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Struggling with melasma? Here are 13+ skin care products to help
We asked doctors about their favorite products for preventing and treating hyperpigmentation from melasma.
Tinted sunscreen formulas, which have both broad-spectrum UV protection and physical light blockers, are crucial for preventing melasma, according to our experts. Nazarian recommends this SPF 45 for its lightweight formula. “Heat is a trigger for melasma, so I generally don’t like things that are super heavy,” says Nazarian. (Heavy formulas can trap heat in the skin, which stimulates the production of melanin, according to a 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine.) It also has vitamin C, which helps brighten skin and block free radicals, which activate pigment producing cells, according to the brand.
This lightweight tinted formula, which comes recommended by Dr. Carmen Castilla, a board-certified dermatologist at the New York Dermatology Group in Manhattan, has iron oxide in it, so it should help block harmful UV rays and the visible light rays that can trigger melasma. This includes UVA and UVB rays, blue light, infrared radiation and pollution, according to Colorescience. It comes in four adjustable shades, which means it dispenses white at first and matches your skin tone as you rub it into your skin. The sunscreen has SPF 50 and is water-resistant up to 40 minutes, according to the brand.
For a tinted sunscreen at a lower price point than other options on our list, Ilyas recommends this Neutrogena broad-spectrum SPF 30 because it’s particularly good for darker skin tones. “Most of the tinted sunscreens out there have only one tint that is [supposed to be] one-size-fits-all, which we know doesn’t work,” says Ilyas. This formula which comes in four hues, also has vitamin E to help prevent hyperpigmentation triggered by free radical damage. Plus, it doesn’t leave behind a white cast, according to the brand.
Supporting the health of your skin barrier is key to addressing any skin concern, including melasma. That’s why Castilla recommends this La Roche-Posay moisturizer, which is also an NBC Select staff favorite. It has ceramides, which function like mortar between skin cells to strengthen the skin barrier. This formula also has niacinamide, which can inhibit the production of pigment and block the transfer of melanin between cells so you have less proliferation of that pigmentation, says Ilyas.
Using this SPF moisturizer eliminates the need for two separate products because it can hydrate your skin while providing sufficient sun protection with an SPF rating of over 30, according to experts in our guide to the best face moisturizers with SPF. Reviewers say it’s lightweight, doesn’t clog up their pores and leaves no white cast.
Serums are vehicles that deliver an active ingredient to your skin, says Ilyas. You can use them in the morning or at night, layer them under moisturizer or use them alone. When it comes to the best serums for melasma, my experts recommend looking for formulas that include active ingredients to target the hyperpigmentation. This serum has niacinamide and white shitake extract to help brighten dark spots and even your complexion, according to the brand.
Azelaic acid, which this product is formulated with, is a great over-the-counter (and pregnancy-safe) alternative to prescription hydroquinone, an old-school treatment for melasma. “[Azelaic acid] blocks the enzyme in the skin that triggers pigmentation,” says Ilyas. Look for a formula with 10% azelaic acid, she says, like this exfoliator from The Ordinary. You can use it as part of your morning or evening skincare routine, though you should not use it at the same time you use vitamin C, retinol or peptides to avoid irritation, according to the brand.
This serum comes recommended by experts in our guide to the best azelaic acid products because it evens out skin tone and improves hyperpigmentation (azelaic acid can specifically help brighten dark spots caused by melasma or acne). It’s also noncomedogenic and hypoallergenic, making it a great option for sensitive, acne-prone skin.
Castilla recommends this dark spot corrector for its trio of brightening ingredients: kojic acid, niacinamide and tranexamic acid. Not only does it improve dark spots and even out your skin tone, but it also helps minimize the recurrence of discoloration, according to the brand. For the best results, use three to five drops of this serum twice daily. In the morning, apply it after your vitamin C serum and before your moisturizer and sunscreen, according to Skinceuticals. If you’re pregnant, consult with your doctor before using this product.
This repair serum, recommended by Nazarian, has brightening ingredients to treat existing melasma and block the formation of new pigmentation. Niacinamide and tranexamic acid work to brighten dark spots, while bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative, helps even out skin tone, according to the brand. Again, make sure to clear this formula with your doctor if you are pregnant.
This pregnancy-safe option comes recommended by Nazarian since it brightens without the use of hydroquinone, another ingredient that you should avoid during pregnancy, she says. Instead, it has hexylresorcinol and kakadu plum extract (an ingredient with antioxidants such as vitamin C) which are both pregnancy-safe skin brighteners, according to the brand. You can use it day and night — just apply it to clean, dry skin and use it in combination with SPF for the best benefit, according to Skinbetter Science.
Topical’s Faded Serum works to gently reduce discoloration and dark spots on various skin tones. NBC Select editors tried this serum for two months and saw dark spots on their faces and bodies lighten and fade after consistent use. The serum uses a blend of brightening ingredients like tranexamic acid, which helps with melasma, according to the brand. Because of this ingredient, talk to your doctor before using it if you are pregnant, experts say.
“Whenever you irritate melasma, it has the potential to get worse,” says Castilla. If you want to introduce a retinol to your skin care routine, go slow and look for a gentle formula to prevent your melasma from getting worse. Experts recommend Neutrogena’s retinols as some of the most gentle formulas on the market. Nazarian likes this option because it has vitamin C to target hyperpigmentation.
Another one of our favorite expert-recommended azelaic acid products, this Sesderma serum has other actives like retinol and vitamin C to reduce hyperpigmentation. It’s lightweight and suitable for all skin types, according to the brand.
When shopping for over-the-counter melasma treatments, experts recommend looking for products with pregnancy-safe formulas, broad-spectrum SPF and active ingredients that target pigmentation. Below, we highlight the most important things to consider when shopping for a melasma treatment.
One way to prevent and treat melasma is to target melasma triggers. Another is to block an enzyme in the skin called tyrosinase. “This enzyme is actually what’s responsible for triggering pigmentation in the skin,” says Ilyas. “If we can block that enzyme from working, then maybe you could have less pigment as a result of it,” she says. Antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, niacinamide, and retinol do this well. “Retinol does so much for pigment. It not only blocks pigmentation in the skin, it can actually even out your complexion,” says Ilyas. “It’s very good at identifying what’s discolored and what’s normal and evening out the complexion,” she says.
Maintaining the health of your skin barrier by keeping your skin well hydrated and free of cracks and dry patches can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, according to Castilla.
Treatments for melasma can only truly be effective if you’re also working on melasma prevention, experts say. There is likely a genetic predisposition to melasma, but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a lifetime of hyperpigmentation from the moment you encounter a melasma trigger, says Castilla.
The single most important thing you can do to prevent melasma is wear sunscreen every day, says Castilla. “And it’s not just regular old sunscreen. You typically want to have a physical blocker like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide,” she says. Not only will you get better broad-spectrum UV protection, physical blockers also obstruct visible light.
At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am an NBC Select contributor and former Glamour editor who has covered beauty and wellness treatments for over a decade. For this article, I spoke to three dermatologists about the best ways to prevent and treat melasma and highlighted their top skin care picks and the rationale behind them.
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