How to Brighten Skin for a Radiant Complexion, According to Experts

Plus, the benefits are multifold: “Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine not only improves luminosity in your skin but also improves sleep, decreases stress, and promotes overall health and well-being,” says Wilson.

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.

8. Be consistent and patient.

Another not so sexy but super-important piece of advice: Be consistent and patient with your routine. As with anything, 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 significant decrease.” Remember to remain diligent with your skin care regimen to maintain your results.

9. Incorporate in-office lasers.

For professional results, visiting your dermatologist’s office will be your best bet. “Laser treatments and light therapies can also target pigmentation and boost collagen for a more even tone and glow,” says Akram.

As for what lasers to consider for brightening, “a gentle laser like Clear and Brillliant can improve skin texture and pigment,” says Dr. Kim. “Fraxel is another laser that is more aggressive than Clear and Brilliant that helps with texture and pigment (think of Clear and Brilliant as a baby Fraxel!).”

On darker skin tones, “Pico lasers are also helpful for pigmentation,” recommends Dr. Kim.

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.” So even if you’re applying hydrating serums and cream moisturizers 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.

“Tyrosinase is an enzyme that is needed for production of melanin,” says Wilson. “Certain ingredients can interfere with this process.” When they interfere with melanin production, you will in turn see brighter skin.

“Some of the most effective ingredients are tranexamic acid, kojic acid, arbutin, and azelaic acid,” says Dr. Kim. Ingredients like licorice 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. “Niacinamide is another favorite since it helps reduce hyperpigmentation and strengthens the skin barrier.”