Foolproof Routine to Tackle Discoloration, Pigmentation, And Spots

Whether it’s the post breakout scarring, or simply the sun damage, dark spots are tough to avoid, and it can be even harder to get rid of them. Discoloration, Pigmentation, and Dark spots are quite a common concern for many of us, and while they can eventually fade on their own, it’s a long process – we mean months!

Before we get on to the good part, and learn about all the easy ways to get rid of them, it’s important to understand who can get them and what triggers this situation.

What’s the real cause?

We all know it’s prominently due to the UV damage, but is it just the sun to blame? The spots that we get due to breakouts or pollution are still temporary, but the pigmentation that we develop due to prolonged sun exposure, only gets worse with time.

UV light stimulates melanin production, which can also lead to dark patches and discoloration, and since these pigmentory changes go deeper into the skin, it’s much more difficult to get rid of them. This can get even harder to tackle as your skin ages, because ageing can slow down the collagen production, the protein that boosts our skin cell growth.

So guess what? Blame yourself as well, if you’re still not wearing your sunscreen regularly. All those years of SPF free days can lead to brown spots later down the road.

A simple routine for bright and even-toned skin

To tackle these concerns effectively, your skincare routine should have sensitive skin-friendly products, with clean and natural ingredients, and no artificial fragrances. Avoid products with alcohol in them, and if you're doing any DIY, avoid storing it for more than two days.

The Basic CTM (Morning and Night)

So here’s the routine that your skin needs, along with our top favorite picks from this best natural organic skin care brand,

Step 1: Vitamin C Cleanser

We know it’s not that easy to find specific ingredient-based products, especially when you’re looking for natural and organic options. Here’s a recommendation that you can totally trust, the Lemon Gel Facial Cleanser from Refresh Botanicals- a Canadian brand, recently launched in India.

Why do we recommend this? Because it's from a well-researched, certified organic brand and has over 99% natural ingredients. This natural daily cleanser for face is mild and pH balanced, and it helps to absorb excess oil and lighten dark spots too.

Step 2: Toner

You can go for any alcohol and fragrance-free option. If you’re choosing a mildly exfoliating toner, make sure to not use it more than twice or thrice a week, and it’s better to use it at night. Besides, you should always have a skin-soothing toner in your routine, to keep your skin calm and cool. Try out steam distilled hydrosols, or you can even make one with your favorite ingredient at you home, the best options are basil, rose and mint.

Step 3: Moisturizer

For daily use, your moisturizer should be lightweight, non-greasy, and non-oily. It should be something that you can comfortably wear underneath your SPF.

You can look for a natural oil balancing facial moisturizer with ingredients like Neroli, Kakadu Plum and Grapefruit. It would be the right match for your skin if you’re looking for something to tackle pigmentation and spots. Don’t forget to put on your SPF post moisturizing, and reapply your sunscreen every 3-4 hours if you’re out in the sun.

Alternatively, you may want to check out the range of Daily Facial Moisturizers from this same brand that we talked about above, Refresh Botanicals. They have a moisturizer with both Neroli and Grapefruit in it, and you can trust them with the purity of the ingredients as well.

Extra Care

Here are some tips to speed up the results and make your routine even more effective,

Exfoliate

Anything with AHAs (Glycolic, Mandelic, Lactic acid, to name a few) will really help to give your skin a gentle exfoliation by removing dead cells and cleaning the clogged pores. You can use face masks or peels; even exfoliating toners work really well. Make sure you're not over using them, once or twice a week is enough, also, stay away from sun for at least an hour or two, post exfoliation. Never skip your SPF, even if you're indoors, because exfoliation can make your skin super sensitive.

Spot Treatment

It’s important to stop the new spots from developing, so spot treat the moment you see a new pimple on your skin. You can use mud masks, anything with soothing Ingredients like Cica (Centella), or just put a dot of your exfoliating product on it.

Night Cream

Night creams are different from daily moisturizers; these are specially formulated to deeply comfort your skin as you sleep. Choose something with ingredients like Hyaluronic acid and Ceramides, they really help with strengthening the skin barrier as well.

Follow these tips and routines religiously and you’ll notice a remarkable difference in your skin within a month or two, and make sure to stay hydrated, it really helps our skin to absorb the products better.

Mohsen Ansari is digital expert who works as a technical marketer in India. His adeptness in technical digital work is backed by a proven track record of being a prominent professional in the IT industry.