Beauty 9 Products That Will Get Rid of Acne Scars In Record Time By Laura Reilly Laura Reilly Instagram Twitter Website Laura Reilly is a Brooklyn, New York-based writer and editor with over six years of experience covering fashion and beauty shopping news. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, InStyle, People, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Thrillist, Nylon, and more.She was born in London, England and grew up in San Jose, Costa Rica. She attended school in California, first at the Academy of Art University, and later at the University of San Francisco. After interning at a handful of companies in the Bay Area, including ShopStyle, 7x7 Magazine, and Le Tote, Laura moved to New York and became an audience development manager at the womenswear brand Honor. Once the clothing brand shuttered, she became an editorial assistant at Thrillist, now a part of Group Nine. She was soon promoted to contributor network manager, where she managed over a thousand freelance writers and scouted dozens of new writers to contribute to the site's many national and city-specific verticals. In an effort to pursue her interest in women's media, Laura began working as fashion and beauty writer on Meredith's centralized commerce content team, where she wrote predominantly for InStyle. She was soon promoted to e-commerce editor. Now, Laura is a contributor at Dotdash Meredith and also publishes an independent weekly shopping newsletter with a focus on fashion, called Magasin. Shape's editorial guidelines and Rebecca Deczynski Updated on March 31, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Say hello to a beaming, even complexion thanks to this list of the best products for acne scars. 01 of 10 How to Fade Pesky Dark Spots Hiraman/Getty Whether you call them acne scars, dark spots, or hyperpigmentation, the discolored marks left behind by acne are no fun to deal with. Once you've solved the battle of getting rid of those pesky pimples, working on fading the signs they left behind can feel like yet another puzzle. While acne pit scars — the ones that leave divots in your skin — can only be treated with medical procedures like fillers or microneedling, hyperpigmentation, aka "dark spots," have plenty of over-the-counter solutions. Scroll through for the best acne scar treatments and skin-care products to help you wipe away your dark spots in no time — with picks from SkinCeuticals, Pond's, CeraVe, and more. 02 of 10 SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Dermstore Buy on Dermstore Buy on Bluemercury.com Buy on Skinceuticals.com Vitamin C is a crucial ingredient in the journey to clear, spot-free skin, but not any old product will work. This vitamin C-vitamin E-ferulic acid blend is formulated to be as shelf-stable as possible, with the precise pH to be most effective. In fact, Skinceuticals holds the patent for this particular chemical composition, so you won't find an equally effective alternative anywhere else. Yes, the price tag might make you gulp, but it's high for a good reason — maintaining a patent while conducting R&D can get expensive. 03 of 10 Pond's Dark Spot Corrector Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Target Buy on Walgreens Buy on Walmart Right up there with vitamin C, niacinamide is a gold standard spot-fading ingredient, but (luckily) it doesn't have to cost as much as your mortgage. This popular acne scar cream by drugstore brand Pond's lists niacinamide as its third ingredient, meaning it makes up a significant percentage of the blend. It's under $10 a tub, so feel free to apply this product liberally and kiss those scars goodbye in no time. 04 of 10 Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot Brightening Dots Sephora Buy on Sephora Buy on Peaceoutskincare.com Buy on Ulta Buy on Kohls.com These sticky-backed dots have microneedling-inspired prongs, each thinner than a hair, that work to deliver brightening ingredients like niacinamide and licorice root. Further proof they really work: More than 80,000 "hearts" on Sephora. 05 of 10 The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% Sephora Buy on Sephora Buy on Kohls.com Buy on Target Buy on Ulta Lactic acid is a gentle alpha hydroxy acid that helps your skin cells turn over and reveal the fresh (unscarred) tissue underneath. This acne scar remedy can be used several times a week and, over time, you'll notice a brighter, clearer complexion. Since there's a chance your skin can become irritated with use, this blend from The Ordinary includes hyaluronic acid to help mitigate that risk. The Best Lactic Acid Skin-Care Products, According to Dermatologists 06 of 10 EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Dermstore Buy on Eltamd.com The first step to fading acne scars is making sure your dark spots aren't darkening further. Sun exposure exacerbates hyperpigmentation, so a sunscreen or SPF-containing moisturizer is crucial. This top-rated sunscreen by EltaMD is not only a consumer favorite, it's dermatologist-recommended, too. Plus, it contains additional ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid that will proactively fade marks while it protects. 07 of 10 Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum Sephora Buy on Nordstrom Buy on Ulta Buy on Dermstore Buy on Neiman Marcus Buy on QVC Retinol is another proven ingredient for promoting skin cell turnover, but its higher-grade version, retinoid, is only available with a prescription. Banish acne scars with this new product by Sunday Riley, which offers a high amount of retinol. It's perfect for those wanting to upgrade from a drugstore retinol, but not quite ready to make the jump with a physician-administered prescription. 08 of 10 Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector Face Serum Ulta Buy on Amazon Buy on Neutrogena.com Buy on Target Buy on Ulta Buy on CVS For a budget-friendly solution to acne scars, this serum from Neutrogena contains several dark spot-brightening powerhouses: retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid. It's gentle enough for all skin types to use daily. Amazon reviewers say that patience is key, but after a few months, dark spots will visibly lighten. Some shoppers even recommend using it on the back of the hands. 09 of 10 CeraVe Retinol Serum for Post-Acne Marks and Skin Texture Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Ulta Buy on Target Buy on Walgreens This serum from dermatologist-loved brand CeraVe is formulated to reduce the appearance of acne marks. Retinol helps turn over skin cells, evening out the skin tone with the help of niacinamide. Plus, ceramides hydrate the skin and protect its barrier. Several Amazon shoppers have called it their "holy grail," with many seeing an impressive decrease in breakouts and lingering redness. 10 of 10 Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Naturium.com Buy on Target For those with sensitive skin, this simple niacinamide serum can work wonders. The ingredient has a wide range of benefits — brightening, hydrating, soothing, and treating acne all without causing irritation, Caroline Robinson, M.D., a dermatologist in Chicago, previously told Shape. Zinc reduces unwanted shine (a plus for oily skin), and hyaluronic acid helps seal in moisture. Nearly 4,000 Amazon shoppers have given this everyday serum a perfect rating. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit