Intensive Brightening Treatment: 0.5% pure retinol

Even after a few weeks, my skin tone looks noticeably more even, and the 0.5% retinol feels strong but not irritating if I layer it with moisturizer. I’ve been using it every other night and the discoloration on my cheeks is finally fading.

My dark spots from last summer have faded more in three weeks with this than in months of vitamin C serums. The 0.5% retinol is strong, so I buffer it with moisturizer first, but the evening-out effect is honestly worth the initial flakiness.

This is the first retinol I've actually stuck with past a week, and the 0.5% strength is potent but manageable if I buffer with moisturizer. I'm three weeks in and the dark patches on my cheeks are definitely less stubborn, even if it's a slow game.