Hyperpigmentation + Discolouration: The Best Skincare Routine

Hyperpigmentation. Those rogue dark spots that just won’t go away. The little dots that mark your skin and take forever and ever and ever to fade.

Yes, we have a lot of frustration when it comes to hyperpigmentation.

It’s an age-old battle. You get a spot, you treat it, it goes away but leaves a lingering mark. You’ll try loads of different products in a fruitless effort to try and minimize its appearance, often to no avail. To successfully manage hyperpigmentation, you need a deep understanding of what’s causing the issue, what ingredients work best, and how your overall skincare routine can help lighten it. Without that type of knowledge, you’ll end up spending lots of money on products that just don’t really work.

We know there is a lot of discussion around how to improve hyperpigmentation, and we firmly believe that it’s very much an individual journey. Your skin is unique, as is the person next to you, and so on. What causes hyperpigmentation for you could be wildly different for someone else, even if you seem similar at the outset. No two people have the same skin, so why should your skincare regimen match everyone else’s?

What causes hyperpigmentation

Before we talk about the best skincare routine for hyperpigmentation, we have to look at the underlying factors for why it occurs. Although the individual triggers can vary based on genetics and skin chemistry, we have a general understanding of why hyperpigmentation occurs. 

Understanding why it happens can help you get closer to understanding what might work for your skin and the ingredients and skincare products you need to calm your skin.

Hyperpigmentation happens when there is excess melanin production, leading to darker spots. The three main culprits tend to include acne scars, hormonal fluctuations, and sun damage. There are other triggers, too, of course, but most people will trace their hyperpigmentation back to one of these three.

Other factors for hyperpigmentation may include rare endocrine conditions such as Addison’s disease, oral contraceptives, and certain medications. Genetics is also a factor, as darker skin tends to be more prone to hyperpigmentation. 

Because the causes are so varied, there really isn’t a way to definitively say what causes hyperpigmentation. However, certain things such as moisturising regularly, drinking enough water, using sunscreen, and taking good care of your skin can reduce the impact of hyperpigmentation. You may not be able to avoid it, but taking care of your skin can minimize it when it does happen, and it’ll fade away faster too. Dehydration and lack of moisture can exacerbate the issue, particularly for those with dry and sensitive skin. 

So if you’re prone to acne, you might experience greater bouts of hyperpigmentation. Even if you are not, extended time out in the sun without proper protection will likely add to it. Minimizing hyperpigmentation is about taking better care of your skin, protecting it when needed, and making sure that you are eating healthy and drinking lots of water to counteract its effects.

The better care you take of yourself, the better the results will be. Reducing hyperpigmentation is a long-term effort since you’ll need to figure out the root cause of the acne that causes it and/or dryness that’s leaving marks. Your body will react to things in different ways, and we’ve written in the past that it’s essential to observe your body’s patterns! Keep an eye on diet and habits and see if there are any trends. Even a week or two of getting enough sleep and drinking water can make a bigger difference than you might imagine!

The other thing you need to keep an eye on when it comes to hyperpigmentation is using the right skincare products. The ingredients you choose will make a much bigger difference than you might think in helping to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Certain ingredients can help with this skin issue, so pick wisely!

The best skincare routine for hyperpigmentation

From the start, MyGloww’s mission has been to help you feel more comfortable and happy in your own skin. Our company is founded on a mission: Create amazing skincare that’s custom made. No one-size-fits-all products here, all of our products are handcrafted for your skin type.

That’s our commitment.

How? By sending us a simple selfie, believe it or not. Once you send us a picture, we’ll create a bespoke skincare routine based on your skin. Each ingredient in our products is picked specifically for your skin to reduce hyperpigmentation and nourish it back to health. Basically, our products are going to help you gloww!

Your custom skincare routine starts here.

Your journey to a tailor-made skincare routine starts here.

Come this way for custom beauty uniquely designed for you.

Your skincare steps

We’ve been working behind the scenes to create the ultimate skincare routine for hyperpigmentation. MyGloww has developed a 5-step process designed for your skin. For hyperpigmentation, our main recommendation would be to skip chemicals and go for natural, plant-based ingredients. Chemicals can be super harsh and might end up doing harm than good, so it’s always better to go gentle! You should start to see a difference within a few weeks if you go through the routine consistently. 

Ready for a new skincare routine for hyperpigmentation? Here are the products you need:

1. Cleanser: Always start with a cleanser, morning and night. For hyperpigmentation, you need something that’s gentle when removing impurities and doesn’t irritate your skin too much. While it might be tempting to opt for harsh cleansers to try to lighten the spots, it doesn’t quite work that way. Look for gentle ingredients that help keep your skin’s natural moisture level and provide extra hydration.
2. Exfoliant: Once you’re done with cleansing, your exfoliator is next in the evening. Exfoliants are a key part of the skincare routine since they remove dead cells from the skin’s surface, which will help superficially lighten some of the hyperpigmentation over time. You don’t need to use this every day, especially if your skin is on the more sensitive side; a few times a week should be fine. 

Essence: Your next step after cleansing and exfoliating is using an essence. This step is here to help your skin start locking in some hydration and nutrients so that it can start glowing. Essences contain a slightly more concentrated formula and are packed with ingredients that help brighten your skin and improve its texture.

Oil serum: After the essence comes an oil serum. Oil serums contain an even more concentrated formula of nutrients because they help rebalance your skin and give it more nourishment. An oil serum will help improve your skin’s glow and help it retain a good balance of moisture.

Moisturiser: We say this over and over again, but it bears repeating - do not skip your moisturiser! Whether evening or night, combatting hyperpigmentation means giving your skin the hydration it needs to recover, which is where your moisturiser comes in! It has all the necessary ingredients to nourish, replenish and help reduce the impacts of hyperpigmentation.

Sunscreen/SPF: And finally, during the day, don’t forget to add sunscreen and use SPF makeup products where possible. Hyperpigmentation can be exacerbated by too much sunlight, and SPF will help counteract that. Where you can, go for SPF products such as foundation or translucent powder for extra protection. 

Skincare is about taking out the time for yourself and giving yourself the love and attention you need to feel good on the outside and the inside. Even a small act of just taking ten minutes out for yourself can make the biggest difference when it comes to getting your skin to glow! Hyperpigmentation can be a challenging issue to deal with it, but with patience and the right products, you’ll start to see an improvement and feel more happy and confident in your own skin in no time!