Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
- Anti-blemish
- Anti-oxidation
- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 3
Key actives
Product Summary
"Topicals - Faded Serum for Dark Spots & Discoloration" is effective for: Anti-inflammatory, Anti-oxidation, Anti-aging, Evens skin tone, Moisturizing and Anti-blemish
Ingredient callouts
- A good concentration of Niacinamide (3.20% - 3.90%). Niacinamide is a well-studied multi-tasking active. It is stable, and can work well in almost any hydrating formulation. There is solid evidence that Niacinamide can help support skin barrier, regulate oil production and reduce acne and clogged pores. It also helps to fight photodamage and improve the skin tone, reducing pigmentation marks.
- Humectants (arginine 0.25% - 0.45% and glycerin 4.20% - 5.20%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails from 21.99$ up to 38.00$ in the United States and from 24.00CA$ up to 46.00CA$ in Canada.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-aging
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains niacinamide.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: centella asiatica leaf extract.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. It can be irritating to sensitive skin. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It could, however, itself be irritating.
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
A compound that can regulate sleep cycles in humans and animals. When used in cosmetics, comes from plant sources. It can work as anti-oxidant in skin when applied topically in skincare
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Visibly fade stubborn post-blemish marks, scars, dark patches, discoloration, and uneven skin tone resulting from breakouts and sun damage with this dermatologist-tested serum.
Source: Sephora
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: azelaic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
In addition, this product contains niacinamide. It can help in reducing blemishes, even though it is less effective.
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. It can be irritating to sensitive skin. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It could, however, itself be irritating.
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (azelaic acid, kojic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - melatonin also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals
Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritating
A compound that can regulate sleep cycles in humans and animals. When used in cosmetics, comes from plant sources. It can work as anti-oxidant in skin when applied topically in skincare
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
Faded Serum for Dark Spots & Discoloration
Source: From product name
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: alpha-arbutin, azelaic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, tranexamic acid
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: dimethylmethoxy chromanyl palmitate, glycyrrhiza uralensis root extract.
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritating
An amino acid that is effective in reducing hyperpigmentation and evening out the skin tone. It can also help in skin barrier recovery. It is used to treat melasma, especially with injections and when taken orally
Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin
Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
An oil-soluble compound that has been shown in laboratory studies (in a petri dish, not on human volunteers) to inhibit melanin production in skin and help even out the skin tone. More research is needed to understand if it works in real life
Licorice root extract. Might be helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation
Moisturizing
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
arginine, glycerin.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: arginine, butyrospermum parkii butter.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: niacinamide
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
An emollient that helps soften the skin
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
An amino acid that is effective in reducing hyperpigmentation and evening out the skin tone. It can also help in skin barrier recovery. It is used to treat melasma, especially with injections and when taken orally
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
An emollient that helps soften the skin and is used to improve product texture and stability
Non-drying alcohol that helps water and oil mix together. Also serves as an emollient
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Evens skin tone | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
User reviews (5)
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Topicals Faded Serum for Dark Spots & Discoloration | Current | $24.00 | |
 Civant Meladerm | 81% | $58.00 | |
 Dr Sam's Flawless Brightly Serum | 80% | $44.00 | |
 Versine Gentle Actives Clarity Crème-Serum + Azelaic Acid | 74% | $80.00 | |
 Tula Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel | 73% | $36.00 | |
 HydroPeptide Redefining Serum - Ultra Sheer Clearing Treatment - CLEARANCE | 71% | - |
Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Glyceryl stearate, Tranexamic acid, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Alpha-arbutin, Behenyl alcohol, Kojic acid, Unknown, Elaeis guineensis extract, Curcuma longa root extract, Butter, Ethylene brassylate, Dimethylmethoxy chromanyl palmitate, Azelaic acid, Glycyrrhiza uralensis root extract, Melatonin, Phytic acid, Squalane, Allantoin, Centella asiatica leaf extract, Tocopherol, Arginine, Lecithin, Glycine soja sterols, Cetyl palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sclerotium gum, Zinc ricinoleate, Cetearyl alcohol, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatology
- Gehring, W. (2004). Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 3(2), 88–93. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x
- Effect of tranexamic acid on melasma: a clinical trial with histological evaluation
- Tranexamic acid accelerates skin barrier recovery and upregulates occludin in damaged skin
- The amelioration effect of tranexamic acid in wrinkles induced by skin dryness
- Efficacy and possible mechanisms of topical tranexamic acid in melasma
- TOPICAL TREATMENT OF MELASMA
- Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: a review of the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment options in skin of color.
- Vaughn, A. R., Branum, A., & Sivamani, R. K. (2016). Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence. Phytotherapy Research, 30(8), 1243–1264. doi:10.1002/ptr.5640
- Fragrance material review on ethylene brassylate
- Development of a new cosmetic active for safe skin brightening
- Skin lightening through a new natural oily composition from botanical origin
- [Melatonin in dermatology. Experimental and clinical aspects]
- Cosmetic and dermatologic use of alpha hydroxy acids
- Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy and Tolerability of Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Mandelic Acid, and Phytic Acid Combination Peels in Melasma
- Profile of wound healing process induced by allantoin
- Centella asiatica in Dermatology: An Overview
- Contact dermatitis due to Madecassol
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health