Pigmentation test 2026 · ARBUTI

What really works on pigmentation? Ten products, honestly compared.

Patches on your cheeks, forehead or upper lip that come back darker every summer? At ARBUTI in Munich, we’ve compared the ten best-known dark spot treatments – from Eucerin Thiamidol to La Roche-Posay.

ARBUTI – known among celebrities such as Rihanna, Justin Bieber and many others.

Avush: salon-tested · October 2026

Test winner · No. 1 of 10

Avush Serum + Tonic

Serum and tonic set – no hydroquinone, no kojic acid

Real result:
A woman’s cheek with pigmentation: before on the left, after using Avush on the right (original brand photo)BeforeAfter

Woman · cheek · original photo by AvushOriginal brand photos, unretouched

  • Salon-tested by our own team – toner and serum, for face and body.
  • No hydroquinone and no kojic acid. Instead: alpha-arbutin, liquorice and more brighteners.
Go to Avush Why No. 1?
  1. 2Eucerin ThiamidolSerum
  2. 3La Roche-Posay Mela B3Serum
+ 7 more productsSee all 10 ↓

All 10 treatments compared

Tap a product: see at a glance what it does – and where it falls short.

1Avush Serum + TonicAvush Serum + TonicSet · serum + tonerOur pick: two steps, several brighteners, zero hydroquinone.
A woman’s cheek with pigmentation: before on the left, after using Avush on the right (original brand photo)
Womancheek
A man’s cheek with a dark spot: before on the left, after using Avush on the right (original brand photo)
Mancheek
A woman’s face with pigmentation on the cheek: before on the left, after using Avush on the right (original brand photo)
Womancheek
Temple with many small age spots: before on the left, after using Avush on the right (original brand photo)
Temple
Salon-tested
Our team used Avush in the salon – and the results won us over. That’s why it’s our No. 1.
What’s inside
Alpha-arbutin (1%, according to Avush), liquorice root, sea daffodil, Skin Moon™, niacinamide and a vitamin C derivative. No hydroquinone, no kojic acid.
Easy to use
Toner first, then serum – on face and body, for women and men. In summer, apply the serum in the evening only and wear SPF 50 by day.

Best foranyone who wants to fade spots on face and body without hydroquinone

Go to Avush

2Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual SerumEucerin Anti-Pigment Dual SerumSerum · ThiamidolThe most thoroughly studied – mainly as a full skincare routine.
How it works
Dual-chamber serum with Thiamidol, hyaluronic acid and licochalcone A, morning and evening.
Bear in mind
The dermatologist assessment (457 participants, twelve weeks) covers serum, day cream and night cream together. Use no more than four times a day.

Best foranyone who wants a well-studied routine of several products

Versus our No. 1

Eucerin is the most studied – as a three-product routine. Avush packs several brighteners into two steps, for face and body.

Discover Avush
3La Roche-Posay Mela B3 SerumLa Roche-Posay Mela B3 SerumSerum · niacinamide + Melasyl™High-dose niacinamide with its own brand study.
How it works
10% niacinamide plus Melasyl™. In the brand’s test with 41 women, strong spots were visibly reduced in 85% of them after eight weeks.
Bear in mind
A single serum for face, neck and décolleté. The study is small and was run by the brand itself.

Best foranyone looking for a single, well-documented face serum

Versus our No. 1

La Roche-Posay relies on two actives in one serum. Avush combines several brighteners with a toner – for your body, too.

Discover Avush
4NIVEA Luminous630 Anti Dark-Spot SerumNIVEA Luminous630 Anti Dark-Spot SerumSerum · Thiamidol · high streetThiamidol from the high street – with no published participant numbers.
How it works
The same active as Eucerin (both made by Beiersdorf), with hyaluronic acid; morning and evening, plus an SPF 50 fluid.
Bear in mind
NIVEA doesn’t cite a study with participant numbers. Use no more than four times a day and avoid the eye area.

Best foranyone who wants Thiamidol straight off the high-street shelf

Versus our No. 1

NIVEA bets on one active in one serum. Avush combines several brighteners with a toner – for face and body.

Discover Avush
5Vichy LiftActiv B3 SerumVichy LiftActiv B3 SerumSerum · dark spots + wrinklesLots of actives – but the headline figure only applies with the matching cream.
How it works
Melasyl™, niacinamide, tranexamic acid, vitamin C and glycolic acid, morning and evening, followed by SPF 50.
Bear in mind
Vichy’s test with 51 people covers serum and cream together and gives no duration. Vichy doesn’t disclose concentrations.

Best foranyone tackling dark spots and first wrinkles at the same time

6The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HAThe Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HASerum · single activeMore alpha-arbutin than Avush – but that’s the only active.
How it works
Alpha-arbutin and hyaluronic acid in a water-based serum, morning and evening, with sun protection by day.
Bear in mind
Just one brightener. The brand doesn’t cite a study on the product.

Best foranyone who likes to mix and match single actives

Versus our No. 1

More alpha-arbutin, but that’s all it has. In Avush, alpha-arbutin, liquorice, sea daffodil and other brighteners work together.

Discover Avush
7Paula’s Choice C15 Super BoosterPaula’s Choice C15 Super BoosterBooster · vitamin CGreat for glow, less targeted at dark spots.
How it works
15% vitamin C with ferulic acid and vitamin E, neat or mixed into your moisturiser; in the morning always with at least SPF 30.
Bear in mind
The brand’s test with 30 people over four weeks asked about radiance and evenness – not about dark spots.

Best fordull skin with light spots

8Garnier Vitamin C Brightening SerumGarnier Vitamin C Brightening SerumSerum · high streetAn easy high-street start, thin on evidence.
How it works
4% niacinamide, vitamin C, salicylic acid and Melasyl™, morning and evening, with sun protection by day.
Bear in mind
Garnier cites a study with 111 women – but gives neither duration nor results.

Best foranyone starting out with light spots

9Doctor Babor Dark Spot Correcting ConcentrateDoctor Babor Dark Spot Correcting ConcentrateConcentrate · tranexamic acidSuccessor to the Age Spot Corrector – one active with potential.
How it works
2% tranexamic acid with vitamin C, morning or evening on face, neck and décolleté.
Bear in mind
Babor doesn’t cite a study. According to the brand, not for use during pregnancy.

Best foranyone looking for a professional skincare brand with tranexamic acid

10DIYLemon juice & co.Home remedyPopular, but risky: acid and sunshine don’t mix.
How it works
Lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or baking soda are often recommended – there’s no evidence they work on dark spots.
Bear in mind
Acids can irritate the skin. Citrus juice plus sunshine can even trigger new spots.

Best forno one as a substitute for sunscreen and proven skincare

Information from manufacturers and retailers, as of October 2026. Some manufacturer study data applies to a whole product range – we say so where that’s the case.

Why Avush is our test winner

How Avush became our No. 1

We were sceptical. Almost every dark spot serum promises an even complexion – very few deliver.

In the salon, we hear the same question again and again: what works on spots that get darker every summer – without hydroquinone and without going straight to the laser? So our team used Avush in the salon themselves.

The results convinced us – that’s why Avush is our No. 1. Don’t just take our word for it: look at the unedited original photos above.

The team at ARBUTI, Munich

Sound familiar?

  • Brown patches on your cheeks or forehead that darken every summer.
  • Marks left by spots that simply won’t fade.
  • An uneven skin tone that make-up only covers up.

This is exactly the kind of pigmentation we compared the products for. If a spot grows, changes shape or colour, itches or bleeds, please have it checked by a dermatologist first.

Three things convinced us:

  1. Two steps instead of one pot.First the tonic on a cotton pad, then the serum – for face and body, for women and men. A short routine you can actually stick to, morning and evening.
  2. Several proven brighteners in one formula.Alpha arbutin (1 % according to Avush), liquorice root, sea daffodil, Skin Moon™, niacinamide and a vitamin C derivative. They all target how melanin – the pigment that makes up the spots – is formed or distributed.
  3. No hydroquinone, kojic acid or hormones.In the UK and EU, hydroquinone is only available on prescription, and kojic acid is controversial. Avush uses neither. Dermatest® rates its skin tolerance as “excellent”.Dermatest seal: Original, excellent, 10/2023
Go to Avush Set of serum (30 ml) and tonic (100 ml) – prices and delivery on avush.com

Good to know

Eucerin Thiamidol or Avush – which is better?

Thiamidol is the most thoroughly tested: Eucerin had dermatologists assess its routine of serum, day cream and night cream in 457 participants over twelve weeks. Avush, on the other hand, combines several proven brighteners such as alpha arbutin, liquorice and sea daffodil with a tonic in one simple routine – without hydroquinone or kojic acid, for face and body. That’s why Avush comes first for us – and Thiamidol is our strongest alternative.

Does it help with melasma too?

Melasma is a partly hormonal form of pigmentation that often comes back. Brightening skincare and consistent sun protection can soften it; pronounced melasma should be treated by a dermatologist.

What can I realistically expect?

Dark spots get lighter – they don’t vanish overnight. Avush says most people see visible improvement after around two to three months of regular use, which matches what’s generally true for brightening ingredients. How fast and how much is individual.

Do I need sun protection as well?

Yes – without it, every pigmentation treatment is working against the sun. Avush advises applying the serum in the evening only in summer and wearing at least SPF 50 during the day, reapplied every three hours when you’re out in the sun.

Is Avush gentle on the skin?

Avush contains no hydroquinone, kojic acid or hormones; Dermatest® rates its skin tolerance as “excellent”. The formula does contain fragrance (the ingredient list includes parfum and linalool) – if your skin is very sensitive, patch-test it first. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor before use.

Back of a hand with dark spots before and after using AvushBeforeAfter
Original photo by Avush, unretouched. Individual results may vary.

Our verdict

“We were sceptical – today we recommend Avush. Give it three months: toner and serum, no hydroquinone, and sun protection every single day.”

The team at ARBUTI, Munich

Go to Avush Set of serum (30 ml) and tonic (100 ml) – prices and delivery on avush.com

How we compare: ARBUTI is a Munich salon with a background in fashion and campaigns – we’re beauty professionals, not dermatologists. Our team has used the products in the salon, and we compared information from manufacturers and retailers (as of October 2026). We recommend Avush and link to avush.com.

Cosmetic products are not medicines. Individual results may vary. Please have any spot that changes checked by a dermatologist.