We love beach days and laying out by the pool as much as the next person, but it isn’t all fun and games—you have sun damage to contend with, and that can go beyond getting a sunburn. Without the proper protection, skin dotted with small, flat dark spots known as sun spots can become your reality. Sun spots are a type of discoloration that can occur with repeated exposure to the sun’s rays. Unlike freckles, face sunspots don’t fade naturally—and while the spots themselves are harmless, they can be frustrating to deal with.I.
Thankfully, it is possible to reduce the appearance of dark spots and discolorations on the skin. Ahead, we’ll give you the 4-1-1 on what sun spots are, why they form, and how to fade them. Read on for our guide to sun spots and our routine for achieving glowing, radiant-looking skin.
What Are Sun Spots?
What Causes Sun Spots On The Skin?
Why do Sun Spots Look Like Dark Spots on the Skin?
What is the Difference Between Sun Spots and Freckles?
Are Sun Spots Dangerous or harmful?
Do Sun Spots Go Away?
How Can You Treat Sun Spots?
How Can You Maintain an Even Skin Tone?
Can You Help Prevent Sun Spots?
How To Get Rid of Sunspots
Kiehl’s Daily Routine for Skin With Sun Spots

1. Cleanse And Brighten At The Same Time
Every effective skincare routine begins with a clean face. We recommend washing your face daily with a gentle exfoliating cleanser, like Clearly Corrective Brightening & Exfoliating Daily Cleanser. This gentle face wash features pearlstone, a natural exfoliant derived from volcanic ash that helps remove dead skin cells, oil, and pollutants for a cleaner, clearer-looking complexion.

2. Don’t Skip Toner
After cleansing, prep your skin with a brightening toner, such as Clearly Corrective Brightening & Soothing Treatment Water. This hydrating formula features licorice root and vitamin C to refresh dull, tired-looking skin. It also contains illuminating minerals that reflect light to give the skin a dewy, healthy-looking glow. Simply pat onto clean, dry skin with your fingertips or a cotton pad, taking care to avoid the eye area.

3. Make a Serum For Dark Spots an Essential
Next, reach for a serum designed to target hyperpigmentation, such as Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. This fast, exceptionally effective formulation was developed to promote youthful clarity while addressing the appearance of sun spots. It’s clinically proven to manage multiple clarity concerns such as dark spots and uneven skin tone.
KCR Tip: When looking for products to add to your brightening skincare routine, pay attention to the ingredients. We recommend reaching for formulas that feature potent antioxidants, like Activated C, peony extract, and white birch extract. You’ll find all three of these powerful ingredients in Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution.

4. Moisturize For Radiant Skin
No matter what skin type you have, using a daily moisturizer is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. For dull or uneven skin, we recommend Clearly Corrective Brightening & Smoothing Moisture Treatment, a top-rated daily moisturizer starring vitamin C and clarifying glycolic acid. These powerful ingredients work together to visibly improve the skin’s tone and texture for a more uniform, radiant complexion.

5. Take Sun Protection Seriously
The only way to prevent new face sunspots from forming is to avoid sun damage. Experts recommend wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day, such as Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50+ or Super Fluid Daily UV Mineral Defense. Apply your SPF as the final step in your daily skincare routine to keep your complexion protected from the sun’s harmful rays and follow all official sun-protection recommendations, which include minimizing time in the sun during peak hours (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and wearing UV-blocking sunglasses.
Bonus Steps For Minimizing Face Sun Spots
A straightforward daily routine can help prevent sun spots and reduce their appearance over time, but there’s more you can do. Some people opt for professional treatments for fading sun spots, which typically involve intentionally damaging the skin’s surface with chemicals or harsh abrasives to promote the production of collagen and new skin cells. Fortunately, if you don’t want to shell out the cash for an expensive cosmetic treatment, Kiehl’s has at-home options to take your routine to the next level.

Use a Microdermabrasion Exfoliator
Professional microdermabrasion involves using a specialized abrasive tool to remove the skin’s outermost layer for a more refined, even complexion. Microdermabrasion is used to address age spots and dark spots left behind by acne, among other skin concerns. While the results of dermatologist-administered and at-home microdermabrasion will undoubtedly differ, both are valid options. At home, you can use an exfoliating treatment such as Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion. This facial scrub stars ultra-fine powdered micronized shells to gently yet effectively buff away dead skin, pollutants, and surface buildup. We recommend using it three times per week after cleansing your face to help smooth the skin’s surface and reduce the appearance of sun spots and other visible signs of aging.

Use an At-Home Peel
A chemical peel is a professional treatment in which chemical exfoliants, such as acids, are applied to the skin to remove the top layers. The idea is that the skin that grows back will be smoother and not possess the concerns you received the peel for in the first place (like discolored skin). The gentlest version of this treatment is known as a light or superficial chemical peel, in which mild acids are used to exfoliate only the topmost layer of the skin. Superficial chemical peels can help improve the appearance of minor complexion concerns, such as mild discoloration or uneven skin texture. Medium and deep chemical peels penetrate further and provide more dramatic results, but they also tend to have more side effects.
For an at-home version of a professional peel, use a gentle resurfacing treatment such as Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate as part of your nightly skincare routine. This top-rated formula is safe for use on all skin types and works over time to exfoliate the skin for a brighter, more even complexion.
Now that you’ve learned how to treat and prevent sun spots, read our article Healthy Skin Habits to Start Now to learn how to keep your complexion nourished and healthy-looking.
Sources:
I.“The Protective Role of Melanin Against UV Damage in Human Skin.” Photochem Photobiol, 2009.