Melasma treatment for Face Cica Intensive Serum 1.01fl.oz/30ml

I am 40 yro with some lines, sun spots, and dark circles so I was excited to try the CARE:NEL melasma serum. I have improved my skincare in the last few years, using daily SPF, alternating vitamin c, niacinamide, bha, aha, lactic acid, tretinoin x2 wk, and other ingredients, but I still have some stubborn sunspots that don’t want to go away. I have tried two other Korean melasma serums, and what I liked the most about Care:nel is that this serum is more hydrating and doesn’t tingle (the other two I tried have an ingredient that feels like it scratches the face as you rub it in), and that it has great ingredients, proven to help with dark spots. Since I like the formula of this serum so much, I’ve been using it twice per day (day and night skin care), and it works great with all my other products, it is also very affordable at only $15. Depending on the results I get at the end of my bottle I will reassess and repurchase another one.

I am pretty familiar with most of these main ingredients except for the 'MadeWhite' one but I did find it interesting that the box says that the patented 'MadeWhite' ingredient makes the skin transparent and bright. I just pictured really translucent skin that isn't what anyone really wants.The serum has a fragrance but it is light and not overpowering. The serum itself is not clear but has a thicker serum/gel texture. This is not intended to be the last step of your skincare as it will leave your skin tacky. You need to follow up with either moisturizer or sunscreen or both to get past the tacky feel. I applied both a minimal amount and a generous amount and it was still tacky so the only way to avoid that is to apply another layer after. This did not pill or cause my next layer of moisturizer to pill.I have used higher percentages of niacinamide, tranexamic acid, and Zinc PCA with no issue so I knew it would not bother my skin. The only new ingredient being the MadeWhite did not make my skin irritated. For serums like this, expect it to take a minimum of 4-6 weeks before you see some results as the older you get the longer it takes the skin to turnover.

I ordered this serum because I have some darker spots on my neck, likely from sun damage, and I was hoping to find something full of active ingredients that was also gentle enough for my neck (where the skin seems to be more sensitive/reactive than my face). I was excited to find that I did not experience any stinging, redness, or irritation!Equally important to me, I did not notice any fragrance.The serum is on the thinner side, and spreads well. After my first use, I took care to pump gently so a bit less came out, because a little goes a long way. It absorbs well but does leave just a bit of shine and slightly sticky texture; I use this at night so it isn't a deal-breaker at all. I do wear SPF every single day, so that may be a factor, but I did not experience any increased sun sensitivity on the days following my use of this serum.

Made my skin worse

Discoloration from sun exposure is one thing, but melasma is a whole different type of discoloration that is particularly hard to treat. It often appears on women's faces during pregnancy or menopause and is notoriously difficult to remove. I have seemingly tried every product under the sun, most with no or fair results. I am hopeful for this CARE:NEL Melasma treatment for Face Cica Intensive Serum as it contains ingredients that have been shown to improve the look of affected skin: niacinamide and tranexamic acid, as well as new-to-me ingredients such as MadeWhite and Centella Asiatica. I don't know specifically what these products do, but I am hopeful as Korean skincare is some of the best in the world. Obviously, any real results won't be visible for some time, perhaps as much as 8 week or more. In the meantime, I'll continue to use this serum and hope for good results. It's unscented, and easy to smooth on. It absorbed quickly, and could be used under makeup or other moisturizers. It made my skin feel hydrated, at the very least. The package recommends using twice a day, so I will continue to do that. The size bottle should easily last me a couple months at that rate. Here's hoping my dark spots are banished for good!

This serum is on the thicker side, has a lotion consistency and off-white yellowish color. Very subtle smell. Soaks in pretty fast, leaves a natural finish, non-greasy (despite containing olive and coconut oils). The active ingredients are what we’d expect from a melasma treatment: tranexamic acid, niacinamide and acetyl glucosamine (which pair together well for discoloration), and several soothers such as zinc PCA, coptis japonica root extract and centella asiatica. Plus the brand’s patented MadeWhite ingredient with madecassoside (which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties). Full ingredient list in my photo, quite a cocktail! My skin seems to like this, remains to be seen how it does in the long run.

I have dark spots and freckles all over my face from sun damage and this melasma serum helps to lighten my skin without irritating it. It's lightweight, non-tacky, non-greasy and dries quickly. I would say that they should make a bigger bottle because 1 fl oz runs out really fast. After a month of use, I would need a new bottle.

Got this to try to help my aging skin out, mostly on my neck & along my hairline. So far, so good. While I haven’t been using it long enough to see results, I’ve had no bad experiences with it. Goes on nicely, absorbs well & leaves no oily or greasy residue.I appreciate that this is made in Korea & has a clear batch number & expiration date of 2/10/2028 (almost 3 years out).