Inside the Alchemist’s Workshop: Birth of the Dark Spot Routine

Last year, a bunch of my friends from all over the country were complaining about dark spots, age spots, melasma, hyperpigmentation—same-same, and I also had a few unwelcome spots and wanted them gone. I put together a group of guinea pigs and formulated a few heavy hitters to work with our basic Artisanal routine. We documented our progress over a two-month period. Thanks to this brave group of pioneers, you now can deal with your own situation.  Here’s how:

First of all, it’s easier to prevent spots than to get rid of them. So always use Tighten+Glow as part of your ongoing prevention routine, day and night.  The bacillus ferment will gently exfoliate old cells, and that’s key.

Max Active Dark Spot Roller is the weapon of choice created to lift spots that are already entrenched. It contains a high percentage of glycolic acid and is meant to be dabbed only on the spots and only at night.  Since the first two months I used this as part of the workshop, it hasn’t left my arsenal and gets pulled out the second I see even the shadow of a spot trying to surface. 

The next key in a prevention strategy is to always use our Transform Serum. The blend of botanical lactic acid, Vitamin C and peptides does a great job every day to guard against discoloration.

Then, since I’d just heard that retinol works even harder with its new plant friend, bakuchiol, I decided to go balls to the walls and create a super-intense night treatment cream that was stuffed with the classic melasma-fighting A-team of niacinamide, resveratrol and alpha arbutin, and I don’t mean just a little. Deep Refining Cream  (or The Skin Sheriff) is meant to be used for a solid two months, nighttime only, and then called out about once a week just to keep your skin bright and happy.

And where would a hyperpigmentation routine be without Vitamin C?  Our Brilliance Vitamin C formula slipped out of my brain as easily as a goose egg. It was like God threw me a bone. The Vitamin C percentage is huge, but it also contains a very cool lightening agent made of natural amino acids that inhibit the production of melanin pigments. The oils were chosen for their lifting prowess, and to me the whole thing smells divine. This also now lives in my arsenal, and I use it at least a couple of times a week.  At least.

Last, and part of your always routine is Condition Rainforest Repair Balm. This final call to action makes sure that your skin is deeply moisturized and ready to work on your pigment project.

Keep in mind that the above is a nighttime routine designed for a two-month immersion and then as needed. The daytime routine is whatever you usually use in the A.M. Brilliance Vitamin C Serum can swing day or night and is happy anywhere, any time. 

If have a dark spot situation and can commit to drill down for a couple of months, this routine can get you where you want to go. Shout out to the guinea pigs who helped perfect this from the great states of Oklahoma, New York, California, Indiana, Connecticut and Texas. 

About the Routine: While the best way to deal with hyperpigmentation is to prevent it, life happens. Whether you want to guard against discoloration and dark spots or lighten the ones you have, this special routine may be used twice daily for a two-month intense treatment or kept in your arsenal when you see discoloration starting to appear.

A.M. (bundle here)

• Control. Glycolic Cleanser. (or cleanser of your choice)
• Tighten+Glow. Refining Mist.  Spray a few spritzes and gently pat.
• Brilliance. Vitamin C Oil Serum.  Warm a few drops in your palms and press onto face.

P.M.

• Control. Glycolic Cleanser. (or cleanser of your choice)
• Tighten+Glow. Refining Mist. Spray a few spritzes and gently pat.
• Max Active. Dark Spot Roller.  Carefully press the roller onto any visible dark spots.  Let dry a bit.
• Brilliance. Vitamin C Oil Serum.  Warm a few drops in your palms and press onto face.
• Deep Refining Cream with Retinol+Bakuchiol.  Apply like a night cream to face and chest.

You may also find that Meta is a good addition to your morning routine and that Transform at night will give you an extra boost of hydration.

Bacillus Ferment is a perfect ingredient to help with cell turnover especially when working on uneven skin tone.  It is an enzyme used to exfoliate the skin and is a mild but effective alternative to alpha hydroxy fruit acids.  In addition to the Retinol in the Deep Refining Cream, another ingredient that is also in the deep refining cream that makes this routine so effective is Alpha-arbutin which is derived from bearberry.  It promotes skin lightening and helps even skin tone on all skin types.