How to Balance an Uneven Skin Tone 

Having a completely perfect, uniform skin tone is essentially a beauty myth. Dark spots, redness, breakouts, dry patches – they’re all totally normal things that can happen to your skin. But for some people, having an uneven skin tone can be more noticeable than for others. So, let’s get into what an uneven skin tone looks like and what you can do about it (if you want to, that is).

Causes and signs of an uneven skin tone

Not sure what it means to have an uneven skin tone? You’re not alone. Let’s take a look at what it actually means and what causes it to become unbalanced in the first place...

What is an uneven skin tone?

It can be a little unclear what having an uneven skin tone means and what it looks like. That’s because it’s a pretty broad umbrella term for skin that doesn’t look uniform. Some of the things that can affect how consistent it looks include: 

• Redness or blotchy skin
• Hyperpigmentation
• Fine lines
• Blemishes or acne scars

For some people, an uneven skin tone can also refer to skin texture issues like dry patches or fine lines.

Any skin type can experience an uneven skin tone and how balanced our skin looks can really fluctuate over time, depending on what causes are behind the various changes. 

What causes an uneven skin tone?

Just like the definition of what an uneven skin tone is and the signs of having one can vary, so can the root cause (or causes) behind it. Knowing what’s behind your uneven skin tone is the first step in addressing it. 

Some of the key factors can include...

 

Sun exposure

One of the major causes of damage to your skin that can make it look uneven is overexposure to UV rays. UVB rays can cause sunburn, which immediately leads to different coloured skin. UVA rays meanwhile can gradually lead to dark spots or sunspots, created by the overproduction and clustering of melanin from the skin trying to protect itself. 

 

Hormonal conditions 

An imbalance or condition like melasma can lead to dark spots on the skin. Unlike other types of hyperpigmentation that can be triggered by the sun, this cause generally requires a different type of treatment.

 

Skin conditions

Eczema, rosacea and other similar inflammatory conditions can really impact the overall tone and texture of your skin. These skin conditions can require expert care, so speak to your doctor or dermatologist about treatment options.

Pollution

Alongside breakouts and general dullness, pollution particles can cause discolouration of the skin. Something you may have noticed if you’ve moved to a big city recently. 

Skin injuries 

Sometimes your skin’s reaction to injury or irritation can be to produce extra melanin. This is a condition known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and can be triggered by things like:

• Acne

• Eczema 

• Bug bites

• Cuts

• Burns

• Infections

Top tips to balance an uneven skin tone

As you can see from our deep dive so far, lots of the reasons we develop an uneven skin tone can be out of our control. Luckily, there are a few different ways we can manage it with lifestyle tweaks, professional treatments and a solid skincare regime.

How to even out skin tone with lifestyle changes

If you’ve already read our articles on how to get your skin to glow or on how to treat dark spots, you’ll already know some of the best ways to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy overall. These include:

• Staying out of the sun to avoid sunburn and hyperpigmentation

• Using the right skincare products for your skin type and needs

• Eating a balanced diet filled with fruits, veggies and healthy fats

 

What are the best uneven skin tone products?

Using the right skincare is an important part of restoring an uneven skin tone over time. Here’s some of the key things to include in your morning and evening skincare routines. 

Cleanse well

Pollution and grime can build up on your skin, leading to breakouts and potential discolouration. That’s why getting into a consistent routine with a great cleanser is important for tackling an uneven skin tone. 

At Simple, all of our products are suitable for sensitive skin and free from colour and perfume. We have an expert range of different cleansers, tailored to your skin type: 

 

For dry and sensitive skin: Replenishing Cream Cleanser

For oily skin: Daily Skin Detox™ Purifying Gel Facial Wash

For dehydrated skin: Water Boost™ Micellar Gel Facial Wash

For mature skin: Regeneration™ Age Resisting Facial Wash

 

Our biodegradable face wipes are also great for on the go or Kind to Skin™ Micellar Water for quick refreshes. 

Exfoliate regularly

Gently exfoliating a few times a week will help buff away dead skin cells and reveal fresher, more even-looking skin. Just be careful not to over-exfoliate and irritate your skin barrier.

A great way to cleanse, exfoliate and support your skin barrier all in one step is our NEW Smoothing Gel Cleanser. It’s enriched with 5% Lactic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid to gently dissolve dead skin cells while hydrating and locking in essential moisture. It leaves skin feeling immediately fresher and looking more radiant.  

Introduce actives 

Vitamin C can help with lightening dark spots, which can be one of the factors in having an uneven skin tone. Our 10% Vitamins C+E+F Booster Serum is packed with glow-boosting ingredients, so it’s a brilliant formula to try if you also struggle with dull-looking skin in general. 

Niacinamide is another amazing multi-tasking active that improves skin barrier strength, texture and tone. Add our 10% Vitamin B3 Niacinamide Booster Serum into your routine for a few months and see the difference it can make.

Moisturise 

Moisturising your skin regularly makes it appear more even and nourishes any dry areas. It also helps create a primed, smooth base for makeup. Again here, we have different formulas depending on your skin type and to fit into your day and evening skincare routines. Some of our favourite moisturisers include our Kind to Skin™ Replenishing Rich Moisturiser and Water Boost™ Skin Quench Gel Cream

Wear sunscreen every day

Lastly and most importantly, including SPF in your routine is key to help protect against daily damage from UV rays. 

Moisturisers with SPF like our Age Resisting Cream SPF 15 and Protect ‘N’ Glow™ Triple Protect Moisturiser SPF 30 are easy ways to add SPF into your everyday routine. 

If you think you will be out in the sun more than usual, make sure you also use a high factor, broad-spectrum sunscreen and top up regularly.

Tinted products and colour correctors

Alongside having a great skincare routine, tinted moisturisers and concealers can also give you a little extra help with making your skin look more even. 

Colour theory can be super helpful to know about. If you’re experiencing redness for example, then using a product with a green undertone could make your skin look more neutral overall - your favourite makeup store can help you with finding the right shades for you.

It’s all about balance

Now that we’ve covered what an uneven skin tone is and some of the ways you can create more balance, remember we all have different skin and that’s a part of who we are to embrace. 

If having more even-looking skin will make you feel good, then we‘re here to help. Just remember that it can take time and that’s more than OK. Trust the process and be kind to yourself along the way. 

The changes we’ve talked about here are all about making the best of what you have and keeping your skin happy and healthy. Just like everything else in life, it’s all about balance.