Are you looking for the best skin lightening cream for hyperpigmentation?
(TLDR: our top pick is Meladerm)
Our editors have combed through hundreds of skin lightening creams and thousands of customer reviews to bring you the crème de la crème (pun intended).
The global skin whitening industry is big business (projected to reach $12bn by 2026) and ripe with false or misleading claims, especially on social media.
But the worse part is that many skin whitening creams still contain toxic chemicals, with a recent report showing that almost half contained dangerous levels of mercury. Yikes!
That's why we always review the full ingredient list of every product we recommend and run them through ingredient analyzers like Skin Carisma.
We also highlight specific ingredients that may cause issues for certain skin types.
Editor's Note: the terms "skin lightening" and "skin whitening" have significant cultural and historical associations that are beyond the scope for our website. In this article, we focus more on skin lightening products that reduce hyperpigmentation and promote more even tone, rather than products designed to whiten the skin beyond its natural skin tone.
Without further ado, let's get right to our recommendations!
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Here are the best skin lightening creams for hyperpigmentation:
For best results, Meladerm is a potent skin lightening cream with natural ingredients and no hydroquinone.
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Experience the original Obagi formula with no hydroquinone to fight aging, melasma, and uneven skin tone.
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Fall in love with the highest rated skin brightening cream from IMAGE Skincare featuring vitamin C and antioxidants.
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Get glowing with a professional brightening moisturizer from Dermalogica that reduces signs of aging and pigmentation.
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Re-energize dull skin with a double dose of AHAs and fruit enzymes to brighten, exfoliate, and repair aging skin.
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Brighten up with a popular cream from Andalou Naturals featuring vitamin C and certified organic extracts.
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For the perfect daytime moisturizer, Murad has you covered with vitamins, antioxidants, and broad spectrum SPF 30.
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Let Glytone exfoliate your dead skin cells with glycolic acid and fade brown spots with powerful 12% azelaic acid.
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Simplify your skincare regimen with this 3-in-1 primer from Colorescience that corrects, protects, and brightens.
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Never forget sunscreen again with a daily moisturizer from Aveeno that protects, hydrates, and evens skin tone.
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If you're on a budget, ACURE is an affordable option that doesn't compromise on quality ingredients.
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For best results, Meladerm is a potent skin lightening cream with natural ingredients and no hydroquinone.
Experience the original Obagi formula with no hydroquinone to fight aging, melasma, and uneven skin tone.
Fall in love with the highest rated skin brightening cream from IMAGE Skincare featuring vitamin C and antioxidants.
Get glowing with a professional brightening moisturizer from Dermalogica that reduces signs of aging and pigmentation.
Re-energize dull skin with a double dose of AHAs and fruit enzymes to brighten, exfoliate, and repair aging skin.
Brighten up with a popular cream from Andalou Naturals featuring vitamin C and certified organic extracts.
For the perfect daytime moisturizer, Murad has you covered with vitamins, antioxidants, and broad spectrum SPF 30.
Let Glytone exfoliate your dead skin cells with glycolic acid and fade brown spots with powerful 12% azelaic acid.
Simplify your skincare regimen with this 3-in-1 primer from Colorescience that corrects, protects, and brightens.
Never forget sunscreen again with a daily moisturizer from Aveeno that protects, hydrates, and evens skin tone.
If you're on a budget, ACURE is an affordable option that doesn't compromise on quality ingredients.
For decades, hydroquinone has been the "gold standard" for treating hyperpigmentation and it remains a popular option at both over-the-counter levels (2.0%) and prescription levels (4.0%).
Hydroquinone is effective at resolving hyperpigmentary skin conditions like melasma, age spots, uneven tone, and sun damage, and has an excellent safety record across multiple decades (sources: Hyperpigmentation Therapy: A Review, 2014 and The Safety of Hydroquinone, 2006).
RELATED:
As I discussed previously (under Meladerm), there's been some controversy over hydroquinone after the FDA published a proposed rule to ban over-the-counter hydroquinone products in 2006 (source: The Federal Register, 2006).
However, some dermatologists responded to the FDA with counterarguments on hydroquinone:
(sources: The Safety of Hydroquinone: A Dermatologist's Response to the 2006 FDA Federal Register and The Safety of Hydroquinone, 2006)
Long story short, hydroquinone is extremely effective and has been used safely for decades.
But it's important to choose the right hydroquinone product (if you're buying over-the-counter) and use it in accordance with medical guidelines or under a dermatologist's supervision.
My top recommendation here is the Murad Rapid Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Serum.
This is a 2% hydroquinone product created by dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad that does not require a doctor's prescription (or an expensive appointment).
It also includes Glycolic Acid to help hydroquinone penetrate your skin better and Hexapeptide-2 to improve uneven skin tone and assist in reducing excess pigmentation (source: Murad).
There's also Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Amino Acids, and Aloe Vera in the formula. On the other hand, I don't like that there's Alcohol Denatured (drying and potentially irritating) and Fragrance included.
Finally, customer feedback has been excellent, with ~2,500+ ratings on Ulta Beauty and Sephora. Comments included: fewer dark spots, more even skin tone, and less noticeable acne scars.
However, more critical reviews said this product did not improve their skin or caused a reaction.
My Verdict: Hydroquinone is a powerful treatment for hyperpigmentation (especially for melasma) and should not be feared, but respected, for its ability to fade dark spots and correct uneven tone. My top recommendation is Murad Rapid Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Serum which uses 2% Hydroquinone along with Glycolic Acid and Hexapeptide-2 to help brighten your complexion.