Exfoliation, when done properly, can do wonders for your skin. It sloughs off dead skin cells, improves blood circulation, zaps dark spots, and reveals brighter-looking skin. Despite all these benefits, it’s one of the things that is often overlooked.
If you’re struggling with dark spots and looking for ways to get your best skin ever, it’s time to invest in the best chemical peel for hyperpigmentation.
Chemical peels work by breaking down the top layers of skin to reduce discoloration. The best part? You don’t need to visit your dermatologist to get this done. There are several at-home chemical peels available on the market that deliver results beyond expectations.
Besides, it’s a pretty economical option. A face peel at a doctor’s office costs $673 on an average. But you don’t have to spend that kind of money to reap the rewards.
In this article, we’re going to help you find the best at-home face peels that will not only help you with hyperpigmentation but also help you with fine lines, dullness, acne scars, and sun damage.
Top Chemical Peels for Hyperpigmentation Reviewed
1. CANE + AUSTIN Miracle Pad
Cane + Austin Miracle Pad is straight magic when it comes to treating hyperpigmentation. It’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive complexions.
It’s specially formulated to target dark spots, age spots, acne scars, or other forms of hyperpigmentation.
The formula combines the power of effective exfoliating ingredients such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid. These ingredients work together to shed dead skin cells, unclog pores, improve texture, boost circulation, and reveal brighter-looking skin.
In addition, they also stimulate collagen production. When collagen levels increase, your skin becomes soft, firm, and smooth. Also, you can expect this product to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
What’s more, it contains witch hazel that gently cleanses your skin without stripping it of moisture. What we really liked about this product is that it’s super easy to use. All you have to do is swap pad over clean face avoiding the eye area and you’re good to go!
It’s so gentle that you can use it twice every day. But if you have sensitive skin, you should use it once before going to bed. If everything goes well, you can increase the frequency to twice every day.
2. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is a cult classic face peel that contains 25% AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid) and 2% BHA (salicylic acid) to gently exfoliate your skin, boost cell regeneration, and eliminate dark spots.
It features a gentle formula that won’t freak out your skin even if it’s on the sensitive side. What’s more, it’s filled with the goodness of chickpea flour that regulates sebum production and brightens out the complexion.
Then there’s skin-calming pumpkin ferment extract that provides antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Plus, this putty-colored peel has an ideal pH of 3.5 to 3.6, so you don’t need to worry about redness or irritation.
Even better? There’s no added fragrance, so it’s safe even for people with fragrance sensitivity. Applying it once a week will make your skin soft, smooth, and clear AF.
The stubborn dark spots you’ve been dealing with for so long will start to fade away in just a couple of uses. It’s not cheap but it’s worth it.
3. Perfect Image Lactic 10% Brightening Gel Peel
If you’re looking for an affordable fix for hyperpigmentation, meet Perfect Image Lactic Acid 10% Brightening Gel Peel. It’s a professionally formulated peel filled with the goodness of kojic acid and lactic acid.
Kojic acid blocks tyrosine and inhibits the production of melanin. Reduced melanin production results in a skin-lightening effect. Furthermore, lactic acid keeps your skin moisturized and also helps in fading dark spots.
Since it boosts collagen production, this face peel will also combat early signs of aging. And don’t forget bearberry extract, which is a natural skin lightener and is a safer alternative to ingredients such as hydroquinone.
The formula also contains cucumber extracts that speed up the skin’s natural healing process. Plus, cucumber possesses moisturizing properties as well.
You can also use this peel for treating freckles, melasma, pregnancy marks, and other forms of discoloration. It’s gentle enough for everyday use. And this peel would work for every skin type. Even people with mature skin are raving about its efficacy.
4. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel
If you have oily skin and are looking for ways to get rid of hyperpigmentation, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Daily Face Peel is a great option for you. It involves a two-step treatment: peel pad and neutralization pad.
This peel pad is infused with exfoliating ingredients such as glycolic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, willow bark extract, etc. It makes up for the first step that aims at removing dead cells and replacing damaged, old skin with younger-looking skin.
The second involves the application of the neutralization pad. It ensures that there’s no excessive feeling and your skin is not left irritated. Plus, the neutralization pad is packed with anti-agers, so it will slow down aging and soften those unsightly fine lines.
In addition to removing dark spots, it also helps improve skin tone, clarity, and texture of the skin. The problem we saw with the product is that it can be a bit drying for people with dry complexions as it contains alcohol. The price is also a little high.
5. DERMAdoctor Kakadu C Intensive Peel Pad
Fortified with ferulic acid and vitamin E, this intensive peel pad from Dermadoctor removes dead cells and encourages brighter-looking complexion. It features Kakadu plum that has high vitamin C content and is known for its skin-brightening properties.
Plus, it contains a powerful blend of AHAs and BHAs that exfoliates the skin and increases cell turnover rate. This face peel is also jam-packed with antioxidants to fight off free radicals and prevent skin damage.
The reason why this product is so effective against dark spots is that it mostly contains ingredients that help with pigmentation. Be it vitamin E, ferulic acid, Kakadu plum – all these ingredients fight spots while providing anti-aging benefits as well.
Additionally, it prevents acne breakouts while leaving your skin softer and smoother. You can also expect it to improve the skin’s texture upon regular use.
The best part? It can be used daily. Just apply the pad to a clean area, leave it for 1 to 3 minutes, and then rinse off with water. Your skin will feel clean and baby-soft.
6. QRxLabs 30% Glycolic Acid Gel Peel
This budget-friendly glycolic acid peel from QRxLabs is another great choice if you’re looking to treat skin discoloration. It is enriched with chamomile and green tea extracts to deliver professional-quality peeling results.
It’s a perfect solution for zapping acne scars, diminishing fine lines, and increasing the amount of collagen your body makes. This chemical face peel works by increasing cell regeneration i.e. it replaces old, damaged cells with newer ones.
Thanks to its gel-like consistency, the application won’t be messy at all. In just under 5 minutes, you will get your best skin ever. Struggling with blackheads and whiteheads? No problem!
This peel will eliminate blackheads while also shrinking the size of your pores at the same time. And it has antibacterial properties, so it will keep acne-causing bacteria at bay. That means no more acne breakouts.
To balance out the pH of your skin, consider applying QRxLabs Chemical Peel Neutralizer post-peel. This will soothe your skin and prevent irritation especially if you have sensitive skin.
7. Glycolix Elite Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Treatment Pad
When it comes to getting rid of persistent dark spots, nothing does it better than Glycolix Elite Exfoliating Treatment Pad. It’s made up of high-potency glycolic acid that sheds dead cells on your epidermis and resurfaces your skin.
Then there are essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, C, E that aid in the skin’s natural regeneration process and promote a brighter complexion. Needless to say, these ingredients are really effective in skin lightening.
Interestingly, this product is available in 10%, 15%, and 20% concentration of glycolic acid. You can choose the one according to your skin type. If you have dry and sensitive skin, we advise you to go with a lower concentration of glycolic acid.
Each box consists of 60 peel pads that you can use twice every day. It’s non-comedogenic, formulated without parabens, alcohol, and sulfates, so it’s safe even for sensitive complexions.
This peel will also tighten the pores and improve skin texture. On top of that, it’s fragrance-free. You will love how your skin feels post-application. Many users reported that it brightened the complexion and reduced the spots in only a couple of applications.
8. Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask
If you don’t like putting toxic chemicals on your skin, you’ve got to try Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask. It’s a 100% natural peel mask that contains BHA extracted from willow bark and pomegranate enzymes that wipe out dead skin cells, promote hydration, reduce oiliness, and brighten your skin while lightening dark spots.
There are several other plant-based ingredients in this mask that not only improve skin tone but also improve texture, refine pores, and enhance radiance.
The formula also contains pink clay and beet extracts. Pink clay helps with exfoliation whereas beet extracts calm your skin and prevent irritation.
Upon application, your complexion will look even and your face will look well-rested. For someone who’s trying to get rid of old acne scars, this peel mask is your best bet. It works overnight. You’ll see some improvement in the appearance of those scars after the very first use. And it’s not a stretch.
What’s more, it’s very popular on the internet and is one of the top-selling products for Tata Harper. But the only problem with this product is that it’s not a budget-friendly option.
9. Exuviance Performance Peel AP25
The 25% blend of alpha hydroxy acids and polyhydroxy acids such as glycolic acid, mandelic acid works its magic to dissolve dead skin cells, remove dullness, and fade hyperpigmentation.
It’s gentle and you can use it twice every week. The peel will shrink pore size and make your skin noticeably brighter. Even though it’s expensive, it still has a cult following and reviewers have been raving about its efficacy.
It has an impressive star rating of 4.3 on Amazon. With each pack, you’ll receive 6 weeks of supply. And you can expect results close to face peel from your dermatologist. Yes, that’s right!
This product is clinically tested. And according to the results, 100% of the users reported improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles whereas 94% of the users reported more even and clear skin.
What’s more, if you still suffer from acne, this peel will help you with breakouts. Furthermore, it will also fade acne scarring. The high price point of the peel may be a letdown for many but it’s totally worth it.
10. Dermalure TCA Peel 35% Medical Grade
Powered with trichloroacetic acid, this chemical peel is one of the most effective products for treating skin damage and dark spots. It will help you get rid of acne scars, stretch marks, freckles, age spots, and more.
What’s more, it’s also helpful in combating premature aging and hyperpigmentation. Worried about acne breakouts? Well, it unclogs pores, removes excess oil, and keeps acne-causing bacteria away. So, you don’t have to worry about them.
Also, it will improve the texture of your skin and zap those large pores into oblivion.
This stuff is really strong. If your skin doesn’t freak out easily and can handle anything, you’re going to love this product. However, if it is your first time with at-home chemical peels, this is not an ideal choice for you.
Also, it’s worth investing in a post-peel neutralizer to balance out the pH level of the skin.
How to Choose the Best At-Home Chemical Peel for Hyperpigmentation?
Not all face peels are created equal. Here are a few things to keep in mind to find the products that actually work for you!
Ingredients
When buying yourself a chemical peel, you should look for ingredients such as lactic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, etc. Lactic acid- and mandelic acid-based peels are a good place to start because they are light and gentle. But they do a really fine job of treating skin discoloration.
If you want to go for something intensive, glycolic acid-based peels are a great option. TCA peels are medium-strength peels but they’re stronger than the ones mentioned above.
They can deliver the best results. But you have to be careful with them as they’re not a great choice for beginners.
Concentration
Choose the concentration of acids based on your skin type. If you have sensitive skin, go with the peels with lighter strength of acids. On the other hand, if your skin can handle almost anything, you can go with a higher concentration of acids.
The acid present will also play a huge role. For example, mandelic acid and lactic acid peels are usually gentler than the ones with glycolic acid. In simple words, a 30% mandelic acid peel is much lighter than 30% TCA peel. So, it’s important to take that into account as well.
Fragrance-Free
This applies to people who are allergic to scents. If you’re fragrance-sensitive, you should choose fragrance-free products. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is a great choice for someone who likes fragrance-free products.
In addition to all this, make sure you choose formulas that contain moisturizing ingredients. Hydration is important and peeling can leave your skin dry especially if you have dry complexion.
Chemical Peel Aftercare
After you’re done with the chemical peel, it’s important to take good care of your skin for the next few hours. Here are a few tips for you to follow:
Ingredients to Avoid
For the first 24 hours after the peel, you should avoid active ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, retinol, etc. Follow up with gentle skincare products that do not contain harsh ingredients.
Don’t forget that moisturization is important. Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid as it is intensely hydrating.
SPF Protection
After the peel, your new skin is more vulnerable and sensitive to the sun. The last thing you want is to damage it again. Therefore, make sure to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage.
If possible, avoid going out in the sun for the first few hours.
Don’t Touch Your Skin
It’s important to keep your hands off your face in the first few hours. Your hands carry a lot of germs and bacteria. Touching may result in acne breakouts.
Also, keep your hair away from your face. If you’ve got oily hair, it can transfer onto your face and cause breakouts. Therefore, we advise you to keep your hair tied.
Conclusion
A chemical peel offers a plethora of skin benefits. If you haven’t done a peel before, now is the time to reap the benefits. It might as well be a secret weapon in your arsenal to fight dark spots and get visibly brighter skin.
The peels we have reviewed above will not only help you with hyperpigmentation, but they’ll also provide anti-aging benefits. We hope this guide helped you choose the right product.
If you have any questions regarding the products we’ve mentioned above, feel free to ask in the comments below. And if you’ve found the right face peel for you, we would love to hear about your experience.
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