How to prevent dark spots
A vacation or a day spent in the sun shouldn’t result in permanent sun damage on your skin. Unfortunately, it’s very possible that limited sun exposure can lead to dark spots. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to excess melanin production which can result in brown spots forming on your face, hands, and neck. Find out how you can help protect your skin in our SPF bible to maintain beautiful, healthy-looking skin.
1. SPF Always
You should never go a single day without wearing SPF. Why? Ninety percent of premature skin aging and damage comes from the sun. The three types of dark spots formed on your skin — ephelides, lentigines and melasma are all caused by the sun. Ephelides are what we commonly refer to as freckles, lentigines are long smooth brown spots and melasma are hyperpigmented spots. Prevent any of these from appearing by always protecting your skin daily.
Even on days when the weather is overcast or you’re only planning to walk from the car to the office and back again in the sunlight, it’s important to protect yourself. You should be wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 every day, rain or shine. We suggest adding a daily SPF like Garnier Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 into your routine.
2. Hat And Sunglasses
In addition to chemically protecting your skin, it’s helpful to block out direct sunlight. An easy way to do that is by wearing a hat and sunglasses. Look for sunglasses have UV protection, a hat with a brim, and a long-sleeve shirt.
3. Eat Antioxidants
Antioxidants aren’t just a boon to have in your skin care products. It’s also important that you incorporate them into your diet as part of a healthy lifestyle. They’re no substitute for SPF, but it’s proven that dietary antioxidants can in skin protection at some level.
Leafy greens, citrus fruits, berries and foods with high Omega-3 content should all be on your next shopping list. We also recommend citrus fruits like oranges, pomegranates, and grapefruit. Some research shows that their carotenoid content can help skin reflect UV rays. A healthy diet also assists in keeping skin bright and fighting dullness.
4. Exfoliate And Use Brightening Serums
Prevention is the best way to avoid brown spots. But if your skin is already showing signs of skin damage, there are techniques you can use to help them fade away over time. Exfoliate with a brightening scrub like Garnier SkinActive Clean+ Balancing Gel Exfoliator. It’s formulated with Vitamin C-rich grapefruit and pomegranate extracts to help slough away dead skin cells and brighten skin.
Follow up with a product targeted at improving skin’s appearance. Since you’re focused on dark spots, snag a Garnier Clearly Brighter Dark Spot Corrector to help even skin tone. Don’t forget to follow up with a moisturizer! We like Garnier Clearly Brighter Anti-Sun Damage Daily Moisturizer SPF 30. With a few adjustments to your daily regimen, you’ll start seeing the reduction of your dark spots — and remember to prevent them next time.
