I have had my fair share of stubborn dark spots over the years thanks to acne breakouts and sun exposure. I can deal with the occasional breakout, but having to deal with the dark spots they’ve leave behind is truly annoying. There are tons of serums and creams targeted at this common skin issue, but did you know there are facial cleansers that help too?
The best face wash for dark spots is InstaNatural Vitamin C Cleanser. Fortified with vitamin C, this cult-favorite cleanser is gentle while evening out skin tone and lightening dark spots. The light orange scent is really fresh too.
Of course, your skin is unique and some ingredients might work better for you than others.
If you’re looking for a facial wash that can help you get rid of stubborn dark spots and hyperpigmentation, you should probably stop to consider a few important things first: the ingredients, your skin type, and any other other skin concerns you might have.
With these factors in mind, I found the best facial cleansers with quality ingredients to help you eliminate dark spots and even out your skin tone. Whether you want an exfoliating cleanser or a gentle face wash, there is one for you in my top picks.
From the quick list, you can jump to detailed reviews of each product to compare ingredients and pros and cons.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
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Editor's Choice |
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Runner-Up |
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What Causes Dark Spots?
Dark spots or sometimes referred to as hyperpigmentation can appear on some areas of the face and skin that produce too much melanin. Though it is not something of a health concern, because it appears as uneven skin tone especially on the face, some people would prefer to lighten and get rid of them. Unfortunately, dark spots are not easy and quick to treat. Luckily though, there are many products out there to help speed up that process.
But before we dive in on the best products for getting rid of dark spots, let us first understand what causes them.
Sun exposure
Prolonged and too much exposure to the sun – whether natural or artificial aka tanning beds – is one of the leading causes of dark spots. Prolonged sun exposure can cause the skin’s excess melanin production that leads to the appearance of dark spots. Parts of the body that are often exposed to the sun – the face, arms, hands, neck, and chest – are more prone to develop dark spots.
Hormones
Ah, hormones. Melasma is hyperpigmentation triggered by hormonal changes. This occurs often in pregnant women due to natural changes in their hormones during pregnancy.
Inflammation and wound
Dark spots can also be a result or aftermath of inflammation that can be due to acne, allergy, and eczema. Wounds and cuts can also leave behind dark spots after they heal.
Medication
Medication can also trigger excess melanin production that can cause dark spots to appear. If this is what causes yours, be sure to consult with a doctor first for treatment.
The Best Face Wash for Dark Spots
1. InstaNatural Vitamin C Cleanser – Our Pick!
Our pick for the best face wash for dark spots is the cult-favorite InstaNatural Vitamin C Cleanser! With Vitamin C as this cleanser’s main ingredient, it’s sure to help with correcting dark spots and help you achieve a much even skin tone. It also has aloe vera, coconut water, and sugar cane extract to nourish, hydrate, and improve overall skin quality. If used as part of your regular routine, it’s sure to help lighten and brighten stubborn dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
This Vitamin C Cleanser will also help even out skin tone and improve overall skin texture, giving you skin that looks and feels much softer and smoother. It also helps fade and reduce age-related dark spots your face have accumulated over the years. With this as your cleanser, your skin is sure to feel clean, fresh, and deeply hydrated – giving you a beautiful and healthy glow.
Thanks to this favorite InstaNatural cleanser, your skin will feel and look overall much healthier because it is moisturized (but not oily at all!) and your pores are refined. It also helps your skin retain its moisture and not strip you off your natural oils. Breakouts are also reduced and minimized with this cleanser in your routine. It also effectively helps in removing makeup (what a bonus!).
This one also has a fresh orange scent to it that isn’t overpowering at all. A little goes a long way so a bottle of this is sure to last you a long time. A warning though, if you have skin sensitivities, you might want to be extra careful as this can cause dryness on some with very, very sensitive skin.
Pros:
- Lightens and brightens dark spots
- Improved skin texture – smoother and softer skin
- Clean, fresh, and hydrated skin
- Moisturized skin but not oily
- Overall healthier skin with a healthy glow
- Reduced and minimized breakouts
- Refined pores
- Helps remove makeup
Cons:
- Can be drying for some with very sensitive skin
2. Botanic Tree Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser – Best for Sensitive Skin!
The next item on our list and our choice for the best face for dark spots for sensitive skin is the Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser from skincare brand Botanic Tree! It has bamboo extract, shea butter, and tea tree extract that helps in deep cleansing and fading dark spots, acne scars, and redness. If you have sensitive skin and are looking for something that’s very mild and gentle on the skin without any burning sensation, this might be a good fit for your needs.
This cleanser improves your overall skin tone by giving your skin clearer and brighter complexion. Your skin also comes out much softer and smoother. It helps even out your skin tone for an overall much healthier looking skin. While effectively reducing the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation, your pores also become smaller and your skin is tighter as a result.
It’s able to clean your face thoroughly but is not too abrasive, just enough to give you a good clean. The cleanser comes as a clear gel with a clean scent. But because this has Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), it may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, thus increasing the possibility of getting sunburn.
Pros:
- Gentle and mild formula for sensitive skin
- No burning sensation
- Reduced appearance of dark spots
- Clearer and brighter complexion
- Softer and smoother skin
- Evens out skin tone
- Overall healthier skin
- Pores are smaller and skin is tighter
- Deep cleansing without being too abrasive
Cons:
- Increased skin sensitivity to the sun
3. Body Merry Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser – Best for Oil Control and Pore Care!
The Body Merry Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser is our pick for the best face wash for dark spots and for oil control and pore care! Formulated with willow bark, glycolic acid, and jojoba beads, it effectively helps in clearing out clogged pores and wipe away dirt, dead skin, and oil that can build up over time. Dark spots and hyperpigmentation are also lightened and reduced in appearance for a clearer and brighter overall skin.
This Body Merry cleanser is able to clean your face well with no reactions or irritations on the skin. It’s also able to help you in removing makeup you wore that day. Your skin comes out feeling and looking softer and much vibrant and just overall feels and looks better. With this cleanser, your skin is sure to achieve a more even skin tone, too.
This cleanser also helps with oil control and even helps in drying out acne for a faster healing process. It helps in minimizing the appearance of enlarged pores, making them look less visible. And thanks to its brightening and lightening properties, it can even reduce the appearance of dark circles around your eye area!
A reminder though, because it also contains AHA, it will increase your skin sensitivity to the sun. It may also be drying for those with very, very sensitive skin, so keep that in mind, too.
Pros:
- Controls excess oil production
- Deep cleanses pores
- Dark spots are lightened and brightened
- No reactions or irritation
- Helps remove makeup
- Skin is softer and vibrant – looks and feels better
- Evens out skin tone
- Minimizes the appearance of pores
- Reduced dark circles around the eyes
Cons:
- Increased sun sensitivity
- Can be drying for those with very sensitive skin
4. Eve Hansen Vitamin C Face Cleanser
The next item that made it into our list of the best face washes for dark spots is the Eve Hansen Vitamin C Face Cleanser! This facial cleanser can effectively correct your skin’s hyperpigmentation and helps you achieve an even skin tone. This cleanser is also gentle enough to be used for sensitive skin. It effectively helps brighten dark spots and tightens pores so they appear minimized.
Using this as your regular cleanser also results in much softer and smoother skin for a well-hydrated and glowing overall skin. It helps lessen discoloration and allows for a much brighter skin. This cleanser is able to clean your face well and leaves your skin feeling light and fresh after every wash without dryness, irritation, or breakouts.
Thanks to its brightening component, it’s even able to help in reducing the appearance of dark circles around your eye area and help improve the overall look of your skin. A little product is sure to go a long way so a bottle will last you for months. With this cleanser though, you might want to be careful in not getting it in your eyes as some users have reported a stinging sensation when some get into the eyes.
Pros:
- Hyperpigmentation and dark spots corrector
- Gentle on sensitive skin
- Pores are tightened
- Softer and smoother skin – healthier overall skin
- Lessens discoloration and brightens skin
- Skin feels clean, fresh, and light
- Helps reduce dark circles around eyes
- Will last you for months
Cons:
- Getting product in your eyes may sting
5. Dr. Song Glycolic Acid Face Wash
The Glycolic Acid Face Wash from beauty brand Dr. Song takes the last spot for the best face wash for dark spots! This Dr. Song face wash is formulated with 10% glycolic acid to allow it to deeply cleanse and exfoliate your skin to effectively lift away dirt, excess oil, and impurities. Aside from offering you deep cleansing everytime you wash your face with it, it also effectively lightens and brightens dark spots and hyperpigmentation for a much even overall skin tone.
With continued use of this face wash, your face is guaranteed to be softer and smoother for a healthy glow on your skin. It also gives your skin an overall brighter complexion and improved skin texture. Thanks to its deep cleansing and exfoliating properties, your pores are much cleaner and you end up with minimal breakouts, too.
This face wash has a clean scent to it. Unlike other facial washes, this is also fairly gentle on the eye area. This Dr. Song Glycolic Acid Face Wash is an overall premium quality product at an affordable price. A reminder though that there is a mild tingling sensation that comes with washing with this. It might be okay for some but can also be uncomfortable for others.
Pros:
- Lightens and brightens dark spots
- Deep cleansing and exfoliation
- Softer and smoother skin
- Healthy glow
- Improved skin texture and overall brighter complexion
- Clean pores – minimal breakouts and irritation
- Gentle on the eyes
- Premium quality product at an affordable price
Cons:
- Mild tingling sensation isn’t for everyone
How To Prevent Dark Spots and Hyperpigmentation?
The number one thing anyone can do to prevent the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation is always protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the sun by applying a sunscreen with an SPF30 or higher. Remember, the higher the SPF, the more protection you get out of it. You should also wear sunscreen even on cloudy days as the sun is still out even if it is covered by clouds.
You can also protect your skin by wearing protective clothing when you know you’ll be out in the sun for quite some time. Hats can also help protect your face from too much sun exposure and can further help prevent the appearance of dark spots. It’s also advisable to avoid being out in the sun during its peak hours. Between 10 AM and 4 PM is when the sun tends to be at its strongest.
How to Choose the Best Face Wash for Dark Spots
Choosing the face wash that works best for your skin and your need to eliminate or at least minimize the appearance of dark spots will always be a personal skin journey. That’s why more than being familiar with the best brands and products, you should also know what to look for in your new face wash.
Ingredients
In looking for a face wash that can help remove dark spots, you should look for something that has ingredients that can effectively help you in that. Ingredients you should look for include Vitamin C, Glycolic Acid, AHA, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, and Salicylic Acid. You can also do more intensive research on other ingredients that can effectively help you get rid of dark spots.
You would also want to make sure you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients listed on the face wash you’re currently considering. And as far as ingredients go, make sure you only get the good things because it’s what your skin deserves.
Skin type
Your skin type should always be a priority in choosing new face products because not all products work the same on all skin types. Some work more effectively on specific skin types and can cause more damage and sensitivities when used by someone with a different type of skin. So make sure that your new face wash will work well for your skin and your needs.
Other skin concerns
There are face washes that besides targeting eliminating dark spots also work on other skin concerns. Whether your other concern is acne, oil control, dryness – you will find one that will work for your skin’s advantage so be sure to keep an eye out for that.
Conclusion
With so many options and results with just a single Google search, it’s totally understandable that finding the best face wash for dark spots can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for.
Our pick for the best face wash for dark spots is InstaNatural Vitamin C Cleanser thanks to its amazing ability to lighten and brighten dark spots for an even and brighter overall complexion. It’s also moisturizing on the skin without being overly oily.
The Botanic Tree Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser is our pick for the best dark spots face wash for sensitive skin for its gentle and mild formula that can still efficiently lighten dark spots and promote an overall healthier skin.
And our choice for the best dark spots face wash for oil control and pore care is the Body Merry Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser! This face wash is able to control excess oil and deeply clean your pores all the while brightening dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
Dark spots and hyperpigmentation can surely be a bummer whenever you do your makeup routine because of the uneven skin tone it gives you. Sure, it could come with age but it doesn’t mean we can’t work towards eliminating them. We could only hope you found your new favorite face was with us. Happy skincare, lovely!