ADVERTISEMENT INFO: SOME PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS POST ARE PR (GIFTED) AND LINKS USED ARE AFFILIATE LINKS. I RECEIVED NO MONEY TO WRITE THE BLOGPOST. PLEASE READ DISCLAIMER
Dark spots left on your face when the acne lesion that caused them is long gone already? Don’t you wish there was a magic cream to make them go away overnight? Well, there isn’t. But there are things like the Banish Vitamin C Cream that promise to help you get rid of them.

If it can actually do that, which ingredients are used to lighten hyperpigmentation and which skin types will be able to use it is what we are talking about in todays review. Because, let’s face it, at 85 € a pot I wouldn’t want to take any chances.
What the Banish Vitamin C Cream claims
THE moisturizer for acne prone skin to brighten dark spots!
Facts about the Banish Vitamin C Cream
Prize and size
One pot contains 50 ml and is available for 85 € on the website here. There is another version of the cream called the Lightweight version that comes in a pump and uses different ingredients. The product is vegan.
Texture and smell
I was initially surprised by the texture that looks richer than I had expected for a product aimed at acne prone skin. At the same time it is quite runny, so a weird in between that looks like a cream at first, but behaves more like a gel in application. There is a faint yellow hue and no noticeable scent.

How to use the Banish Vitamin C Cream
The brand has no suggestions whether this works best in your morning or your night time routine, and I would agree that this is probably determined by your skin type best. It is rather hydrating and takes a while to sink in, leaving my skin quite tacky for a prolonged period of time after application which is why I personally used it at night. If your skin is on the drier side, using it in the mornings would of course work well too.
The ingredients it contains should work with everything, only the Alpha Arbutin has some, quite low, irritating potential, so maybe keep it separate from prescription strength retinoids. (More info: What can you pair with retinol in your skincare routine?)
Ingredients of the Banish Vitamin C Cream








Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Speaking of ingredients I have said several times already that targeting hyperpigmentation is a multistep approach and best done with a combination of different things working on different steps of the melanin production pathway. (More info: The ten best ingredients to target hyperpigmentation)
In here, you will find Alpha Arbutin, related to Hydroquinone that is in the skin in small parts converted to Hydroquinone, blocking Tyrosinase, then Licorice Root Extract, again inhibiting Tyrosinase, and then Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a Vitamin C derivative. (More info: The benefits of Hydroquinone in your skincare explained, The benefits of Licorice Root Extract in your skincare explained, The benefits of Arbutin in your skincare explained and The benefits of Vitamin C in your skincare explained)
Other than that you will find Glycerin as humectant and a few plant extracts with additional antioxidant properties.
Please note that the lightweight Vitamin C Cream and the former version of this have different ingredients – I am talking about the one with Alpha Arbutin here.
More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products.
Does it live up to its claims?
I guess.
I can’t say if it is THE moisturizer, but it certainly is a moisturizer that will work for acne prone skin and that will support in the brightening of dark spots.
How does it compare to…

The Inkey List Alpha Arbutin
The Inkey List calls this a serum, but the texture is rich enough to work as a moisturizer for more oily skin. While Banish doesn’t disclose the percentage, The Inkey List uses 2%, which is the maximum you get in cosmetics. It lacks Vitamin C and Licorice Root Extract, but features a lesser known peptide that aims to calm inflammation and is quite a bit more affordable than the cream from Banish.
You can read my full review of The Inkey List Alpha Arbutin here.

pixi Vitamin C Lotion
pixis offer is more for those with normal or combination skin rather than the very oily ones, but worked for me in the colder months. It has Ascorbic Acid, which I prefer over the derivatives, but no other brightening ingredients, so the effect on hyperpigmentation will probably be less noticeable.
You can read my full review of the pixi Vitamin C Cream here.
Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the Banish Vitamin C Cream to?
So is the Banish Vitamin C Cream an effective solution for hyperpigmentation and at the same time working for acne prone skin? I’d say it is a good choice for a routine targeting dark spots, but needs to be paired with things like exfoliants and retinoids for optimal results. The hydrating, but lightweight texture should work for all skin types with the exception of those that are very oily and/ or live in a very humid climate and the choice of ingredients makes it suitable for sensitive skins as well. The price though, 85 € for one pot, is more than I would be willing to pay, but that is a personal decision.

Shop the post
Don’t forget to check out the Discount Code Page on top if you want to save some money on your next skincare purchase, or click here to let me build a personalized skincare routine for you.
If you want to get more involved and pick my next topics or see exclusive behind the scenes content, don’t forget you can head over here and become a YouTube Channel Member!