Ahhh, that warm sunshine has come back once again. It’s so good, isn’t it? It feels like the sweetest, most simple gift right now.

If you’re like me, you’re jumping at the opportunity to get out in the spring weather. My husband and I have been enjoying Sunday afternoons out on our back deck, listening to a podcast and basking in the goodness of spring.

With the sunshine back in business, you might be starting to see your freckles come out once again, but you may also see unwanted, random dark spots and patches show up on your face — called hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation can occur for a variety of different reasons (hormone shifts, acne scarring), but sun exposure is a main culprit.

Many of you know that I started seeing hyperpigmentation show up around my eyes in my mid-20’s, which is why I created the Cocoa Eye Butter and most recently our Carrot Seed Serum. I've seen incredible results from topically applying plant ingredients. Below I cover what you can do if you already have hyperpigmentation and how to prevent it in the first place.

Treating Existing Hyperpigmentation

If you’re just starting to see hyperpigmentation show up, the good news is that you’ll probably be able to lighten it with topical products. Apply a few pumps of our Carrot Seed Serum all over your face and neck (contains lightening ingredients like carrot seed, Vitamin C and reishi mushroom) both morning and night.

If you’ve had hyperpigmentation for several years and it’s been left untreated, you might eventually need to look into doing a treatment like microneedling, light therapy, or a laser. The latter comes with risks, so I would use lasers with caution and as a last resort. I’ve had tremendous results for my acne scars through both microneedling and red light therapy — and they can be as equally beneficial for treating sun damaged skin.

Preventing Future Hyperpigmentation

Protecting your skin is truly the best thing you can do to prevent hyperpigmentation from showing up or getting worse.

• Cover your face! This is huge. I’m a fan of getting some sun on my arms and legs (10-15 min only) because I know my body needs the Vitamin D, but I don’t tan my face. You can find me on the daily rocking my massive sun hat that I got at a local surf shop for $12. It covers my face and neck. Is it cute? Not really. But it’s saving my skin and that’s worth it.

• Protect your skin’s barrier with moisture. Dry, exfoliated skin makes you extremely vulnerable to sun damage. Be gentle with your skin by using only clean skincare and makeup — and products that have nourishing, moisturizing ingredients. in the morning, use our Carrot Seed Serum (also full of potent antioxidants, Vitamins E, D, B12 and anti-inflammatory properties) and Cocoa Eye Butter (extremely moisturizing and protective) around the eyes, neck, and any other dry areas of the face.

• Use a clean SPF. My skin tends to break out from using an SPF on my face, so I don’t use any heavy SPF creams. I do use Ilia Radiant Translucent Powder SPF 20 over my foundation, and have found that this doesn’t irritate my skin. Better yet, if you can find a foundation that works for you and has a high SPF in it, do that!

  P.S. I do use an SPF on my arms, hands and legs when I’m going to be out in the sun for extended periods of time — I use and highly recommend Suntegrity products.