Eucerin Anti-Pigment Spot Corrector review

I can pinpoint the appearance of the two sun spots on top of my cheekbones quite accurately: I’d been frolicking around Singapore and Indonesia’s beaches. My pretty big sunglasses would inevitably slide down my sweaty nose and rest on my cheekbones, rubbing my sunscreen off. Sure enough, since then I’ve sported two annoyingly areas of brownish skin on top of my cheeks, each maybe two centimetres long. Time for my Eucerin Anti-Pigment Spot Corrector review!

I’ve used retinol, Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Azelaic Acid: my two spots didn’t budge. (You all know by now that I don’t use AHAs or BHAs anymore because the negative effects cancel the positive effects FOR ME.) (Tranexemic Acid is still on my list to try.)

So, it was time to bring out the big guns (I wasn’t ready for laser or any other treatments just yet.)

What is hyperpigmentation?

The difference between melasma and hyperpigmentation is rather muddy in the beauty world. Generally speaking, melasma stems from internal sources (mainly hormones, like in pregnancy, birth control pills, etc.). Hyperpigmentation happens when there’re outside reasons: sun damage, damage from picked spots etc. It’s a pigmentary disorder characterised by patchy skin.

What can I do against it?

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Always. If you’re prone to hyperpigmentation, use one with especially high UVA filters.

Otherwise, topical skincare products with hydroquinone, arbutin, and kojic acid seem to help fading them. (For the different ways skincare products target hyperpigmentation please read Lab Muffin’s very informative post.) Beiersdorf’s new patented ingredient, Thiamidol (Isobutylamidothiazolylresorcinol), claims to be more potent than all of the above.

Thiamidol – a new ingredient

Beiersdorf, German mega corporation, patented their new ingredient in 2019. That means that you’ll see Thiamidol only in Beiersdorf brands – right now, Eucerin, Nivea and La Prairie use it. This was one of the biggest coups for their Head of Research & Development May Shana’a.

Thiamidol works differently than various acids or retinol products used for hyperpigmentation: while those ususally promote a quicker cell turnover, Thiamidol promises to minimise the production of melanin that’ll turn into hyperpigmentation. Correctly, it’s called a tyrosinase inhibitor. (Again, have a look at Lab Muffin’s post to learn more about that.) The astonishing find is that Thiamidol seems to yield better results than hydroquinone. (Here’s the thing when companies come out with a new ingredient: you won’t find independent studies about it, and their in-house testing is made to sound impressive, but has flaws: here, the study was done with 32 participants – a rather low number – and used self-assessment to gauge the effectiveness of the product. That’s not a very reliable way to measure stuff, though.)

Eucerin’s Anti-Pigment Spot Corrector – what should it do?

Eucerin Anti-Pigment Spot Corrector is a non-greasy gel with a topical applicator that makes it easy to apply precisely to small areas of hyperpigmentation. It contains Thiamidol, an effective and patented ingredient that acts at the root cause of hyperpigmentation by reducing melanin production. Applied directly to dark spots, it is clinically and dermatologically proven to reduce them and prevent their re-appearance. First results are visible after two weeks and improve continuously with regular use. Skin appears more even.

Eucerin

Ingredients

Alcohol Denat., Aqua, Glycerin, Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol, Glucosylrutin, Isoquercitrin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer.

Eucerin

Eucerin Anti-Pigment Spot Corrector – my experience

The applicator is designed for spot treatment, and let me tell you, Eucerin did a real bad job with that. The applicator’s hard plastic with a few bristles on top is neither useful nor practical. I’ve resorted to swipe the clear gel onto my skin with the side of the applicator, as the tip is so uncomfortable.

Speaking of uncomfortable: the first ingredient here is denatured alcohol, and jeez, my eyes water from the fumes when I apply this onto my cheekbones. DEFINITELY be careful when applying near the eye area.

They tell you to use the pen once, and products with Thiamidol no more than four times a day (the directions want you to use the whole Eucerin Anti-Pigment range). Also, apply before your moisturiser. I decided to use it after toner, before my serum, and always wait a few minutes for the product before fully absorbed. I also use it twice a day. (That’s because I misunderstood directions first, and haven’t seen a reason not to later.)

By now, I’ve used it for nearly four weeks.

Effect

Eucerin claims to get the first effects after two weeks, but I didn’t. Instead, I could see a softening and fading around the edges of the two spots on my cheekbones after three weeks. Instead of being two oblong splotches, they now appear to be a collection of slightly-darker-than-my skin dots. I can still see them clearly, but they are completely undetectable when I use foundation.

I also used the pen on two fresh, and one older mark from spots I had. Spot marks take ages to disappear on me, and I wanted to test Eucerin’s pen thoroughly. I was blown away that after around two weeks, the marks from the two fresh spots were nearly gone. The old one is more stubborn. If your spot marks take a long time to disappear, this might be a great product for you to spot treating them.

Worth it?

I’ll definitely use the spot corrector up, and hope to see generally faded hyperpigmentation from sun damage on my cheekbones. All in all, I give Eucerin’s pen a thumbs up.

In Germany, get it in every pharmacy for around 16-20€. International shoppers may get it at Escentual, for example.

Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.