Regardless of how flawless your skin is or how rigorous your skincare regime is, we all get occasional blemishes. Everything from stress to food to the environment affects our skin, so no mortal human is completely immune to skin disruptors. If you’ve had acne in the past, or simply have a few breakouts here and there — the ghosts of blemishes past, acne dark spots and scars can be unsightly and frustrating. Luckily, there are effective ways to fade and disappear such marks. Read on to learn about how to get rid of acne scars, and rest easy — it’s actually incredibly simple to go from spotty to smooth and radiant, with the use of the right acne scar treatment products.

How to fade acne scars 101:

If you do have a few dark spots or scars, they can be faded, healed and done away with. Acne scars develop when inflammation (blemishes or acne) damage the collagen in your skin, leaving marks or pits. First, make sure to keep your hands away from your face, cleanse twice a day, wear SPF and introduce the right products into your regime.

If your situation is intense, you may want to consider laser treatment, subcision or a chemical peel, or asking your doctor about prescribing something along the lines of Retin-A.

Too intense an approach, or dealing with a more mild situation? Don’t worry — there are tons of easy-to-use, non-prescription options available, which contain super ingredients such as Vitamin C, hydroquinone, kojic acid, licorice and retinoid — all of which work to lighten and brighten dark scars and spots.

While they’re still healing, there’s always, of course, one of everyone’s best friends — concealer — to help make for a more seamless canvas.

The proper care routine for acne scars:

SPF, please! SPF is essential for everyone who is looking to protect their skin, and is especially important for those who have acne scars. Why? Direct sun exposure damages the skin and enhances darkness and redness. Sunshine? Yes, please. Worsened skin? No, thank you.

Exfoliate. Pits? Marks? An exfoliating product can be super helpful in smoothing things over. Use an exfoliator in addition to your cleanser or look for a cleanser that gently exfoliates, too.

Cleanse. Using a good cleanser is key to preventing future breakouts. For acne-prone skin, you’ll want to look for cleansers with glycolic acid to exfoliate and remove impurities without irritating the skin.

Brighten things up. Get your dose of vitamin C in serum form, which can reduce hyperpigmentation, even out dark spots and acne marks, and brighten skin overall.

Add a bit of retinol. Retinol is a wonder ingredient for fighting acne and healing post-blemish marks. Strong doses of it can be applied to the skin via the use of prescription creams, but tons of products have good doses of it. Note! A little goes a long way. This is one strong hero.

The right acne scar treatment products:

Acne scar treatment is all about the products. Whether you’re currently experiencing frequent breakouts, want to put to rest the occasional blemish, or are looking to fade dark spots and acne scars, we’ve selected some of what we deem to be the very best products on the market for leaving your visage clear, glowing and smooth.

1. Lightbulb Vitamin C Serum - Ghost Democracy ($34)
Our super-clean daily brightening serum goes above and beyond to reduce dark spots and even, brighten and enhance the texture and surface of skin. It’s a great non-irritating and quick-absorbing savior for all skin types that’s completely safe to apply on the daily.

2. Clarifying Mask - Tata Harper ($72)
Formulated to perfect your complexion by targeting impurities, this clarifying mask minimizes redness, blemishes and uneven texture, leaving behind balanced and healthier-looking skin.

3. Clear Skin Advanced Spot Concentrate - Province Apothecary ($78)
This spot concentrate is made from natural botanicals that work to target areas, purify acne-prone skin and improve surface texture.