[Haul] Rating brightening serums I tried this year (sensitive, acne-prone skin)
Hi, I’ve been testing a few brightening serums this year for post-acne marks and wanted to share a quick breakdown.
Skin type: acne-prone, slightly sensitive, medium tone (PIH)
- Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
Rating: 6.5/10
Brightening when it works
Irritating and caused occasional breakouts
Irritation: high
Timeline: ~2–4 weeks (inconsistent)
- Niacinamide (5–10%)
Rating: 7.5/10
Very gentle, helps overall tone
Slow for dark spots
Irritation: none
Timeline: ~4–8 weeks
- Manyo Factory Glutathione Serum
Rating: 8.5/10
No irritation, easy to use daily
Skin tone looks more even over time
Results are gradual
Irritation: none
Timeline: ~3–6 weeks
This ended up being the easiest to stay consistent with and felt like a gentler alternative to vitamin C.
- Azelaic Acid (10%)
Rating: 8/10
Helps both acne and pigmentation
Slight dryness at first
Irritation: mild
Timeline: ~3–5 weeks
Overall:
Vitamin C = fastest but irritating
Niacinamide = safest but slow
Azelaic acid = most functional
Glutathione = most gentle and consistent
I do have some questions though:
What has worked best for your dark spots?
Has anyone combined glutathione with other actives?