I took a photo every Sunday for four weeks. Week 1 looked hopeful. Week 2 looked like nothing happened. Week 3 is where it got interesting.
Here’s the thing nobody tells you — this serum works, but only on specific spots. The rest of your face will just sit there looking fine.
It’s a $22 serum from a Korean brand that blew up on TikTok for fading post-acne marks. The claim: brighten dark spots in 4 weeks without irritation.
5% Niacinamide
Not the highest percentage you can buy, but high enough to actually do something without burning your face off.
Squalane base
Feels like nothing on skin. No sticky residue that collects lint.
No essential oils
Smells like nothing. Literally nothing. If you hate fragrance, this is your jam.
Photo: Chandra Oh / Unsplash
The ingredient list is short and smart — no filler nonsense. Three things do the heavy lifting, one thing is just there for texture.
- Niacinamide: fades PIE marks and regulates oil
- Squalane: hydrates without clogging
- Centella Asiatica: calms redness so spots look less angry
- Sea Buckthorn Oil: the texture ingredient — makes it yellow, does nothing for spots
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
It’s a thin, watery gel that sinks in 10 seconds flat. No pilling under sunscreen. I almost liked it too much — used 4 drops instead of 2 and broke out on my chin.
Week 2 was brutal. One dark spot got darker before it got lighter. I almost quit. By week 3, three of my five spots were visibly smaller.
Three out of five dark spots faded about 40%. One didn’t budge. The fresh red marks? Gone. The old brown ones? Still there, just softer.
It’s a good daily serum for fresh marks and general glow, but it won’t erase your acne scars overnight. Buy it, use it, be patient.