Figuring out my perfect skin care routine has been a delicate dance, to say the least. See, I have combination skin, which means I face clogged pores around my nose and chin (and dryness along my cheeks), and any breakouts that crop up tend to cluster in a couple of unlucky areas. And even though I tailored my routine to get those blemishes under control (thank you, salicylic acid), I was less than enamored with the goodbye present said blemishes left behind: dark spots, and lots of 'em. 

Technically speaking, I have a mix of hyperpigmentation and post-inflammatory erythema—meaning, my marks are dark in color as well as red from dilated blood vessels. And I've tried virtually everything to get rid of these spots—retinol, color-correcting serums, hydrocolloid patches, et al.—but the marks never seemed to fade completely. The frustration of it all only made things worse, with stress-induced breakouts leaving even more dark spots in their wake—but I digress. 

I'm likely not the first to tell you: Fading dark spots ultimately takes time (some marks can even last up to two years—sigh), but there are tried-and-true methods to help speed up the process. While I had attempted my fair share of surface-level fixes, I hadn't tried approaching those spots from the inside out. 

Enter, mindbodygreen's grass-fed collagen+. I'll be honest: I didn't have dark spots in mind when first starting out with the supplement. I only added it to my regimen after reading about how quickly collagen levels deplete as you age (your 20s are all about preventive care, after all, and I want my skin to remain healthy and plump for as long as possible—who doesn't?). What I didn't expect, though, was for collagen to target my biggest skin care woe. Before I knew it, the pesky spots had started fading like a memory.*

When you think about the science, it makes total sense: The hydrolyzed collagen peptides in mbg's formula support and stimulate the skin cells' fibroblasts, enhancing natural collagen and elastin production—this process helps generate new, unpigmented skin cells more quickly.*

The powder also contains vitamin C (known for brightening up the skin), coupled with vitamin E—incorporating both nutrients helps the other become "supercharged" and penetrate the skin cell. I use both of those vitamins topically already (á la a vitamin C and E serum), but supporting my natural, internal levels became the one-two punch I needed for glowing skin. In fact, vitamin E has been shown to promote cellular restoration when used topically or ingested as a supplement.* 

Finally, the key to keeping hyperpigmentation at bay is to quell the inflammation that cranks those melanin-producing cells into overdrive; mbg's powder also contains curcumin, which can help manage inflammation at the cellular level.*

I like to say my skin care routine doesn't stop at the bathroom sink. After applying the usual suspects (cleanser, a sweep of toner, then my vitamin C and E serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen), I head to the kitchen for my all-time favorite morning sip: In a blender, I combine two spoonfuls of mbg's collagen powder in chocolate with half a frozen banana, a spoonful of almond butter, a teaspoon of maca powder, some Greek yogurt, ice cubes, and almond milk. 

The result? A frothy, chocolate-nut butter confection that tastes like a treat. Imagine a frosty milkshake, only it's good for your skin.* And in my case, it's good for fading dark spots, too.

Now, I truly understand what it means when people say their skin glows. (Trust: The radiance is very much real). Of course, I still get the occasional spot—I'm human!—but with my new morning repertoire, I no longer feel a sense of dread when a mark makes its way to my jawline. I'm now well equipped to tackle those spots head-on—all it took was nourishing my skin from the inside out.*