10 Best Dark Spot Correctors 2025, Tested and Reviewed

The primary ingredient of this moisturizer is azelaic acid—which can help even skin tone, reduce the appearance of blemishes, and offer antioxidant support. It can be layered on after other skincare products to lock in moisture.

Glamour’s Kilkeary is also a huge fan of this product because of how unique it is. “The gel-cream formula gives it the feel of a cooling moisturizer, but the potent ingredients make it just as effective as a serum. I like to use this as the second-to-last product in my skin-care routine, and it never fails to leave my skin looking extra bright. My other favorite part? It’s oil-free, which makes it suitable for those—like me!—with acne-prone skin.”

Best with Vitamin C: Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Face Serum Dark Spot Corrector

• Pros: Exfoliates and brightens; evens out tone and texture
• Cons: Has a smell

“Vitamin C is key for preventing skin damage and dark spot formation in the first place,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, board-certified NYC-based dermatologist, who recommends incorporating this ingredient into your morning skin-care routine. Kilkeary gave this serum a rigorous test over the course of a month and was very pleased with how it addressed and faded the dark spots. “This pick is chock-full of antioxidants, too, like guava, ferulic acid, and vitamin E, and always leaves my skin looking glowy and fresh after application.”

Glamour contributor Denise Primbet is also a fan. “I’m a sucker for a formula that targets multiple concerns at once. Apart from its incredibly adorable packaging (signature to the Glow Recipe aesthetic), I was immediately drawn to its clever formulation that combines a trio of brightening and resurfacing ingredients. My skin felt instantly rejuvenated, and I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t result in any inflammation or unwanted sensitivity whenever I was dealing with yet another PCOS-related breakout.”

Best for Face and Body: Eadem Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum

• Pros: Designed for women of color; lightweight formula
• Cons: May take time to see results

This lightweight product was specifically formulated to reduce hyperpigmentation for people with melanin-rich skin, featuring all-star ingredients like niacinamide, licorice root extract, and amber algae, among others. “Its gentle, milky texture is safe for sensitive skin and leaves a more balanced, even tone—a welcome pick for all complexions,” says facial aesthetician Ian Michael Crumm. It’s also one that you can blend down onto the body, including the back and chest, to help fade dark spots in these areas.

“I love that Eadem’s goal is to develop skin care for people of color. I’m Indian, prone to hyperpigmentation, and have a lot of scars left behind from the cystic acne from my teen years into my late 20s,” says Glamour contributor Neha Tandon. She appreciated that the milky texture actually hydrates her very dry skin. “In the month I tried it, I noticed my skin started to get a serious lit-from-within glow. I happened to get a little hormonal breakout while I was testing it out, and it almost completely erased the little pigmentation that the acne left behind on my cheeks,” she says.

Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle also tested the serum and liked the lightweight consistency and fast absorbancy. “I’ve only been testing it for a few weeks so it’s too soon to see results but I love how smooth it glides on. There’s no scent and it doesn’t feel sticky either like other serums.”

Best for Melanated Skin Tones: La Roche-Posay MelaB3 Serum

• Pros: Noncomedogenic; lightweight; paraben-free
• Cons: Pricey