Glow Talk: Faded by Topicals

(The Hyperpigmentation Game-Changer You Need)

So I've been sitting on this review for what feels like eons (my Google Docs is literally a graveyard of half-finished posts at this point….RIP to my productivity circa 2023), but we NEED to talk about Faded by Topicals. Like, not in a "this would make great #content" way, but in a "my jawline is actually visible again" way.

If your FYP looks anything like mine, you've been algorithmically served this millennial pink tube approximately 17,000 times. But is Faded actually worth the hype, or is it joining the ranks of Stanley cups and those weird Gap hoodies as things I refuse to buy purely out of spite? (Side note: the milk propaganda discourse on TikTok is still sending me. I haven't looked at my latte the same way since.)

The Topicals Lowdown

Before diving into the product itself, we need to acknowledge Topicals as a brand. Founded by two women of color who've weathered their own skin battles, Topicals feels refreshingly un-corporate in the "clean girl aesthetic" hellscape we're currently navigating.

Their branding screams "we actually get it" which, let's be honest, feels increasingly extinct in a skincare landscape that's going the way of every previously cool platform: algorithm-optimized to death. (Remember when Instagram was just poorly filtered pictures of your lunch? Take me back to 2012, I'm begging.)

Let's Talk Ingredients

The Faded serum is basically that group project where everyone actually did their part for once:

• Tranexamic Acid – the overachiever that blocks pigment production (dermatologists won't shut up about it)

• Niacinamide – the multitasker who has their life together (regulates oil AND tackles dark spots)

• Licorice Root – the quiet kid who surprisingly pulls through (breaks down existing hyperpigmentation)

• Kojic Acid – the gentle soul who exfoliates without making your face fall off

• Centella Asiatica – the peacemaker keeping inflammation at bay while everyone else works

This entire formula basically tells your melanocytes (that's skin cells on hyperpigmentation duty, for those who didn't waste $80K on a biology degree like yours truly) to chill the absolute hell out.

The Elephant in the Room: That Smell

Let's address what EVERYONE and their dermatologist mentions the smell. I won't lie to you because we've built a relationship of trust here: Faded smells like what I imagine the back room of a Medieval apothecary might've smelled like. Some reviews say "sulfur," others say "medicinal," I say "post-apocalyptic herb garden after nuclear fallout."

But hear me out, the results make it 100% worth your olfactory suffering. Think of it like that friend who always comes through with elite gossip but wears a perfume that could qualify as a chemical weapon. You're still texting "wyd tonight?" every weekend.

My Experience

I've been slathering this stuff on for eight weeks, twice weekly on my non-retinol nights (because mixing actives is how you end up crying in front of your bathroom mirror googling "face transplant cost USA" at 2am).

Week 1-2: Not much happening except my boyfriend asking if I was "cooking eggs" in the bathroom. The texture slaps though..absorbs faster than my bank account on Sephora sale day.

Week 3-4: Started noticing subtle fading of those stress-induced spots from when my boss decided every email needed to be "urgent" for two weeks straight.

Week 5-8: The glow-up is REAL. Those stubborn marks from my zoom-call-picking-sessions (don't judge me, we've all developed weird pandemic habits) have faded significantly. My jawline, previously a map of hormonal breakout history, is looking suspiciously even-toned.

The formula has enough hydrating ingredients to prevent the dreaded tightness that makes your face feel like it might shatter if you smile. My combination skin, which typically treats new products as personal attacks, has surprisingly not thrown a tantrum.

The Reality Check

Look, Faded isn't magic in a tube. Like all topical treatments for hyperpigmentation, it requires the one thing millennials famously lack: patience. (I literally switched to cold brew because waiting for hot coffee felt like cruel and unusual punishment.)

If you're expecting to slap this on before Coachella weekend and emerge looking airbrushed, I need you to dramatically lower those expectations, bestie. This is more of a 3-6 month situationship before you see the full commitment. As some derm on a YouTube video I definitely watched at 3am instead of sleeping put it: using just topicals for hyperpigmentation is like saying "I'm getting in shape by taking the stairs once a week." It works, but let's be realistic about the timeline.

For faster, more dramatic results, you might want to hit up your derm for some laser action or chemical peels alongside Faded (the skincare equivalent of getting a trainer AND a nutritionist). But for those of us with more time than money, I can confirm: consistent use yields actual, visible results.

Final Verdict

Pros:

• Actually works without requiring a second mortgage

• Ingredient list reads like a hyperpigmentation hit list

• Plays well with others (except strong acids/retinoids—don't be that person)

• Cheaper than most "clinical" alternatives that promise the same results

• Brand actually seems to give a damn about more than just aesthetics

Cons:

• The smell (though stockholm syndrome kicks in around week 3)

• Requires consistency (not great for my fellow commitment-phobes)

• Potentially too intense if your skin gets offended by literally everything

Is Faded worth adding to your already overflowing skincare shelf? If you're battling post-acne marks, sun damage, or that patch of darkness that appeared after you turned 25 for absolutely no reason—yes, 100%. Just remember that skincare is a marathon, not a sprint (unless you're late for hot Pilates, then it's definitely a sprint, possibly a sprint with strategic subway door-holding).

In this economy of endless "miracle" products with packaging designed primarily for shelfies, Topicals Faded actually delivers. And honestly? That's rarer than finding an original personality on dating apps these days.

Have you tried Faded? Drop your experiences in the comments, especially if you've found a scented moisturizer that effectively combats the medieval apothecary vibes. My roommates nostrils will send you a handwritten thank you note.