Make age spots vanish!
Whether you call them age spots, brown spots or sun spots, those pigmented areas that crop up on your hands, face and neck as a result of sun exposure can make you look older than your years! The best ways to get rid of them?
Fade them with carrot oil!
At least 85% of us can fade even large age spots by smoothing beta-carotene-rich carrot oil on our skin each evening! “Carrot seed oil is rich in antioxidants, such as carotenoids, that protect the skin from sun damage and delay signs of aging,” New York City-based dermatologist Debra Jaliman, M.D., explains. Plus, they prompt cells to turn over and regenerate, bringing healthy, radiant ones to the surface. One option: Leven Rose Organic Carrot Seed Oil ($13.97, Amazon.com).
Lighten the right way!
Hydroquinone is the gold standard for diminishing age spots, but it can be irritating. Combining it with gentler alternatives, such as kojic acid, alpha-arbutin or vitamin C, not only reduces that risk, it actually makes hydroquinone more effective, says Manhattan dermatologist Francesca Fusco, M.D. “All of these products work by decreasing the enlarged pigment cells or inhibiting an enzyme that triggers pigment production.” One option: Skin Beauty Solutions’ Skin Lightening Cream ($19.99, Amazon.com).
Reap even more with retinol!
Use dermatologist-favorite retinol to light en dark spots by speeding skin cell turnover, and you’ll smooth lines and soften wrinkles, too! Plus, if future age spots start to form, retinol will stop them from reaching their full maturity. “Retinol helps the skin shed cells that are already loaded with extra pigment,” smoothing your complexion in the process by accelerating collagen production, confirms Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in the department of dermatology at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital. One option: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Moisturizer ($23.99, Walgreens.com). Important: Never use retinol if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Even pigment with licorice!
Dab skin with licorice root extract twice daily, and any age spots will start fading within three weeks! “Licorice extract contains glabridin, a compound that helps even out pigment and lighten brown spots,” says Dr. Jaliman. “It’s slower than a prescription-strength lightener, but gentler,” adds Dr. Fusco. One option: Skin Power 10 Formula LI Effector with Licorice ($8.91, Amazon.com).
Rub away the years! Exfoliating pigmented areas is the key to brightening your skin, says Dr. Zeichner, who advises exfoliating twice a week to eliminate large age spots. Your best choices are chemical exfoliants, such as glycolic or salicylic acid, which gently lift away dead cells and make it easier for active ingredients to penetrate to deeper skin layers. Options include glycolic-packed Fab Beauty Facial Radiance Pads ($30, Amazon.com) or Cerave Renewing SA Lotion, which combats hyper-pigmentation as you moisturize.
—Kallie E. Kristensen