Dealing with an uneven skin tone is incredibly frustrating. All you want is to feel confident and content with your bare, natural skin, but reaching that goal feels impossible. Whether you struggle with redness, dark spots, acne, or any other issue, you just don’t feel comfortable in your skin.

We get it. 

Of all the skincare concerns you may face, an uneven skin tone is one of the most difficult to address. Unlike other skin issues, unevenness stems from any number of varied causes. And so, as a result, treating uneven skin tone often requires plenty of trial and error.

Though having an uneven skin tone is a widespread issue, it has no singular solution. Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up completely—on the contrary, there are many proven ways to promote an even skin tone, and it’s certainly worth trying. 

Now, let’s delve into uneven skin tones and (hopefully) find a solution to this pesky problem.

What Causes Uneven Skin Tones? 

Before we discuss specific tips and tricks, we need to talk about the question on everyone’s mind: what causes an uneven skin tone? 

This is the most important question to ask yourself before seeking out remedies for the issue at hand. The root cause of an uneven skin tone determines the proper treatment. Moreover, understanding the various causes of unevenness helps prevent the problem from worsening or emerging again in the future. 

So, let’s get down to business. Here are several common causes of an uneven skin tone:

Sun exposure: Frequent exposure to UV light tends to contribute to unevenness. Dark spots may develop as your skin attempts to protect you from sun exposure.

Dehydration: Dehydration leads to so many health issues, including skin irritation. 

Diet: Eating certain foods causes increased skin problems for some individuals.

Medications: Certain medications affect the appearance of your skin. If you have recently started a new medication and notice changes in your skin, consider consulting your doctor.

Hormones: Skin conditions like Melasma occur as a result of changing hormones.

Age: Many people experience increased unevenness of the skin tone as they grow older. Aging is unavoidable, but you can still treat its effects.

Underlying medical conditions: Finally, underlying conditions may wreak havoc on the skin. See a doctor if you are experiencing serious medical issues.

As you can see, there are countless reasons that your skin may appear uneven—it can even result from a combination of many causes. 

However, even if you remain unsure of what’s causing your uneven skin tone, being aware of these causes may reduce your risk of worsening the condition later on. And remember, that is no reason to give up trying—you deserve to have the skin you’ve always wanted.

Now, with this information in mind, let’s explore the best ways to manage an uneven skin tone and amplify your natural, radiant beauty. 

First Things First: Stay Hydrated 

Dehydration is a major cause of tons of skin problems, uneven skin tone included. Luckily, it has a relatively easy fix: stay hydrated.

Drinking water aids our bodies in countless ways, yet many of us don’t do it often enough. With regards to the skin, in particular, water is essential. It helps to maintain a healthy pH balance, reduce wrinkles, prevent acne, flush out toxins, and more. Indeed, the abundant benefits of water promote a more even skin tone. 

In addition to staying hydrated on the inside, we also want to stay hydrated on the outside. You can do this by moisturizing your skin each and every day. 

Not only does moisturizing feel great, but it also reduces dryness and redness in the skin. Similarly, it promotes the prevention of skin irritation and clogged pores.

Small changes to your lifestyle routine, like drinking more water and moisturizing, often make a huge difference to the skin tone over time. 

Watch What You Eat 

First of all, don’t worry—you won’t need to go on a diet or totally cut out any of your favorite foods. 

Nevertheless, keep in mind that certain foods contribute to the unevenness of the skin for certain people. For example, foods that are high in sugar may increase wrinkle development and dark spots due to aging. 

Likewise, dairy sometimes causes skin irritation like acne. Alcohol, spicy foods, and greasy foods are also known to increase unevenness and irritation.

This is not to say that you need to eliminate every food listed here. However, it may help to try cutting down on one type or the other and observing the results. Along these lines, if you notice that a certain food triggers your skin issues, consider reducing your consumption or cutting it out of your diet altogether.

Ultimately, modifying one’s diet will not solve everyone’s skin problems, but it may solve some. It’s important to keep your diet in mind when addressing your uneven skin tone. 

Always, Always, Always Wear Sunscreen

This is a tip you’ve probably heard over and over: wear sunscreen.

As we mentioned above, sun exposure is one of the leading causes of uneven skin tones. UV rays from the sun cause a plethora of issues like sunburns, dark spots, and discoloration. In extreme cases, sun exposure even leads to serious diseases like cancer.

Thank goodness for the modern science that gave us sunscreen. If you apply sunscreen regularly, you can protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Moreover, if you’ve already experienced sun damage like a sunburn, sunscreen will reduce redness, peeling, and other skin issues.

At the end of the day, sunscreen is one of the most crucial tools we have to manage our skin tones. 

Use The Best Ingredients to Even Your Skin Tone 

Anyone who struggles with an uneven skin tone knows how frustrating the condition is. Sometimes, lifestyle changes just don’t do the trick—at least not completely. If you’ve tried all the tips above and your skin still needs an extra boost, you may want to supplement your skincare routine with a few new products. 

But wait—how do you choose the right products? 

Skincare is confusing. Every product seems to promise miraculous, life-changing results, and yet these products rarely deliver. How are we supposed to tell the skin-saviors from the scams?

If you’re new to the skincare game, follow this one single tip: check the ingredients. What goes into a skincare product is the only factor that determines its effectiveness. 

When it comes to managing an uneven skin tone, there’s a wide range of products that effectively combat the issue. Look for products with these ingredients to even your skin tone.

Vitamin C: When it comes to repairing skin damage, Vitamin C might be your best bet. Firstly, as an exfoliant, it cleans pores by removing dirt, grime, and dead skin. It also boosts hydration, which we know is essential to even-looking skin. 

Vitamin C is excellent for unevenness because it inhibits a particular enzyme, tyrosinase, that contributes to pigmentation production. In this way, it helps reduce dark spots or hyperpigmentation. 

Turmeric: Turmeric is perfect for calming and soothing the skin. It also targets the pores, fighting off bacteria that create acne and other issues.

If you tend to see a lot of redness in your skin, look for products with Turmeric. It will help reduce redness and bring out your natural glow.

Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is another wonderful soothing ingredient. It’s rich in antioxidants, which means it promotes healing.

Desert Lime: Like Aloe Vera, Desert Lime is a potent antioxidant. It rejuvenates the skin tone and boosts the firmness of the skin. Desert Lime will leave your skin looking and feeling refreshed.

Tea Tree Oil: If you’re seeking out an effective spot treatment, consider a product containing Tea Tree Oil. It’s very effective in reducing the appearance of acne and pimples.

As you try out new products, look for these amazing ingredients. If you’re a newbie to skincare, an all-in-one face mask like our Vitamin C Clay Mask is a great place to begin.

Developing a new skincare routine can be tricky, but the results of the right routine will make it totally worth it.

Achieving Flawless Skin Is Possible

Hopefully, these snippets of advice will help you along your skincare journey. 

When it feels impossible to even your skin tone, just remember that you’re not alone. An uneven skin tone is actually quite common, and plenty of other people out there have struggled with the same problems.

At the end of the day, just keep going. You deserve to achieve the skin you’ve always wanted.

 

Sources

How to Get Even Skin Tone: 17 Ways | Healthline

Picture of Melasma ('pregnancy mask') | WebMD

How To Get An Even Skin Tone According To Dermatologists | Forbes