Topicals Faded Review: My Honest Experience with this Inclusive Skincare Brand

What is Topicals Faded?

Topicals Faded is a clean skincare brand founded by two women of color, Olamide Olowe and Claudia Teng, with the mission of embracing skin imperfections and creating effective products for all skin tones and types. The brand is most known for their Faded serum and Like Butter mask which target hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and uneven skin tone.

As someone who has struggled with dark spots and discoloration myself, I was intrigued when I first discovered Topicals Faded. The fact that it was created by women who personally dealt with these skin concerns and formulated with people of color in mind made me excited to give the products a try. I also loved the brand‘s empowering ethos of celebrating real skin and donating to mental health organizations.

My Experience Trying Topicals Faded Products

For the past month, I‘ve been using the Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum and Like Butter Hydrating Mask consistently in my skincare routine. Here are my detailed thoughts:

The serum has a lightweight gel texture that layers well under moisturizer. It does have a slight sulfuric scent which I wasn‘t a huge fan of at first, but I got used to it. The key ingredients are tranexamic acid, azelaic acid, kojic acid, licorice root, and niacinamide which are all proven to help with hyperpigmentation.

After using it consistently for a few weeks, I definitely noticed my dark spots fading faster than usual. I also had some post-acne marks from minor breakouts that diminished significantly. The serum helped even out my overall complexion without any irritation or purging.

I used the Like Butter mask as an overnight treatment a few times per week. It has a whipped, creamy texture that felt incredibly nourishing and soothing on my skin. The colloidal oatmeal and ceramides helped calm and hydrate my skin, while the green tea, licorice and turmeric gently brighten. I loved waking up to smooth, supple, glowing skin after using this mask.

Both products were gentler and caused less sensitivity than other potent treatments I‘ve tried for hyperpigmentation, making them ideal to use consistently. After a month, my stubborn dark spots have faded significantly, my skin tone looks more even and radiant, and I‘ve had less breakouts. I‘m really happy with my results!

The Topicals Faded Shopping Experience

In addition to the products themselves, I had a great experience shopping on the Topicals website. The site is well-designed and easy to navigate with clear info on the products and ingredients. They have a helpful skincare quiz to get personalized recommendations.

I received my order quickly within 5 days with cute, colorful packaging that was fun to unbox. Topicals also offers free shipping on orders over $40, a subscribe and save option, and a rewards program.

The Faded Serum is $36 for 1 oz and the Like Butter Mask is $32 for 1.7 oz which I feel is reasonable for the quality, especially compared to other serums I‘ve tried for hyperpigmentation. Topicals also offers bundles which are a better value.

What Other Customers Are Saying

I always like to check customer reviews before trying a new skincare brand, so I did some research on what others had to say about Topicals Faded. On the brand‘s website, the Faded Serum has over 150 reviews and 4.5 out of 5 star rating, while the Like Butter Mask has a 4.2 star rating.

Many reviewers raved about seeing results on stubborn dark marks, acne scars and uneven skin tone. Customers also loved how gentle yet effective the products were and that they didn‘t cause irritation. The most common cons seemed to be not liking the scent of the serum and wishing the products were a bit cheaper.

On Sephora, the Faded Serum has 4 stars with many calling it a "game changer" and sharing amazing before and after photos. On Influenster, the Faded Gel has over 50 reviews and 4.2 stars. Positive reviews called out how well it worked on acne-prone skin. A few negative reviews said it was too drying.

Overall, the vast majority of Topicals Faded reviews I came across were glowingly positive with customers noting real results. Of course, everyone‘s skin is different, but it seems many are loving these products.

The Topicals Brand Mission & Giving Back

One of the things I love most about Topicals as a brand is their commitment to diversity, inclusion, and mental health. By creating products with people of color in mind and showcasing real skin in their ads, they are bringing some much-needed representation to the beauty industry.

Topicals also donates 1% of profits to mental health organizations like Therapy for Black Girls and The Jed Foundation. As someone who deals with anxiety, I love supporting brands that give back to mental health causes and help destigmatize therapy.

Topicals has been featured in major publications like Allure, Glamour, Vogue and Essence and has a growing community of over 50K followers on Instagram. It‘s great to see this indie WOC-owned brand getting buzz for their innovative products and empowering mission.

How Topicals Compares to Other Hyperpigmentation Treatments

If you struggle with dark marks, acne scars or an uneven skin tone, you‘re probably always on the lookout for effective treatments. Some other popular products that target hyperpigmentation are:

• Hyper Skin Fade Bright Serum
• Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum
• The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA serum
• Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Brightening Serum
• SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Serum

Compared to these, I prefer the Topicals Faded Serum because of the gentle yet potent combination of ingredients like kojic acid, azelaic acid and niacinamide at an affordable price point. The hydrating, soothing ingredients are also ideal for my sometimes sensitive skin.

Ultimately, the best hyperpigmentation treatment for you will depend on your individual skin type and concerns. But if you‘re looking for an effective, non-irritating option, I highly recommend checking out Topicals Faded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Topicals Faded products vegan and cruelty-free?
Almost all Topicals products are vegan with the exception of the Faded Brightening and Clearing Mist which contains honey. All Topicals products are cruelty-free and not tested on animals.

Where are Topicals Faded products made?
Topicals products are made in the USA, according to the FAQs on their website. The brand is based in Santa Monica, California.

How much do Topicals Faded products cost?
The Faded Serum and Like Butter Mask individually retail for $36 and $32 respectively. You can also buy them together in a bundle deal for $64. The Faded Body Mist is $30.

What is Topicals Faded‘s return policy?
Topicals offers free 45-day returns on products purchased through their official website. They encourage you to donate or gift your gently used products to friends/family instead of returning, if possible.

My Verdict: Is Topicals Faded Worth It?

After trying Topicals Faded for the past month, I can confidently say that yes, these products are absolutely worth it if you want to fade hyperpigmentation, even out your skin tone and get glowing skin without irritation. Both the serum and mask gave me noticeable results and worked better for my skin than other products I‘ve tried.

Personally, I love supporting indie, WOC-owned brands like Topicals that are creating innovative, effective products for all skin tones while also giving back to important causes. The fact that Topicals Faded actually works and has so many incredible reviews is just icing on the cake.

If you‘ve been struggling with stubborn dark marks, acne scars or dullness, I highly recommend giving Topicals Faded a try. The brand offers a 45-day free return policy, so you can easily get your money back if the products don‘t work for your unique skin. But based on my experience and so many other rave reviews, I have a feeling you‘ll be hooked.