Best value
Good Molecules
Discoloration Correcting Serum
8.1Great
A $12 tranexamic-derivative and niacinamide serum with full ingredient percentages, a budget favorite for marks and uneven tone.
Serum5$12.00
Glow · Even Tone
Dark spots
4 products we review are built for dark spots — all of them serums. The ingredients doing most of the work: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin c. Most are made for combination skin, normal skin and oily skin.
Dark spots, dullness and that lit-from-within look everyone on your feed is chasing.
Top rated
The dark spots podium.
The ingredients behind it
Key actives in the products that deliver dark spots — tap one for what it does and how strong the evidence is.
Often paired with
Benefits that tend to come along for the ride.
4 products
Every dark spots pick.
4 products
Medik8
Crystal Retinal 6
7.9Good
A gentle, well-formulated 0.06% retinal night serum for regular vitamin A users, priced well above budget retinal alternatives.
Serum5$87.00
Community favorite
SkinCeuticals
C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid
7.7Good
The benchmark 15% vitamin C + E + ferulic serum, backed by strong data and derm loyalty, at a price many find hard to justify.
Serum5$185
La Roche-Posay
Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum with Melasyl + Niacinamide
7.6Good
A dark-spot serum pairing La Roche-Posay's new Melasyl molecule with 10% niacinamide; promising brand data, mixed real-world results.
Serum5$44.99