EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer for skin with dark spots
Niacinamide
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Sodium Hyaluronate
Linoleic Acid
Peptides
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate benefits for pigmentation goals due to the presence of niacinamide and thioctic acid, which support skin brightening for your normal skin.
- The formula is highly suitable for normal skin, with niacinamide and linoleic acid providing antioxidant activity and barrier repair.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients and poses no risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it too hard so it absorbs nicely.
- For the best moisture, you can apply it when your skin is slightly damp. This helps your skin stay soft and happy.
- Remember to avoid the eye area when applying. Always do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly regarded for its lightweight, non-greasy texture that effectively hydrates and repairs the skin barrier overnight. Some users noted issues with packaging visibility and a few found it insufficient for very dry skin, with occasional comments about formula changes or the price point.
Highlights
Lightweight, non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “not oily”
- “feels weightless”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels soft”
- “supple in morning”
- “deeply moisturizing”
Soothing for sensitive Often Mentioned
- “Calms redness”
- “non-irritating”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Fragrance-free formula Sometimes Noted
- “No noticeable smell”
- “no irritation”
- “clean scent”
Packaging visibility Sometimes Noted
- “Cannot see remaining product”
- “runs out unexpectedly”
Formula changes Rarely Noted
- “Not the same as old”
- “caused breakouts”
- “texture changed”
Insufficient hydration Rarely Noted
- “Not hydrating enough”
- “need something heavier”
- “felt dry”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “Expensive for size”
- “value varies”
- “pricey”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, bluemercury.com, lovelyskin.com, trustpilot.com, whatsinmyjar.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does EltaMD PM Restore work for skin with dark spots?
EltaMD PM Restore offers moderate benefits for dark spots because it contains niacinamide and thioctic acid, which help brighten normal skin. While it is a safe and gentle choice, skin with dark spots needs products with more targeted brightening ingredients and strong hydrating agents to give you the best results.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Niacinamide and thioctic acid make this cream a good fit for dark spots by supporting skin brightening and helping reduce hyperpigmentation. A product of this type needs effective brightening ingredients that align perfectly with your pigmentation goals, poses no risk of irritation, and performs its intended function exceptionally well.
What does Niacinamide do for skin with dark spots?
Niacinamide helps fade dark spots and uneven pigmentation by slowing down the transfer of pigment in the skin. It is generally well tolerated and may improve overall skin brightness with consistent use.
What does Hydrolyzed Rice Protein do for skin with dark spots?
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein helps fade dark spots and uneven tone caused by the sun. Research shows it works by slowing down the processes that create excess pigment in skin cells.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizer goes after your cleanser and hydrating toner in the morning, and after your treatment step at night. To better address dark spots, this skin needs dedicated brightening treatments with potent pigment-fading ingredients like kojic acid or vitamin C.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying your retinol first, letting it dry, and then smoothing on this moisturizer. Using a gentle moisturizer like this one helps keep your skin soft and calm while reducing dryness and irritation when using strong active ingredients.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application helps keep skin soft and supports overall moisture levels, while keeping your skin calm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on skin with dark spots because the formula lacks harsh ingredients and poses no risk of irritation. Skin with dark spots works best with targeted brightening ingredients like vitamin C or retinoids to better fade discoloration.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment on your body and around your eyes, as the formula is very safe and gentle for normal skin. However, a product for dark spots needs extra brightening ingredients like vitamin C or retinol to work best on stubborn discoloration.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.
Antioxidants, 2021Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Rice protein hydrolysate and its characteristic peptides Leu-Leu-Lys, Leu-Pro-Lys, and pyroGlu-Lys reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and ROS production in UVB-induced human epidermal melanocyte PIG1 cells by regulating the JNK/Β-Trcp/NFΗB-p65/MITF signaling pathway and lowering TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression.
Food & Function, 2020Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical application of linoleic acid achieved an almost 25% reduction in the overall size of follicular casts and microcomedones over a 1-month treatment period in patients with mild acne compared to no change at placebo-treated sites.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998A lotion containing triethyl citrate and ethyl linoleate reduced Leeds grading, total, inflammatory, and noninflammatory lesion counts, and sebum production compared with a placebo in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007Liposomal formulation of linoleic acid significantly enhances its skin whitening effect compared to non-liposomal forms in UV-stimulated guinea pig and human skin.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2004
Ingredients
Water, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C10-30 Cholesterol Lanosterol Esters, Glycereth-26, Phenoxyethanol, Linoleic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Oleic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Disodium Edta, Thioctic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Bisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phosphoric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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