Finally: An Effective Way To Treat Hyperpigmentation At Home

Whether you’re noticing dark spots pop up after a hormonal breakout or you got a little too much sun on a recent vacation, hyperpigmentation has many causes. It can also be stubborn to treat, especially for those with darker skin tones, as the pigment-producing cells that cause these spots are more likely to be triggered in the first place. Speaking with your dermatologist is always your best bet when it comes to any skin concern, but if you’re looking for an at-home solution to fade unwanted discoloration, Makari de Suisse is a skin care line that was specifically developed for skin of color. The Switzerland-based brand developed an entire collection dedicated to fading dark spots (also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) and preventing new spots from developing with a combination of brightening skin care favorites and plant-based ingredients.

Fast Facts:

• Key benefits: brightens unwanted dark spots and discoloration
• Key ingredients: argan oil, carrot seed oil, vitamin C, vitamin A, Organiclarine
• Suitable for all skin types except sensitive
• Cruelty-free

The hero product in Makari de Suisse’s collection for hyperpigmentation is the Extreme Argan & Carrot Oil Dark Spot Corrector Serum. Designed to be applied with a cotton swab directly to areas you’re looking to treat, the super-strength serum should only be used three nights each week for the best results.

Behind its dark spot-fading abilities is a group of ingredients you might already be familiar with (plus, a few less traditional ingredients). Among those you’ll likely already know about are vitamin C and vitamin A (aka retinol), which are dermatologist-favorites for their multi-tasking abilities. Both help to block the enzyme responsible for producing the melanin that causes dark spots, with vitamin C providing additional antioxidant protection and vitamin A increasing the rate of skin cell turnover. Vitamins C and A also contribute to more glowing skin in general, as they stimulate collagen production, which in turn helps improve skin elasticity, tone, and texture.

Next up is the brand’s Organiclarine, which combines kojic acid, mulberry extract, licorice root extract, and vitamins into one patented formulation. Kojic acid is often recommended as an alternative to hydroquinone (another popular ingredient for treating hyperpigmentation) because it offers similar brightening benefits with a lower risk of experiencing irritation. Meanwhile, licorice root extract and mulberry extract are both plant-based ingredients that can improve the overall skin tone, with licorice root extract helping to brighten dark spots and mulberry extract being shown to improve melasma, which is a type of hyperpigmentation. And then there are the ingredients behind the serum’s name: argan oil and carrot seed oil. Working to contribute to an overall glow by nourishing the skin, argan oil helps to protect the skin barrier by restoring moisture, and carrot seed oil naturally contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in protecting the skin from free radical damage.

While Makari de Suisse’s serum gives you the most concentrated formula for treating larger areas of discoloration on the face, there are also plenty of ancillary products from the same collection (and other collections) to assist with evening out the skin tone. First and foremost, you’ll always want to alternate these products with gentle, moisturizing serums and face creams. And just as important is applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every single day, which will serve as your first line of defense when it comes to preventing new dark spots from forming. Markari de Suisse’s Lightweight Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50 uses chemical sunscreen filters to keep skin protected from UVA and UVB rays. You’ll still want to reapply this sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating, and the brand also makes a mineral face sunscreen that’s better suited for those with oily or acne-prone skin.

To further help with fading existing dark spots, you can also try the Extreme Argan & Carrot Oil Spot Corrector Pen. The travel-friendly treatment contains the same formula as the serum, but it features a roll-on applicator that lets you swipe thecream directly onto dark spots wherever they pop up.

And for those whose skin is more on the dry side, consider swapping out the serum for the Makari de Suisse Extreme Argan & Carrot Oil Tone Boosting Cream, which was similarly designed to be used three nights each week. The richer formula gives you those same brightening benefits with its combination of vitamin C, vitamin A, and Organiclarine, but it adds mineral oil to the lineup of nourishing ingredients (including the aforementioned argan and carrot seed oils) to lock more moisture into your skin.