I've Repurchased This Skin-Plumping Brightening Serum 4x in 3 Years

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It cleared my dark spots.

When it comes to skincare, I’m proud to say that it’s the only area of my life where I can claim to be a minimalist. I’m lucky enough to come from a long line of women with flawless skin,  meaning I’ve never had a need for a crowded product shelf. But, of course, the one skin issue I do struggle with is also notoriously difficult to get rid of, especially for those with melanin-rich skin: hyperpigmentation. On the rare occasion I break out, I’m left with acne scars that, for me, are harder to treat than the original breakout itself. Enter, my (and thousands of others’) secret weapon for fading dark spots: the now-$15 Faded Brightening and Clearing Serum from Topicals, a Black-owned brand with a host of scar-fighting products.

Topicals Faded Brightening and Clearing Serum

$15 at Amazon

Quite honestly, I had no expectations when I first started using this serum—it was something I tried on a whim. But several years and four tubes later, I can safely say that this is now my deserted island beauty product. It’s helped me clear not only acne scars, but also overall discoloration around my mouth and chin areas where I’ve always dealt with dark patches. The formula is somehow ultra-hydrating while still feeling lightweight and non-greasy, which is a balance I’ve found is hard to strike in moisturizing products.

The brightening serum includes ingredients like azelaic acid to remove dead skin cells and hinder enzymes that lead to hyperpigmentation, as well as niacinamide to prevent the transfer of pigment within the skin. Besides clearing my dark spots and scars, the serum also gives my skin a glowy sheen that makes it appear almost bouncy and glass-like. Plus, it’s the perfect dewy base for my makeup.

Related: I Use This Radiance-Boosting Serum 3 Times a Week to Blur Pores and Fade Dark Spots

Clearly, I’m not alone in loving this product; over 8,000 Amazon shoppers have purchased it in the past month. One reviewer said their skin feels “smoother, softer, and more radiant than ever before,” while another wrote they were “blown away” by the product and are now constantly fielding questions about their “flawless skin.”

For the best results, Topicals recommends applying a thin, even layer onto clean skin prior to moisturizer, then massaging the product in until it’s fully absorbed. The brand also advises wearing sunscreen while using the product and only applying it once a week to start, then working your way up to daily use. (As a longtime user, I now use the product daily.)

The smaller version of this serum is on sale for only $15 at Amazon, so now is the perfect time to stock up on the travel-sized tube for summer. Once you fall in love with the formula, you’ll want to grab it in the bigger size, and check out more brightening skin care products from Topicals, below.

Topicals Faded Brightening Under Eye Masks

$20 at Amazon

Topicals Faded Skin Serum Mist

$32 at Amazon

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