We're all born with a genetically programmed skin tone — the baseline colour that makes your complexion uniquely yours. Hyperpigmentation, however, appears when certain areas start producing extra melanin after triggers like sun, heat, hormones or inflammation.
When tackling hyperpigmentation, here at Aesthetics Rx®, our goal is to target the appearance of dark spots and patches of pigment while maintaining your skin's natural tone, and we do this with evidence-backed bio-tech ingredients and a sun-protection strategy that guards against sunburn and reins in unruly hyperpigmentation.
Spotting the Difference – Understanding Hyperpigmentation
To see your true, built-in skin tone, look at an area that rarely sees daylight, like the underside of your upper arm. With that baseline in mind, let's explore the main ways excess pigment can disrupt your natural, even skin tone.
Blotchy patches of pigment can feel like they pop up overnight, but there's always a backstory. Once you know which kind you're dealing with, you're better able to visibly improve the appearance and prevent future dark spots before they become noticeably visible.
The main types of hyperpigmentation:
Sun spots (solar lentigines) – A snapshot of every rooftop lunch, stroll in the park or day at the beach — UV damage quietly builds up over time. Eventually, it becomes visible, leaving its mark on high-exposure zones such as your cheeks, chest, forearms and hands.
Post-inflammatory marks (PIH) – The aftermath of a pimple, insect bite or heat-based treatment, leaving behind a brown or purplish mark while the skin settles down.
Melasma – Hormonal fluctuations plus radiant heat can paint an upper-lip, tell-tale 'moustache' or a butterfly-pattern patch across the cheeks, and often calls for a specialised approach.
Natural skin ageing – As we get older, cell turnover slows, and the skin becomes less efficient at managing pigment and becomes increasingly irregular. These stubborn patches often appear on areas with cumulative sun exposure, like the face, neck, hands and décolletage.
Knowing what kind of pigmentation you're dealing with is only half the story — we also need to understand why it persists.
Why Hyper-Pigmentation Persists – Inside the Melanin Response
Why do some marks linger longer? It often comes down to three things: the depth of pigment in your skin layers; how often those same triggers keep tapping the "melanin switch"; and how much unprotected sunlight your skin still soaks up each day, often without you even realising.
Patches of pigment that stick around aren't just surface colour; they're the result of a multi-step chain reaction happening inside the skin every day.
Tyrosinase on overdrive – Tyrosinase, the enzyme that kick-starts melanin production, springs into action the moment UV-B radiation hits your skin. First comes a hint of redness – your skin's cue to cover up. Within hours, tyrosinase ramps up pigment production, producing a suntan — and while it might give your skin a temporary glow, it’s a stress response, not a sign of skin health.
Repeated exposure turns that glowing tan uneven and patchy. Tyrosinase fires in bursts — some melanocytes overwork while others stay quiet. Add oxidative stress and slower cell turnover, and yesterday's tan morphs into clumps of pigment and tomorrow's dark spots.
Inflammation keeps the alarm ringing – Ongoing inflammation, regardless of how mild, can prolong post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) by keeping pigment-producing cells in an active state. It’s why those stubborn marks after breakouts or skin irritation tend to stick around longer than you’d like.
Barrier slow-down – When the skin barrier is compromised, moisture escapes and irritants enter, stressing cells further. A fragile barrier also slows the enzymes that normally shift excess pigment upward, so spots hang around.
So, what can you do? Yes, the biology of how pigment forms is intricate, but the fix doesn’t have to be.
Here’s our simple, effective plan:
Minimise tyrosinase activity with targeted skincare ingredients and a rock-solid sunscreen habit.
Neutralise surface oxidation and visibly calm inflammation with potent plant based antioxidants.
Fortify the lipid barrier so your skin’s natural renewal process can gradually lift away excess pigment.
Our Top 6 Skincare Ingredients for Visibly Brighter Skin
Think of these ingredients as your skin-brightening toolkit. These six evidence-based active ingredients assist in minimising tyrosinase activity, neutralising surface oxidation, calming visible inflammation, and fortifying the barrier — gently nudging the skin back toward a visibly brighter, more even look over time.
Let's take a look at each one and where you'll find it in the Aesthetics Rx® range of skincare for hyperpigmentation.
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) — Helps visibly even skin tone by slowing the transfer of pigment to surface skin cells, while supporting the moisture barrier to keep skin calm and hydrated.
Arbutin (α‑Arbutin) — Helps visibly even tone by gently tempering tyrosinase to slow new pigment formation, while softening the appearance of existing pigmentation.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) — Helps brighten dull areas by neutralising surface oxidation that deepens marks, while supporting a more even, radiant‑looking skin tone.
Purslane Bioferment — A powerful botanical ferment rich in antioxidants. It supports the skin’s natural defences while helping to calm irritation, reduce redness, and visibly soothe skin prone to pigmentation.
Clerilys® — Supports a more even-looking complexion by minimising the melanin response of tyrosinase and encouraging gentle surface renewal, so discolouration looks more even over time.
Bright Oléoactif® — Helps boost luminosity with antioxidant‑rich botanical lipids, while reducing the colour contrast that makes uneven tone more noticeable.
In a placebo-controlled clinical study, Bright Oléoactif® was shown to visibly improve skin tone and luminance, with a +273% increase in the luminance index in just 28 days, and continued improvement over 56 days — including an ITA° shift of +10.1%, indicating a lighter, more even skin tone.
Brightenyl™ — A next-generation ingredient that works at multiple levels to visibly correct skin discolouration. It helps reduce oxidative stress, calm redness, and inhibit the activation of melanin for a more even-looking tone.
In a placebo-controlled clinical study over 84 days, Brightenyl™ was shown to significantly improve skin brightness, reduce visible redness, and lighten dark spots — with results up to 18× better than placebo for UV spots, and 600% better for redness.
Making Sunscreen a Daily Habit
When it comes to managing hyperpigmentation, sunscreen isn't optional — it's essential. Every serum, active and brightening treatment in your routine depends on making sunscreen a daily habit. Without it, your progress will be slow, and pigment will resurface.
Daily sun protection is the most effective way to prevent new dark spots and keep existing ones from deepening, and it's one of the best things you can do for your skin's long-term health, helping to preserve the visible firmness, texture and even tone over time.
But understanding sunscreen can be confusing. So let's simplify.
SPF only tells part of the story. SPF measures protection against UVB rays — the ones responsible for sunburn. But UVA rays are just as essential to guard against and while UVA rays don’t burn the skin, they penetrate deeper and can keep pigment production switched on, even through cloud cover, windows, or while driving.
That's why your sunscreen needs to be broad‑spectrum — to ensure it protects against both UVA and UVB.
Chemical or physical? Here's the difference. Chemical filters absorb UV rays and convert them into heat. Physical (or mineral) filters like zinc oxide sit on the skin's surface and reflect them. Both can offer broad-spectrum protection, but mineral formulas tend to be better tolerated by sensitive or pigmentation‑prone skin, especially when tinted, as they also help shield against visible light, another contributor to uneven tone.
Getting the application right. For adequate coverage, apply around ½ teaspoon to your face, neck and ears — and do it every morning, rain or shine. Apply after your skincare, before makeup, and don't forget areas like your hairline, eyelids and jawline.
Reapply every two hours if you're outdoors, and more often if swimming, sweating, or towel-drying. Even indoors, if you're sitting near a window, you're still being exposed to UVA.
It's a habit worth building, because sunscreen is more than protection. It's prevention and, when it comes to hyperpigmentation, it's the most critical step in keeping your skin visibly even, healthy, and radiant over time.
Pigment Power Players – Building Your Routine
We've explored the key ingredients that help shift visible hyper‑pigmentation — now let's look at the skincare products from Aesthetics Rx®, where you'll find them.
Each formula supports your skin's natural renewal, fortifies the barrier, and visibly reduces the appearance of uneven tone with consistent use.
Ultimate Serum – A multi-pathway approach to a brighter-looking complexion. Take one to two pumps over the face, neck and décolletage in the evening, between cleansing and moisturiser.
Begin by using every second night for the first two weeks to allow skin to adjust. From there, frequency can be increased depending on skin tolerance. This daily serum gives skin a visible lift by supporting hydration, renewal, and clarity.
Formulated with niacinamide, salicylic acid, and calming botanical extracts, it helps smooth uneven texture, soften the look of pores, and visibly revitalise dull, tired, or pigmentation-prone skin.
The lightweight formula absorbs easily and works seamlessly within a brightening routine, without added fragrance or chemical preservatives.
Vitamin C Serum – A daily antioxidant shield for a more radiant, even-looking complexion.
Formulated with pure L-ascorbic acid, this powerful yet elegant serum works to visibly brighten dull, uneven skin while helping defend against the visible effects of environmental stress.
Supported by ferulic acid, vitamin E, and native Kakadu plum extract — a combination that enhances stability and skin benefits, without unnecessary extras.
Apply in the morning after cleansing, starting every second day and building up to daily use as tolerated. Always follow with sunscreen. With consistent use, skin looks noticeably smoother, fresher and more even-toned — a bright start to every day.
Everbright Day & Night Cream – Our newest innovation for your skin-brightening routine.
This ultra-light, gel-cream moisturiser delivers calm, hydration, and a visibly smoother, more even-looking skin tone — with a dewy, glass-skin finish that layers beautifully under SPF or makeup.
Formulated with Brightenyl™, Bright Oléoactif®, and Purslane Bioferment — a trio of next-generation biotech actives shown to reduce UV-induced spots, redness, and uneven tone — it works by visibly calming inflammation, protecting against oxidative stress, and supporting skin’s natural pigment control.
In clinical trials, Brightenyl™ delivered up to 18× better results for UV spots and a 600% reduction in redness after 84 days. Bright Oléoactif® improved skin brightness in just 28 days, with a 273% boost in luminance and significantly lighter tone after 56 days.
Everbright Day & Night Cream goes hand in hand with your brightening serums as it supports long-term results by visibly restoring skin balance and fortifying the barrier.
For drier skin types, pair with a few drops of our Prejuvenation DNA Oil at night for extra comfort — and during the day for a finish that’s visibly fresh and radiant, with a dewy, glass-skin glow that makes it the perfect prep step before SPF or makeup.
Ultra-Protection Sunscreen SPF50+ – Lightweight, reliable protection that layers seamlessly over actives.
This zinc-only, broad-spectrum sunscreen offers high protection without the heaviness. Designed to suit all skin types — especially those prone to redness, sensitivity, or breakouts — the ultra-sheer formula glides on smoothly, dries to a natural matte finish, and won't leave a white cast.
Because it's a physical sunscreen, it reflects UVA and UVB rays without generating heat or redness, making it ideal for daily use in a pigment-prevention routine.
Apply generously as the final step in your morning regimen and reapply as needed throughout the day. We think it’s the kind of SPF you'll enjoy wearing — every single day.
Remember: Patience, Persistence and Protection
Hyperpigmentation doesn't fade overnight, but with the right approach, it will fade. Your skin responds best to consistency, calming skincare, and daily protection. With time and the proper care, visible clarity is possible.
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Expect gradual, visible improvement over 8–12 weeks
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Be consistent in your approach
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Minimise inflammation with gentle targeting skincare
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Never skip SPF – even on cloudy days
Ready to take the next step toward clearer, more radiant skin?
The Aesthetics Rx® four-step system: Ultimate Serum, Vitamin C Serum, Everbright Day & Night Cream, and Ultra-Protection Sunscreen SPF50+ all work together to visibly improve uneven tone, gently and effectively.
Discover the range in-clinic or find your perfect routine with our A Rx® Expert for a personalised skincare plan that supports your skin at every step.