People Say This ‘Miracle Stick’ Works Wonders For Hyperpigmentation And Textured Skin

The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.

There’s never going to be one ingredient or product that tackles all of your skin woes, but every so often, we come across something that’s multitasking enough to come pretty close. In this instance, it’s one $13 stick (normally priced at $18, so it’s almost 30% off) that can treat rough and bumpy skin texture, dullness, fine lines, hyperpigmentation and more.

Based on several reviews, this exfoliating body stick appears to measure up to The Inkey List’s excellent reputation for churning out no-fuss and effective formulations at accessible price points. (Though I haven’t tried it myself, I’m a longtime fan of several of the brand’s other products.)

It uses 7% glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with a long and trusted history in skin care for a few reasons. San Diego-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Azadeh Shirazi previously told HuffPost that old skin cells become lazy as we age and pile up, thus preventing fresh, new healthy skin cells to surface.

“AHAs are water-soluble acids [good] for fading pigmentation, improving texture and tone, softening fine lines, and minimizing pores,” Shirazi said.

The stick’s formulation also contains 0.5% salicylic acid, which Shirazi explained is part of the beta hydroxy family (BHA) and penetrates deeper into pores to target excess sebum, dead skin cells and sun damage.

This chemical exfoliating combination can be useful in managing stubborn skin conditions like keratosis pilaris — better known as KP, chicken skin or strawberry legs — which presents in rough, bumpy and pigmented patches on the arms, legs and backside.

“It sounds obvious, but moisturizers and emollients are critical when using exfoliants, as they help protect and support the skin barrier, maintaining skin hydration,” Shirazi said.

The Inkey List’s stick contains several moisturizing factors, notably a 10% concentration of nourishing shea butter, plus a variety of hydrating seed oils like jojoba and sunflower.

Cleverly made into a solid and packaged like a deodorant stick, you can easily swipe the product all over your body or target difficult, rough areas like the elbows, around the bikini line to fight ingrown hairs, or even onto thickened and cracked heels.

Some reviewers even rub this onto their underarms to not only lighten unwanted pigmentation, but to address stubborn body odor. (There’s really not enough evidence to support that AHAs can actually neutralize odor, but it may help create a level of skin pH that makes it difficult for odor-causing bacteria to survive.)

For many, The Inkey List’s glycolic acid body stick has “worked wonders” on some of their major skin concerns and now that it’s currently on sale for as low as $13, it might be worth it to try a stick for yourself and achieve bright, smooth and hydrated skin. See more promising reviews up ahead or head to any of the above retailers to grab a discounted stick.

Promising Amazon reviews:

“Miracle stick. I had dark underarms and during pregnancy they got even darker. Used this post pregnancy and after one use my underarms have lighten up. Now after several uses arms are lighter and bonus you don’t need deodorant.” — Sofia

“Love this. Everyone should have this. It’s not pricey and it does the job. You can use it on arm bumps under arm discolouration neck lines hard skin on your feet it has so many uses. I’ve not got 2 one for body one for feet. It’s unbelievable on how quick it works. I’ve told a bunch of friends who have now bought it and love it too. If you aren’t sure how to use it there’s loads of reels and tiktoks showing you its many uses and how to get the best out of it. Really worth it.” — Safferina

“Fantastic product for KP bumps on arms. Between using this stick and a salicylic acid wash in my arms, my KP bumps have almost completely vanished. My arms feel the smoothest they ever have. I bought it for the KP, and have been enormously impressed. Easy to apply, you only need to use a very small amount, and the difference is noticeable within days. My fingers are crossed it will work just as well for areas prone to ingrown hairs after shaving!!” — AshleeV

“Great for hyperpigmentation. I use this on my elbows, knees under my arms and anywhere I have dark marks except for your face, and it works wonders.” — VaVirgo

“I bought this to use on my underarms after learning that glycolic acid can help with odor. Despite scrubbing every morning in the shower, I couldn’t get the smell out of one of my underarms. It only took a couple days of using this for the smell to disappear. It’s shaped like a deodorant stick, so it’s really convenient to use. Just don’t make the mistake of using it after shaving!” — Darlene