'I swear by this $25 product to quickly banish my hyperpigmentation.'

Everlasting love is something I’ve been fortunate to experience for many years after meeting my partner: concealer. 

I’ve struggled with hyperpigmentation for as long as I can remember. My teen years were infiltrated with bouts of severe hormonal acne breakouts and I was put on medication to calm my aggravated skin. However, reducing the severity of my acne was only half of the problem. The other half was dealing with the post-acne hyperpigmentation. 

Thanks to my extremely fair complexion, any spot left a reddish-purple dark mark on my skin that would stay for months on end. So concealer was my hero. 

Watch: Rethink your routine. Post continues below. 

However, once I removed the concealer behind closed doors, I was back to step one. As a result, I’ve spent thousands of dollars on products and treatments that promise to rid these dark marks and brighten my complexion. 

While not all have worked (or worked too slowly) there have been a select few that have made a truly significant improvement.

So here are the sensitive skin-friendly products I swear by for banishing my hyperpigmentation. 

The best (and most affordable) skincare products for treating and preventing hyperpigmentation 

Numbuzin No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum 30ml, $25.40.

Numbuzin No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum 30ml.

Although this is the most recent addition to my skincare routine, boy, has it been absolutely game-changing. Let me reiterate. Game! Changing! 

After only two weeks of consistently applying a few drops of this serum to my face in the morning and evening, I noticed all the dark spots around my chin (thanks to a recent hormonal breakout) were almost invisible. This was huge for me as I had never seen such drastic changes in such a short amount of time from a single vitamin C product. The secret is the combination of vitamin C and glutathione. This natural detoxifier is anti-inflammatory and is directly linked to healing hyperpigmentation, evening skin tone and reducing signs of ageing.

Mixsoon Bean Cream 50ml, $29.95.

Mixsoon Bean Cream 50ml.

I’ve previously ranted about my love for the viral Mixsoon Bean Essence (aka, your ticket to glass skin), and from the same brand is also one of my new favourite moisturisers. This pot of luxuriously thick gold is made with lactobacillus/pear juice ferment filtrate, which has a high concentration of lactic acid and offers incredible antioxidant properties, like reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and… dark spots. 

I like to think of this cream as the mother to all your serums, essences and toners — use it as the last step in your evening skincare routine or in the morning right before your sunscreen (SPF is ESSENTIAL when using vitamin C products!), and it’ll ensure all your other products are sealed and absorbed deep into your skin’s layers. 

It’s especially good for the winter months so if you’re currently struggling with extremely dry, dehydrated, rough and sensitive skin, you will thrive off this moisturiser. 

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil 200ml, $21.90.

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil 200ml.

If you’re not using a cleansing oil as part of your evening skincare routine, are you OK? 

I’m not going to lie — I was also hesitant about investing in a cleansing oil when it first became a huge trend because I felt absolutely no need to apply more oil to my face when it was already clogged up. However, despite its name, an oil cleanser is especially beneficial for acne-prone and oily skin types because it helps lift excess sebum, cleans out clogged pores and removes dead skin so your other products can absorb into your skin more effectively. 

I’ve tried all the viral cleansing oils on the market (thanks, TikTok) but my heart goes to this one from SKIN1004. The key ingredient is Centella asiatica, which sensitive, dry, irritated, ageing and acne-prone skin types thrive off. This ingredient is rich in amino acids, antioxidants and fatty acids to promote intense hydration, calm blemishes and boost collagen. 

My hot tip: ensure you massage two to three pumps of this oil into your face for at least three minutes to reap its full benefits. 

La Roche-Posay Redermic Vitamin C10 Serum 30ml, $74.95.

La Roche-Posay Redermic Vitamin C10 Serum 30ml.

I would love to have the funds to have a never-ending supply of the famous Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum. However, the rising cost of living has forced me to be a bit more realistic with investing in skincare products. As a result, I’ve managed to find dupes of luxury products that work just as well and this La Roche-Posay serum is one of them. 

This gentle serum is formulated with pure vitamin C, salicylic acid and neurosensine (the latter is amazing for relieving allergy-prone and ultra-sensitive skin). The result is softer, hydrated and glowing skin. No further explanation needed. 

For an even more affordable vitamin C option, I also love the Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Care Serum 40ml ($27.95). This vegan, cruelty-free and alcohol-free product went viral on TikTok after singer Madison Beer revealed she swears by it for fading pigmentation and helping her look glowy for her performances. 

Medicube Deep Vita C Pad (70-pieces), $37.95

Medicube Deep Vita C Pad (70-pieces).

While I love a face mask, it isn’t the most affordable skincare step to be doing every day considering the average one costs around $6. That’s where toner pads come in — and if you suffer from hyperpigmentation like me, this Medicube Vita C one is a worthy investment. 

Simply swipe the textured side of this two-in-one product across your face as the first step in your skincare routine and then flip the pad over and place the smooth side down on any dark spots. Then, let it sit for three minutes for the serum to penetrate into your skin like a traditional face mask and continue with your usual serums and creams. 

My sensitive skin especially loves this vegan toner pad because each piece is saturated in a highly contracted vitamin concoction formulated with all the soothing hyperpigmentation-fading ingredients we love to see — read: ascorbic acid, niacinamide, lactic acid, lactobacillus/lemon peel ferment extract, panthenol, hyaluronic acid and gluconolactone, just to name a few. 

Each tub also comes with 70 pieces, which means one pad only costs roughly 50 cents. This compared to face masks? Well, you're basically making money. 

Have you tried any of the above products? Or, do you struggle with hyperpigmentation? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Feature image: Supplied.