6 weapons to help fight age spots and reclaim your glowing skin
Wield these to up your chances against these rude, persistent offenders
No matter how diligent you are with your skincare routine (wash, tone, apply SPF, repeat!) sometimes age spots can take over even the clearest complexions, especially at the end of summer. How cruel!
Age spots can be flat, brown, gray, or black dots on the skin and they generally occur on areas of the face or hands or body that have been exposed to the sun. Changes in your hormones can also lead to brown spots—think pregnancy and fluctuations related to birth control. I have been wearing sunscreen nearly everyday since I was 16-years-old and I have a crop of age spots in the middle of my forehead, as well as some along my top lip. Unfortunately no one is immune.
Prescription medications like hydroquinone or retinoids can help to gradually fade spots, or you can turn to intense pulsed light therapy, cryotherapy (freezing) or a dermatologist administered chemical peel or microdermabrasion. Enter 2017 though, and skincare brands have been launching innovative ways to tackle this unwanted issue, offering a plethora of anti-aging options to help reduce discolouration while brightening the complexion.
Here are six anti-aging solutions geared towards reducing the appearance of brown spots at home.
Power packed
This kit, which contains five, one-time treatments, plays host to a powerful serum made for reducing the look of age spots, as well as helping to minimize wrinkles and refresh dull skin. With glycolic acid and an alpha hydroxy acid sourced from sugar cane, freckles and splotches don't stand a chance. And expect no down time.
Skin Authority Brightening Peel Pack, $21, Murale stores (in September)
Super hero status
For a one-time, mega-hit, rely on this enzyme masque from The Organic Pharmacy, an exclusive to Murale in Canada. This baby uses lemon, pineapple, acai, goji, lactobionic acid and sodium hyaluronate to remove dead skin cells, reduce dark spots and blackheads, as well as diminish fine lines while it nourishes skin in a breezy ten minutes. Talk about a powerhouse!
The Organic Pharmacy Enzyme Peel Masque, $107, Murale stores
Natural wonder
The first anti-aging treatment with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to be given the Ecocert designation in North America, this all-natural serum works on brown spots with at least five percent vitamin C, which improves skin's texture and acts against several effects on skin aging, including reducing brown spots. Hyaluronic acid helps to plump skin while it hydrates. Use this serum in conjunction with a retinol treatment for stellar results.
Zorah Biocosmetiques C-Nature Pure Argan Anti-Aging complex Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid, $99, zorahbiocosmetiques.com
The build up
Retinol was initially used as a treatment for acne (it works to unclog the pores), but was also found to help reduce the appearance of brown spots and wrinkles. Because retinol can be a volatile ingredient, it has mostly been available through prescription. Dermalogica's at home treatment contains a buffer cream to aid users in building up a tolerance for the retinol, which is needed to combat any side effects, such as redness or dry skin. Apply a mixture of one part retinol to three parts buffer cream, and apply after cleansing for best results and gradually lessen the buffer cream over time. Make sure to also apply an SPF of 30 or higher during the day, as this product can make skin more sensitive to the sun. Many beauty editors recommend combining with a vitamin C serum for optimal results.
Dermalogica Retinol 1% at home treatment, $134, dermalogica.ca
Serve and protect
A lightweight, non-greasy sunscreen is on top every beauty fan's list. Add to that the power to fade brown spots and you have a multi-tasking prod that everyone will be clamouring for. After just four weeks, 85 percent of women said their skin was brighter and more glowing, and 76 percent reported a more even skin tone. We like those odds.
Olay Luminous Brightening & Protecting Lotion with Sunscreen SPF 30, $41.99, drugstores and mass market retailers, as well as olay.com
All for one
Made for organic beauty lovers, Juice Beauty's CC Cream is a multi-tasker to the nth degree. A 12-in-1 cream, full of resveratrol, malic acid and aloe leaf juice, it moisturizes and smoothes the skin's texture, while evening skin tone and helping to cover up imperfections. Consider this your last line of defense when hiding dark spots.