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15 Best Skin Lightening Products For Different Skin Types

written by: Kristen - Beauty Editorpublished on 1 Feb, 2024

Help Restore Your Skin’s Luminosity

Environmental aggressors like pollution and sun damage in addition to lifestyle factors like stress and alcohol consumption can really do a number on your skin’s natural glow. And of course, some of us are genetically more susceptible and prone to skin discolourations and dark spots than others.

Regardless of the reason for dull skin, the end results are always the same: we look tired and we look older. You can’t win them all, but know all’s not lost.

A lot can be done to restore your great skin and good looks to their natural glory. Improving our lifestyle is one obvious route, but we can’t completely eliminate our exposure to the sun and air around us. Thanks to skin lightening products, however, we can reduce, correct and prevent further insult to our skin. These treatments rejuvenate your skin’s tone and texture, making your skin appear brighter, refreshed, youthful and positively resplendent.

Ready to let the light back into your life? Of course you are.

Check out our top recommendations for skin lightening products and say so-long to dull, listless skin.

1) Lancome Clarifique Dual Essence

Ideal for balancing skin tone.

Infuse your skin with an undeniable aura of light. This Lancome’s essence in as little as 4 weeks helps to tighten, plump and brighten the complexion with a concentrated formulation combining glycolic acid & AHA, salicylic acid & BHA together with French Beech bud extract to reduce the look of dark spots while regenerating and brightening your skin cells.

2) Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Smoothing Serum Mild

Great first step for removing dark spots.

When you are starting out on your pigmentation brightening journey it’s good to know Ultraceuticals has your skin covered. This serum respects your skin’s integrity whilst rolling up its sleeves to brighten discolourations and boost skin clarity. With a combination of AHA’s, BHA’s and Niacinamide at work, your skin is transformed to be visibly more even toned and radiant. Be sure to step up to the next intensity level once your skin tolerates this formula to further enhance results.

3) Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides

Supercharged brightening and anti-ageing power.

This dynamic and determined duo offers up one comprehensive treatment to lighten and brighten skin, and reduce the visible signs of ageing. This high-potency serum host innovative click-activated packaging to keep the product active and fresh whilst the hydrating formula quenches skin. Ideal for reversing the effects of environmental damage for a brighter skin appearance.

4) Dermalogica PowerBright Overnight Cream

Ideal for overnight use for dry, normal, combination and oily skin.

Noticeably improve the appearance of your skin overnight with this one potent product from the skincare miracle workers at Dermalogica. This skin lightening treatment will control hyperpigmentation with additional Niacinamide & Vitamin B plus Hexylresorcinol to help diminish the appearance of dark spots while moisturising your skin and helping to restore brightness to your complexion. All while you sleep.

5) Comfort Zone Sublime Skin Peel Pads

Recommended for mature or damaged skin.

Restore light and life back into your complexion with Comfort Zone’s totally inspired Sublime Skin Peel Pads. Glycolic acid, gluconolactone and vitamin C work in tandem to regenerate cells, smooth skin, and illuminate your every inch of your face. Whether your skin is mature, has been damaged by the sun, or harmed by environmental irritants, this treatment can help.

6) Societe Even Out dark Spot Corrector

Ideal for lacklustre and devitalised skins.

When you really need to target stubborn pigmentation and dark spots, reach for this potent serum for a brighter complexion. Targeting sun damage, age spots and uneven skin tone, this fast absorbing formula combies Kojic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Alpha Arbutin to reduce UV induced pigmentation whilst it goes a step further to stimulate collagen. The result is more youthful and even tones skin.

7) Skin Doctors White & Bright

Lighten skin and reduce appearance of skin imperfections.

We love this clinical-strength skin lightening complex! Sitting pretty as one of our most powerful products on this list for minimising the appearance of skin blemishes, the technology in this product will yield amazing lightening and smoothing results.

8) Skinstitut Even Blend Serum

Perfect for post acne marks.

While many people may think your freckles are beautiful, if you don’t like them, that’s all that matters. This impressive skin lightening serum evens pigmentation and will reduce the appearance of your post acne marks and dark spots. You get the strength of a prescription lightener, with none of the annoying and unattractive inflammation. This Skinstitut serum also helps your skin recover acne breakouts and exfoliates to reveal more even, illuminated skin.

9) Payot Harmonie Serum

For all skin types to create a more even skin tone.

Keeping it nice and natural with 90.9% ingredients from natural origin, this radiance boosting serum packs a punch with Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and Niacinamide & Vitamin B. Without compromising on luxury, the melting texture of this daily serum helps to unify the complexion by reducing and preventing dark spots on the skin. The result is a more luminous and even complexion.

10) Intraceuticals Opulence Brightening Cleanser

Perfect for sun damaged skin. For all skin types.

Start your skincare routine right with this advanced skin brightening cleanser from Intraceuticals. This unique formulation is gentle enough to use all over the face including the eye area to thoroughly cleanse away impurities and pollution. But that’s where this gem just gets started! This cleanser helps prepare and prime the skin for subsequent product application to ensure the best ingredients penetrate deeply to work wonders. All whilst brightening and boosting skin radiance - we think it’s a wonder.

11) HydroPeptide 5x Power Peel

Perfect for sun damaged skin. For all skin types.

Let your face exfoliant uncover a whole new you. This gentle yet strong peel helps stimulate your skin’s renewal process, which is particularly handy if your skin has been damaged by prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays. Simply wipe over clean, dry skin and enjoy looking at an instantly refreshed face. When used in tandem with a skin lightening cream, serum or gel, this HydroPeptide treatment is part of a total skin lightening regime.

12) Aspect Pigment Punch+

Great for day-long brightening.

This skin lightening serum by Aspect is as powerful as it sounds. The super concentrated formula works to diminish dark spots and hyperpigmentation through the use of peptides and botanical extracts. But that’s not even the best part: this serum illuminates the complexion to reveal your most vibrant skin.

13) PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro

Ideal for removal of stubborn dark spots.

In as little as 4 weeks this potent PCA Skin gel dramatically improves the appearance of dark spots to create a more unified skin appearance. Ideal also for sun damaged and hormonally induced hyperpigmentation, this superior treatment is ideal for all skin types to diminish unwanted pigmentation yet remains gentle and nurturing, even for sensitive skin.

14) Priori Q+SOD Enlightening Peel Pads

Ideal for city dwellers.

The pollution of city life can cause your skin to become dull and tired. Liven things up with this Priori exfoliating treatment. Using potent and professional strength AHAs & BHAs, this skin lightening treatment rejuvenates the skin with the additional inclusion of Retinol to boost collagen production. The end result is younger, more vibrant and healthier looking skin.

15) The Jojoba Company Pigmentation Oil

A natural remedy for hyperpigmentation.

Redness, dark spots, blemishes and dull skin are a thing of the past thanks to this inspired skin lightening oil by The Jojoba Company. Enriched with the age-defying power of Vitamins C & E, your skin will instantly appear more supple, illuminated and even in tone and texture.

Whether you weren’t born with the skin you desire, or time has taken a toll on your face, these skin lightening creams, gels, serums and cleansers can help you uncover your best, brightest skin.