Sun Undone: A Guide To Post-Summer Dark Spot Repair

You did all the right things. You wore a hat. You slathered sunscreen. You avoided the hottest part of the day. But you still ended up with some unwelcome mementos of summer—age spots, irregular pigmentation, patchiness, hyperpigmentation. UV exposure is kind of an occupational hazard of your job as a human. No matter how diligent, one hundred percent avoidance is impossible.

If summer is lingering in all the wrong places, here’s what you need to undo the damage and restore a glowing, even skin tone.

UV radiation sets loose a cascade of free radical activity that can trigger an appearance of uneven pigment. Antioxidants help scavenge and neutralize free radicals to support that process. Combining two antioxidant superheroes, vitamins C & E, with niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, Vivant's Pure C + E helps support a brighter, more even-looking tone and helps defend against the visible effects of UV exposure. Use it as a daily antioxidant shield.

Ingredients that help brighten the look of skin work on the appearance of uneven tone and dark spots. The top performers in this arena are mandelic acid, kojic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide, and hydroquinone. Some, like mandelic acid, offer the additional benefit of exfoliation, which is a key part of improving the look of summer sun damage.

Exfoliation helps lift the look of excess pigment to the surface and away from the skin. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and REt (RP)™ Retinoid are key retexturing agents. AHAs tend to work more on the surface by dissolving the "glue" that binds dead cells, while REt (RP)™ Retinoid works to refine the look of texture for a smoother, plumper-looking surface. Formulated with kojic, lactic, and glycolic acids, plus REt (RP)™ Retinoid, Vivant's Exfol-A is a great post-summer exfoliating cocktail for a more consistent, brighter, healthier-looking tone and texture. Vivant’s 

For skin too sensitive for glycolic acid or hydroquinone, 8% Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Serum provides a more gentle brightening and exfoliating experience. The larger molecular structure of naturally derived mandelic acid means it penetrates more slowly and causes less irritation. Here, it’s paired with lactic acid and niacinamide in a triple-targeted formula (blemish-prone skin, the look of aging, and irregular pigmentation) that’s suitable for all skin tones.

The performance of any corrective serum is enhanced with the use of a toner to remove surface accumulation of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. For prepping and refining when unwanted pigmentation is an issue, the clarifying and brightening blend of mandelic acid, lactic acid, niacinamide, salicylic acid, and zinc peptides in Vivant’s Daily Repair Pads provides the ideal solution.

Just because we’re heading into fall, this is no time to back off on the sunscreen. Continue to use a daily sunscreen to protect from melanin-stimulating and age-accelerating UV radiation. Vivant’s lightweight Day Treatment Lotion SPF 15 with zinc peptide provides UV protection that won’t clog pores or make your face look greasy. Make it part of your morning routine to speed repair and guard against further damage.

Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 goes on smooth and absorbs quickly and completely. No greasiness. No ghosting. It’s non-comedogenic, paraben-free, pregnancy-safe, and reef-safe, so you can protect your skin and the environment. And it comes in a travel-friendly 3-ounce size.