If you're dealing with dark spots and hyperpigmentation, don't sit on these products.
In the beauty world, we sensitive-skinned individuals have a hard cross to bear. Forever relegated to using products that mollycoddle and baby our complexions, we're often unable to use ingredients that have been shown to improve certain skin issues for fear of triggering unwanted reactions.
This, at least, is my biggest issue.
I'd love to use a prescription retinoid for its myriad anti-aging benefits, or Vitamin C serum for its antioxidant and brightening capabilities, but my skin is just not happy when I do so. Instead, it rewards me with redness, irritation, and welts. So thus, I age. Not exactly graciously, but resigned to my fate.
While uneven texture and clogged pores are my main concerns, pigmentation has slowly inched its way up the list as I've grown older. I'm a brown woman, and pigmentation changes are a sign of aging in skin types like mine. I see mild grey shadows around my mouth and am reluctant to skip foundation in an attempt to cover them. It's not super apparent, but I've known for a while it's an issue I'll need to address soon -- if my skin will allow me to.
So, when I had the chance to try out a few products from the Dr. Idriss Major Fade line, available at Sephora, I hesitantly agreed: I knew I needed to act, but didn't anticipate a positive outcome.
SHOP THE DR. IDRISS MAJOR FADE LINE
The Dr. Idriss line of products is created by New York City dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD, who went viral for giving skincare advice while cozily lounging in bed (#pillowtalkderm). The hero SKUs are under the Major Fade umbrella, and are meant to target discoloration and uneven tone. Major Fade Hyper Serum, Major Fade Active Seal Vitamin C Moisturizer, and Major Fade Flash Mask are the three I tested for a six-week period. They're conveniently available in this trial-sized set, which served as my introduction to the trio.
The serum is loaded with alpha arbutin and kojic acid, gold star ingredients that help with uneven skin tone and dark spots. It also has niacinamide and glycerin for barrier support and hydration, plus an ingredient called diglucosyl gallic acid that helps with the appearance of discoloration and redness.
Glycerin-based, the moisturizer contains tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a relatively new form of Vitamin C that's gaining popularity for remaining stable and potent for longer periods of time. It's a trait that's lacking with ascorbic acid, the more traditional form of C. There are also discoloration and spot-fading ingredients called 4-butylresorcinol and brassica napus seedcake extract. The mask, with glycolic, lactic, and tranexamic acids, exfoliates and helps to reduce discoloration (sense a theme here?).
The line is obviously loaded with powerful dark spot correctors, but with all that potency in there, would my skin be collateral damage? The one thing that gave me faith is that the products are free of synthetic fragrances as well as essential oils, both notoriously irritating for sensitive skin like mine.
I decided to try the products, determined to stop at the first signs of irritation.
I started out gingerly one evening, applying the serum followed by the moisturizer on a clean face. I felt mild panic when a spicy tingling started a few seconds after application, but that settled down in a few minutes. On day two, I felt nothing, and was relieved that my testing could go on uninterrupted. I loved the light yet hydrating gel-like textures that went on without leaving a sticky residue.
I got into such a great rhythm with the Major Fade products that I incorporated them into my morning routine, successfully using both products twice a day, as instructed, with no irritation at all. The only time the serum didn't quite work for me was when I was traveling to India, where my skin is normally pretty irritated and red (I've yet to figure out why). I stopped using it altogether during my three-week stay, relying on the moisturizer alone, which worked great. And its light texture felt perfect for the high humidity there.
As for the mask, I introduced it much later in the game and have only used it a couple of times. It's worked great, with only a mild stinging on contact, revealing glowing skin 15 minutes later. I couldn't ask for more from an exfoliating mask -- it's a 10/10 for me.
SHOP THE DR. IDRISS MAJOR FADE LINE
There are three things that really stood out during my testing period:
My skin looked plump, hydrated, and energetic, for lack of a better word. Gone were the dullness and exhaustion I'd been seeing. The pigmentation still remains, but it's been visibly softened. I'm obviously inclined to give it more time, because it's already showing results while being gentle on my finicky skin.
Speaking of that, I can't overstate how rare it is for me to stick to a skincare routine-not because I'm lazy, but because I'm often forced to abandon a regimen because it doesn't play nice with my skin. I'm so glad that I've been able to see this through thus far and have no intention of quitting. In fact, a restock is in order -- a rare occurrence in my universe.
I'm never swayed by a product's external appearance, but I feel better knowing my skincare is packaged in a container that's appropriate for the ingredients. Experts have told me that jars and droppers are less ideal for volatile ingredients like Vitamin C because they let too much air in, degrading the compounds and rendering them useless.
There's no issue with that here: The serum comes in a refillable cartridge that you attach to the outer shell and click to let the product out. Each unit comes with two cartridges, so half the product is further protected from the elements until you crack it open. Refills are also available for purchase. The moisturizer is also in an airless pump jar, the top tier delivery system for this kind of product. No refills are available for this product yet -- fingers crossed for that.
Yes. The set -- at $55 -- is also an incredible value. Each of the individual products clock in at about a half ounce each -- the full sizes are around 1.7 ounces, except the serum at 0.96 ounces -- so it's a great way to test out the line to see if your skin responds well to the products first.
Then, if your budget allows, and you're struggling with stubborn hyperpigmentation, you may want to jump on this line -- especially if you have sensitive skin. Full size versions of all three products add up to about $200, so if you have to prioritize based on your budget, I'd go with the serum and moisturizer first, adding the mask if you're able.