Tone-evening ingredients
Leave-on serums and creams with niacinamide, vitamin C, or azelaic acid, used to even out skin tone and fade dark spots.
Why it helps
Niacinamide helps with tone, texture, and the skin barrier. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can brighten dull skin and fade some dark spots. Azelaic acid calms breakouts and redness and helps fade marks left by acne and melasma.
Look for
- Niacinamide in a fragrance-free serum or moisturizer
- Vitamin C in dark or airtight packaging that keeps it stable
- Azelaic acid cream or gel for acne and dark marks
- Simple ingredient lists
- Products you can use morning or night as the label directs
Avoid
- Vitamin C products that have turned brown or smell sharp
- Layering many new actives at once
- Skipping sunscreen, which undoes the benefit for dark spots
Caution
Start one new ingredient at a time and test a small area first, because stinging and redness can happen, and azelaic acid products vary in strength.
Worth asking a clinician about
Stronger prescription azelaic acid, hydroquinone, or combination creams exist and are worth asking about for melasma or stubborn dark marks.
Sources
Products
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Price: low price · For face
A water-based serum with 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc PCA, sold in a 30 ml or 60 ml bottle.
- Alcohol free
- Oil free
- Niacinamide
- Vegan
- Non-comedogenic (brand)
The Ordinary
Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Price: low price · For face
A cream-like suspension with 10% azelaic acid, sold in a 30 ml or 100 ml tube.
- Alcohol free
- Oil free
- Vegan
- Non-comedogenic (brand)
CeraVe
Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
Price: higher price · For face
A leave-on serum with 10% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.
- Fragrance free
- Paraben free
- Ceramides
- Hyaluronic acid
- Non-comedogenic (brand)
La Roche-Posay
Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum With Melasyl + Niacinamide
Price: higher price · For face
A leave-on face serum with 10% niacinamide and a patented ingredient called Melasyl, sold in a dropper bottle.
- Paraben free
- Niacinamide
- For sensitive skin (brand)
- Non-comedogenic (brand)
SkinCeuticals
C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid
Price: higher price · For face
A liquid vitamin C serum with 15% L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, sold in a 30 ml bottle.
View product C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid (opens in a new tab)Acure
Brightening 2% Vitamin C & Ferulic Acid Serum
Price: medium price · For face
A daily face serum with 2% vitamin C derivatives, ferulic acid and pineapple extract.
- Vegan
These are products Dr. Haque has reviewed and recommends for different reasons. Unless a product is clearly marked 'Affiliate link,' it is not one. Most are not.