I’m always looking for premium skincare, and lately, I’ve been researching the best face washes for hyperpigmentation.
The overproduction of melanin can be the main cause of hyperpigmentation. Using sunscreen can prevent discoloration and dark spots, but using facial cleansers helps reduce the visibility of it if it already exists.
As acid face washes remove dead skin cells, it smooths out uneven skin tones and leftover acne scars. Although putting acidic-based products on your face sounds scary, don’t worry.
It doesn’t harm your skin except for the occasional tingle (that usually means it’s working)!
Incorporating exfoliating cleansers into your daily routine also gives you a brightening effect. And of course, removing impurities from your face is a crucial first step in every skincare routine.
So make sure you’re using the right products for your needs! I compiled my personal list of the best face washes for hyperpigmentation, I hope it helps!
Shop my recommended face washes for hyperpigmentation:
7 Best Face Washes for Hyperpigmentation
1. CosRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
The CosRX gel cleanser is formulated with tea tree oil and natural BHA to mimic our skin’s natural pH levels. It protects the skin barrier and is especially great for sensitive skin as it provides a hydrating, soothing effect.
I also want to highlight a key ingredient: glycolic acid. This removes the top layer of dead skin cells and accelerates cell renewal alongside collagen production.
Because glycolic acid works in tandem with its other natural ingredients, this cleanser reverses sun damage while retaining hydration.
And of course, this product is cruelty-free!
2. Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser
Much like the Low pH Morning Gel Cleanser, this foaming facial cleanser targets dullness, redness, and oil control for sensitive and oily skin.
As one of the brand’s best sellers, the product boasts a lightweight formula that is both deeply hydrating and anti-aging. One of their key ingredients includes ceramides, which strengthen the skin’s surface to reduce pores for an anti-aging boost.
Their other key ingredient works well with ceramides since hyaluronic acid then retains the moisture. The third key ingredient is aloe, which is well known for its soothing properties on sensitive skin.
The Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser uses glycerin, which performs the same duties as glycolic acid but on a more cursory level. That being said, it still provides excellent hydration and softens the skin better than glycerol!
3. Hyper Skin Gentle Brightening Cleansing Gel
This gel cleanser is all about its unique ingredient list: Mandelic acid, bearberry, willow bark, and licorice root. If this is your first time hearing these names, don’t worry!
Let’s break all of these ingredients down. Mandelic acid has strong antibacterial properties that acerbate cell turnover rate to combat hyperpigmentation.
Licorice root extract then reduces the inflammation and irritation that could arise from activating rapid skin cell exfoliation and new growth.
And as for the willow bark extract, this ingredient is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial abilities. By combining all these three ingredients together, the formula magnifies its effect by doubling the function of their ingredients.
They also tick off my golden standard for being a part of the Clean at Sephora seal, which means that Hyper Skin is committed to being vegan, gluten-free, and even cruelty-free.
4. Peace and Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher
Since we’re talking about facial products, we can’t forget about Korean skincare! The Peace and Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher is a highly luxurious and rich powder that targets nearly every dermatology-related concern.
Their cruelty-free, vegan, and gluten-free formula ensures a formula with natural-made ingredients with minimal synthetics. They use less than 0.05% essential oils so that there is no chance of irritating even the most sensitive skin types.
As a testament to their integrity, their ingredient list sounds something like a floral dream. They use ginseng, papaya, apple, grape, plum extract, green tea, allantoin, and the tiniest micro-dose of salicylic acid for the exfoliating effect.
The best part about this product is that you can alter it to your needs by controlling the amount of water you use with the powder. If your skin is feeling especially rough, you can add less water to intensify the exfoliating aspect of the product.
If you’re brushing up on daily maintenance, then you can add more water and enjoy a smoother application. No matter how you change it up, the result will always be engineered to do its job perfectly.
5. Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser
This is another glycolic acid exfoliating cleanser that gets the job done without sacrificing any ethics. It’s vegan, sulfate-free, paragon-free, gluten-free, and cruelty-free, and is packaged in recyclable material.
Its key ingredients are glycolic acid, calendula extract, allantoin, and jojoba seed oil.
We already know what glycolic acid does, so let’s focus more on the rest. Calendula extract and allantoin provide antioxidant effects that protect the skin barrier from the biggest aggravators of hyperpigmentation: UV rays and pollution.
As for the jojoba seed oil, it has anti-inflammatory properties to keep the skin soft.
6. Murad Essential-C Cleanser
Because this cleanser is packed full of rich vitamins, it has an undeniable energizing boost. It smells like citrus without being overbearing, so if you like starting or ending the day on a refreshing note—this is for you!
In terms of how it achieves this effect, the Vitamin A in their formula conditions the skin while Vitamin C prepares the skin barrier to resist damage. Then, Vitamin E hydrates the skin to ensure the skin barrier stays healthy.
You can get this product for less if you get the brightening bundle, but I wanted to highlight the pros of the cleanser first! Make sure to check out the bundle if you want to save money!
7. Pigmentclar Brightening Deep Cleanser
La Roche Posay Pigmentclar is another great option for brightening discolored skin. The formula is paraben-free, oil-free, and non-comedogenic.
Their main ingredients are lipo-hydroxy acid which exfoliates the skin, glycerin for hydration, and thermal spring water for antioxidants. If you’re sensitive to nickel, this formula makes sure that it’s not a problem!
Tightens enlarged pores and controls excess sebum production
Their product page is full of testimonies from certified dermatologists and even the claim that their product is endorsed by over 90,000 dermatologists worldwide.
If you decide to check out any of these face washes for hyperpigmentation, tag me on Insta (@wtfab) so I can see how much your skin improves!
Looking for more Skincare content? Be sure to explore it here.
10 Korean Exfoliator Products Your Skin Will Love
SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight Review
Can I Use Niacinamide with Hyaluronic Acid?
Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide: A How-To Guide and Product Picks
Glycolic Acid and Vitamin C: How to Use + Top Products
FAQs
It depends on the severity of the condition, especially if it is partly caused by deep scarring from past acne. Generally, it should take around 6 months to a year for results to show after consistent use of external products.
Using facial creams, cleansers, and non-abrasive products can help your skin heal naturally.
Products that have specific features such as being anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, or exfoliating can help reduce the visibility of hyperpigmentation without needing to go to a doctor.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
