When you’re going for that glow, uneven skin tone can be the difference between “Wow!” and “Womp, womp.” Making sure your skin is flawless from top to bottom is the ultimate goal. But how do you prevent or fix uneven skin tone?
We’re here to help! In this article and in the video below, we discuss what causes uneven skin tone, how to prevent uneven skin tone, how to even skin tone, the best ingredients to even skin tone, the best products for uneven skin tone, and answers to your frequently asked questions.
IN A NUTSHELL
Main Takeaways: The three things that contribute to uneven skin tone are redness, texture, and dark spots. In order to even skin tone, you need to address all three.
Good to Know: Acne scarring is one of the major causes of uneven skin tone. Scarring occurs (and is made worse) when you try to “fix” your breakouts, so do yourself a favor and don’t pick at your skin!
Recommended Products: Nectar of the C Vitamin C Serum and Crème de la Cream Brightening Moisturizer.
What is Uneven Skin Tone? What Causes Uneven Skin Tone?
Uneven skin tone is when the skin on your face or other parts of your body is different in color from some areas to others. Uneven skin tone happens when melanin (which gives skin its color) is overproduced in some spots, which is called hyperpigmentation.
There are many causes of uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation including:
- Scarring
- Acne
- Hormonal issues (like melasma, a condition common among pregnant women that manifests in blotchy spots)
- Dry skin
- Sun exposure
- Smoking
- Skin injury
How to Prevent Uneven Skin Tone
Some of the causes of uneven skin tone are out of your control (such as hormonal imbalances), but there are certain things you can do to help prevent uneven skin tone:
- Don’t pick at your skin! Acne scarring is one of the major causes of uneven skin tone, and you can cause a lot of trauma to your skin by picking at pimples. I know it’s tempting to pop those suckers, but don’t do it! Your future self will thank you.
- Limit sun exposure. Be sure that you’re always wearing sunscreen if you’re outside - even if it’s cloudy. The sun can cause major damage to your skin, including uneven skin tone, age spots, and wrinkles. SPF and shade are your skin’s best friends.
- Don’t smoke. Smoking can cause a whole host of health issues, including accelerating signs of aging.
- Drink plenty of water! Keeping yourself hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your body and your skin. Remember – at least eight 8 oz glasses of water. Every. Single. Day.
How to Even Skin Tone
Now that you know how to prevent uneven skin tone, what can you do if it’s already there? If you already have uneven skin tone on your face, you need to address three things that are making your skin tone appear uneven: skin texture, dark spots and redness.
Exfoliate
Let’s talk about texture. The smoother your skin is, the more even it will look. One of the first steps in getting smoother skin is exfoliating. Exfoliating can help your skin feel baby smooth. But be careful. Over-exfoliating can strip your skin of its natural oils, so it’s best to only exfoliate 1-3 times per week. Here is more information on how to choose an exfoliant for your skin type.
Moisturize
Another way to improve skin texture is to make sure you’re moisturizing at least twice a day. A good moisturizer will help to minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and provide a protective barrier on your skin to reduce harm caused by environmental stressors. Fleur & Bee’s Créme de la Cream brightening moisturizer is full of super hydrating ingredients like aloe, sunflower oil, and glycerin that will really help to smooth your skin; plus, it includes a good dose of vitamin C to brighten and even your skin.
Vitamin C Serum
Now, dark spots. The best way to minimize the look of dark spots is to treat them with vitamin C serum twice a day. If you have sensitive skin, be sure to use a serum that has gentle forms of vitamin C, like sodium ascorbyl phosphate or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. You don’t want to trade dark spots for any additional redness. We use sodium ascorbyl phosphate in our Nectar of the C vitamin C serum, so it works well for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Avoid Irritating Ingredients
Finally – how to even skin tone redness, because nobody wants to look like a boiled lobster! The best way to temporarily reduce redness is to avoid certain irritating ingredients, such as parabens, artificial fragrances, and sodium lauryl sulfates. You may also want to add a soothing toner to your skincare lineup. Fleur & Bee’s Rose and Shine rose water toner only has a few essential ingredients that both soothe and hydrate your skin, all without any nasty ingredients.
If you’re still feeling like your skin isn’t living its best life, you can always consult your dermatologist for alternative treatment options.
Best Ingredients to Even Skin Tone
There are certain ingredients that you want to look for in your skincare products (especially your serums, toners, and moisturizers) that will help even skin tone.
- Vitamin C — Its incredible antioxidant properties will help to even your skin tone and give it a brighter appearance. Vitamin C is one of the most effective ingredients for evening skin tone.
- Vitamin E — Vitamin E helps to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and helps boost the benefits of vitamin C when used together.
- Vitamin B3— Also known as niacinamide, this anti-aging vitamin helps to rejuvenate skin and diminish the look of dark spots.
- Squalane — Mimicking the skin’s natural oils, squalane provides superior moisturization for your skin.
- Rosehip Oil —Rosehip oil is bursting with antioxidants, plus omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids, providing an abundance of moisture.
- Green Tea — This powerhouse antioxidant helps awaken the skin and diminish the look of wrinkles.
- Rose water — Used for centuries, rose water has an array of benefits, including to balance the skin and alleviate redness.
- Kojic Acid — Kojic Acid is an antioxidant derived from mushrooms and can help fade the look of dark spots.
- Hyaluronic Acid — Hyaluronic acid deeply hydrates and plumps skin.
- Witch Hazel — A natural toner, witch hazel can temporarily reduce the look of pores and protect your skin from environmental stressors.
Including even a handful of these ingredients in your skincare routine will truly up your game when it comes to evening your skin tone.
Best Products for Uneven Skin Tone
How to even skin tone on your face comes down to the products in your skincare routine. We’ve done some research and compiled a list of some of the best products to help even skin tone.
Best Exfoliator for Uneven Skin Tone
Suki Skincare: Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser
We love this combination facial cleanser and exfoliant, which uses sugar and colloidal oat to gently buff away dead surface skin cells and refresh the look of your skin.
Tata Harper: Regenerating Cleanser
If you’re looking to splurge, Tata Harper’s Regenerating cleanser can be used as a daily exfoliant and uses apricot and willow bark as natural exfoliators.
Best Toner for Uneven Skin Tone
Pacifica: Cosmic Renew AHA and Hemp Resurfacing Tonic
The best toner for uneven skin tone would be Pacifica’s Cosmic Renew AHA and Hemp Resurfacing Tonic. With alpha hydroxy acids, this toner works to gently exfoliate and smooth out the skin, effectively helping to even out skin tone.
Best Vitamin C Serum for Uneven Skin Tone
Fleur & Bee: Nectar of the C Vitamin C Serum
The best vitamin C serum for uneven skin tone is Fleur & Bee’s Nectar of the C vitamin C serum. This serum uses a combination of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid to smooth and brighten your complexion.
Best Moisturizer for Uneven Skin Tone
Fleur & Bee: Créme de la Cream Brightening Moisturizer
The best cream for uneven skin tone on your face is our Créme de la Cream brightening moisturizer. Créme de la Cream contains the power combo of vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B3 to diminish the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
Frequently Asked Questions About Evening Skin Tone
Can you fix uneven skin tone?
Yes! There are definitely things you can do to even your skin tone. Improve your skin’s texture by adding an exfoliator to your routine and moisturizing everyday. Reduce the appearance of dark spots and redness by using a vitamin C serum.
Is uneven skin tone permanent?
In short, no. There may be some causes of uneven skin tone that you can’t prevent, but there are things you can do to diminish uneven skin tone. It doesn’t have to be permanent.
Why is my skin tone uneven?
Uneven skin tone is caused by the overproduction of melanin in the skin (melanin is what gives skin its color). It can be caused by many factors including scarring, acne, hormonal issues (like melasma, a condition common among pregnant women that manifests in blotchy spots), dry skin, smoking, skin injury, and especially sun exposure.
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