Pigmentation isn’t just one thing—it’s a category. A spectrum. And understanding why your skin holds onto discolouration is the first step to refining it.
Whether you're seeing leftover marks from breakouts, uneven sun exposure, or hormonally triggered changes, pigmentation is one of the most persistent and emotionally frustrating skin concerns. But treating it doesn’t have to mean harsh peels or constant exfoliation.
At Double Bay Cosmeceuticals, we take a slower, skin-literate approach to refining tone—one that respects your barrier and helps skin appear clearer, brighter, and more consistent over time.
✦ Types of Pigmentation You Might Be Experiencing
✔ Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): Pigmented marks left after breakouts, bites, or flare-ups
✔ Sun-induced unevenness: Freckle-like discolouration or uneven tone after UV exposure
✔ Melasma: Hormonal pigment that often appears in patches across cheeks, forehead, or jawline (often triggered by heat, hormones, or sun)
✔ Post-acne marks: Dark spots that linger after pimples fade
✔ Dullness or general uneven tone that causes the skin to look patchy, grey, or shadowed in areas
Each type requires nuance, not intensity. Pigmentation sits in layers—and removing it too aggressively can make it worse.
✦ 1. Start By Strengthening Your Barrier
Barrier fatigue is one of the main reasons pigment won’t budge. When your skin is constantly inflamed or stripped, it holds onto discolouration as a protective response.
Begin here:
✔ Copper Peptide Jelly Cleanser – gently cleanses without disrupting pH or barrier lipids
✔ Saffron & Ectoin Serum – supports skin brightness and barrier function, especially in pigment-prone skin types
✔ Trehalose Water Cream – daily hydration that softens skin and improves tone appearance over time
✦ 2. Choose Your Brightening Serums Based on Skin Type
Not every brightening serum is designed for every skin type. The key is alternating actives with calming serums so your skin can recover while it improves.
Your pigment serum rotation:
☼ Vitamin C + Arginine Serum – best for dry to normal skin. Supports radiance and helps reduce the appearance of discolouration
☼ Resilient Pigment Serum – better for oily, combination, or blemish-prone skin that struggles with dark spots and tone irregularities
🜁 Saffron & Ectoin Serum – the everyday pigment-balancing option for all skin types (also excellent during warmer months or barrier repair)
🜁 Eclipta Serum – for visibly red post-blemish marks or skin that cannot tolerate actives daily
✦ 3. Exfoliate Less—but Smarter
One of the most common mistakes with pigmentation is over-exfoliating. Skin becomes red, sensitised, and ironically—more pigmented.
Use gentle exfoliants in moderation:
✔ Incorporate a water-activated cleanser like Vitamin C + E Powder Cleanser 1–2x weekly to gently support tone
✔ Skip scrubs or daily acids if your skin is sensitive or dry
✔ Always follow exfoliation with a calming step (Saffron Serum or Trehalose Water Cream)
✦ 4. Moisturise for Tone, Not Just Hydration
Your moisturiser plays a bigger role in evening skin tone than most people realise. When skin is properly moisturised, it's more efficient at cell turnover and less likely to react with hyperpigmentation.
Pigment-supporting moisturisers:
✔ Trehalose Water Cream – for all skin types needing hydration and bounce
✔ Ubiquinone Radiance Cream – richer formula ideal for pigment-prone, dull, or mature skin types
✔ Blacred Lotion – perfect for skin that’s between recovery and radiance: lightweight, comforting, and great for visible tone unevenness
✔ Persea Lotion – ideal for oily skin that still needs a lightweight tone-refining boost
✦ 5. Finish with a Daily Sheer Tinted Zinc Oxide Cream
When managing the appearance of pigmentation, consistency matters—but so does daily protection from environmental exposure. While sun is a known external factor in visible discolouration, so is heat, light, and pollution—especially for skin prone to melasma or post-acne marks.
Our recommendation:
✔ Use the Double Bay Tinted Sheer Zinc every morning as the final step in your skincare routine. Its breathable finish makes it ideal under makeup or on bare skin.
✔ Reapply throughout the day if you’re outdoors or exposed to prolonged heat.
✔ Consider pairing it with a hat, visor, or sunglasses during high-exposure hours to help support tone consistency.
This step doesn’t need to feel clinical—it can feel elegant, breathable, and part of your everyday glow.
✦ 6. Build a Weekly Rhythm—Not a Daily Obsession
Pigmentation improves with consistency, not intensity. Instead of switching products constantly or layering too many serums, follow a weekly rhythm that supports your skin’s phases.
Your skin rhythm for pigment support:
AM Routine:
🧴 Cleanse with Copper Peptide Jelly Cleanser or skip if skin is dry
☼ Apply Vitamin C + L-Arginine (or Resilient Pigment Serum)
💧 Moisturise with Trehalose Water Cream or Ubiquinone Radiance Cream
🧴 SPF
PM Routine:
🌑 Apply Saffron Serum (4–5 nights/week)
🜁 Use Eclipta Serum or Retinol Serum 1–2 nights/week depending on tolerance
💧 Moisturise with Blacred Lotion or Amino Lotion as needed
Final Word: Pigment Doesn’t Fade Overnight—But It Does Respond to Structure
There’s no quick fix for pigmentation. But there is a way forward—one that calms your skin, supports its rhythm, and slowly reveals a more even, refined tone.
At Double Bay, we don’t just brighten—we rebuild. Because a balanced skin barrier is your best ally in the journey toward clarity.
You don’t need to strip to glow. You just need to restore, rotate, and stay consistent.
