The Ordinary for Pigmentation

This targeted The Ordinary for pigmentation product collection contains the top 4 best products to help restore radiant skin with a routine that brightens and fades hyperpigmentation.

Read on to discover the best The Ordinary treatments for dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and discoloration. Use this guide to discover the best products for the most common skin concern for us girls over 50.

Pigmentation, age spots, and sunspots are very tricky to remove.

In this article you will find an overview of The Ordinary for Pigmentation products and if they really work for mature skin over 50.

But first …

• Melasma tends to be symmetrical, patches can occur at the jaws, cheeks, under-eye, forehead, or upper lip. 
• Sunspots can occur anywhere the sun hits the skin
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation follows acne, leaving dark spots.

Which The Ordinary Products Treat Acne Scars, Dark Spots, And Hyperpigmentation?

Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%

These are two extremely powerful antioxidants, 37% stronger than L-Ascorbic Acid. Resveratrol is known for reducing redness in the skin associated with acne. Ferulic Acid is just a powerful antioxidant helping your skin to fight free radical damage which can also lead to pigmentation in the skin.

This one is a water-free formula, so you can actually mix it with oil or cream to dilute it further or you can use it on its own.

SKIN OVER 50: It can be irritating for sensitive skin. I use this product instead of Vitamin C because it helps to reduce my skin’s redness. However, it didn’t lighten my age spot.

Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%

Arbutin is a really powerful ingredient as far as pigmentation goes. It will target melanin deposition on the skin.

Arbutin on the skin actually gets converted into hydroquinone which is a gold standard for reducing or eliminating skin discoloration.

Arbutin is a natural skin-lightening plant extract, that doesn’t have the problems (bad reputation) associated with hydroquinone.

If you want to incorporate Vitamin C into your routine as well, this is a very good product.

It’s a water-free solution.

SKIN OVER 50: This is great if you have sunspots, age spots, or any kind of pigmentation from the sun.

Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone 100%

It really brightens your skin and promotes collagen production in the skin, which leads to a stronger, thicker layer on your skin which ultimately hides any discoloration or pigmentation, especially for dark under-eye circles. Vitamin C is proven to improve under-eye circles and skin around the eyes in general.

👉 TIP: Make sure that you get a formula that is water-free and contains L-Ascorbic Acid not one of the derivatives, just because all the clinical data was done with L-Ascorbic Acid.

Use Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone 100% after water-based serums and oil-based serum. Because it’s Silicone base you can use it as a primer underneath your makeup. If it’s too strong for your skin, you can dilute it with any moisturizing cream.

SKIN OVER 50:  Vitamin C is suspended (encapsulated) in this formula and distributes unevenly on your skin, creating irritation in some areas. It brightened my skin; I am talking about one shade lighter in the foundation. 😉 But did nothing for my age spot. Personally, I prefer and use Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%.

READ NEXT: Benefits of vitamin C in skincare

100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder

It’s just a powder and you have to mix it before application in your hands. It comes with a little scoop.

⚙ HOW TO USE IT: Take a scoop of “100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder“, then mix it with a water base tonner or serum, that you have, in your palm, and apply it to your skin. Do it after cleansing before any oils or/and creams.

If you find that one scoop is too much, then use less amount.

Marine Hyaluronic Acid is a great water-based serum to mix with 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder. It’s more gel-type of formula and doesn’t run through your hands when you try to mix it with the powder.

⚠ CAUTION: You want to avoid any cuts or broken skin, but it is safe to use around the eyes to target dark circles.

1️⃣   Number ONE cause for age spots, melasma, or hyperpigmentation is SUN. If you know that you will not use sunscreen daily (even on cloudy days), then there is no point in using any of the products to lighten up your pigmentation.

You will be just wasting money down the drain.

What to Expect When Using The Ordinary for Pigmentation Products?

With one- or twice-daily usage, you can reasonably expect skin-lightening and progressively lightening of dark spots. Sadly, the lighting will not happen overnight, and it’s important to keep this in mind.

You will have to use a lightening product every day, morning and evening, along with the daily application of a great sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher for at least 3 months before seeing any significant result.

If you diligently use The Ordinary product for pigmentation for 3 months (with sunscreen) and don’t see the result, try to layer two or three skin-lightening products.

“WHY?  Simply put, some discolorations are rooted deeper in the skin and, as a result, are much more stubborn and slower to respond to topical treatments.

WHAT TO DO? Consider seeing a dermatologist for a series of light-emitting or laser treatments.” – The Best Skin of Your Life Starts Here book

And keep in mind NONE of these products are a cure. If you stop using them, dark spots will return. Second, you want to use images to support your main points such as “Print-screen, Video Tutorials or Infographics”.

The Ordinary Product Chart for Pigmentation

The Ordinary for Pigmentation Skin-lightening routine

Deciem has put together this simple regimen comprising of just 4 products for The Ordinary Pigmentation Routine.

• Alpha Arbutin
• Niacinamide
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C)
• Azelaic Acid
• *you can add Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F before Azelaic Acid for added support.

Your Pigmentation Routine Will Look Like This

✨ MORNING: Cleanse | Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA | Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, | Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%| SPF

✨ EVENING: Cleanse | Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA | Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

NOTE: Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution of 20% in Vitamin F can be applied in the PM before Azelaic Acid Suspension of 10% for added support.

Melissa Van Dijk did a great explanation of this routine in her video “The Ordinary example Pigmentation Regiment“.

You can also check out see my morning routine for mature skin over 50 in this video.

So, this is pretty much it for my recommendations for The Ordinary for Pigmentation products.

The Ordinary products are affordable and great to experiment with different ingredients to find out what your skin likes and don’t like.

Then you can upgrade to more high-end skincare products. Like Curology (niacinamide, clindamycin, azelaic acid) mix, Differin “dark spot correcting serum 2% hydroquinone skin lightener” for sun spots or retinol

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GOT A QUESTION?

Do you have any questions about The Ordinary for Pigmentation? Let’s talk about it in the comments below!
I would love to hear from you! Have a fabulous week and take care!
Irina Nikitina – Founder of Modern Fifty TV

THINGS TO READ NEXT:        

• Guide to Properly Layering The Ordinary Products (with video)
• Evening Skincare Routine for older skin (with video)
• My in-depth Morning Skincare Routine for Mature Skin (with video)
• How to buy a good quality skincare product
• Does Skincare Work?
• 10 habits to slow down the skin aging process.
• Is it okay to use Vitamin C and Retinol together at the same time during your skincare routine?
• Ingredient spotlight: NIACINAMIDE