Best Lightening Cream

Photo by Innerbody Research

Throughout your life, your skin can go through many changes — hormonal shifts, sun exposure, injuries, diseases, conditions, and more. While it’s part of the human experience to go through these, they can leave lasting visible effects, like hyperpigmentation.

These spots or patches can have profound effects on people’s self-esteem. For example, a 2023 study on patients with melasma (an acquired pigmentary condition) found that they presented with “statistically significantly higher anxiety” versus patients without the condition.1 2

Products like skin-lightening creams (also called “skin-brightening” or “skin-whitening” creams) contain ingredients that may be able to help reduce the appearance of various forms of hyperpigmentation. But do these products really work? Are they safe? How long do you need to use them to see real results? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions as we break down our top picks for the best lightening creams and show you how they stack up against one another.

If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our recommendations.

Our Top Choice

Musely Spot Cream

This spot cream is poised to help the most people thanks to five different prescription formula options, three of which have good concentrations of experts' go-to skin lightening agent.

It’s neither the least nor the most expensive option you could consider, but Musely's product offers the highest value thanks to its great effectiveness and approachable price point. Because this spot cream requires a prescription, it can't be found on sites like Amazon, but a quick consultation on Musely can get you started. Musely's customer service is outstanding, and your satisfaction is protected by a functional 60-day guarantee.

Start on Musely

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions about maintaining their well-being and living healthier lifestyles.

When creating guides and reviews, we analyze each product or service through extensive research and hands-on testing. All told, our team spent over 125 hours gathering accurate, up-to-date information on skin-lightening creams and trying them out for ourselves. For this guide alone, we examined over 50 scientific journals and studies on common skin-brightening ingredients, their safety, and their effectiveness to ensure our recommendations have strong research supporting them. We also interacted at length with the companies selling these products to gather firsthand information about the customer experience.

Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this guide was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

When judging contenders for our top picks, we considered several factors: efficacy, safety, cost, and the company’s customer care. Those in search of a hyperpigmentation treatment most likely want a product that works well, is affordable, and won’t put their health at risk. Customer care also plays an important role — especially when you’re using a prescription product. The close attention of a qualified medical professional can be an invaluable part of your treatment.

Let’s delve into how each of our top picks fared.

Efficacy

Winner: Musely Spot Cream

Musely’s Spot Cream has the edge in efficacy due to its availability as five different prescription formulas, three of which include research-supported concentrations of hydroquinone — an ingredient that experts consider “the standard depigmentation or skin lightening agent.”3

On its own, 4% hydroquinone cream improved subjects’ melasma by 40% in one study (from 2000) and by about 77% in another (from 2003).4 5 Moreover, a more recent 2020 review found that hydroquinone by itself or paired with tretinoin and a corticosteroid are two of “the most effective and well-studied treatments for melasma.”6

The Spot Cream formula “M+” boasts all three aforementioned ingredients, “Erase” has both hydroquinone and hydrocortisone, and “Nurture” contains hydroquinone. The only Spot Cream formulas to not have any of these ingredients are “HQ Free” and “HQ Free+,” which are intended for those with sensitive skin or who have certain medical restrictions. But, all this to say, Musely’s Spot Cream formulas have a decent amount of evidence suggesting efficacy.

The other prescription product on our list, Agency Skincare’s Future Formula, also has some supportive research behind it. As noted in a 2021 review, prescription-strength topical retinoids, including tretinoin, “are highly effective in treating acne and can also improve hyperpigmentation due to their anti-inflammatory properties.”7 Additionally, prescription-strength topical retinoids have performed well in research as treatments for skin aging.8 (It may be worth mentioning that over-the-counter strength retinol products, in contrast, have shown little to no evidence of effectiveness in studies.)9

Our non-prescription picks also contain some promising ingredients. For example, Meladerm, Hers’ Fast Fader, and Curology’s Dark Spot Serum all include tranexamic acid, which led to positive outcomes in a handful of studies. In a 2022 review, authors note that topical tranexamic acid resulted in a “noticeable change” in the appearance of hyperpigmentation (including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), skin texture, and skin tone evenness.10 Additionally, a 2020 study comparing 5% tranexamic acid to 4% hydroquinone found that the two treatments were similarly effective after 12 weeks of use (but more research is necessary).11

Safety

Winner: Meladerm

While all of our top picks should be generally safe for healthy adults, we chose Meladerm as our winner for safety mainly due to its more gentle assortment of ingredients. (This is also why it’s our pick for those with sensitive skin.)

Technically, since everyone’s skin is unique and reacts differently to products, there’s a wide range of ingredients that have at least some potential to cause irritation — even if a company claims its product is hypoallergenic or suitable for sensitive skin.12 13 But with the absence of prescription-strength inclusions and a lack of parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, sulfates, artificial fragrances, and phthalates, Meladerm should be gentle enough for most individuals with sensitive skin.

Our picks from Hers (Fast Fader) and Curology (Dark Spot Serum) come close in this category due to having many of the same, similarly safe ingredients as Meladerm. However, the latter product does contain glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) commonly used in chemical peels.14 This could improve the product’s effectiveness in reducing hyperpigmentation, but it also raises the risk of it causing irritation.

Finally, our prescription picks from Musely and Agency should also be generally safe when used as directed by your doctor. Of course, prescription products do come with their own set of risks, which is why it’s important to maintain open and honest communication with your assigned medical provider through these services. We’ll delve further into the potential adverse outcomes of these products later on, but some (often transient) side effects from prescription ingredients like hydroquinone, tretinoin, and hydrocortisone include:3 15 16

• Irritation
• Dryness
• Itching
• Peeling
• Burning or tingling

If these side effects occur, they often disappear as your skin adjusts to the treatment. But if they don’t ease up or if you experience more serious side effects (which are rare), it’s best to discontinue using the product and contact your doctor.

Cost

Winner: Curology Dark Spot Serum

Being one of the three non-prescription picks on our list, it may not be all that surprising to see that Curology’s Dark Spot Serum takes the crown as our best budget pick and the winner for cost. Here’s a quick chart detailing how our top picks compare in this category:

As you can see, Curology’s Dark Spot Serum is overall more affordable than our other top picks, particularly Meladerm and the prescription options. In the past, Hers’ Fast Fader pen was also available as a subscription with a 10% discount (making it $22.50), but this option has since been removed, meaning it’s no longer quite as close of a cost competitor to Curology’s product.

When it comes to the pricier options, we appreciate that Agency Skincare lets you test out a month’s worth of your customized prescription formula for only $14.95 — that’s nearly a 63% discount off the normal monthly ($40) cost. Of course, 30 days may not be long enough to truly see results, but the trial does offer customers an opportunity to make sure the product is right for them before making the commitment to invest $80 every other month.

Additionally, our top picks offer various return policies or guarantees. The details are as follows:

• Curology shop purchases (the platform’s non-prescription products) are eligible for return requests within 14 days of delivery.
• Hers does not accept returns or issue refunds. If the product you receive is damaged or incorrect, the company may try to replace it.
• Civant (the maker of Meladerm) offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on first-time purchases only. Additional purchases are non-refundable.
• Agency Skincare will refund your first trial order if you’re unhappy with your custom formula. The refund is only available to new subscribers and only applies to the first trial box; other subscriptions can’t be returned or exchanged.
• Musely offers a “60-Day Result Guarantee” on certain prescriptions (as long as you properly complete all required eNurse check-ups). The Spot Cream is one of the products covered by this guarantee.

Customer care

Winner: Musely

While quality customer care certainly plays an important role in all purchasing scenarios, we paid particular attention to how patients of Musely and Agency — both prescription dermatology services — were cared for. Proper treatment with a prescription requires a certain amount of direct communication with and hands-on attention from your doctor to ensure the product is suitable for your unique needs. It’s also important to be able to hear back from your doctor or another medical professional in the event of an adverse reaction.

To be clear, both Musely and Agency Skincare do an excellent job of providing proper customer care. Both services employ knowledgeable, board-certified dermatology professionals who can be contacted fairly easily (with impressive response times, according to our testers). However, Musely earns our pick for best customer care due to the platform’s consultation policy.

When you purchase a new Musely prescription, you’re given two months (60 days) of unlimited provider consultations, which you can eventually extend for another 60 days for $10. Additionally, all Musely customers are offered a one-time use 5-day consultation pass “for urgent questions.”

In contrast, Agency only gives patients a single consultation credit “per shipment received.” Since Agency ships bimonthly, this means that you can only have one consultation with your provider every two months. You can also purchase consultation credits for $10 each — the same price as Musely’s 60-day unlimited consultation extension.

Especially for new patients, who are likely to have questions or concerns when starting a new treatment, we greatly prefer Musely’s approach to customer care.

To make it easier to see the differences between our top picks, we compiled a quick chart to compare and contrast the details of each product, including key ingredients, pricing, refunds, and more.

Skin-lightening creams (also sometimes referred to as “brightening” or “whitening” creams) work to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation17 — spots or patches of skin darker than your usual skin tone — caused by melasma, injuries, freckles, sun spots (age spots), eczema, acne, and more.18 19

Along with reducing the severity of hyperpigmentation, many lightening creams also add other ingredients to offer additional skincare benefits, including:

• Moisturizing and hydrating skin
• Firming or plumping skin
• Balancing out skin tone and complexion
• Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Some lightening creams require a prescription (such as when they include steroids or hydroquinone), but many are available over the counter or online. It’s important to be careful when shopping online for lightening creams, however, as many may contain dangerous undeclared ingredients like mercury or bleach.20

The roots of skin lightening

Products that even out a person's complexion or remove dark spots caused by acne serve common and understandable purposes in our society; these are generally as benign as any other cosmetic product. But it's also worth remembering that "skin-whitening" as a practice is deeply rooted in the historically prevalent colorist belief that white or lighter skin is more desirable or attractive (or even a sign of success). This concept was heavily influenced by Eurocentric beauty standards that were promoted during the European colonial era.21

Those colorist beliefs continue to negatively impact individuals from Latinx,22 Asian,23 and BIPOC communities — women, especially — across the globe.24 25 26 Many people have felt compelled to use “skin-whitening” products to conform to the "ideal" beauty standard, despite the presence of harmful (or life-threatening) ingredients.20

Lightening creams can be used by anyone who wants to brighten up patches or spots of hyperpigmentation on their skin. Whether from acne, melasma, injuries, freckles, or another cause, anyone can use lightening creams (as long as you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients in the product).

Before starting a hyperpigmentation treatment — prescription or not — it’s important to consult your doctor to ensure that you’re also treating any underlying skin conditions that could be causing your concerns. For example, chronic itching or scratching from conditions like eczema or psoriasis can lead to neurodermatitis,27 28 one of the symptoms of which is hyperpigmentation.29 If the underlying skin condition isn’t properly treated, the resulting hyperpigmentation likely won’t be improved by a lightening cream (or the improvement won’t last).

As with most topicals, the main risks of skin-lightening creams are potential irritation or an allergic reaction from one of the ingredients. Make sure to read through the ingredients label to ensure the product doesn’t include dangerous substances in its formulation — like bleach or mercury.20 And if a lightening cream doesn’t provide ingredient information, then it’s best to avoid it for your safety.

Prescription lightening creams can come with their own set of risks. In general, the most common side effects of products containing prescription-strength skin-lightening ingredients like tretinoin, hydroquinone, and hydrocortisone are typically mild and include transient — or temporary — irritation, itching, peeling, dryness, redness, or burning at the application site. More serious side effects are rare but can include:

• Hydroquinone: Blue-black or gray-blue skin discoloration (called “ochronosis”), or severe burning, itching, crusting, or swelling of the treatment site3
• Tretinoin: Allergic reactions, change in skin color, blistering, or pain at application site15 31
• Hydrocortisone: Severe rash, swelling, unwanted hair growth, skin color changes, or signs of skin infection16

If you experience any severe side effects — or mild side effects that worsen or don’t ease up over time — it’s recommended that you discontinue using the product and contact your doctor.

Now, moving on from ingredients, it’s important to note that most lightening creams will increase your skin’s photosensitivity, meaning that your skin can be damaged or burnt more easily by UV rays (both real and artificial).32 Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and sticking to shaded areas is ideal. Furthermore, sun protection is the backbone for preventing the worsening of any condition causing hyperpigmentation.

Also, whether you have sensitive skin or not, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends having a trial or testing period with new products to make sure they’re safe for your skin.33 And if you’re concerned at all about using a product, it’s best that you consult your doctor or dermatologist.

How to test a lightening cream

The following steps are recommended by the AAD to test new skincare products (including lightening creams):33

• For 7-10 days, pick a small spot on the underside of your arm or on the inside of your elbow to apply the product. Try to use the same amount you would if putting the product on regularly.
• If you don’t have a reaction after the 7-10 days of testing, then you should be safe to use the product as you normally would.
• If you do develop a reaction, carefully wash the product off as soon as possible and refrain from using it again. Using a cool compress or petroleum jelly can help relieve irritation, if necessary. A more severe reaction may require the assistance of a doctor or dermatologist.

It’s important to remember that certain ingredients, like retinoids, can irritate your skin at first.34 Once your skin adjusts, this reaction should lessen and eventually stop. If your symptoms don’t ease up or if they get worse, it’s recommended that you stop using the product and contact your doctor.

Most lightening creams work by limiting the amount of melanin produced by the skin. Melanin is a substance produced by your body to pigment your hair, eyes, and skin. When your body produces too much melanin in an area of skin due to a variety of reasons (injury, acne, hormones, and more), it’s known as hyperpigmentation.17

Hyperpigmentation is a relatively common condition, and these darker patches or spots on your skin can appear anywhere on your body in a range of colors, from pink and red to brown, black, or even gray.17 18

How each lightening cream works depends on its ingredients, but the majority of active ingredients found in these creams work by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which synthesizes melanin. Preventing tyrosinase from doing its job should lower the amount of melanin produced, thereby reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation.35

How to use skin-lightening cream

According to dermatology experts, there are a few things to keep in mind when using a lightening cream. These include:36

• Use a thin layer of the cream, only as often as instructed, on the hyperpigmented area(s) of the skin.
• Try to avoid getting the cream into or too close to your eyes or mouth.
• Don’t use other topical medications, like benzoyl peroxide, on the treated areas.
• Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying lightening cream, and try to avoid touching another person’s skin with the treated area until it’s fully dry.37
• After letting the cream dry for about ten minutes, remember to apply sunscreen (at least SPF 30), as lightening creams can make your skin extra sensitive to UV rays.32

Where on your body can you use lightening cream?

While most lightening creams are designed to be used on the face, hyperpigmentation — like melasma — can also develop on the arms, neck, private areas, or elsewhere on the body.38

Our top picks in this guide are, overall, meant for use on the face. While you could technically try using these treatments on other parts of the body, finding a product designed specifically for those areas would likely be more effective, as facial skin is thinner than, for example, the skin on your elbows or thighs. Therefore, a skin-lightening product made for the face may not be strong enough to treat those other regions.

Out of our top picks, only Musely offers hyperpigmentation treatments for multiple areas of the body. The Spot Cream is intended for use on the face, but the service also has prescriptions for the neck (The Neck Cream), private areas (The Private Cream), and the hands, arms, legs, feet, and back (The Body Cream).

No matter where a lightening product is intended to be used, it’s best to test the product first to make sure you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients.33

How long does it take lightening cream to work?

The answer to this question ultimately depends on your skin type and the kind of hyperpigmentation you’re looking to treat. The darker the hyperpigmentation, the deeper it’s located under your skin and the longer it will take to see results.39 Additionally, thinner skin, like that of your face, may see results faster than the thicker skin on your elbows or knees. The American Academy of Dermatology states that results usually take anywhere from 3-12 months, but they may take longer.40

Ultimately, patience is key for seeing results from lightening creams.

Best for most people and best for melasma

Musely is a telehealth dermatology service focused on providing treatments for skin and hair health. From signs of aging and keratosis pilaris to rosacea, hair loss, eyelash hypotrichosis, melasma, and more, the Musely platform offers prescriptions for a wide range of conditions. For this guide, though, our focus is on the company’s facial hyperpigmentation treatment: The Spot Cream.

By being available in five different formulas and strengths — three of which contain “the standard depigmentation or skin lightening agent,” hydroquinone, in clinically effective doses — The Spot Cream stands out as a prescription lightening cream that has the potential to help a particularly large group of people, including those with melasma.3

Ingredients

Before delving into some of the research behind the ingredients, let’s review the key inclusions in each Spot Cream formula. The formulas are:

• M+: Hydroquinone 12%, Tretinoin 0.05%, Kojic Acid 6%, Niacinamide 2%, Hydrocortisone 2.5%
• Erase: Hydroquinone 12%, Kojic Acid 6%, Niacinamide 2%, Hydrocortisone 1%
• Nurture: Hydroquinone 6%, Niacinamide 2%, Vitamin C 1%
• HQ Free+: Tranexamic Acid 6%, Azelaic Acid 10%, Kojic Acid 6%, Niacinamide 2%
• HQ Free: Azelaic Acid 20%, Kojic Acid 6%, Niacinamide 2%, Vitamin C 1%

It’s unclear why, but Musely only advertises four Spot Cream formulas on the treatment’s product page — the one left out is “HQ Free” (without the “+”). Despite not being listed, when going through your intake, HQ Free is available to select as your preferred treatment.

Pivoting to the formulas’ efficacy, the overwhelming majority of the ingredients or ingredient combinations found in Musely’s five Spot Cream formulas are mentioned as treatments for melasma by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), including:40

• Hydroquinone
• Tretinoin and a mild steroid
• Triple combination cream (tretinoin, a corticosteroid, and hydroquinone)
• Azelaic acid
• Vitamin C
• Kojic acid

Additionally, hydroquinone either alone or paired with tretinoin and a mild steroid (the “triple combination cream” mentioned above) were dubbed two of “the most effective” treatments for melasma in a 2020 review.6 This means that the M+, Erase, and Nurture formulas all have decent potential to be successful hyperpigmentation treatments.

Now, the only Spot Cream ingredients not mentioned in the AAD’s melasma guide are niacinamide and tranexamic acid, but both have shown promise as treatments for the condition.

When pitted against a combination of hydroquinone (3%) and dexamethasone (0.01%), tranexamic acid (3%) performed just as well at reducing the appearance of melasma — and it produced fewer side effects.41

Similarly, niacinamide was also compared to hydroquinone in a small 2011 study. While both treatments resulted in “pigment improvement” for all patients, hydroquinone led to “good to excellent” improvement in 55% of cases versus 44% for niacinamide. However, as with the aforementioned tranexamic acid study, niacinamide treatment led to fewer side effects than hydroquinone.42

All of this to say, even the gentler Spot Cream formulas (HQ Free and HQ Free+) have the potential to be effective skin-lightening creams.

For further details about Musely’s Spot Cream, you can learn more in our full, in-depth review of the product.

Pricing

If you’re interested in trying out The Spot Cream, we highly recommend subscribing, especially since you can modify or cancel your subscription at any time, without penalty. We say this because a one-time purchase of Musely’s Spot Cream — plus the initial $20 doctor visit fee — makes it far more expensive than the other products in this guide.

The chart below offers a quick breakdown of the costs. (Both purchase avenues get you a 2-month supply of Spot Cream, and all initial purchases also come with 60 days of unlimited online consultations with your Musely provider.)

(As a quick side note, Musely’s Spot Cream prices have gone up slightly in the past few months. Single purchases increased by $3, and subscriptions increased by $2. However, the service has also expanded its treatment offerings within that span of time, making the slight price increase a bit more understandable.)

From the information in the chart above, it should become clear why we recommend subscribing — even if you only want to try out The Spot Cream one time. At its most expensive ($89 for the initial purchase) a subscription is still less than a single purchase at its cheapest ($99 for subsequent purchases).

Moreover, a subscription actually takes the cost of Musely’s Spot Cream below that of Agency’s Future Formula prescription ($80 every two months) and down to only $1 more than a one-time purchase of a single bottle of Meladerm, a non-prescription product ($68 for a 7-week supply).

Finally, if you try The Spot Cream and find it doesn’t work for you, it’s covered under Musely’s “60-Day Result Guarantee.” As long as you use your prescription as directed and diligently complete all of the necessary eNurse check-ups (you can’t miss any), then you can be refunded your initial medication cost; the $20 doctor fee is nonrefundable. While we aren’t fans of how strict this policy is, we can appreciate that Musely at least offers patients the opportunity to get their money back, unlike Hers, which doesn’t accept returns or offer refunds.

Best for anti-aging

Agency Skincare (also known as “withagency” or just “Agency”) is a telehealth dermatology service by parent company Curology. If you were to investigate both companies, you may notice that they offer similar treatments — two of which seem to be nearly identical anti-aging formulas.

However, the Agency FAQ explains that, while Curology’s focus is on targeting acne concerns, Agency’s formulas “are designed to treat signs of aging, like texture, wrinkles, fine lines, and more.” Additionally, only Agency allows patients to slowly increase the strength of their custom anti-aging formula over time. Because of this — and the effective ingredients used — Agency Skincare’s Future Formula won our choice for best anti-aging lightening cream.

You can learn more about Agency Skincare in our full review of the service.

Ingredients

When you get approved for a Future Formula prescription, there are five active ingredients that may make an appearance in your customized blend, including:

• Tretinoin: A retinoid that has shown promise in reducing the signs of skin aging (including age spots) and as a way to treat hyperpigmentation by lowering inflammation.7 8
• Azelaic acid: According to the results of a 2023 review, azelaic acid may work just as well as hydroquinone in reducing melasma severity (but more research is needed).43
• Tranexamic acid: Like azelaic acid, a few studies comparing tranexamic acid to hydroquinone for hyperpigmentation found that they performed similarly well.11 41
• Niacinamide: In another comparative study, niacinamide and hydroquinone both improved the appearance of melasma in patients. Though hydroquinone led to slightly better outcomes in some cases, researchers state the differences were not statistically significant.42
• Dexpanthenol: This ingredient is added to formulas as a way to protect your skin during treatment. According to research, dexpanthenol can improve skin hydration, barrier function, and wound healing.44

Based on the FAQ information on the product page, all Agency Future Formula formulations contain tretinoin (the strength of which you can adjust over time to suit your needs). The other ingredients, however, are up to what your assigned provider feels is best for you. For example, in the case of one of our testers, they received a formula containing everything but azelaic acid.

Pricing

Unlike Musely, Agency prescriptions can only be purchased on a subscription basis. Every other month, you’ll be charged $80 for a 2-month supply of your custom Future Formula. However, all first-time patients are offered a 30-day trial of their treatment for only $14.95 (that’s over 60% off the typical monthly cost of $40).

During the trial period, if you find that your Agency treatment isn’t right for your needs, you can request a refund. Refunds can only be requested for the trial box — not for regular bimonthly prescription deliveries. If you’d prefer a longer period of time to try out a prescription, Musely’s 60-day guarantee may suit you better.

Best budget option

While Curology is a telehealth dermatology service that offers prescription skincare treatments, its over-the-counter Dark Spot Serum strikes a great balance between potential efficacy and low cost — earning it our choice as the best lightening cream for those on a budget. Despite being a non-prescription product, the serum contains a handful of ingredients with a fair amount of scientific support.

Ingredients

Curology’s Dark Spot Serum contains five active ingredients, three of which are also found in multiple products throughout this guide. These five inclusions are as follows:

• Glycolic acid: This alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) is an “efficacious” ingredient (according to researchers) that’s commonly used in skin peels to treat acne, melasma, and signs of aging. Though it’s generally well tolerated, some patients in studies have reported side effects like itching, burning, or redness at the application site.14
• Tranexamic acid: As noted in other sections of this guide, tranexamic acid has performed similarly well to hydroquinone in studies comparing the two.11 41
• Kojic acid: This ingredient is mentioned as one of the American Academy of Dermatology’s treatments for melasma.40
• Licorice root extract: Research on this ingredient is still in its infancy, but older studies and more recent cell ones suggest that it has some depigmenting potential.45 46
• Niacinamide: Similar to tranexamic acid, niacinamide appears to be similarly effective to hydroquinone based on comparative research.42

Unfortunately, while these ingredients hold a fair bit of promise, Curology doesn’t detail their concentrations. This means that we can’t compare the strength of this serum’s ingredients to those used in positive research. To clarify, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Curology’s Dark Spot Serum can’t work for you — it just means that we’re unable to do a more in-depth analysis of the product’s potential efficacy.

Pricing

As our best budget lightening cream pick, it may be unsurprising to hear that Curology’s Dark Spot Serum is the least expensive of our recommendations. A one-time purchase is $23, but those with a Curology prescription can subscribe for $21 to get a bottle included with every bimonthly delivery.

Since Curology subscriptions are sent out every two months, it can be assumed that a bottle of Dark Spot Serum is intended to be a 2-month supply, similar to our picks from Agency and Musely. So, based on that assumption, that means a one-time purchase of this serum ends up costing only $11.50 per month. (Of course, depending on how often you use the serum and the size of the area you apply it to, it could last you a shorter or longer period of time.)

Also, throughout our time investigating products for this guide — and during the research for our full review of Curology — we did notice that the service’s non-prescription products often go on sale. At the time of this writing, for example, the Dark Spot Serum is listed as 50% off ($11.50).

If you try Curology’s Dark Spot Serum and don’t feel like it’s the right skin-lightening product for you, the company does allow returns of non-prescription products purchased on a one-time basis as long as you contact customer service to initiate the process within 14 days post-delivery.

Best for sensitive skin

Photo by Innerbody Research

Created by the skincare company Civant, Meladerm is intended to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation without relying on common prescription-strength skin-brightening ingredients such as hydroquinone, retinoids, or steroids. Additionally, the company leaves out harsh inclusions that could irritate sensitive skin, like parabens, mineral oil, artificial fragrances, petrolatum, sulfates, and phthalates.

Unlike most other lightening creams, which tend to have about three or four active ingredients at most, Civtant takes a bit of a kitchen-sink approach with Meladerm and includes 15 of them — some of which have more supportive research than others (more on that in a bit).

According to Meladerm’s product page, the cream can be used on both your face and body, but the FAQ notes that it’s intended for use on the face, hands, and neck. Ultimately, no matter where you wish to apply Meladerm, properly testing out the product on a small area of your skin first is still ideal.

Photo by Innerbody Research

To see optimal results from Meladerm, the company recommends that you use it twice per day. Before applying the cream, it’s important to first wash or cleanse your skin thoroughly. Then, you can massage one pump of product into the hyperpigmented area. (In our testing of Meladerm, we found that a half-pump can be enough in some cases, basically doubling the amount of product per bottle.) After applying the cream — which our testers described as having a very faint, almost citrusy scent, likely due to the lemon extract — allow it to dry for about ten minutes before using any other products.

Ingredients

Photo by Innerbody Research

Before delving into the finer details, let’s first go over exactly what’s in Meladerm. The product is made up of 15 active ingredients that should be suitable for most skin types, even sensitive. They include:

Unfortunately, Civant doesn’t list the quantities or strengths of any of these ingredients. And, with so many inclusions, the individual ingredients may not be in concentrations strong enough to deliver the results you’re looking for (particularly if you’re dealing with deeper hyperpigmentation). Anecdotally, customers seem to have had positive experiences with Meladerm based on the product’s reviews, but we do wish the company was more transparent about the ingredients so we could compare the doses or concentrations against existing research.

That aside, a handful of the ingredients in Meladerm have shown promise as depigmenting agents, like alpha arbutin and azelaic acid.43 47 Additionally, niacinamide and tranexamic acid have been tested for their effects on melasma, in particular, and have shown positive outcomes.41 42 It’s worth mentioning, though, that several other ingredients, like lemon extract, pomegranate, Sepiwhite, and Symwhite 377, don’t have a lot of high-quality evidence supporting them for the treatment of hyperpigmentation.

For a full breakdown of the product, check out our dedicated review of Meladerm.

Pricing

You can purchase Meladerm (1.7oz) as a single item or as a 2-pack, the latter of which saves you $30. You can also opt to subscribe for recurring deliveries at a 5% discount. The chart below breaks down the costs.

The price of Meladerm has increased by about $4 across the board since we last checked a few months ago, which is a bit disappointing considering nothing about the product has really improved or changed. Because of the rising costs, if you aren’t limited to non-prescription products due to skin sensitivity or medical reasons, you may get more value out of a Musely or Agency prescription. A 2-month Musely Spot Cream subscription, for example, is $69 — only $1 more than a one-time purchase of a single bottle of Meladerm.

If you decide to try Meladerm, Civant offers free shipping on orders that meet a $50 threshold, which all purchases of the product do. The company previously gave customers free gifts on orders over $100, but this has since been increased to a $125 minimum.

You’ll receive an email from customer support once you’ve placed the order and a follow-up email once the order ships. Our testers received the shipment email the following business day.

If Meladerm doesn’t suit your needs in the end, Civant offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase. However, the company’s policy has a few strict conditions, such as customers needing to return any free gifts or not being eligible for a refund if they’ve made additional orders.

Best for acne spots

Photo by Innerbody Research

Hers Fast Fader Dark Spot Corrector is a pen-shaped tube with 0.5oz of product. This may seem like very little when compared to the typical bottle size of most of the other competitors, but the product is intended for targeted application on small areas — like acne or age spots.

One of the biggest perks of purchasing this product comes with the Hers telehealth platform. If you’re struggling with acne, then you may find it convenient to also take advantage of Hers’ prescription acne treatments and telehealth visits. However, it’s not necessary to partake in any other Hers service in order to purchase Fast Fader since it’s not a prescription product.

Photo by Innerbody Research

When trying Fast Fader, our testers found that more pressure than expected was required to make the gel come out of the pen — it can be a bit painful to press the pen against your skin hard enough for it to dispense the product. Because of this, we recommend pushing down on the metal pen tip with your finger to make some product come out, first, before applying it to the spot you wish to treat. Other than that, though, the product is nice, light, and not sticky (even though it looks like it would be).

Ingredients

Photo by Innerbody Research

We’re not sure if this was intentional or not, but the key ingredients Hers includes in Fast Fader also have the potential to treat acne in one way or another, in addition to hyperpigmentation concerns.

The key active ingredients in this product include:

• Tranexamic acid (4%): This ingredient in a 3% concentration performed better than hydroquinone in treating melasma in one 2014 study, and it appears to effectively reduce inflammatory acne.41 48
• Niacinamide (5%): Also known as vitamin B3, a 2011 study found that 4% niacinamide reduced the appearance of melasma almost as well as hydroquinone, and authors of a separate 2017 study stated that it led to a “significant reduction” in acne.42 49
• Azelaic acid: Found in grains such as wheat or barley, this ingredient effectively reduced the appearance of melasma hyperpigmentation in a 2023 study, and it may be able to treat mild-to-moderate acne in some adults.43 50

Pricing

Previously, Hers Fast Fader Dark Spot Corrector could be purchased either one time or on a subscription basis with a 10% discount, but the platform has since discontinued the subscription option. So, currently, you can only buy Fast Fader as a one-time purchase for $25 per pen.

While shipping from Hers is technically free, the company adds a $5 processing fee to your total. This means that one Fast Fader pen will ultimately cost you $30.

Additionally, Hers does not accept returns or refunds, which we find disappointing. It’s understandable for certain products, like prescriptions (which Hers also offers), but it’d be nice if the company would at least accept a return of an unopened over-the-counter product. Curology, in comparison, at least offers customers 14 days to request a return for non-prescription products.

Photo by Innerbody Research

Andalou Naturals strives to ensure that 98% of the ingredients in its products — including those in its Brightening Renewal Cream — are “nature-derived.” In the case of this lightening cream, the star ingredients are vitamin C, probiotics, and fruit stem cells. Unfortunately, the only brightening ingredient in this product with a fair amount of research is vitamin C. Because of this, Andalou’s product may be better suited for very mild hyperpigmentation cases (or for those who are seeking to boost overall skin brightness and not looking to treat a specific area of concern).

Photo by Innerbody Research

As a side note, it’s worth mentioning that this cream is orange-scented due to the addition of “natural fragrance.” While some people only experience irritation from artificial fragrances, others — like those with a history of eczema — may have adverse reactions to any kind of added scent. Because of this, proper testing is important before using this product on large areas of your skin.

Ingredients

Photo by Innerbody Research

Andalou Naturals uses plant-based, cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and gluten-free ingredients. The three key active components in its Brightening Renewal Cream are:

• Probiotics: Topical probiotics have shown some promise in research as a potential treatment for certain inflammatory skin conditions (like acne, rosacea, and psoriasis), and topicals containing the specific strain used in this product, Bacillus coagulans, may be able to reduce signs of skin aging.51 52
• Apple and grape stem cells: Plant stem cells have some evidence suggesting they might help inflammatory hyperpigmentation.53 Apple stem cells, in particular, have shown “significant potential” in reducing wrinkles around the eyes, though the evidence overall is quite weak and not nearly as substantial as other traditional Vitamin A-derived topicals.54 Additionally, grape contains resveratrol, which may reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation.55
• Vitamin C: An ingredient with evidence suggesting positive effects on hyperpigmentation with long-term use.56

Pricing

For a one-time purchase direct from Andalou, each 1.7oz jar of Renewal Cream costs $28.99. You can subscribe for deliveries every one, three, or six months at a 10% discount, bringing the price down to $26.09 per jar. Additionally, Andalou offers free shipping for orders over $60, and every order directly from the company comes with a “Free Deluxe Sample.”

But Andalou Naturals is one case in which the company’s store on Amazon offers far better pricing than its own website. If you prefer or don’t mind shopping there, you can buy the Renewal Cream on Amazon for nearly $10 less than the subscription prices via Andalou Naturals’ website. From our research, the product tends to average about $17 per jar on Amazon. (Just make sure the seller is either Andalou Naturals or Amazon instead of a third party.)

If you opt for purchasing from the company’s website, though, the return policy is pretty straightforward, especially compared to Meladerm’s. If you’re unhappy with your purchase, it can be returned to the company within 30 days for a full refund.

Acure’s line of “Brightening” products is the most extensive of our recommended brands. As of the writing of this guide, there are nine Acure products intended to brighten skin. (There used to be 12, but the company has seemingly discontinued a few of them.)

For this guide, we chose Acure’s Brightening Day Cream, which can be applied to the face, neck, and décolleté (chest area). This cream’s ingredients are fairly unique compared to the other products we mention, and they should be safe for sensitive skin. However, those with a sunflower allergy should avoid this cream, as it contains sunflower seed oil, similar to Andalou Naturals’ Probiotic + C Renewal Cream.

Ingredients

Acure’s Brightening Day Cream contains four active ingredients, dubbed “hero ingredients.” As noted above, these inclusions aren’t really found in any other products mentioned throughout this guide (the only exception is pomegranate, which is also in Meladerm). They include:

• Argan oil: Chemical research suggests this ingredient may have an effect on melanin production in cells. However, this has not been corroborated by higher-level clinical studies.57
• Cica: Also known as Centella asiatica, this herb shows some potential to improve the condition of wounded skin, including its pigmentation. However, this has primarily been shown in animal studies and has yet to be verified in human clinical research.58
• Pomegranate: Some research suggests that dried pomegranate concentrate powder may act as an inhibitor of tyrosinase activity and the production of melanin. But, more research is needed, as these studies were done at a chemical level and not through human clinical trials.59
• Blackberry: More thorough research is needed on this ingredient, but one 2017 study suggests blackberry may decrease skin melanin and erythema (reddening).60

While these ingredients appear to be gentle enough for sensitive skin, they aren’t very well-researched as depigmenting agents and may not lead to ideal results for those with anything more than very mild hyperpigmentation. This lightening cream could be best suited for those with — as Acure puts it — “dull skin tone,” not those with an actual skin condition (like melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) seeking treatment.

Pricing

Unlike many of its competitors, Acure doesn’t offer a subscription or auto-delivery option if you buy direct from the brand’s website — you can only purchase the Brightening Day Cream on a one-time basis for $19.99.

If you’re unhappy with your purchase, Acure offers a generous 365-day return policy. When we previously researched Acure, products needed to be in unopened and original condition to be eligible for return or refund. However, it seems like the company has changed this policy (which we appreciate) and now states that, as long as you have proof of purchase, you’ll be given a prepaid return shipping label and a refund.

However, if you don’t need this return window, you can subscribe and potentially save some money by buying the brightening cream on Amazon. Because of the convenience and opportunity for potential savings, we recommend buying through there at this time.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are alternative ways to treat melasma and hyperpigmentation that aren’t prescription or over-the-counter lightening creams.40 The chart below breaks down a few of these alternative treatments.

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