E! illustration/Remedy Skin
Hyperpigmentation can be a frustrating, complicated skincare issue to treat. To answer all of our questions about how to treat it, we spoke to Dr. Muneeb Shah, the board-certified dermatologist, founder of Remedy Skin, and TikTok content creator with over 17 million followers, for expert advice. And of course, that includes product recommendations that are all on sale during Amazon Prime Day!
Read on for more about hyperpigmentation and the products that work best to treat it (they're all on sale of course), according to Dr. Shah and his expert advice.
"Hyperpigmentation is when you get an increase of melanin pigment in a portion of the skin, and then that can look to the eye like a dark mark," Dr. Shah told us. This discoloration can look different, either a melasma (larger "blob" of pigmentation), freckles, sun spots, or acne scars.
Dr. Shah explained that it's produced by melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells on the lower level of our skin, through an enzyme called tyrosinase. The difference in hyperpigmentation is based on what triggered the melanocytes. Sun exposure, hormones (especially during pregnancy), and inflammation caused by acne are all triggers that can cause hyperpigmentation.
There's no one solution to treat all forms of hyperpigmentation. "There is a little bit of a deeper nuance to it," Dr. Shah said. "Pigmentation can deposit at different levels." For example, hyperpigmentation from acne is usually superficial and responds better to topical treatments.
Melasma, on the other hand, depends on its form—some can be treated with topical treatments, while others are deeper in the skin and should be treated with lasers or chemical peels. "But it's hard to know without seeing somebody," he said. "I'm still going to try somebody on a topical treatment first to see how they respond because I don't know how deep their pigment is."
Dr. Shah suggests treating the cause of hyperpigmentation first and foremost. "I would always say to treat your acne first, because otherwise, treating the dark mark that comes after acne is you're going to be a futile effort." Same thing with pigment caused by sun exposure, wear your SPF first and foremost. Then address the hyperpigmentation.
There are plenty of ingredients that promise to brighten and clear up hyperpigmentation, but only a few of them are worth your time and money. "You really should focus on ingredients that target all three steps of the pathway," Dr. Shah said. "The melanin [or pigment] goes from the melanocyte [through the tyrosinase enzyme] to a melanosome, which is like a little vesicle [or transport], and then it transfers it to the skin cells."
The thing is, lots of ingredients just focus on inhibiting the tyrosinase enzyme step, which won't remove existing hyperpigmentation.
Which ingredients target all three steps? "Choose a cocktail of ingredients that targets multiple steps in the pigment pathway. And so, that would be vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, kojic acid, alpha-arbutin, and azelaic acid," Dr. Shah said. If there's a single ingredient that treats it all on its own, it's retinol—and no alternative retinols, either, just pure retinoid.
A Vitamin C serum that won't go brown quickly, smell awful, break you out, and won't cost hundreds of dollars? We're in. Made with 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, this formula took two years for Dr. Shah and his team to develop. "[It's] an antioxidant and reparative formula. So, unlike a lot of vitamin C serums that are very watery, this is a much more hydrating formula," he said.
Specifically for hyperpigmentation, Dr. Shah recommends his brand's first product: Remedy For Dark Spots. "It's nine different ingredients in one formula that all target different parts of the pathway at effective concentrations, and we stabilized it. We also tested it on all skin tones, and we tested it for sensitive skin, so we know that like it's well-tolerated."
Dr. Shah recommended a few products by name, one of them being the Topicals Faded Serum. "[They could use] a formula that's already pre-formulated with multiple ingredients, and it's been tested overall to be effective," he said. This serum is one of them, and it targets multiple pathways to treat hyperpigmentation.
Fight back against post-acne scarring and hyperpigmentation with TULA's serum made with lactic acid, niacinamide and prebiotics.
This TikTok-viral serum from EADEM features a fragrance-free blend of niacinamide, an encapsulated version of vitamin C, and amber algae with papaya and pineapple enzymes.
Made with a potent blend of kojic acid, arbutin, azelaic acid and licorice, this targets sun spots, melasma and post-acne marks for a more even complexion.
This advanced serum includes 10% of superstar ingredients azaelic acid and 1% of kojic acid, formulated alongside other hydrating and calming ingredients. It's a chemical exfoliator that promises to purify excess sebum, tighten pores, and even skin tone.
Made with a potent blend of kojic acid, arbutin, azelaic acid and licorice, this targets sun spots, melasma and post-acne marks for a more even complexion.
This multitasking serum has a formula chockfull of brightening and resurfacing ingredients (that are also Dr. Shah-approved) like vitamin C and retinol with a blend of other exfoliating acids.
Shoppers can expect major discounts across categories including tech, beauty, home, kitchen, fashion, and wellness during Prime Day 2026. Amazon devices like Echo speakers, Fire TVs, Kindles, and Ring doorbells are usually among the biggest markdowns, but the event has also become known for impressive deals on viral beauty products, designer fashion, vacuums, cookware, and everyday essentials.
Brands often save some of their best online prices for Prime Day, making it a smart time to buy bigger-ticket items. If previous years are any indication, shoppers should also expect plenty of lightning deals and limited-time offers that sell out quickly.
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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