Five Ways to Even Out Your Skin Tone: A Dermal Therapist's Tips
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
“I want an even skin tone!” is easily one of the most sought-after requests I hear from clients in clinic, and honestly, same.
An even skin tone that is bright, smooth, and free of dark and/or red spots can make our overall skin appearance look so much healthier and even more youthful.
However, there are many factors to consider when we are seeking an even skin tone, including genetics, pigmentation, excess skin texture, which commonly happens when people exfoliate infrequently or incorrectly, and the biggest one I see: not being consistent with a daily SPF.
SPF is so important for everything, honestly. While we all know it protects us from skin cancers and the signs of ageing that come when you do not wear it, it is basically like telling your skin to produce more melanin, and melanin is what produces pigment in the skin, which equals uneven skin tone.
So if you want an even skin tone, you need to put a doorstop on that production by wearing an SPF you actually like every day.
How to Even Out Skin Tone.
1. SPF to Prevent Uneven Skin Getting Worse.
Sorry, I’m back on my SPF train and while we now know we need it to prevent our skin pigmentation from getting worse - I do also have one more thing to say on this matter...
Prevention = easier than correction.
If you can prevent sun spots, hyperpigmentation when you’re young it will be saving you a lot of money later on in life.
So yes, let’s SPF every day but let’s also stay out of the sun, wear a hat and cover up too.
Try:
Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF50+ 50ml Luminising SKINSCREEN - But honestly any SPF you love/like to wear will work!
Please note: Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection so wear protective clothing and seek shade. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Reapply SPF every 2 hours and after swimming, towelling and perspiring in accordance with directions.
2. Chemical Exfoliation.
Using the right chemical exfoliant for your skin type is important in helping your skin cells turnover and ensuring skin stays smooth.
A good chemical exfoliant can minimise pores, remove dead skin cells and help to even out skin tone so it is a vital step in your skincare routine.
Chemical exfoliants can also help lift pigment from the skin and help with texture and those two things are often what can make our skin look dull, blah and uneven.
Try:
Cosmedix Purity Clean Exfoliating Cleanser - Got sensitive skin? Chemical exfoliation for a sensitive skin is great via a cleanser!
Alpha-H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment 100ml - A good one for a more normal/combo skin - just be careful with overuse.
3. Vitamin A for Healthier and Brighter Skin.
Does retinol even skin tone?The right vitamin A in your skincare routine is also helpful (unless you are pregnant - sorry).
Vitamin A can help with skin cell turnover which basically means it gets rid of the damaged/dead skin cells we don’t need and makes way for newer/healthier skin cells we do need.
Plus, it can increase collagen production so all of this = healthy, brighter skin.
We just need to find the right derivative and product for us.
There are also great pigment-blocking vitamin A products formulated with chemical exfoliants as well as brightening ingredients on the market that specifically target uneven skin - and they can streamline a routine!
Try:
PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment 29.5g or Alpha-H Midnight Reboot Serum 50ml - What serum evens skin tone if you have sensitive skin? Alpha H Midnight Reboot Serum is better for a more sensitive skin as the A in this is very gentle.
4. Tyrosinase Inhibitors for Pigmentation.
Now of course, if you are dealing with dark spots and pigmentation in the skin you also need to be using tyrosinase inhibiting ingredients and if you’re sitting there thinking WTF is tyrosinase? I don’t blame you.
Tyrosinase is the enzyme in our skin that produces pigment.
So a tyrosinase inhibitor basically acts as a security guard on your skin that tells your skin to stop producing pigment.
Prescription strength ingredients like hydroquinone can also be handy when needed - you can access these via your doctor/Dermatologist.
Try:
Aspect Pigment Punch+ 30ml - Is a very skin friendly pigment serum. I’d use both AM and PM.
5. Clinical Treatments.
In some cases, skincare can only take us so far so clinical treatments are important too.
Chemical peels are great at treating uneven skin tone in the skin and the treatment has come so far.
So don’t be scared of them. I feel as though we all have a little PTSD from Samantha’s chemical peel on SATC but they are no longer like that and when the skin is healthy and prepped you may not even peel and can go straight back to work - yes, they are that good.
So find a Dermal Therapist you can trust with your skin and let them take you on a skin journey.
Laser treatments like Clear and Brilliant/Fraxel etc… can also be beneficial.
Want more of the best beauty content? Check out some of our recent BIQ articles below:
