Even layers of makeup sometimes fail to hide the flaws of your face, especially when there’s a monstrous zit, a cherry-red blemish, or two desperate to leave you. Even if a foundation or concealer makes you cheer up, neither those products are suitable for your skin nor can they be a long-lasting solution. A bit of mishandling, and you’ll see layers cracked. And if it happens somewhere, you have to show up confidently, we’re afraid.
So, in this scenario, looking for something other than concealer to hide dark spots becomes inevitable. Yes, your creativity for the self-discovered methods is appreciated. Still, there are ways you might have yet to think of, and you are about to find those all right here!
Some of them can smoothly become part of your daily fashion routine, while some may be like small shifts into your daily skincare regimen. So, let’s dig in and find something unique and easy to hide those pesky spots without compromising your original glory!
But first, as a refresher…
What Are Dark Spots, And Why Do They Occur?
Dark spots, aka hyperpigmentation, are when colored patches or spots form on the skin on different body parts. These spots are noticeable as their color differs from the skin’s original color. They usually appear in gray, black, brown, and sometimes red.
Dark spots are caused by melanin, a natural pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their color.
When the body starts producing excessive melanin, these spots begin to form. Various factors cause the body to produce excessive melanin, such as sun exposure, hormonal influences, age, injuries, and skin inflammation.
Types Of Hyperpigmentation
Knowing which type of dark spots you have and what’s causing them to form helps you determine how to cure them and hide them using the effective method (any of mentioned below). There are mainly three types of hyperpigmentation.
Age Spots
Also called liver spots or solar lentigines, age spots usually occur in older adults. These spots appear as brown, black, or tan patches on the hands, face, or other sun-exposed body areas. The critical point to be noted is that being older is one of many reasons these spots appear on their own. Instead, in most cases, over-sun exposure is the main trigger for such spots. This means older adults are less likely to have dark spots if they limit their sunlight exposure. Cheers!
Melasma
Also called chloasma or “the mask of pregnancy,” it appears in large patches of darkened skin and often on the forehead, face, and stomach. It can generally affect women, especially those pregnant or on birth control pills. People with medium to darker skin are also likely to have such spots.
Also Read: How to Take Care of Oily Skin in Winter
What is Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation?
As the name indicates, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation appears after someone has had any inflammatory skin condition, such as acne or eczema, or after any injury to the skin. These appear as darkened patches or spots on the inflamed/injured area, particularly after the issue is resolved.
Hide Hyperpigmentation Without Makeup Methods: Choose What Works Best for You!
So, the time to explore and finally end up with a unique way to hide dark spots without makeup. Though we always wish you may succeed with your very first method tried, if that doesn’t work, keep trying others on the list, and we’re sure you’ll be ready to show off your natural glory soon!
Method No. 01: Use an Ice Cube
An ice cube is a cold-blooded killer of an existing blemish and the scar left behind.
Yes, icing down a pimple for a few minutes reduces swelling, and by reducing its size, you’ll also reduce its lifespan.
Wrap an ice cube in a thin cloth or a paper towel and rub it on the pimple for 30 seconds. Leave and wait for 10 minutes. Repeat the process a few times unless the pimple is visibly shrunk.
This is one of the reasons why experts recommend ice facials. They improve blood circulation, brighten skin and make it appear radiant. This is why, with prolonged use, ice massages could lead to reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
If you find this method working, why go a step further and try something more valuable for the overall health of your skin? We mean, instead of using a ‘simple’ ice cube, try milk ones. Yep, lactic acid is one of milk’s prime components that gives your skin a well-deserved moisturization, reduces red spots, keeps away pigmentation, and gives you a fairly more natural radiance.
Also Read: How To Get Tattoo Ink Off Skin
Method No. 02: Hide It With Sexy Hairstyles
Playing around with your hair is the cheapest and most effortless hack to hide the blemishes and scars. You might have already been doing so occasionally. But you can prepare for it in advance, even before someone notices you intend to hide something on your face!
You can try this hairstyle – sectioning the hair from between and letting one hair section or sometimes a few bangs fall onto the scar. You get your style, and others find you looking gorgeous as always!
Also Read: How to Use Fragrance Oil on Skin
Method No. 03: Hide Them with Your Hair Accessories
Not wanting to miss out on your favorite hairstyles but still hide those flaws? No worries, as we’ve got the fix!
A cute accessory is an easy way to put the focus on your killer sense of style while still not bothering any spots on your face at all. It can be your hats, scarves, or oversized sunglasses that you’ve overlooked until some special event comes. Let’s help you turn those fashion accessories into de-spotting tools!
- Tie a headband around to hide the problem on your forehead. Even better, choose one that matches your dress.
- Let’s go down – put on your most significant, best sunglasses to shield blemishes around your eyebrows or upper cheeks.
- Don a headscarf tied around your chin to cover spots on your face.
These hacks aren’t the end of the world – think creatively, and you’ll probably find more skin-hiding tools in your closet than you realize. So before you start layering on the foundation, check to see if there’s something you can use to your advantage.
Also Read: How to Prevent Skin Darkening After Shaving
Method No. 04: Wear a Stylish Face Mask
Horror aside for a sec, the latest covid pandemic deserves thanks as it already has brought people so close to face masks. Thanks again for making possible the availability of demanding colors, patterns, and looks, so you can choose one that perfectly matches your favorite dress.
Cover dark spots on your face by wearing one, and who knows the ‘secondary’ reason why you’ve put it on?
However, the caution is-
- Avoid wearing a face mask for too long, like extended periods of all day. It recently turned out that doing so causes ‘make,’ a type of acne involving acne breakouts from excessively wearing a face mask.
Always use a mask that’s cotton-made, washable, and yet stylish. Unlike nylon- or polyester-made masks, cotton masks are more breathable and allow you to breathe easily while preventing dust build-up.
Method No. 05: Use Some Adorable Pimple Patches
This is the first thing we’re suggesting when looking for ways to hide blemishes in the first place. What if putting a few on your face becomes more fun and not a self-esteem killer?
The only way to do that is by reaching for patches that come in different colors and shapes. If that isn’t something you adore and think so will not others, what matters the most is their efficacy level in hiding and treating that nasty blemish(s). We found Avarelle Pimple Patches potent enough to shrink pimples overnight or even suck out all the gunk! Suitable for all skin tones, these non-yellowing and discrete patches contain acne-fighting ingredients like hydrocolloid, Tea Tree, Calendula, and Cica Oil, something that’s also great for speeding up the pimple-vanishing process.
Method No. 06: Choose a High-SPF Sunscreen
Sunscreen helps with dark spots: it prevents melasma from flaring up and hyperpigmentation from worsening by creating a barrier between harmful UV rays and your skin.
But if you haven’t been finding sunscreens to be desirably effective in providing sun protection and preventing dark spots, here are two things you should reconsider:
- Make using sunscreen part of your daily skincare routine. Even if it’s cloudy outside or the sun is not feeling that harsh to your skin, wear it. Even if the sun is out, UV rays still affect your skin.
- Opt for one that’s high-SPF,oil-free, and non-greasy to prevent more blemishes from appearing, thereby preventing dark spots. A sunscreen meeting this criteria will provide even better protection and help reduce existing dark spots.
Method No. 07: Applying Tinted Moisturizer
If you must leave home soon yet feel like you have no sunscreen today, a tinted moisturizer should come in handy. It’s a Facial moisturizer having a slight skin tint with makeup pigments.
Most tinted moisturizers are specially designed to provide sun protection and moisturize your skin all day long like the Perricone MD Tinted Moisturizer has these properties.
With an SPF of 10-30, it’s a lightweight, deeply hydrating SPF moisturizer that leaves a warm, luminous tint while nourishing skin with corrective antioxidants. The moisturizer is also helpful in deferring the signs of aging by boosting collagen and elastin production.
Method No. 08: Use a Gentle Exfoliant
You already know all about what an exfoliant does to your skin. Clearing dead skin cells, unclogging pores, enhancing product absorption, everything.
But how does all that connect with hiding dark spots? Good question.
The first closer-to-the-magic thing it does is it helps to reduce the excess melanin by breaking up the pigmented cells and separating them from living skin tissues. Second, the more unclogged pores and the ability to absorb products the skin has, the better the products you use for blemishes and dark spots work.
I hope that’s cleared out now. But one thing to remember is to opt for a gentler exfoliator that suits most skin types, especially oily, sensitive, and combination skin types. Harsher exfoliants may cause redness and irritation, leaving the skin worse than what you started. Also, consistency is the key to exfoliation, not over-exfoliation at once.
Method No. 09: Employ a Dark Spot Corrector in Your Daily Skincare Routine
Specific skin issues demand specialized treatment, And dark spots are no different.
A dark spot serum is a no-brainer specially designed for the purpose. But the real challenge for you might be to find one that works. So we go for Vichy Dark Spot Corrector, which helps with hyperpigmentation and discoloration and eliminates aging effects. A combination of active ingredients like peptides, glycolic acid, and niacinamide (vitamin b3) is sure to lighten, brighten, and correct uneven skin tone, while tranexamic acid takes care of hyperpigmentation. This serum is the best time to use this before SPF (AM) and moisturizer (PM). Use for 8 weeks for best results.
Method No. 10: Use Active Ingredient Topical Tone Correctors
When all else fails, a tone corrector comes to the rescue to improve your tone both figuratively and literally!
They aren’t dark spot-hiding tools but can help you overcome them in the long run. The blend of antioxidants and skin-brightening active ingredients makes skin tone correctors work. As soon as you start getting regular with such products, you eventually start seeing results. But how do you choose one, especially when you haven’t used one before?
We’ve done the homework and brought you Proactiv Acne Spot Treatment and Dark Spot Remover cream. This cream contains a blend of squalane, bisabolol, and other antioxidants.
Squalane is a lightweight moisturizer and leaves skin hydrated, supple, and luminous. Bisabolol is known for calming effects on the skin and reducing redness and irritation, helping individuals who suffer from rosacea, rashes, and more. It can also help relieve discomfort after a sunburn.
Method No. 11: Stay Hydrated
Yes, you thought that right – water is life for your skin. It makes sense as up to 60% of our body is water.
What specifically water does to our skin is it improves skin tone and helps eliminate hyperpigmentation and discoloration. Though it’s all about upping your water intake, one study showed that even two cups of water improved blood circulation, leading to a better skin tone or ‘glow’ which many skincare blogs covet and rave about.
Another edge hydrated-staying individuals get over others is fewer breakouts. Studies show that those who stay more hydrated are less prone to acne breakouts and other skin conditions. When you’re less hydrated, your body produces more oil to make things go smoother; all you get is skin stickiness and more breakouts.
Also Read: How to Get Rid of Sticky Skin
Wrapping Up
So this was the roundup of ways to conceal dark spots without makeup. We hope you don’t need to search further for any other hack now. Wishing you the glow of confidence!