Brightening & Dark Spots

Post-blemish marks, sun damage and uneven tone are the slowest thing in skincare to shift — and the easiest to make worse by rushing. Korean formulas take the patient route: niacinamide, tranexamic acid, vitamin C, arbutin and kojic acid, at strengths you can use daily without wrecking your barrier.

Everything here targets tone rather than texture. Expect weeks, not days — and wear sunscreen every morning, or you will undo the work faster than you do it. That part is not optional.

Start with a niacinamide serum. If your skin tolerates it, add an exfoliating step two or three nights a week.