Vitamin C is one of the most loved brightening skincare heroes in the game, but there’s an increasingly popular ingredient emerging with incredible benefits that you might not know about — and it needs to be on your radar. Kojic acid can do wonders for your skin — and to help you learn all about it, our beauty editor, Nicole Saunders, tapped a few board-certified dermatologists for their inside knowledge on this rising skincare ingredient. The pros explain how kojic acid works and the many benefits it offers your skin. Plus, they share a few of their favorite kojic acid product recommendations, which all boast glowing online reviews across trusted retailers like Amazon, Dermstore, and Credo.

Best Kojic Acid Products

What is Kojic Acid?

Board-certified dermatologists Dr. Blair Murphy Rose, MD, FAAD, and Dr. Anar Mikailov, MD, FAAD, founder of Skintensive, both say kojic acid derives from various fungi species and brightens and exfoliates the skin by minimizing and preventing hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage, age spots, and melasma. Kojic acid also brightens dark spots caused by pregnancy hormones and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) from acne.

Kojic Acid Benefits

“Even with somewhat limited research conducted on kojic acid, this skincare ingredient has already yielded impressive results in terms of skin brightening, lightening, and reducing hyperpigmentation,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry, MD, founder of Skin & Aesthetics Surgery of Manhattan. In addition to reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation and treating melasma, Henry says studies indicate that kojic acid is radioprotective and boasts anti-inflammatory properties.

How to Shop for Kojic Acid

Formulation

All three experts recommend leave-on kojic acid products, like face serums and creams such as SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense, rather than rinse-off products, like face washes. “The most effective products will stay on the skin for an extended period, so any rinse-off product, like a cleanser, will not likely work as well as a spot treatment or cream,” explains Murphy Rose.

Kojic Acid Concentration

Henry and Murphy Rose agree that the best kojic acid concentration to shop for ranges from 1% to 4%. Mikailov adds there aren’t a lot of reported side effects of kojic acid when used at a concentration of 1% or less. “When concentrations are over 1%, contact dermatitis — irritation, rashes, inflamed skin, [and] itchiness — is a potential side effect. With long-term use, sensitive skin may be more at risk of getting sunburns,” he says.

What does this mean for you?

We suggest only using the kojic acid products in this guide, which all contain 1% or less of the ingredient. Henry also advises slowly incorporating kojic acid into your routine by using it a couple of times a week and increasing the frequency up to twice daily depending on how well your skin tolerates the ingredient and each brand’s instructions. “If your skin responds positively, you can try to use kojic acid in your everyday skincare routine,” she says. Also, don’t skimp on sunscreen to avoid potential sun sensitivity while using kojic acid skincare products.

Ready for the brightest, most even-toned skin of your life? Here are a few dermatologist-approved kojic acid products you need in your life, stat. Based on expert guidance, Saunders also shared two affordable kojic acid products worth owning — and one costs just under $18! More even-toned and luminous skin on a budget? Sign us up!