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Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum for dry sensitive skin

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • Low RiskSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate brightening and clearing for your dry and sensitive skin, as niacinamide and azelaic acid work to even skin tone and reduce blemishes.
  • The inclusion of glycolic and lactic acids provides exfoliation, but may cause dryness or irritation for your sensitive skin, while squalane and glycerin offer some emollient and humectant benefits.

How to apply

  • Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
  • Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users highly praise this serum for effectively fading hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and dark spots, especially on melanated skin. While results are impressive, a significant number of reviews mention a strong, sulfur-like smell that users must tolerate. Some users also report an initial purging phase before experiencing clearer, brighter skin.

Highlights

  • Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
    • “scars are noticeably lighter”
    • “fades dark spots”
    • “impressed with effectiveness”
    • “minimized appearance of marks”
  • Unpleasant smell Mostly Mentioned
    • “smells like sulfur”
    • “rotten eggs”
    • “smells like rust”
    • “scent is off-putting”
  • Brightens skin Often Mentioned
    • “skin looks clearer”
    • “more radiant”
    • “brightens your skin”
    • “leaves a glow”
  • Absorbs well Sometimes Noted
    • “lightweight texture”
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “layers well under moisturizer”
    • “non-greasy”
  • Improves texture Sometimes Noted
    • “smooths skin texture”
    • “skin feels calmer”
    • “softens rough patches”
  • Safe for melanated skin Sometimes Noted
    • “made with melanated skin in mind”
    • “safe for all ethnicities”
    • “works on darker skin tones”
  • Causes purging Sometimes Noted
    • “face exploded with acne”
    • “exacerbated comedones”
    • “broke me out”
    • “caused purging”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “tube cracks easily”
    • “product spills out”
    • “hate the metal tube”
    • “leaks everywhere”
  • Potential irritation Rarely Noted
    • “slightly irritating”
    • “caused burning”
    • “too strong for sensitive skin”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, amazon.com, mytopicals.com, skinsort.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Topicals Faded work for dry sensitive skin?

Topicals Faded works for your dry sensitive skin, though other products fit it better because its exfoliating acids may cause dryness or irritation. A treatment of this type needs soothing, deeply hydrating ingredients and skin barrier support to keep dry skin calm and comfortable without irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2024The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide, azelaic acid, squalane, and glycerin make this serum a fit for dry sensitive skin by helping to even skin tone, reduce blemishes, and provide moisture. However, because it also contains exfoliating acids that may cause dryness or irritation, this skin type needs a product with deeply hydrating and nourishing ingredients, antioxidants, ceramides, and vitamins that protect the skin barrier without any risk of irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2024The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013

What does Tranexamic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Tranexamic acid helps dry sensitive skin by repairing the skin barrier and soothing irritation. It works well to calm redness and restore moisture without causing heavy side effects.

International Journal of Dermatology, 2014Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2024

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. A product of this type for dry sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients and extra moisture to offset the exfoliating acids and keep skin calm.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol, but apply them on separate nights or use a soothing moisturizer afterward to help prevent your dry and sensitive skin from getting too dry or irritated.

How often should I use this serum?

This serum can be used in your evening routine once a week to start, as exfoliating acids may cause dryness or irritation for your dry and sensitive skin. If your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This serum may cause purging or breakouts for dry sensitive skin, as reviewers moderately complain about this effect and the formula includes exfoliating acids. Products of this type need soothing ingredients like centella asiatica, ceramides, or extra hydrating agents to keep dry and sensitive skin calm and comfortable.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Application of 15% azelaic acid gel significantly reduced post-inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation, decreased hemoglobin and melanin content, improved quality of life, and contributed to acne improvement in patients with mild to moderate acne compared to placebo.

    Dermatology and Therapy, 2024
  • Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
  • Azelaic acid nanocrystal hydrogel 10% achieved a higher success rate and greater lesion reduction than azelaic acid cream 20% in patients with mild to moderate facial acne.

    Pharmaceutics, 2021
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005
  • Topical application of a dermocosmetic containing Myrtus communis extract and azelaic acid reduced acne relapses and helped maintain remission compared to a light moisturizing cream in adult females in the acne maintenance phase over 16 weeks.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023
  • Topical administration of 20% azelaic acid cream and 5% tranexamic acid solution comparably improved acne-related postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with acne vulgaris, while tranexamic acid demonstrated a significantly better safety profile at week 4.

    Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2023
  • Azelaic acid 15% gel showed comparable efficacy to adapalene 0.1% gel in reducing lesions, severity, and Dermatology Life Quality Index in women with adult acne, with significantly lower dryness and scaling, and demonstrated superiority during maintenance compared to no further treatment.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2015
  • A topical formulation containing kojic acid, emblica extract, and glycolic acid demonstrated efficacy parity compared with hydroquinone 4% in multiethnic participants with mild to moderate facial dyschromia.

    Cutis, 2010
  • A nanoemulsion containing 1 mg/mL kojic dipalmitate and 5% rosehip oil demonstrated high incorporation efficiency, suitable physicochemical stability, antioxidant and depigmenting efficacy close to 1 mM ascorbic acid, and no cytotoxicity at concentrations from 0.06% to 1% in vitro.

    Pharmaceutics, 2023
  • Topical application of iron chelators kojic acid and deferiprone significantly accelerated wound healing in rats compared to control groups, with deferiprone showing superior efficacy due to higher antioxidant and iron chelation abilities.

    International Wound Journal, 2013
  • A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
  • Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.

    Heliyon, 2023
  • Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

Ingredients

Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Kojic Acid, Alpha Arbutin, Licorice Root Extract, Melatonin, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Squalane, Glycerin, Water, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.