How to brighten skin for a radiant complexion, according to experts

Consider decreasing your alcohol intake, skipping the cigarettes, getting sufficient sleep, and eating a balanced diet with a variety of nutrients and food groups, and watch your skin get its glow back over time.

9. Be consistent and patient.

Boring but true: consistency is key. “It’s hard to see an immediate result when it comes to brightening,” says Dr. Kim. “It takes time to see a real meaningful difference because pigment doesn’t disappear overnight.” Akram says, “You can start to see a brighter complexion within a week by focusing on exfoliation, hydration, and using ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide.”

While you can instantly brighten your complexion within days or a week, more lasting results in fading dark spots or improving tone will take much longer than that. “Our skin sheds old cells every 30 to 45 days, so for best results, it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” says Wilson. “For more stubborn pigmentation, you may need somewhere closer to six months to a year to see a significant decrease.” Remember to remain diligent with your skin care routine to maintain your results.

10. Hydrate.

Beyond eating antioxidant-rich foods and getting an adequate amount of sleep each night, Akram also reminds us to “hydrate inside and out.” Even if you’re applying hydrating serums and cream moisturisers every day, don’t forget to drink plenty of water (it’ll help with so much more than just brightening the skin).

11. Look for brightening ingredients in your skin care routine.

Not sure what to look for in your skin care products to help brighten? Other than gold standard vitamin C, there are acids and other ingredients to keep an eye out for.

“Some of the most effective ingredients are tranexamic acid, kojic acid, arbutin, and azelaic acid,” says Dr. Kim. Ingredients like liquorice root extract or arbutin “naturally help reduce the appearance of dark spots and calm the skin without causing irritation,” says Akram, so these can be good options if you have sensitive skin.

“For some skin types, brightness can’t be achieved until underlying redness is addressed first,” Isaacs points out. “Niacinamide is a brilliant ingredient to introduce for this; it’s anti-inflammatory and deeply hydrating,” he says. Akram agreeds, “niacinamide helps reduce hyperpigmentation and strengthens the skin barrier,” she says.

It’s worth considering retinol (or vitamin A), too. “Vitamin A accelerates cell turnover, helping skin shed dull, dead cells and reveal fresh ones beneath. It also regulates pigment-producing cells, helping to fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation,” says Isaacs. It can be pretty powerful though, so read up on our guide to retinol to introduce it gently if you haven’t used it before.

Of course, exfoliators in the form of alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic and lactic acids are also effective, as they “gently exfoliate dead skin cells to reveal a fresher, more even complexion,” says Akram.

Acids