A+ 345 Relief Cream for skin with dark spots
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Coptis Japonica Root ExtractAverage
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- 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 moisturizing treatment for your normal skin due to glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which hydrate and plump effectively, though these do not directly target your main goal of pigmentation.
- Ceramide NP supports your skin barrier, and ingredients like Panthenol and Niacinamide provide soothing benefits, contributing to general skin health.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of beneficial soothing components.
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 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lightweight, gel-like cream is widely celebrated by users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin for its ability to soothe redness and fade post-acne marks without clogging pores. However, those with dry skin often find it insufficiently moisturizing, and a subset of users report breakouts or fungal acne triggers despite its soothing claims.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast-absorbing Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs in seconds”
- “non-greasy finish”
- “gel-cream texture”
- “no sticky residue”
- “feels like water”
Ideal for oily/combo skin Often Mentioned
- “perfect for summer”
- “doesn't clog pores”
- “balances sebum”
- “light enough for day”
- “great under makeup”
Soothing & calming Often Mentioned
- “calms redness instantly”
- “cools irritated skin”
- “soothes inflammation”
- “reduced heat”
- “helped sensitive barrier”
Fades acne marks Sometimes Noted
- “lightened dark spots”
- “helped with PIE”
- “faded acne scars”
- “cleared blemishes”
- “evened skin tone”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “too light for dry skin”
- “skin felt tight”
- “need to layer”
- “not occlusive enough”
- “dried me out”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me whiteheads”
- “caused closed comedones”
- “broke me out”
- “bad purging”
- “clogged my pores”
Fungal acne trigger Rarely Noted
- “triggered fungal acne”
- “tiny itchy bumps”
- “not FA safe”
- “ruined skin texture”
- “flare-up”
Texture/pilling issues Rarely Noted
- “pills under sunscreen”
- “tacky finish”
- “films on face”
- “separates makeup”
- “rubbed off”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, cosmetify.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does A+ 345 Relief Cream work for skin with dark spots?
This cream is an average fit for skin with dark spots because it hydrates and soothes well, though it lacks strong brightening ingredients that directly target dark spots. A product of this type needs effective brightening ingredients alongside soothing and hydrating components to properly fade dark spots while keeping the skin healthy.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cream is an average fit for skin with dark spots because while Niacinamide provides general skin health, the product lacks specialized brightening agents that directly target pigmentation. A product of this type needs effective brightening ingredients alongside moisturizing components to properly address dark spots while keeping normal skin hydrated and calm.
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 Hyaluronic Acid do for skin with dark spots?
Hyaluronic acid is unlikely to directly fade dark spots, but it helps keep dry and uneven skin plump and deeply hydrated. To effectively target dark spots, this type of skin needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide alongside your hydrator.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cream goes as the moisturizer step in both your morning and evening routines. Skin with dark spots needs dedicated brightening treatments with ingredients like vitamin C or exfoliating acids to effectively fade discoloration.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol to help keep skin calm and soft while you treat it. Apply the cream either before or after retinol to make skin less dry and flaky as it gets used to the treatment.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily to keep your normal skin soft and hydrated. Daily application helps maintain moisture and supports your skin barrier, though fading dark spots requires targeted ingredients like brightening agents or antioxidants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for skin with dark spots. Reviewers rarely report breakouts or clogged pores from it, and its gentle ingredients maintain general skin health safely.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body, as it has a safe and gentle makeup that is well tolerated by delicate skin. Products for this type of skin need soothing ingredients like panthenol and niacinamide, along with barrier-supporting components like ceramide NP.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical 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 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 steroid withdrawal is driven by excess mitochondrial NAD+ metabolism that can be successfully targeted using complex I-inhibiting interventions such as metformin and berberine.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2025Topical steroid withdrawal presents as a distinct dermatopathology characterized by burning, flushing, thermodysregulation, and elevated mitochondrial NAD+ oxidation, which can be improved by targeting complex I with metformin or berberine.
MedRxiv, 2024Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel formulations of berberine chloride-loaded escinosomes increased skin residence time and transdermal permeability while maintaining high safety and biocompatibility without skin irritation.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020
Why other moisturizers fit skin with dark spots better
Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Polyglycerin-3, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Poly C6-14 Olefin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, C14-22 Alcohols, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-51, Tromethamine, Hyaluronic Acid, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Beta-Glucan, Resveratrol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract Lavender Flower Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ceramide Np
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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