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Claire holding Hydroquinone 4% 30g, Tretiheal Tretinoin 0.025%, and Sunroof SPF 50 — the Core dark spot routine for South African skin
Pigmentation routines

Hyperpigmentation & dark spot routines, built for SA skin.

Hyperpigmentation is the umbrella term for darker patches caused by excess melanin — including melasma, sun spots, and post-inflammatory marks left after acne. Strong UV is the main on-switch in South Africa.

  • Targets melanin
  • Daily SPF 50 included
  • 4–8 weeks to visible change
See the routinesCompare all three
How it works

Skin renews on a cycle, not on demand.

Pigmentation forms in deeper skin layers. Fading it visibly takes weeks, not days — here's the plain timeline.

  1. Day 1

    Start the actives

    Thin layer to pigmented areas at night. SPF 50 every morning, no exceptions.

    Pro tip: Apply SPF before screens, not just before going outside — UV through windows is the same trigger.

  2. Weeks 4–8

    Skin renews

    Pigmented cells gradually shed and lift. Most users notice the first visible change in this window.

    Heads up: Slight tingling in week one is normal. Sustained redness or peeling — drop to every other day.

  3. Months 3–4

    Move to maintenance

    Once pigmentation has lightened, switch to the gentler Starter routine to hold the result long-term.

    Real talk: Pigmentation isn't "cured" — it's controlled. Daily SPF is what stops it coming back.

Sunscreen every morning. That's the part nobody can skip.

Individual results may vary.

Know what you're treating

The four kinds of hyperpigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation is one umbrella term — but it presents in four distinct ways, and the right routine depends on which one you're looking at.

Core routine
Tone
Skin swatch illustration showing epidermal melasma — three soft-edged warm brown patches on light tan skin

Cheeks, forehead, upper lip

Epidermal Melasma

Well-defined light-to-medium brown patches sitting in the upper layers of skin, most often across the cheeks, forehead, and upper lip.

TriggerHormonal changes, contraception, pregnancy, sun exposure.
Best fitPharmacy-strength brightening responds fastest.
Advanced routine
Tone
Skin swatch illustration showing dermal melasma — diffuse grey-brown smudges with fuzzy edges on warm tan skin

Cheeks, forehead — deeper, fuzzy edges

Dermal Melasma

Deeper pigmentation with a grey-blue tone, where melanin sits below the upper skin layers — slower to fade and harder to lighten.

TriggerLong-term untreated melasma, repeated sun exposure on Fitz IV–V skin.
Best fitDeeper-acting combination cream under pro-guidance.
Starter routine
Tone
Skin swatch illustration showing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — scattered round dark marks of varying sizes on deeper tan skin

Acne zones — chin, jawline, cheeks

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)

Dark marks left behind after acne, eczema, ingrown hairs, or skin injury. Common on medium-to-deep skin tones, where any inflammation can leave a long-lasting mark.

TriggerHealed acne, picked breakouts, irritation, post-procedure inflammation.
Best fitAzelaic Acid + Tretinoin is the gentlest long-term stack.
Starter or Core
Tone
Skin swatch illustration showing solar lentigines / sun spots — six discrete crisp-edged round brown spots on light tan skin

Cheeks, temples, hands, chest

Sun Spots / Solar Lentigines

Flat brown spots from years of cumulative UV exposure — most common on cheeks, forehead, hands, and chest. Distinct from freckles, with sharper edges.

TriggerRepeated sun exposure without daily SPF over years.
Best fitDepending on how many spots and how dark.

Definitions are general dermatology guidance, not a diagnosis. If you're unsure which kind you're looking at, message us on WhatsApp before you order.

Daily pigmentation routines

Pick a routine, not a product.

Every routine is bundled with daily SPF 50 — pigmentation can't be controlled without it.

Tretiheal Tretinoin 0.025%, Aziderm Azelaic Acid 20%, and Sunroof SPF 50 — the Starter gentle pigmentation routine for South African skin
Starter · Gentle

The Gentle Routine

For early pigmentation and uneven tone.

  • Azelaic Acid by day, Tretinoin 0.025% at night.
  • Daily SPF 50 — non-negotiable for pigmentation.
  • Pair of gentle actives — long-term routine, not a short cycle.

What's in the routine

Routine bundle

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Individual results may vary.

Tretiheal Tretinoin 0.025%, Hydroquinone 4% 30g, and Sunroof SPF 50 — the Core dark spot routine for South African skin
Core · Bestseller
Recommended

The Dark Spot Routine

Pharmacy-strength brightening for visible pigmentation.

  • Pharmacy-strength brightener + Tretinoin 0.025% renewal.
  • Daily SPF 50 — protects every gain the routine makes.
  • Focused 8–12 week cycle, then switch to maintenance.

What's in the routine

Routine bundle

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Individual results may vary.

Skinshine Triple Combination Cream, Aziderm Azelaic Acid 20%, and Sunroof SPF 50 — the Advanced pigmentation routine for stubborn dark spots, South Africa
Advanced

Advanced Routine

For stubborn, persistent pigmentation that hasn't moved on lighter routines.

  • Modified Kligman cream: Hydroquinone 2% + Tretinoin 0.025% + Mometasone 0.1% (steroid).
  • Maximum 8-week cycle, night-only — never continuous use.
  • Speak to a healthcare professional before starting.

What's in the routine

Routine bundle

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Contains a steroid — speak to a healthcare professional before starting.

Prefer single products? Browse the full brightening range
Compare routines

All three, side by side.

Same daily SPF foundation across all three — the difference is the strength of the brightening active.

Swipe to compare
Feature
Aziderm Azelaic Acid 20% — Starter routine

Starter

Gentle · Long-term

Bestseller
Hydroquinone 4% 30g — Core routine

Core

Bestseller · 8–12 wk cycle

Skinshine Triple Combination Cream — Advanced routine

Advanced

Persistent pigmentation

ActivesAzelaic Acid 20% + Tretinoin 0.025%Pharmacy-strength brightener + Tretinoin 0.025%Combination night cream + Azelaic Acid 20%
Best forEarly pigmentation and uneven toneVisible dark spots, melasma, persistent uneven toneStubborn pigmentation that hasn't moved on lighter routines
RoutineAzelaic AM, Tretinoin PM — long-termBrightener PM, Tretinoin alternated — 8–12 wk cycleCombination cream PM in short cycles, Azelaic days off
Visible change8–16 weeks4–8 weeks4–8 weeks (deeper-acting)
Includes SPF 50Yes — dailyYes — dailyYes — daily
Routine priceSave 10%
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Prices live from Shopify. Individual results may vary.

Quick guidance

Still deciding? Here's the plain version.

Two pictures of where the skin is — pick the one that's closer.

Early signs

Faint marks, even tone goal

If pigmentation is light, recent, or you have uneven tone — start with the Starter routine.

Azelaic Acid 20% by day plus Tretinoin 0.025% at night is the gentlest active stack for sustainable, long-term brightening — designed to be lived with, not cycled off.

Pair it with daily SPF 50 and give it 8–16 weeks before judging.

See the Starter routine
Persistent

Visible dark spots or melasma

If pigmentation is visible in a mirror at conversation distance, the Core routine is the bestseller for a reason.

It's a focused 8–12 week cycle with a pharmacy-strength brightener — not a forever product. After the cycle, switch to the Starter routine for maintenance.

If the Core routine has run a full cycle and pigmentation hasn't moved, the Advanced routine exists for that conversation — speak to a healthcare professional first.

See the Core routine
Ordering's the easy part

Delivery, payment & support — at a glance.

Discreet delivery

2–4 business days SA-wide. Plain packaging, no product names visible.

Secure payment

Visa & Mastercard via PayFast, processed in ZAR. PCI-DSS compliant.

Pay over time

Mobicred instalments if you'd rather spread the cost interest-free.

Real-person support

WhatsApp us before you order. A real person, not a chatbot.

Trusted payment methods
PayFastVisaMastercardMobicred
Honest answers

Things people ask before they buy.

Honest, plain-language answers. No marketing fog.

The honest playbook: a brightening active (Azelaic Acid 20% if early, Hydroquinone 4% if visible), a renewal active (Tretinoin 0.025% at night), and SPF 50 every morning — paired and used consistently for 8 to 16 weeks. Hyperpigmentation in SA is driven mostly by strong UV, so any routine without daily SPF undoes itself overnight. Pharmacy-stocked across South Africa, discreet delivery, real-person WhatsApp before you order.

Still unsure?

Talk to a real person.

Send us a WhatsApp before you order — we'll guide you to the routine that fits. Real person, no chatbot.

WhatsApp usEmail instead

Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm SAST.

Aziderm Azelaic Acid 20% — Starter routine
Hydroquinone 4% 30g — Core routine
Tretiheal Tretinoin 0.025% — renewal active in Starter & Core routines
Sunroof SPF 50 — daily UV protection
Skinshine Triple Combination Cream — Advanced routine
Ready when you are

Ready to start an even-tone routine?

Pharmacy-stocked across South Africa. Discreet delivery. A real person on WhatsApp before you order.

Start with the Gentle routineShop the Core routine

Individual results may vary.