Concealing Dark Spots: A Science Backed Approach

Concealing your dark spots can seem impossible. Layering on tons of different makeup products leaving you looking and feeling cakey -- there has to be a better way! The good news is that there are better ways to conceal your dark spots.

While the process requires some patience and perseverance, the end result of flawless, even skin will be worth all the effort.

In order to effectively conceal and treat dark spots or areas of hyperpigmentation, you first need to understand what causes them in the first place. Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question as dark spots have a variety of different causes.

Most instances of dark spots are nothing to be concerned about as they are not harmful or painful in any way. Nonetheless, we recommend that you speak with a doctor if you’re concerned about the appearance or development of dark spots.

Here are some potential causes of dark spots to consider with your doctor:

Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes that occur as a result of pregnancy, menopause, or hormonal birth control methods could lead to the development of dark spots on the skin.

Sun damage

The sun’s powerful ultraviolet rays can cause a lot of damage to your skin without the proper protection. The sun’s rays contribute to free radicals entering our body that can damage our skin cells and lead to pigment issues.

Inflammation

Inflammation caused by conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne can cause dark spots. Temporary dark spots may also occur during the healing process of injuries like cuts, burns, and insect bites.

Side effects from medication

Dark spots could also be a side effect from certain types of medications. For example, psychotropics, tetracyclines, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been known to cause dark spots.

If you’ve tried just about everything to cover up and conceal your dark spots with no luck, you’re probably wondering if the right process and products even exist. Perhaps you just haven’t been looking in the right places.

Thankfully, there are products that can help you conceal all your dark spots and rock a perfectly even-looking complexion -- here’s three big things to keep in mind.

Choose the right foundation

While we definitely love a good lightweight foundation for a natural feel and look, that’s probably not going to be the best thing for your dark spots. Instead, opt for full-coverage foundations and concealers that can adequately cover your dark spots. If you’re concerned about feeling too cakey or heavy, you don’t have to apply these full-coverage products to your entire face, instead, focus on your problem areas.

Choose products that work with your skin type

Choose makeup products that mesh well with your skin type for the best results. For example, if you have oily skin, you may want to go with an oil-free foundation or a powder to help offset your naturally oily pores. On the other hand, if you have dry skin, you may want to avoid powders that would just dry up your skin even more and go with a nice moisturizing liquid product. Finally, if you have mature skin with a fair amount of fine lines and wrinkles, you’re going to want a product that won’t settle within your fine lines and age your face.

Choose the right shade

Finally, choose the right shade of your makeup products for the best results. You should start with your skin tone, which will either be cool, warm, or neutral. To do this, look at your veins. If you have blue or purple veins, you have a cool skin tone. If you have more green veins, you have a warm skin tone. If you have blue-green veins or can’t determine the color, you have a neutral undertone. From there, you should match your foundation to your neck or go a shade lighter for the best results.

Other tips

Additionally, here are some tips to create the perfect routine to conceal dark spots once you have the right products:

• Start by moisturizing your skin to provide a nice and hydrated base for your makeup products.

• Use SPF to protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays no matter how cloudy or cold it is outside.

• Apply a makeup primer to your skin to blur your pores and even out any imperfections so that your makeup can go on flawlessly.

• Choose the right applicator depending on your product. For example, if you’re using a liquid foundation, you can either use a sponge or a foundation brush. If you’re using a powder foundation, you can either use a light and fluffy brush or a sponge, depending on the type of powder. If you’re also using a concealer (highly recommended for covering dark spots) you can either use a sponge or a concealer brush.

• Apply concealer before foundation to best target any problem areas, like dark spots. Apply your concealer sparingly, as too much can get quite cakey. Once you are satisfied with the coverage, apply your foundation using thin layers and blending outward towards your hairline and jaw. Be sure to blend well into these areas to achieve an even look. If you need more coverage for a dark spot in a certain area, simply apply another layer of foundation. Afterwards, set your makeup with a foundation powder to provide an extra layer of coverage and prevent transfer.

• Finally, use a setting spray to ensure that your makeup stays flawless and in place throughout the day.

Start by moisturizing your skin to provide a nice and hydrated base for your makeup products.

Use SPF to protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays no matter how cloudy or cold it is outside.

Apply a makeup primer to your skin to blur your pores and even out any imperfections so that your makeup can go on flawlessly.

Choose the right applicator depending on your product. For example, if you’re using a liquid foundation, you can either use a sponge or a foundation brush. If you’re using a powder foundation, you can either use a light and fluffy brush or a sponge, depending on the type of powder. If you’re also using a concealer (highly recommended for covering dark spots) you can either use a sponge or a concealer brush.

Apply concealer before foundation to best target any problem areas, like dark spots. Apply your concealer sparingly, as too much can get quite cakey. Once you are satisfied with the coverage, apply your foundation using thin layers and blending outward towards your hairline and jaw. Be sure to blend well into these areas to achieve an even look. If you need more coverage for a dark spot in a certain area, simply apply another layer of foundation. Afterwards, set your makeup with a foundation powder to provide an extra layer of coverage and prevent transfer.

Finally, use a setting spray to ensure that your makeup stays flawless and in place throughout the day.

If you’re sick of simply concealing your dark spots without actually addressing the issue, we are here to help with some actual solutions to help diminish the appearance of dark spots. Believe it or not, but there are actually a wide variety of different treatment options out there for dark spots that vary in effectiveness, price, and intensity. You can choose the right treatment option based on the severity of your dark spots, how insecure you are about them, and your overall budget.

Tailored skincare routine

Having the right skincare routine doesn’t just help you conceal dark spots, it can actually help fade their appearance, too. While not all of your skincare products will treat dark spots, certain ingredients in specialized products can make a difference. For example, PROVEN Skincare customizes skincare formulas for your unique skin issues, including dark spots. When you take PROVEN’s Skin Genome Quiz and list dark spots as a concern, you’re provided with a unique formula that includes beneficial ingredients like vitamin C, glycolic acid, aloe vera, iris root extract, and kojic acid (among other ingredients based on what skin concerns you mention!).

Cosmetic treatments

If you’re looking to treat your dark spots quickly and effectively and don’t mind shelling out some serious bucks to do so, there’s a variety of different cosmetic treatments out there to consider. For example, there are chemical peels that exfoliate the skin and remove the top layers to reduce the appearance of dark spots. There are also treatments that use things like lasers and liquid nitrogen to specifically target problematic dark spots and diminish their appearance.

With all this information related to concealing and treating dark spots, you’re probably thinking that it would be way easier to simply prevent them in the first place. But is that even possible?

While dark spots can be prevented in some cases, in others, it’s nearly impossible to do so.

For example, if your dark spots are caused by sun damage, you can take steps to protect your skin from the sun. You can do this by using products with broad-spectrum SPF protection. You can also protect your skin by wearing protective clothing items to shield your eyes, face, neck, and chest from the sun’s rays.

On the other hand, if your dark spots are caused by medications such as birth control or antidepressants, you should have an open and honest discussion with your doctor about the side effects you’re experiencing in order to see if there are possible alternatives you can try. Odds are that there are other substitutes out there that don’t come with dark spots as side effect.

While concealing your dark spots can help you feel more confident, you shouldn’t only feel that way when you’re wearing layers upon layers of makeup.

Here at PROVEN, we believe that you should always feel comfortable in your own skin and have the confidence to go makeup-free if you so choose. As a result, we are dedicated to providing you with the best skincare formulas personalized to exactly what you’re looking to address so you can gain the confidence you deserve au naturale.