Hyperpigmentation & dark spot routines, built for SA skin.

It depends on which dark spots. For early or post-acne marks, Aziderm Azelaic Acid 20% is the gentlest pharmacy-strength option — long-term safe, daily-friendly. For visible or stubborn dark spots and melasma, Hydroquinone 4% is the bestseller — used in focused 8 to 12 week cycles. Both are paired with daily SPF 50 in the routines on this page. There's no single "best cream" — there's a best routine for the type and depth of pigmentation.

Different jobs. Hydroquinone 4% is faster and stronger — pharmacy-strength brightening that's used in short focused cycles (8 to 12 weeks), then paused. Azelaic Acid 20% is gentler and slower, designed for daily, long-term use without cycling — better for sensitive skin and a great maintenance active after a hydroquinone cycle. The Core routine on this page combines them with Tretinoin for visible dark spots; the Starter routine uses azelaic alone for early marks.

Yes — tretinoin speeds up skin cell renewal, which lifts pigmented cells out of the upper skin layers more quickly, and helps brightening actives like azelaic acid and hydroquinone work better. It's not a brightener on its own, but it's the multiplier that makes the rest of the routine work. Tretinoin 0.025% is included in the Starter and Core routines on this page, used at night.

Honest answer: weeks, not days. With consistent daily use plus SPF, most users notice early change between weeks 4 and 8. Stubborn or deeper pigmentation can take 8 to 16 weeks before the difference is obvious in a mirror. The actives are doing the work from week one — you just can't see it yet because skin renews on its own cycle.

UV exposure is the on-switch for melanin. Without daily SPF 50, the same sun that triggered the pigmentation in the first place keeps re-triggering it — and any progress the routine makes overnight gets reset by the next morning's commute. Sunroof SPF 50 is included in every routine on this page for that reason. It's not an add-on. It's part of the routine.

The Advanced routine pairs Skinshine Triple Combination Cream — a Modified Kligman formula with Hydroquinone 2% + Tretinoin 0.025% + Mometasone Furoate 0.1% (a mid-potency topical steroid) — with Aziderm Azelaic Acid 20% on the cycle-off nights. It's designed for stubborn, persistent pigmentation that hasn't moved on lighter routines, not as a starting point. Used only in short night-only cycles (typically 6 to 8 weeks max), with breaks. Because of the steroid component, please speak to your dermatologist or GP before starting, or message us and we'll walk you through whether it fits.

Skinshine Triple Combination Cream contains Mometasone Furoate 0.1%, a mid-potency topical corticosteroid. The steroid is in the formula for two reasons: it calms the irritation that Hydroquinone + Tretinoin would otherwise cause on facial skin, and it briefly suppresses melanocyte activity to accelerate pigment fading. The trade-off: long-term or continuous facial use of any topical steroid can cause skin thinning (atrophy), broken capillaries (telangiectasia), perioral dermatitis, and rebound pigmentation when stopped. That's why Skinshine is night-only, used in short focused cycles (typically 6 to 8 weeks max), then paused for an equal or longer maintenance phase on a non-steroid routine like the Starter. We disclose this up-front because using it correctly matters more than using it strongly.

No — none of the routines on this page are intended for pregnancy or breastfeeding. Tretinoin is included in the Starter and Core routines and should not be used during pregnancy. If you're pregnant or trying to conceive, message us on WhatsApp and we'll point you to a pregnancy-compatible single product instead of a full routine. Always confirm with your healthcare provider before starting any routine while pregnant.

Apply once daily for the first week instead of twice, on a smaller area than the bottle suggests. If irritation appears, drop to every other day to let the skin adjust. Most sensitivity settles within the first 4 weeks. If it doesn't, stop and message us — we'll guide you on whether to continue, switch routines, or pause.