The 7 best dark spot correctors, from tranexamic acid to niacinamide

Key takeaways

• Dark spot correctors use ingredients like tranexamic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C and kojic acid to fade the look of discoloration. They work best alongside daily sunscreen.

• Our top pick is Paula’s Choice CLINICAL Discoloration Repair Serum, with 3% tranexamic acid, 5% niacinamide and 0.5% bakuchiol.

• The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum is the budget pick at $19, and it’s labeled fragrance-free and safe during pregnancy.

• Over-the-counter hydroquinone products can no longer be legally sold in the US. It’s now prescription-only.

• Be patient. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says a spot a few shades darker than your skin usually fades within 6 to 12 months once its cause is stopped, and deeper discoloration can take years.

How to choose a dark spot corrector

The AAD says “effective treatment for dark spots and patches begins with sunscreen,” and lists azelaic acid, glycolic acid, kojic acid, retinoids and vitamin C among the ingredients in over-the-counter products. Our guide to fading dark spots covers what causes them and what helps.

The ingredients you’ll see most often:

• Tranexamic acid. A 2022 systematic review of nine studies on tranexamic acid for dark marks left after inflammation found the studies favored applying or injecting it over taking it as a pill, because of milder side effects.

• Niacinamide. Our guide to what niacinamide does covers the research on it.

• Vitamin C. Our list of vitamin C serums compares the different forms.

• Kojic acid and licorice root. Both show up in several multi-ingredient formulas here.

You won’t find hydroquinone on this list. The FDA says over-the-counter skin lightening products containing hydroquinone had to come off the US market as of September 23, 2020. It’s still available by prescription.

We compared each product on its published ingredient list, not on hands-on testing. We looked at the brightening ingredients and their strengths where the brand states them, whether fragrance is listed, the brand’s directions, any published study figures and the price.

1. Paula’s Choice CLINICAL Discoloration Repair Serum: best overall

Paula’s Choice CLINICAL Discoloration Repair Serum combines 3% tranexamic acid, 5% niacinamide and 0.5% bakuchiol with vitamin E and milk thistle oil. There’s no fragrance in its ingredient list.

Key features:

• Three brightening ingredients with stated strengths. Paula’s Choice lists the percentage of each one.

• Published study figures. In an 8-week consumer panel of 42 people, 81% agreed discolorations from sun damage improved, according to Paula’s Choice.

• Twice-daily use. Once your skin adjusts, the brand says it can be used morning and night, finished with SPF 30 or higher in the daytime.

Tradeoff: Paula’s Choice says to start at three times a week and to expect visible results after 8 to 12 weeks. At $59 it costs about three times as much as the INKEY List and Naturium serums.

Best for: most people with sun spots and uneven-looking skin.

Price: $59 for 1 fl oz.

2. The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum: best budget pick

The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum has 2% tranexamic acid, 2% acai berry extract and 2% ascorbyl glucoside, a vitamin C derivative. The INKEY List labels it fragrance-free and suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Key features:

• Low price. It’s $19 for 30 ml.

• Morning and night use. The brand says to apply it after cleansing, with SPF in the morning.

• Gentle formula. The INKEY List says it’s suitable for sensitive skin.

Tradeoff: at 2% it has the lowest stated tranexamic acid level here, The INKEY List doesn’t publish study figures, and it suggests waiting 30 minutes before applying moisturizer.

Best for: anyone trying a dark spot serum for the first time, or on a budget.

Price: $19 for 30 ml.

3. Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides: best for all skin tones

Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides is a brightening serum with 1% oxyresveratrol, peptides and hyaluronic acid. It comes as two 10 ml bottles that you activate one at a time. Medik8 labels it fragrance-free.

Key features:

• Tested across skin tones. Medik8 says 33% of its study panels had Fitzpatrick skin types 5 and 6.

• Published study figures. In a 4-week consumer study of 50 people with dark spot concerns, 92% agreed it was gentle on their skin, according to Medik8.

• Face, neck and chest. Medik8 says to use six drops morning and evening, avoiding the eye area.

Tradeoff: at $67 for 20 ml it’s the most expensive per milliliter here, and each bottle stays potent for only six weeks after you activate it. Medik8 recommends a patch test first.

Best for: deeper skin tones, or anyone who wants a fragrance-free formula without tranexamic acid.

Price: $67 for two 10 ml bottles.

4. La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Double Dose Discoloration Treatment with Melasyl: best for age spots

La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Double Dose Discoloration Treatment combines 1% Melasyl, La Roche-Posay’s own brightening ingredient, with niacinamide and Proxylane in a gel-cream.

Key features:

• Published study figures. In a 15-week clinical study of 85 people, La Roche-Posay reports a 30% fade in the look of age spots, based on expert grading of a persistent dark spot. The brand says it was tested with women 40 and older.

• Face, neck, chest and hands. It’s made for the places sun spots tend to show up.

• Twice-daily use. La Roche-Posay says to apply three to four pumps morning and evening, before moisturizer.

Tradeoff: it contains fragrance and denatured alcohol, which may not suit sensitive skin.

Best for: sun spots on the face, chest and hands.

Price: $54.99.

5. Naturium Tranexamic Topical Acid 5%: best high-strength tranexamic acid

Naturium Tranexamic Topical Acid 5% pairs 5% tranexamic acid with kojic acid, niacinamide and licorice root extract. Naturium labels it fragrance-free.

Key features:

• 5% tranexamic acid. It’s the highest stated tranexamic acid strength on this list.

• Several brightening ingredients. Kojic acid and licorice root join the tranexamic acid.

• Low price. It’s $20 for 30 ml.

Tradeoff: Naturium says it’s clinically proven over 8 weeks but doesn’t give the number of people or the results, and it suggests starting a few times a week.

Best for: people who want a higher dose of tranexamic acid for less.

Price: $20 for 30 ml.

6. Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum: best with an exfoliating acid

Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum combines 4-ethylresorcinol, tranexamic acid, glycolic acid and hexapeptide-2.

Key features:

• Glycolic acid. The added AHA gives it an exfoliating step that most picks here don’t have.

• Published study figures. In a 4-week clinical study of 35 people with Fitzpatrick skin types 2 to 6, 91% saw brighter-looking skin in 14 days, according to Murad, though the results came from using it with a Murad regimen.

• Travel size. A 0.33 fl oz size is $31.

Tradeoff: it’s the most expensive pick at $88 for 1 fl oz, and it contains fragrance, citrus peel oils and alcohol, which Murad lists second in the ingredients.

Best for: people who want a dark spot serum with an exfoliating acid built in.

Price: $88 for 1 fl oz.

7. Peach Slices Super Fade Discoloration Serum: best under $15

Peach Slices Super Fade Discoloration Serum, from Peach & Lily’s drugstore line, combines a tranexamic acid derivative with niacinamide, licorice root, kojic acid and centella compounds. Peach Slices labels it fragrance-free, silicone-free and alcohol-free.

Key features:

• Very low price. It’s $11.99 for 30 ml.

• Several brightening ingredients. It covers tranexamic acid, niacinamide and kojic acid in one serum.

• Airless pump. The packaging keeps air out.

Tradeoff: the product page lists two different strengths for its tranexamic acid ingredient, and it doesn’t say how many people were in its study or how long it ran.

Best for: trying a multi-ingredient dark spot serum for the lowest price.

Price: $11.99 for 30 ml.

How to use a dark spot corrector

• Wear sunscreen every day. Cleveland Clinic recommends a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher daily. Our guide to mineral vs chemical sunscreen explains the options.

• Start slowly. Several brands here suggest a few times a week at first, building up as your skin adjusts.

• Use one new product at a time. That way you’ll know what’s working and what’s irritating.

• Give it months, not weeks. Cleveland Clinic says treatments might take a few months or a year to work.

• See a dermatologist for stubborn patches. Melasma and deep discoloration may need prescription treatment. Our list of azelaic acid products covers another ingredient dermatologists often suggest.

Frequently asked questions

Do dark spot correctors actually work?

They can help fade the look of dark spots over time, especially paired with daily sunscreen. The AAD says treatment can speed up the fading of dark spots.

What is the best ingredient for dark spots?

There’s no single best one. Tranexamic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, azelaic acid, kojic acid and retinoids all have research behind them. Many serums combine two or more.

How long does it take for dark spots to fade?

Usually months. Paula’s Choice says to expect results after 8 to 12 weeks, and the AAD says a spot a few shades darker than your skin usually fades within 6 to 12 months once its cause is stopped. Deeper discoloration can take years.

Can I still buy hydroquinone?

Not over the counter in the US. The FDA says over-the-counter hydroquinone products had to come off the market in 2020, but a dermatologist can prescribe it.

Why won’t my dark spot go away?

Sun exposure is a common reason. Without daily sunscreen, spots can darken again. If a spot changes size, shape or color, see a dermatologist.