Dark spots can be tough to avoid, and it can be even harder to get rid of them. While they’re not the end of the world — as anyone who closes out summer with a new spray of freckles can attest — they can still get in the way of glowing, even-toned skin. And dark spots can happen for a variety of common reasons, whether by sun exposure, inflammatory events (like acne, hence post-acne marks), air pollution, and even just turning another year older. While they can resolve in their own time, that can take months.

The good news? A dark spot corrector can help speed up the process, which is why we’re so excited to debut our new Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum, which we’ve formulated to target not just dark spots, uneven skin tone, and dull skin, but also loss of firmness and bounce in the skin. Whether you’re dealing with post-acne dark marks or sun spots after a summer outside, this innovative vitamin C serum can help.

Our fragrance-free face serum is brimming with active ingredients chosen specifically for their ability to interfere with pigment production in various ways, whether it’s the result of sun exposure, inflammation (like acne), or pollution. It offers a trifecta of skin tone-evening ingredients — vitamin C, guava, and tranexamic acid — to stop dark spots in their tracks and help fade those that have already popped up. Here, what goes into this brightening serum to pull that off.

What’s Inside

We’ll take a wild guess: You’ve probably heard of vitamin C, its ability to even out skin tone, or both. That’s for a good reason: Vitamin C is one of the most heavily researched, highly effective skincare ingredients out there, which is why it was the star of our OG Pineapple-C Bright Serum. It’s a well-known tyrosinase inhibitor, meaning it inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, which is key for the pigment production process.

In the Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum, we’re taking it to the next level with not one, not two, but five types of vitamin C. For starters, you’ll find tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which is an oil-soluble form of vitamin C. Being oil-soluble means that it’s more stable (and therefore more potent) and causes little to no irritation. (That’s kind of a big deal, because vitamin C is literally an acid — ascorbic acid, if you’re curious — and can be too irritating for some.) it can also more easily penetrate skin and get to work.

Then, there are four water-soluble forms of C, which are encapsulated together in thin oil layers. Those oil layers allow them to pass through the lipid barrier — oil recognizes oil — and also do a deep dive in skin. This construction is key for absorption, as the skin barrier is naturally hydrophobic (meaning it repels water). Hidden within these oil layers, though, the water-soluble forms of C can sneak through. (Not only that, but the layers allow for a time-release effect for an extended vitamin C treatment.)

Even better, these five forms of vitamin C don’t even include the guava seed oil and fruit extract, which are naturally abundant in C and other antioxidants, such as gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin, beta-carotene and lycopene. Both are thoughtfully sourced, too: Our guava extract is processed in a way that conserves water and minimizes waste; leftover pulp, seeds, and peel are reused as fertilizer. Meanwhile, we extract our guava seed oil from upcycled guava seeds via a cold-pressed method, which both saves energy and keeps nutrients intact.

That’s not the only way Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum fades dark spots. The formula also contains tranexamic acid, an ingredient that’s long been used in medicine but is now gaining ground for its power to fade dark spots — some derms consider it as good (and safer than) hydroquinone, which has long been the controversial standard for evening out skin tone. (It’s been banned in the EU and Japan following safety concerns.) Whereas vitamin C inhibits an enzyme, tranexamic acid works by preventing a signal mediator—think of it as a crossing guard — from allowing mechanisms that lead to inflammation and excess melanin production. It also keeps melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin, from activating under UV exposure, helping to prevent dark spots. We chose tranexamic acid, which is only an acid in its chemical structure (like hyaluronic acid) over chemical exfoliants like beta hydroxy and alpha hydroxy acids, as other dark spot correctors do; that allows for a gentler, more user-friendly formula.

Up next are ferulic acid and vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant in its own right — and also known for its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties — but it has a synergistic effect, too, boosting vitamin C’s efficacy. Ferulic acid not only elevates that combo, but it also helps stabilize it so you get the best possible results.

Finally, the formula includes three peptides. These spur cell renewal, smooth and refine skin texture, and hydrate for all-around healthier skin. And unlike traditional vitamin C serums, this one is formulated to have a silky-soft texture that never feels sticky, and imparts a lightly tropical scent of guava. It’s free of both fragrance and essential oils.

How to Use It

After cleansing, toning, and applying eye cream, dispense one to two pumps of Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum and gently pat onto slightly damp face and neck until fully absorbed. Follow with your favorite moisturizer to seal everything in place. It’s super-gentle, so you can use it twice a day, every day.

You can also use the serum as a booster by pairing it with other face serums. Want to max out on moisture and radiance? No problem — just layer a pump of our Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum with a pump of Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum. If you’re looking to soothe redness, layer it with one pump of the Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum. For an instant glow, follow it with Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops. And, finally, for glass skin, pair it with Pineapple-C Bright Serum for a double dose.

What sets this vitamin C serum apart is that it’s gentle enough for those with sensitive skin and won’t exacerbate breakouts — meaning everyone can reap the skin brightening benefits. Plus, it plays well with all your other products, acids included. (Here’s our guide for layering the two.)

In a clinical consumer survey over four weeks, 100% agreed that this serum is gentle enough for everyday use, 96% noticed that their skin appears brighter and more radiant, 96% noticed a visible improvement in overall skin tone, and 89% saw a visible reduction in post-acne marks. Of course, these things take time. When it comes to seeing results from your skincare products, it takes about four weeks with a vitamin C serum — although if you might notice improvements sooner than that, thanks to the various ways this works to fade dark spots.

We’re so thrilled that we can finally share this exciting launch and can’t wait for you to try the Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum for yourself. Got questions? Just leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you!

Want to learn more about dark spots?

• Skin Inflammation: The Good, the Bad, & Everything In Between
• 4 Summer Skin Concerns & How to Solve Them
• 7 Surprising Reasons You’re Still Breaking Out