A friend of mine recently texted me a picture of her forehead with the caption, “what the hell is on my face?” The grey brownish discoloration was not that bad, but without a speck a makeup on it was noticeable. The darkening that we were both looking at hyperpigmentation. It occurs when an excess of melanin, you know, the pigment that produces normal skin color, forms little deposits or spots on the skin. It’s quite common in pregnant women and women taking birth control, but it can affect anyone. Although it may be alarming at first glance, there are two ways to deal with this: prevention and treatment.

A morning application of sunscreen and reapplying it throughout the day can prevent hyperpigmentation. On top of SPF and generally being more careful about sun exposure, a combination of lightening and exfoliation products can be super helpful. You need to look for products that are enriched with skin toning and lightening ingredients.

These are the best products, mostly natural and all paraben-free, to treat hyperpigmentation:

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum – This super potent serum is enriched with vitamin C and ferulic acid to smooth and dissipate UV damage and deliver a more radiant look.

Obaji Nu Derm Blend Fix – When you have tried everything and nothing seems to do the trick…it’s time to pull out the big guns: Obaji. I used to use this brand way back in the day when I started seeing Dangene (my super star facialist) now I opt for a super natural routine, but if nothing else works this will. Blend Fx reduces the appearance of sun damage and hyperpigmentation and leaves complexion looking lighter, brighter and younger than ever before.

Medicell Brightening Body Cream – The name just says it all. Lactic acid is the key component here, and it’s blended with fruit acids and a host other antioxidants to blend and even the skin tone. Plus, it’s paraben free.

Indie Lee Squalane Oil – I’ve talked about this baby again and again, after discovering it at ABC Carpet a few years ago. This all-natural, super light oil hydrates the skin while neutralizing free radicals and reducing inflammation.

Circ-Cell Dramatic Lightening Potion – A recommendation from my girls over at Dangene. This serum works like crazy to visibly fade dark spots and promote an even skin tone. It’s ever so slight light-diffusing technology immediately reduces the appearance of skin imperfections, darkness and redness.

Erno Laszlo White Marble Treatment Bar – First off, how chic is this bar. The super intensive brightening cleanser exfoliates and fights dark spots with time-release brighteners (say what?!) and fruit acids. It even blocks melanin (that dark stuff that pops up on your skin) throughout the day. Wild.

Omorovicza Refining Facial Polisher – Bright green marine algae brightens the skins and sloughs away dead skin cell. This is one of my new favorite exfoliators period.