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I Didn't See a Difference in My Dark Spots Until I Tried This Skincare Line

By

Maya Allen

Updated on 03/15/22 01:19AM

Reviewed by

Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD

Board-Certified Dermatologist

Fact checked by

Anna Harris

Welcome to This Honestly Changed My Life, a series in which we create dedicated, consumer-friendly odes and quick Q&As surrounding the best beauty products, treatments, and wellness rituals that have had an honest impact on the way we consume (and spread the word about) beauty. From eye creams to industry-changing facials to Spin classes, get ready for our honestly life-changing beauty and wellness picks.

Dr. Barbara Sturm Darker Skin Tones Hyaluronic Serum $300.00

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Dr. Barbara Sturm Darker Skin Tones Face Cream $215.00

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The products are Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum and Face Cream for darker skin tones.

I discovered them through a lovely breakfast event with Dr. Barbara Sturm and other fashion and beauty editors of color. The event was hosted by Julee Wilson, fashion and beauty director at Cosmopolitan Magazine; Dana Oliver, former beauty director at Yahoo!; and Ashley Weatherford, editorial director at "Into the Gloss." All three of them are highly respected women of color in the beauty industry and use the line religiously.

With that being said, I had high hopes for these products before they even touched my skin. I had previously heard about the Dr. Barbara Sturm line because celebrities over 40 who have youthful and radiant skin, like Angela Basset and Jada Pinkett Smith, use it. Sturm made it clear during the breakfast that she's well aware of the fact that she's from Germany and not a woman of color, but she's studied these ingredients for years and they work magic on melanin-rich skin. I appreciated the fact that she spoke with such confidence among a circle of Black women. Her true education in skincare shined through.

I use them every single day and night. When I run out, my heart breaks a little. First, I squeeze out a penny-size amount of the hyaluronic serum. It's honestly the most hydrating product I've ever used, so a little goes a long way. I gently pat it onto every area of my skin, and my pores drink it right up like it's holy water. It only takes about 30 seconds for my skin to fully absorb the product. I follow it up with the luxurious moisturizer that feels like a cloud is cloaking my skin the second it seeps in. I scoop out a small amount and lather it onto my skin in an upward motion. I've been using it for five months, and my dark spots have completely faded.

They smell like nothing, which I love. Well, actually, my first thought was they smell like "skin health," if you can imagine that. I steer away from heavily fragrant skincare products because they scare my timid, sensitive skin. My skin has always been resistant to change and freaks out when a fragrance is anywhere near it. These products feel like a healthy dose of ingredients my skin craves every day.

They changed my life because of a number of reasons. It feels so good to put products on my face that I trust. These two game changers are full of feel-good ingredients and are truly soothing to my skin. The most important thing they've done is magically diminish my dark spots. Acne decided to show up in my life when I started working in beauty three years ago. I tried every skincare product under the sun, which resulted in lots and lots of pimples. These pimples left dark spots on my skin that shattered my self-confidence. Clearing up my hyperpigmentation has been my number one skincare concern ever since. So I prioritized this line after Sturm told me these products would be my answer. She was right.

I would give them to women of color who are dealing with dark spots, uneven skin tones, and hyperpigmentation.

You should buy them if you want skin that doesn't have one dark spot in sight, or if you want no-bullshit products that live up to their high reputation of keeping your skin crystal-clear.

Here's my skin before I started using these two products from the Dr. Barbara Sturm line for darker skin tones:

And here's my skin post-Sturm:

Best Products for Dark Spots — @Mayaalenaa

I'm so happy with the results. At one point in my life, I refused to leave my house without makeup on to cover my dark spots. This is me without makeup on in public last week, enjoying my skin's progress.

Best Skincare Routine for Dark Spots — @Mayaalenaa

In full transparency, my skincare routine isn't low-key at all. It's very extra, and I'm not willing to downsize. I've found the perfect routine for dark spots incorporating products that work together to aid in fading my hyperpigmentation. Here are all the products that help me get by.