13 Best Tranexamic Acid Products to Fade Dark Spots

Vitamin C is undoubtedly the most popular ingredient for addressing discoloration, but the best tranexamic acid products work just as well and tend to be gentler on skin. Tranexamic acid is an underdog additive that targets dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and melasma all at once without irritating sensitive skin in the process—in fact, it's one of the few discoloration-diminishing ingredients that can be mixed with other skin brighteners like retinol and hydroquinone. Below, check out every derm- and Allure editor-approved tranexamic acid product that'll reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense, $108
• Best for Redness: Alastin Skincare A-Luminate Brightening Serum, $178
• Best Toner: Medik8 Press & Clear Exfoliating 2% BHA Tonic, $38
• Best Prescription-Strength Formula: Musely The Spot Cream, $96
• Best Multitasking Formula: SkinMedica Even and Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment, $178
• Best Vitamin C-Infused Serum: Maya Chia The Super Lift Vitamin C-More Treatment, $110
• Best Firming Serum: Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum, $45 $36
• Best Overnight Treatment: Lion Pose Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum, $79

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is tranexamic acid?
• How tranexamic acid benefits skin
• Which skin types are suitable for tranexamic acid?
• Which ingredients can be used with tranexamic acid?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense

Why It's Worth It: SkinCeuticals is one of the most derm-recommended brands on the planet, so it's no surprise that Dr. King and Dr. Garshick suggest the brand's Discoloration Defense serum. "It contains a great combination of tranexamic acid and kojic acid, both ingredients that are effective for lightening discolorations," says Dr. King. Along with the acids, this formula also contains niacinamide, which is helpful for tone and texture. Since its ingredients are gentler than most actives, you can feel free to apply this serum day and night—just make sure to wear sunscreen during daylight hours, since they can cause slight photosensitivity.

Editor's Tip: Dr. Garshick recommends consulting a board-certified dermatologist about an oral tranexamic acid prescription if topical, over-the-counter products aren't cutting it.

Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid (3%), kojic acid, niacinamide, sulfonic acid | Who It's For: Those with hyperpigmentation, melasma, combination skin, or oily skin | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best for Redness: Alastin Skincare A-Luminate Brightening Serum

Why It's Worth It: On top of its ability to minimize dark spots, Alastin Skincare's A-Luminate Brightening Serum also addresses redness, another form of discoloration related to hyperpigmentation, rosacea, eczema, and a whole laundry list of other factors. Its formula relies on a combination of two luminance-boosting additives: tranexamic acid, and antioxidant niacinamide (also known as vitamin B3).

Editor's Tip: Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says this serum is her go-to when her complexion looks more uneven than usual. "This is my saving grace when I have a pesky post-acne dark spot that refuses to budge," she says. "Its effective formula speeds up the healing process and, instead of exacerbating my rosacea, it tones down my usual redness."

Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid, niacinamide | Who It's For: Those with hyperpigmentation, dull skin, sensitive skin | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best Toner: Medik8 Press & Clear Exfoliating 2% BHA Tonic

Why It's Worth It: Looking for an intensive pore-unclogging treatment? Use a cotton pad to swipe on Medik8's Press & Clear Exfoliating 2% BHA Tonic, a Dr. Garshick-approved formula that's not greasy or sticky. This topical contains a potent mix of tranexamic and salicylic acids to address current blemishes and post-acne dark spots with one lightweight treatment. Though it contains an active ingredient, this toner feels cooling and gentle rather than irritating, thanks to the addition of aloe vera extract in its formula.

Editor's Tip: If you have sensitive skin, we recommend patch-testing before using this toner and only applying it on problem areas.

Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid (2%), salicylic acid, aloe vera extract | Who It's For: Oily skin, acne-prone skin, those with hyperpigmentation | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best Prescription-Strength Formula: Musely The Spot Cream

Why It's Worth It: Online prescription-grade formulas from brands like Musely offer results at the click of a button. If dark spots and melasma are your concern, The Spot Cream is your ticket to clearer skin days ahead. This clinical-strength moisturizer is available in four different formulations, including a hydroquinone-free formula, that a Musely in-house dermatologist will prescribe depending on your skin type, concerns, and medical history. Like most Musely products, you must receive an online evaluation and prescription approval from the brand's in-house doctors before purchasing.

Editor's Tip: Only the hydroquinone-free version of this cream contains tranexamic acid.

Key Ingredients: Dependent on prescription | Who It's For: Those with hyperpigmentation, those with melasma | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best Multitasking Formula: SkinMedica Even and Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment

Why It's Worth It: Dr. Lal says the SkinMedica Even and Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment is a must for anyone treating discoloration. "This is a sophisticated brightening product with many tone-evening ingredients, one of which is tranexamic acid," he says. This daily-use tranexamic acid serum also contains skin-brightening niacinamide and antioxidant-rich lotus sprout extract, which conditions and plumps skin while boosting natural luminance.

Editor's Tip: Dr. King says that most tranexamic acid products can be applied twice daily, but those with very sensitive skin could experience irritation or dryness. "It's prudent for sensitive skin types to do a test patch before applying more liberally," she says, adding to start applying once every other night and bumping up application frequency daily if your skin can tolerate it.

Key Ingredients: 9% LTN complex (tranexamic acid, niacinamide, lotus sprout extract), plankton extract, phytic acid | Who It's For: All skin types | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best Splurge: Maya Chia The Super Lift Vitamin C-More Treatment

Why It's Worth It: Maya Chia's The Super Lift Vitamin C-More Treatment may be pricey, but Dr. King says this supercharged formula is worth every penny. It contains a slew of complexion-perking ingredients, including three shelf-stable variations of vitamin C, tranexamic acid, ferulic acid, and niacinamide—and those are just the brightening ingredients. Peptides and stem cells derived from orange blossom lift and firm skin, resulting in a glowy, more youthful appearance.

Editor's Tip: We love that this formula has a lightweight feel and quickly absorbs into skin, making it a great pick to layer under your favorite moisturizer, sunscreen, and/or makeup.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate), tranexamic acid, ferulic acid, niacinamide, peptides, plant-based stem cells | Who It's For: All skin types | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best Firming Serum: Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum

Why It's Worth It: Age spots and wrinkles happen as we age, but if you want to tone down the look of these concerns, Vichy's LiftActiv B3 Serum will smooth them out and then some. Dr. Garshick loves its combination of brightening tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and glycolic acid, the latter of which is essential to a wrinkle-reducing routine. "The glycolic acid works to gently exfoliate and even out skin tone while the niacinamide and tranexamic acid help to lighten the dark spots," she says. For enhancing skin elasticity, this serum also contains skin-firming peptides.

Editor's Tip: Since this serum contains glycolic acid, an intensive active ingredient, we recommend using it nightly to avoid sun sensitivity.

Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid, niacinamide, glycolic acid, peptides | Who It's For: Mature skin, textured skin | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best Overnight Treatment: Lion Pose Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum

Why It's Worth It: Dr. King recommends the Lion Pose Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum to target hyperpigmentation and post-acne spots overnight. It's formulated with a "great combination of azelaic acid and tranexamic acid to decrease hyperpigmentation, and also contains glycolic acid and lactic acid to help lift the pigment." Although it has a strong 15% concentration of active ingredients, Dr. King attributes its gentle feel on skin to a soothing combo of Centella asiatic (commonly known as cica), hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera extract.

Editor's Tip: This serum's combination of exfoliating acids makes it great for unclogging pores or minimizing oil, but it might be too potent for sensitive skin types.

Key Ingredients: 15% acid blend (tranexamic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, lactic acid), cica, aloe vera extract, glutathione, hyaluronic acid | Who It's For: Those with hyperpigmentation, acne-prone skin, oily skin | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best Ferulic Acid-Infused Serum: Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum

Why It's Worth It: Get your glow on with Glow Recipe's Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum. This radiance booster gets two thumbs up from Dr. Garshick for its innovative, antioxidant-powered formulation. "This brightening serum combines different forms of vitamin C with guava extract and seed oil, which together deliver powerful antioxidant benefits and brighten the skin," she says. Each of the five different types of skin-brightening vitamin C featured in this serum is dual-encapsulated for a slower release, which minimizes skin irritation and protects the potency of the water-soluble antioxidant longer, thus making its formula more effective. Of course, this formulation also contains tranexamic acid to improve discoloration and reduce dark spots.

Editor's Tip: To prevent future dark spots from forming, we recommend applying sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF rating of at least 30 every time you step outside.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate), tranexamic acid (, guava extract, guava seed oil, ferulic acid | Who It's For: All skin types | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best Retinol Alternative: Paula's Choice Clinical Discoloration Repair Serum

Why It's Worth It: Retinol is one of the crown jewels of skin care, but if you have sensitive skin, you might find that this active ingredient is too harsh. If that's the case, switch over to a serum that contains bakuchiol, like the Paula's Choice Clinical Discoloration Repair Serum. Bakuchiol is considered a gentler alternative to retinoids that provides similar effects—and when paired with tranexamic acid (like in this serum), you'll be able to address textural and tone concerns all at once.

Editor's Tip: To double down on your dark spot-reducing skin-care routine, Paula's Choice recommends pairing this serum with the antioxidant-rich C5 Super Boost Moisturizer.

Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol, tranexamic acid (3%), niacinamide, vitamin E, milk thistle | Who It's For: All skin types | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best for Brightening: YSE Beauty The Problem Solver

Why It's Worth It: YSE Beauty's The Problem Solver features a potent, skin-brightening trifecta of tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and licorice root extract that Dr. Garshick says will even skin tone and improve dark spots and hyperpigmentation over time. As these ingredients even tone, they work hand-in-hand to boost your skin's natural luminance for a dewier, glowier complexion.

Editor's Tip: You can use this versatile product as an all-over face cream or a targeted spot treatment.

Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid, niacinamide, licorice root extract, pomegranate seed oil | Who It's For: Those with hyperpigmentation, those with uneven skin texture | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Best for Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: Naturium Multi-Bright Tranexamic Acid Treatment 5%

Why It's Worth It: Dr. Lal says the Naturium Multi-Bright Tranexamic Acid Treatment 5% is a must for anyone targeting post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is the dark spots and marks you get after a blemish. "This is an affordable gentle product that has tranexamic acid, kojic acid, and alpha arbutin," he says.

Editor's Tip: Dr. Lal says this formula is also great for targeting melasma.

Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid (5%), kojic acid, alpha arbutin, acetyl glucosamine | Who It's For: All skin types | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Most Affordable: The Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Hyperpigmentation Treatment

Why It's Worth It: Dr. Patel's go-to pick for reducing dark spots is The Inkey List's Tranexamic Acid Hyperpigmentation Treatment. As its name suggests, this treatment is enriched with tranexamic acid, but it also contains antioxidant-rich açai extract and vitamin C to enhance its skin-brightening properties. Don't let its low, under-$20 price tag fool you, because this serum is just as potent as its pricier counterparts.

Editor's Tip: Its lightweight, gel-like consistency feels cooling on skin and doesn't lead to product pilling, even when layered with a rich moisturizer.

Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid (2%), açai extract, vitamin C | Who It's For: All skin types | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Frequently Asked Questions

Lactic, mandelic, glycolic—there's a whole world of skin-enhancing acids, but they're all unique in molecular composition and provide different effects. Unlike the aforementioned alpha-hydroxy acids, tranexamic acid isn't a chemical exfoliator, but a synthetic derivative of the amino acid lysine.

It's a popular skin-care treatment for dark spots, but, according to Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Memphis, Tennessee, and founder of Visha Skincare, its main purpose in medical practice stems from its blood-clotting properties. "Tranexamic acid is a medication that is used to prevent or reduce excessive bleeding in various medical conditions," she says. "It works by helping to stabilize blood clots and prevent their breakdown." Dr. Patel says tranexamic acid is commonly used in a variety of surgeries, procedures, and treatments of medical conditions including heavy menstrual bleeding, nosebleeds, and hereditary angioedema (allergy-related swelling under the skin).

On top of its medical properties, tranexamic acid is one of the gold-standard skin-care ingredients for addressing discoloration brought on by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma, a skin condition and form of hormonal hyperpigmentation diagnosed primarily in women.

"Tranexamic acid slows melanin synthesis by inhibiting the plasminogen/plasmin pathway," says Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. "This blocks interactions between melanocytes [the skin cells that produce melanin] and keratinocytes [cells that provide skin structure]." By blocking interactions between the two, dark spots, signs of melasma, and post-acne hyperpigmentation become less pigmentated, creating a clearer, more radiant tone.

Every derm we talked to agrees that tranexamic acid is safe for all skin types, including those with easily irritated complexions or who are pregnant. With that being said, Dr. King recommends patch testing if you have very sensitive or eczema-prone skin to ensure you don't have any unwanted reactions.

Everyone can benefit from tranexamic acid's tone-evening properties but Karan Lal, DO, FAAD, a double board-certified cosmetic and pediatric dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, Arizona, says it's especially great for those with dark skin tones who are prone to hyperpigmentation, since it evens skin without creating a lightening halo effect like more intensive brighteners. He also says this ingredient is safe to use long-term since it's a non-hydroquinone brightening agent.

As a bonus, tranexamic acid plays nicely with most skin-care ingredients in your routine. Dr. King says it should be used in conjunction with sun protection, which you should be wearing (and reapplying!) anyway. "Combining it with other brightening ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, kojic acid, and phytic acid may improve results," she adds. "It also works well in conjunction with retinol and retinoids." With that being said, Dr. King notes that tranexamic acid can be irritating if you use it with alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids, so be aware.

• Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
• Karan Lal, DO, FAAD, a double board-certified cosmetic and pediatric dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City.
• Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Memphis, Tennessee, and founder of Visha Skincare.

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best tranexamic acid products, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

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