educating on skin health, skin cancer, skin of color, and sun protection. She has done this through writing, lecturing on the local, national, and international levels, and by engaging popular media. Mona is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology, where she chaired the social media task force, The Women’s Dermatologic Society where she serves as president, and The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, where she chairs the DEI Work Group.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she’s been doing hands-on testing of beauty products since 2022. She also covers aesthetic treatments like injectables and lasers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. When not at GH, you can find her wandering the beauty aisles of the drugstore.
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