How to Get Rid of Acne Scars and Dark Spots ASAP

The last thing you need to be using when you have acne is a cleanser that also has a ton of harsh acne-fighting ingredients. This ultra-gentle, soap-free one clears away any dirt and grime and helps keep your skin blemish-free with thermal spring water, sebo-regulating patented monolaurain, and anti-inflammatory zinc gluconate without stripping your face of its natural oils.

This cleansing bar kinda-sorta does it all: It dissolves dirt and oil on contact, it doubles as a spot-brightening mask (just leave the suds on your skin for three minutes before washing off), and it gently exfoliates dry patches and dark patches as you rub it around. With ingredients like kojic acid and niacinamide—two of the best and most gentle skin brighteners, this cleanser will help you fight dark spots from the moment you start your day.

Massage a few drops of this serum over your clean, dry skin every morning to boost your skin’s natural protection against UVA/UVB rays and infrared radiation (heat)—both of which create dark spots and worsen acne scars. This cult-favorite serum also contains huge doses of vitamins C and E and ferulic acid, which work together to noticeably brighten your skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

This multi-acid AHA/BHA peel (it uses glycolic, malic, and botanically derived lactic acid to get the job done) is safe enough for sensitive skin and helps cells turn over faster, clearing away dead skin that can leave behind a dull appearance. Translation: You have a dark spot from that blemish you picked, you use this, and then you see the acne mark diminish within a week. P.S. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, you can use this three times a week, but start once a week at first to ease into it.

Note: These pads are not for the sensitive-skinned, so keep reading if your face routinely stings. These resurfacing pads, which contain 5 percent glycolic acid and 2 percent salicylic, not only help fade existing acne scars but also prevent future blemishes from popping up and ruining your day. Gently swipe one over your clean face two to four times a week for an overall brighter complexion.

What’s cool about this sheer, luminous sunscreen is that it contains Kinbiome, the company’s proprietary blend of plant-based probiotic ingredients that keeps your skin barrier strong (and less susceptible to breakouts—and thus acne spots), helps balance oil, and leaves you looking like a protected baby angel. It also contains turmeric, which helps improve the appearance of damaged skin (aka you picked your face and are now in SOS mode).

If you’re trying to heal a scar, the sun is your enemy and sunscreen is your hero. Why? Because UV rays cause excess melanin (pigment-containing cells) to flood the area, causing spots to look more pronounced. To protect your face—and keep dark patches from getting, well, darker—try this sunscreen that’s completely sheer and caste-free, making it perfect for every skin tone.

Each of these exfoliating peel pads are presoaked with glycolic and lactic acids that work to soften skin, smooth fine lines, and boost cellular turnover. This combo not only combats hyperpigmentation on your face but also helps your body churn out brighter, newer skin at a faster rate. Swipe one over your clean, dry skin two nights a week, then follow with a moisturizer (they can be drying).

Spread a thin layer of this brightening serum all over your face morning and night, and expect to see an improvement in the evenness of your skin tone in just a few weeks. Its key ingredient is tranexamic acid, a topical lightener that works to diffuse hyperpigmentation without burning your skin off.

Any spots left behind from your stress- or period-induced pimples are no match for this healing serum. It uses anti-inflammatory zinc sulfate with time-released brightening vitamin C, acne-fighting kojic acid, and regenerating vitamins E and A to leave you with the clear skin of your damn dreams. Oh, and fun fact: It even heals bug bites.

It brightens! It kills zits! It smooths scars! It totally resurfaces your face to give you the skin of a baby! IT’S DIFFERIN! This over-the-counter retinoid (an umbrella term for all vitamin-A derivatives, including retinol) is the only active ingredient that’s proven to speed up your collagen production to increase cell turnover, and, in turn, give you the skin of your dreams. It can be irritating at first, so start slow: Apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin one night a week for one week, two nights a week for two weeks, three nights a week for three weeks, and then every other night indefinitely.