This Drugstore Serum Faded My Hyperpigmentation in Record Time
Posted on September 30, 2024
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Hyperpigmentation can be caused by all sorts of things, including psoriasis, insect bites, and other injuries to the skin—and those with darker skin are often more prone to experiencing it. I have oily skin that frequently experiences breakouts, especially when I use fragranced products. As a result, I’ve dealt with acne, which has led to acne scars and dark spots all my life; even when my skin is fairly clear, I always notice the dark spots on my cheeks. Every now and then, I get a big pimple on the side of my cheek, and I usually wait for it to become a whitehead, so I can pop it myself. Of course, this has led to even more dark marks on my cheeks, contributing to my insecurity about my skin. As much as I love to showcase my Blackness, I’ve struggled with taking pictures, and it’s hard to resist zooming into my face to stare at those dark marks. That’s why I’ve been on the hunt for a hyperpigmentation-fading serum that’s also suitable for deeper skin.
Serendipitously, at a La Roche-Posay event earlier this year, I received a sample of the brand’s Mela B3 Serum; the serum is formulated to reduce the appearance of dark spots with the help of 10 percent niacinamide and Melasyl, a new proprietary ingredient developed by the company. I’m not going to lie—I never used La Roche-Posay products before this test, but I’d heard so many people rave about the brand that I decided to give this serum and the Mela B3 UV Daily Sunscreen a try. Check out my results below.
Courtesy of La Roche-Posay
As someone who experiences hyperpigmentation—especially on the cheeks, where I break out the most—I’m noticing a slight difference. I had a pimple below my beard that left a dark spot. Within the first week of using the serum, it has slowly faded. My skin also feels smoother.
I usually get a shape-up or a haircut every week; I tend to get a dark line on my forehead from my barber lining up my hairline and from wearing hats that make my hair press and rub up against my skin. I used this formula on my hairline, and I’m very impressed by how quickly the mark is fading. In terms of my cheeks, I’ve noticed a slight difference in how they look compared to the first week. I can see that the dark marks are fading and that my skin tone is becoming more even. The mark from the pimple by my beard is almost gone.
My cheeks have started to look much more even—Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, Florida, did tell me at the La Roche-Posay event that people might be able to notice visible results within three weeks.
Meanwhile, the dark spot under my beard has completely disappeared. I also got another haircut this week, and my barber was amazed by how much the dark line on my forehead had faded.
It’s been a month, and on the side of my eyebrows, a few dark spots started to fade away. I also shaved underneath my beard and applied the serum to my neck. I saw slight results during the week.
Courtesy of La Roche-Posay
I’m noticing a small difference in my hyperpigmentation on both sides of the face. However, I have a big new pimple on one of my cheeks. As I mentioned earlier, I often experience large pimples on my cheeks and end up popping them at home. This time, I’m waiting until it pops on its own. During my haircut this week, my barber was shocked that the line of hyperpigmentation on my forehead was almost gone.
Due to some weather changes, my skin was very dry this week, which created a few more dark spots. The big pimple on my right cheek burst and left a small dark spot. I also have another pimple underneath that one that isn’t too dark. Thankfully, I know by now that the Mela B3 serum will help.
I experienced a breakout this week because of a new cleanser, so I decided to go back to my usual acne-fighting cleanser. On my left side, the pimples were definitely disappearing, and the dark spots were fading. The hyperpigmentation on my nose and neck are lifting, too.
The two breakouts on my right cheek left two dark spots. But thanks to the serum, the marks and the hyperpigmentation on my forehead are starting to fade. Plus the left side of my face is now free of dark spots.
Courtesy of La Roche-Posay
I had dark spots on the side of my mustache last week, and after looking in the mirror, I realized that they’re gone. Sometimes, the corner of my nose gets dark spots too, and I noticed it looks pretty even. The right side of my face has experienced significant changes as well. My skin is smoother, and the dark spots are lighter than they were last week.
The left side of my cheek is glowy, and there are no dark spots. The dark spots on my right side are fading (it’s about 90 percent clear). There are no dark spots on the corners of my nose. My neck is slowly evening out along with my forehead.
The hyperpigmentation is now 95 percent gone, which I’m thrilled about. I’m grateful that this serum has helped me target this concern. The dark spots on the left side of my cheek are pretty much gone. The dark spots on the right side of my cheek are still fading; since I tend to break out on that side, I have to be more patient.
The dark spots I had on week one are virtually gone. I have a small pimple on my right cheek, but I know that I can depend on the serum to get rid of the hyperpigmentation it’ll leave behind.
Courtesy of Larry Stansbury
The author before and after testing the La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum.
Final Thoughts
After trying the serum for 12 weeks, I’m blown away by how much lighter my dark spots have become and by how even my skin looks. It used to take two to three weeks for my hyperpigmentation to go away, but with the serum and the Mela B3 sunscreen, my dark spots start to fade within a few days. The color of my cheeks finally matches the rest of my complexion, and it no longer takes several layers of foundation or concealer to make my skin look flawless. I even had a makeup artist ask me what I used to fade my dark spots, and I recommended the Mela B3 Serum to him. I’m glad to see that the product works for Black skin—and if I ever deal with any future dark spots, I know that I can always fall back on this serum.
La Roche-Posay MelaB3 Serum Intense Anti-Dark Spot Serum
