20 Best Products To Even Skin Tone And Reduce Redness (Feb 2023 Update)

I was very reluctant to purchase this produce given the high price, but I’m so glad I did! I’ve never called a product a “holy grail” before, but I think this warrants it. I have very dry, sensitive skin with eczema. I also suspect I have rosacea because I have redness of my cheeks with acne over it and it gets worse when I touch it, drink alcohol, etc. (although not yet diagnosed). I used this product the first evening I bought it over The Ordinary’s hyaluronic acid serum (which is a staple product for me) and when I woke up the next morning, my skin was DRASTICALLY less red and the acne on my cheeks was mostly cleared up. I’ve never used a product with such immediate results before. I’ve been using the product for a couple of weeks now twice per day and my redness, although not completely gone, is sooo much better than before and my skin is acne free and very moisturized. I LOVE this product. The only downsides are that it sometimes pills on my skin, and although I haven’t yet tried wearing it under makeup, I suspect that it would not look good under foundation. It also leaves my skin looking a bit oily/shinny on my forehead and nose (where I am a little oily naturally), but I’ll take that over red, dry, and acne filled any day. That being said, my skin looks so great, that I don’t feel like I need to wear makeup, other than Smashbox’s color correcting primer (the green one) that takes care of any residual redness on my cheeks and eczema break outs (or whatever is left of them after using this cream). I’ve used other redness reducing products from Leneige (Cica sleeping mask) and La Roshe-Posey (rosalaic serum) that did nothing for my redness. I’m very happy with this product and surprised because I’m not really a big fan of Clinique, but I may need to try some of their other redness reducing products after trying this one. I highly recommend for anyone with sensitive, dry, red skin.MsAllyH

Never thought I'd write a bad review about Clinique but here I am. Was hoping this product would neutralize the redness under my foundation. Trying to blend it onto my face is a disaster. It doesn't absorb, it just sits like paste. It doesn't dab, you must wipe your fingers across the area you're covering. But it leaves these little crumbs of green clay-like particles. By the time you finish getting the crumbs off, you've basically wiped the product off. And your makeup looks very very matte.LyndaArizona

I’ve always been prone to redness due to having sensitive skin. I tried many different specialty moisturizers for help, including Manuka honey creams etc. I felt like they made my skin worse… Anyway, I was getting desperate for a solution. In my endless search for a cure, I recently tried Clinique Redness Solutions moisturizer. This is when I noticed big improvements in my skin in literally one day! Amazing product. The best.M.R.

I've suffered from a mild form of hormonal acne for 15 years and I've had both major and minor breakouts which caused hyperpigmentation and (fortunately) very few scars. My skin texture has improved significantly after only one month of use and the red and dark spots are slowly starting to fade out. I break out A LOT less and the small pimples that actually come out look way less inflamed and swollen than before; they usually dry out in 24/36 hours. My skin overall feels more hydrated and softer. I use it both at night and in the morning (when I'm not going out since it can make your skin more sensitive to light) and in addition to C2 and M3. It's really made a huge difference for me: I feel more confident and less self-conscious about my acne and for the first time in years I feel that there's hope for my skin to recover. I'll use this forever!Claudia

Summary: Used a WHOLE bottle of this serum and my skin looked its best ever! So, Im 30 year old skin of colour person. I have very dry sensitive acne prone dull skin so its very tricky to find a suitable product and NEVER has a product worked well for me. While i was using this serum i had a natural glow, my blemishes all disappeared and texture was a LOT better. Ever since i finished every drop of this serum in the bottle none of my blemish came back! Its been over a month ( almost two months) since i finished the bottle due to busy routine i couldn't reorder so my pigmentation is reappearing and texture is again getting a bit rought however i still have zero new blemish! P.s: i used this product in conjuction with clarifying cleanser. However i applied this a lot more regularly than the cleanser.Asna

About to buy my second bottle. This is a great and very gentle product. It really does help my combination acne/breakout-prone skin. I especially notice the difference when I have to wear face masks for 12h a day. I apply a few drops (less is more) in the evening every other day followed by a basic moisturiser (I use tretinoin on alternate days) and can really tell the soothing and calming effect it has on my skin, in addition to preventing and/or treating existing breakouts). I also have the 15% azeleic acid serum which is great but found that this one works just as well (you don’t always have to go for higher concentration, lower % can work just fine). Great product and I would really struggle to find an alternative for it that combines all those ingredients and delivers the result this serum does for this price. 10/10Sofia

Works quickly and gently on my stubborn, years old dark spots and hyperpigmentation that I haven't been able to get off with lactic acid, mandelic acid, or glycolic acid. I'm black with extremely sensitive, hyper-pigmentation prone skin with years of hyperpigmentation that I haven't been able to remove with other products. This is fading acne-related spots from over a decade ago and I'm able to see results overnight. It's so expensive that I wouldn't have tried it if I didn't get a free sample first. I was really shocked at how well it works, considering the lower rating. I can literally see a visible difference overnight or by the end of the day when I apply it in the morning. The one drawback is that the formula is packed with silicone. There's way too much in it. When I apply it straight, I can end up just rolling the silicone off. That's fine but I have to thin the serum down with milky essences when applying during the day – even then it's easy for it to pill. I'll still give it five stars just because of how amazingly fast it works on old super dark spots and how gentle it is. I haven't been able to get rid of my dark spots, partially because my skin is too sensitive to use lactic or glycolic acids at high concentrations and is already very sun sensitive on its own. I'm combining it with alpha arbutin and niacinamide from the ordinary and tranexamic acid from the Inkey list and it's working even faster. This serum does all the heavy lifting while the others help boost my overall skin's appearance. It's my most expensive skincare product even though I bought it on one of the 30% off sales, but I don't mind paying that price. My hyperpigmentation right now is lighter than it used to look after I would cover it up with concealer and foundation and still have some showing through. Plus zero rashes or sensitivity. Love it. I have the full size and will probably repurchase after it's done just so I can keep it around. My skin is already almost clear.K

I have sun spots/hyperpigmentation that began about 6 years ago with a quarter-sized spot on my forehead, but has now spread to both cheeks and above my lips, with dark splotches that create a mustache-like shadow. I started using this product 2x daily, once in the morning and once at night, after cleansing and before applying my moisturizer and it took around 3 months to finish the bottle (I bought the largest size). One con is that my skin feels very slick after I used the product, like I've used a silicone-based primer. But! I would rather deal with a strange-feeling product that mustache-looking hyperpigmentation so I pressed on. I didn't notice any difference with the hyperpigmentation for about the first month, but after that I began noticing a big difference on my cheeks as the large splotches started looking as though they were "breaking apart"… they were actually shrinking quite a lot. By the end of the second month, the change was dramatic and even moreso by the time I finished the bottle – my apples of cheeks matched the rest of my skin tone for the first time in years. Coincidentally, I finished the bottle on the same day we finally had nice sunny weather and I spent several hours outside working on our backyard renovation. Even though I used 50+ SPF sunscreen that said it was formulated specifically for people with hyperpigmentation, by the end of the day two splotches on each cheek had noticeably, dramatically darkened. I did some reading and learned that those of us with melisma/hyperpigmentation/sun spots need to use a mineral barrier sunscreen rather than a chemical barrier sunscreen, especially when using products that are working to fade the hyperpigmentation. Apparently the chemical-barrier formulas can react with other products and create more pigmentation. Lesson learned! I'm going to get a second bottle of this and pair with a mineral barrier sunscreen and a brimmed hat the next time I'm in the sun. I've felt increasingly insecure about my blotchy skin tone and don't want to undo the progress this product has made.Christina

I thought I was going to love this product based on its reviews, but I have multiple issues with it. First of all (and this could possibly be my application, which would have been better if this product had a pump and wasn’t just in a jar!) but it was very thick and unnatural looking and didn’t even cover up all of my redness. I’ve had better results covering up my redness with regular foundations and even the glossier skin tint. Second, it made my imperfections even more pronounced. Hello, ginormous pores! Third, the container itself is very small and it’s literally just a jar. It should at the very least have a pump for easier and cleaner application, because the way it is right now makes it messy and annoying. Lastly, I bought this product because it was uniquely advertised as a natural not-foundation that’s even somewhat of a skincare product with its benefits for redness. However, this product turned out to be a cakey unnatural foundation that does not really cover up redness. Many people still seem to like it which boggles my mind. I will be returning this and sticking to my regular foundation which addresses my concerns much better.kylieskin

Years ago when I was working for Ulta, a very nice IT Cosmetics rep came in for the afternoon to share brand and product education. This was one of the products she shared her knowledge about. She also left me with a very nice variety of products to try first hand, and this little magic pot was part of the gratis. Now, I don't have rosacea or particularly red skin, but what I do have is sun damage and discoloration from a life-long love affair with the sun (start wearing spf early guys and gals!) This stuff REALLY helps cover and color correct and plays well with other products. I'll never be with out it. I don't work for Ulta anymore (there's none close by), but I sold a ton of IT Cosmetics when I did, because they really are great products that work well for many. My only complaint is shade inclusivity. Expand your shade ranges, IT Cosmetics, so that everyone may experience your products!Jculli

So disappointed with this product. I suffer with perioral dermatitis, and was excited when I found this product as it claims to correct redness on the skin. First, this is a very expensive product, and the jar is minuscule. They claim that you only need a tiny amount to cover redness, however I found myself having to apply multiple layers to cover redness and even still, it wasn’t completely gone. I also found it was pretty drying, and due to having applied multiple layers to try and conceal the redness, my skin appeared cakey. Lastly, the colour is way off. I purchased “transforming porcelain beige” however there’s nothing porcelain about it. Super orange.gabbyduu

After exfoliating I followed up with this product to alleviate redness and irritation. It did a fair job, but not any better than rose hip oil. I took a chance on this product because this product was provided at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review. It is not bad, I just did not find it to be great. I have not been as faithful with the twice a day because the product needs to be refrigerated. I had not realized how inconvenient this aspect would be. I will continue use this product. It does sooth, but I'm sure being refrigerated and cool helps.audrey.c

I personally think this is an amazing product. I have super sensitive, fair, pale skin. And like a true Irish person, my skin gets red pretty easily for any reason. I had gotten fed up with this and turned to Amazon for redness solutions. This was Amazon's suggested product, and it had an overwhelming amount of people saying that this was the only thing that ever worked for them. I was still skeptical, but decided to try it especially since I had some free Amazon credit. I've been using it for about a month and LOVE IT. Your skin will instantly feel tighter upon application, and it has reduced my redness at least by 80%. Even at times of the day when my skin would normally get red, I'll look in the mirror and it looks totally fine. As long as I keep getting redness I will keep buying this!lb.o

I have used Dernaced Redness Redux for2 or 3 years now. When I do not use this I have lots worse skin problems. Over time I discovered that anywhere I have pain or inflamation it helps to dab a little Dermaced on it. I buy the 3 pack now and try not to run out.greatoberetired

Incredible cream for oily/combination skin. This cream truly brightens my complexion and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth and hydrated. It’s lightweight and perfect alone or worn under makeup. I have worn it at night and find my skin looks and feels visibly bright, plump and radiant. The packaging is also very convenient, needing only a micro turn to open and close the lid, making the application seem even more luxurious! Paired with the vinoperfect serum, my skin has experience brightening results that no Vitamin C has ever achieved for me! Trust the Harvard science – this stuff works!calegordon1992

Wonderful moisturizer!!! I am lucky to have received this as a #freeproduct complimentary from Caudalie via TopBox. It is especially great when paired with the Caudalie Vinoperfect Anti Dark Spot Serum. I saw great results after my first month of pairing the serum + moisturizer once daily. I found this moisturizer to be pretty thick – or at least a little goes a long way. I have dry skin so I need a lot of moisturization day and night. I did have one issue- my favorite mineral SPF does not get along with this product. Regardless of how long I wait to layer my products, everything balls up and I don’t feel like I’m getting the benefits from this moisturizer or necessary sun protection from my SPF. I like this moisturizer for nighttime use when I’m not using the Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Overnight Cream. #trywithtopboxallisonmeow

Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer is a phenomenal moisturizer with many skin care benefits! Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer is a lightweight, whipped textured cream that applies smoothly, evenly, and absorbs quickly. Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer has done amazing things for my skin and complexion; I have discoloration as well as problematic dark under eye circles in which Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer has helped to diminish and fade. I have incorporated Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer into my morning and night skin care routine; using after my serum application and my end results are more than pleasing. Caudalie Vinoperfect feels silky smooth on skin with a relaxing and nourishing feel. I love that it not only brightens but also hydrates skin making Caudalie Vinoperfect a versatile beauty product. I recommend to beauty conscious women of all ages and all skin types. I recommend Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer for all who are seeking a dewy and healthy skin care glow. I will continue to use Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer as part of my everyday skin care regimen.christy.s

I RECEIVED THIS PRODUCT FREE FROM TOWER 28 BEAUTY. I will say, I was super excited to have received a full-size bottle to sample because I was hemming and hawing about whether to purchase or not. It came in time for the Sephora-sponsored Tower 28 Beauty digital event on May 24, so I was able to learn more. I used an entire bottle now (used it up in a month), and I really tried to give this a fair chance as I am a fan of Tower 28 Beauty and will never go without the S.O.S Daily Facial Spray. This serum, however similar it is to the S.O.S Daily Facial Spray, actually brought out the flaws in my skin that the daily S.O.S worked hard in calming down! I had more breakouts and more texture issues than I ever had since I started my routine incorporating the S.O.S Daily Facial Spray (took over a year to find the right morning and evening routine that helps my skin). I changed nothing in my routine nor changed any of the products I've used and yet with this serum, not only did my face breakout more, but also, my Tower 28 Sunny Days pilled. I rated this 2/5 stars for effort — I do like the texture of the serum and, of course, hypochlorous acid. I do recommend this product even though it didn't work for me, just because of the brand and it being having the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.chingona

I love Tower 28 so I really wanted to love this product but this just didn’t work for my skin. I have extremely sensitive, acne-prone, combination skin. When I first applied the product, I was surprised that it was so watery. It felt nice on my skin but as I used it throughout the 7 days, I found that each day, it made skin more and more irritated. My skin felt tight and very itchy. The chlorine smell was also off putting, but I appreciate that this product did not contain strong added scents to it. I continued to use the product despite the irritation but found no major improvement in my skin after the 7 days. Once I stopped using this product, the irritation stopped so I’m assuming an ingredient in this product just didn’t sit right with my skin. This was gifted by Tower 28 Beauty.hana1227

I was gifted by Tower 28 Beauty for my honest opinions. This serum is definitely not like any others… for all the iffy reasons. I was so excited to try out this serum that would heal and protect my skin and I couldn’t get past the scent of this serum. I was able to use this up for a week until I said “no more”. This scent is so unique for the wrong reason. Once poured into hand a heavy scent of rain jungle water just goes right up your nose and the second you apply this serum it smells like a pool that’s been left out in the winter and spring. It’s not the best scent. With very little ingredients I can tell most ingredients are water based and I don’t know if I got a bad one or what but I cannot stand the smell. Second, the spritz on this bottle has got to be one of the worst things in the world. It sprays out like a water gun and it gets everywhere so I suggest not applying it straight to the face. This application bottle is not the best of something like and would have liked to see a pump as the consistency is a watery-gel. It applies just like water and absorbs like water AND SMELLS like rain water. I will have to check out of this product and give it to someone who will enjoy it more than I did.Pahua

I have extremely sensitive skin prone to redness. And on top of that it’s nearly impossible to find a foundation that matches my skin tone. This product cancels out the redness and eliminates the need for foundation. I just use some Hourglass Ambient powder over it for a bit of shimmer. This photo is in natural light and to me is undetectable! Just looks like healthy skin which is my goal. I bought this direct from Colorscience initially but I’m happy to see Nordstrom has it for future. Best advice is less is more with this. I use on moisturized skin, after Tula Brighten Up Primer. Pump a tiny amount on the back of one hand and then dab onto face with finger and buff in with damp Beauty Blender sponge. Hope you love as much as I do!aj_mpls

My dermatologist recommended this as she is a rosacea sufferer as well. What an incredible product for calming the redness associated with rosacea. Easy to apply and it does not wear off. The high SPF is an added bonus. I have been using it for a few weeks and I will never be without it. I would prefer a different delivery for the product. It will be difficult to determine when the cylinder is almost empty. Thank you, Colorscience, for creating this amazing corrector.Suzanne S.

I’ve had rosacea since my 30’s~not many products I haven’t tried but this one does hide the redness. Doesn’t calm the rosacea if that’s what you’re looking for and it does not wear well with foundation. I’ve tried several different foundations and it separates after a couple of hours of wearing~strange actually. I have mature skin and it dries my skin out. I don’t like any product with 50 sunscreen for whatever reason they absorb the moisture~doesn’t exactly dry your skin. Hope this was helpful. I use a lot of colorscience products. I wasn’t trying to wear it with other brands. Not my favorite product of theirs.A. P.

This product is AMAZING, BUT there is a caveat. Often times when I buy this product it seems spoiled, like how vitamin C can go bad if not kept correctly. The product should be a light orangey color, but when it's gone off it's a darker orange. I've used this for years and return it before I even walk out of the store most times because I know to check to see if it is bad/old/whatever is going on with it. If you do get a good bottle, you'll be writing a great review, trust me. But if I got my first bottle or two and it was sticky and smelled odd, and didn't do what others claimed it would, of course I would be skeptical too. 75% of the bottles I buy, whether Sephora or Ulta, are always bad. Why keep buying it? Because the good product is life changing and everyone notices how great my skin looks. So buyer beware, but also this product can be amazing. Hopefully this helps!Deanna13i

This is one of those products that you didn't know you needed until you try it. This is a very high quality serum that I received a sample of. My skin is mature with fine lines, very dry, and prone to acne breakouts. As instructed I placed three or four drops in my hand and applied it to my face. It easily spread over my skin and my skin absorbed it quickly and it left it feeling extremely smooth It even looked better after the first application. So far I really love what I'm seeing with this product. I applied a light nighttime moisturizer afterwards so far I have not broken out and my skin already looks a lot better. I am someone who takes care of their skin or at least I thought I was but this product may be something that I will add to my regimen. It contains some wonderful anti-aging properties such as vitamin c and retinol. I will continue to use it until I deplete the sample and then I will update this review. #faceserum #antiaging #skincarejackie.c

I got this sample of Multi-Action Super-C Retinol Brighten and Correct Vitamin C Serum from @strivectin months ago I've been using it for over a couple of months, so now it's time to give my honest opinion. I'm usually incredibly sensitive to Retinol, so I was hesitant about trying this at first. It's actually very, very gentle. Idk the % of Retinol, but I did start off slowly. I used it 2X a week, then built up to 3-4X a week. I do feel a slight warming sensation after applying it, but it does go away after about 5 min or less. The serum has a strong scent to it, like a strong citrus type scent, but it does go away after about 2 mins. It's a thick, orange serum that will feel tacky at first, but it does absorb into your skin. I put on toner first, then this serum, then a thick, moisturizing cream to keep my skin calm. I have noticed a more even texture to my skin my skin just looks overall more healthy than it did before. I have quite a bit of serum left (you only need a drop or 2), so if any changes happen, I'll update. Note: I had absolutely NO purging, dryness or redness when using this serum. If you're not used to Retinol, start off slowly. 1-2X a week, then work your way up. Thank you @strivectin for this opportunity to try this amazing serum! #strivectin #strivectinskincare #skincare #retinol #retinolserum #vitaminc #vitamincserum #gentle #nonirritating #gentleskincare #gentleretinol #serum #brighteningserum #brighteningstacey.m

Bought this for my acne hyperpigmentation after seeing all the great reviews. I have hormonal acne which usually means that I break out on a monthly based around that time of the month. However, I got prescribed medication for this earlier this year and I barely every break out anymore. So I introduced this serum into my skincare now that it's clearer to start working on those marks. I first tried this for about 3 weeks and was breaking out constantly so I gave it a break and thought maybe it's another serum I started around the same time. So I waited a month to try this again and I put some twice in a row at night only and woke up with crazy acne. I literally take medication that internally controls my acne so I knew what I had used externally was the problem. Not sure what it is with the serum but it was the culprit of my random breakouts. I wish it had worked for me but I couldn't try it long enough, I don't have the time to deal with bumps right now and don't really want new scarring either.Nicolep

This is an update to my review in August. My first bottle was purchased in June of 2021. I had EXTREMELY bad hyperpigmentation. When I used the combo of the Niacinamide toner and this serum, in 6-8 weeks, my skin was completely cleared up. After the serum was gone, I used the toner a few times a week, because it was all I needed with my clear skin. I’m a picker when I’m under stress, so I purchased another set last month and I knew after a few weeks, something was definitely different. The results weren’t the same. I know this formula has changed. I’m sure you don’t care, but this was the first serum that I found that worked for African American dark skin. Reading some of the reviews, I’m quite sure that you don’t listen to your customers, as I see plenty have stated that they’ve experienced minimal results and you haven’t changed it back to the original formula. Although the claim by the company is that you’ve improved the formula, you didn’t. Sometimes, stronger isn’t better, especially when there’s a breakdown in the quality of this new formulation. I won’t be purchasing anymore of your products.Traci S.

This has been one of the best serums I have ever used on my skin!! I have a history of horrific acne, and as it’s been clearing up, this has been a game changer for my routine. With consistent use, I see results within weeks, and this is coming from someone who has tried EVERYTHING. I dermarolled, got frequency facials, changed my diet, took tons of supplements, natural facials, all kinds of chemical facials, and have used countless products for treating my acne and the hyperpigmentation scars left behind, and nothing has worked as well as this has for me. If you’re hesitant, just give it a try (and give it time to work)! Acne is so frustrating already, and even worse what it leaves behind, so be patient, show your skin some TLC, cut down on the number of products you use and just focus on the basics. I saw the biggest changes in my skin when I did this. My best routine is using a cleansing face wash like Vanicream (with no actives like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide), a simple hydrating serum like Hyaluronic acid or moisturizer (no actives) and adding the serum on top or a product with actives to target the problems. Of course, everything works differently for everyone, but I hope this does wonders for you too <3Emily S.

I’ve had this for a while now and I’m not 100% sold on it as a primer but I have found it’s an easy alternative to foundation for those lazy days. I have found that it doesn’t sit too well under my foundation (Ilia – Super Serum Skin Tint) which was what I had purchased it for, so in some ways I’m a bit disappointed but with that being said I do like having it around to quickly apply on days when I want to look cute but cbf putting on a full face. So it’s kind of a ‘when one door closes’ situation. I think that the colour correction does work but I wouldn’t say that it magically fixes my skin tone. It definitely helps but it isn’t enough to mask intense facial redness in my cheeks and I still put some concealer under my eyes to brighten. It doesn’t hide the problem but it does make it look lot better. I will note that I have very fair skin and I did show this to my partner with very tan skin and a small amount on the back of their hand made their skin look really ashy, like I had slathered them in zinc. I think it was maybe the green tones that just really stood out on them. For my skin I find that it blends in quite well with my complexion but if someone who didn’t have fair skin asked me if I’d recommend it, I’d definitely to say no. In general though, this product works for me. I don’t use it religiously but I’m glad I have it and I’d probably buy it again.Chandlerrs

This didn't do hardly any color correcting for redness. I felt nice going on my face but I realized that somehow, my foundation was breaking down about 2-4 hours after wear. I thought it was my foundation but the same thing has been happening with every foundation, bb/cc cream, tinted moisturizer that I have tried over this primer. I gave myself a hydration mask treatment that replenished my skin and then tried the primer again with a foundation. Nope. Dried up and broke down after 2-4 hours so I suspect this is the primer not working. I give up on this and will not be purchasing it again.JLR1984

I recently purchased this before our baby arrived, knowing I’d be wearing less makeup for a while so I wanted to get something that just elevated my skin and smoothed out its appearance, especially as I enter newborn territory again with lack of sleep. Well this does exactly that, just as all the other reviews state!! It looks like I’ve applied a filter over my face! I love it! It’s now become part of my daily morning skin routine, I apply after moisturiser. Can’t comment yet on how the product works under makeup.Nic N

Before using this I read dozens of reviews of this product, mostly positive, and many of them with tips on how to use this treatment properly to get the most out of it. I felt I was ready to use it, and was excited by the positive reviews. Before using this product, my skin was balanced, breakout free, but of course, red at times throughout the day (mostly in the morning). After a couple uses, I noticed my skin was looking dull- and I could feel a difference when I washed my face. Prior to use, my skin was relatively unclogged (except occasionally during my period). But now I could feel bumps and noticed that there were large clogged pores around my chin, neck, forehead, and cheeks. They were huge- it was something I'd never experienced before. The product felt heavy and sticky. My skin became very oily and the only way to describe how it looked to me, was that it looked sick. It also felt overly difficult to remove. The color looked artificial and mannequin-like, Many of the reviews recommended various tricks for makeup application over it, but I honestly never even got that far, so I can't say what it would have been like with makeup. From strictly a skincare perspective, after using this for several days without any makeup, my skin went into flux, became unbalanced, and I developed large clogged pores. After I stopped using this product, it took almost 2 weeks to reverse the damage my skin sustained from using it. This is my first negative review of any product on Sephora- but I had such a bad experience, I thought I should chronicle it. I think this product is the holy grail for many people, but if you have skin like, mine, it might not be the best product for you.LucyMunson

My skin is rather sensitive and oily. I also have mild rosacea, which is officially diagnosed. A couple of years ago I managed to get it under control with the help of azelaic acid products and being very careful with what I apply on my face. Now I can afford some active components such as acids and retinol, but I prefer them as the night routine. For the day I would like to have something very simple but soothing, so that I don’t get scared when I accidentally see myself in the mirror. I work from home and don’t wear makeup usually. I also know, that centella asiatica is good for rosacea prone skin and products with this component have been recommended to me by a dermatologist. So, with all this in mind, I just had to try this cream. And I both love and hate it. I have been using this cream for about a month and I came to the conclusion that it is a purely treatment product. As treatment for my sensitive skin, it didn’t disappoint me. It really helps to tame the redness, and with time the condition of the skin becomes better, the redness gradually disappears and the skin becomes more soothed. I also like the coverage effect, which stays on my skin for about 4-5 hours. After that the color starts to migrate all over my face and I can sometimes see stripes of pigment on my forehead. But it is tolerable. I don’t think that it does anything good apart from that. I absolutely hate what it does to my pores, they are all visible and clogged. The description says that it is a good make up base. No, it’s not. Its structure is too thick and it is impossible to blend any foundation on top of it. And after a few hours the foundation starts migrating all over the face together with the cream pigment. The cream is not easy to apply, it spreads in a very difficult way, I wish it was a bit more watery. Apart from all this, I recently bought a full sized product after finishing off my sample. And I think I will keep using it for a long time until I accidentally find something better. It is extremely difficult for people with such skin condition as mine to find something that really treats the skin without being totally unbearable to use or costing a godzillion pounds. This cream for me is treatment and it helps me cover my faults for the time while I still care, and it’s not that expensive. Maybe I will eventually get used to all its faults. So, highly recommended for those with rosacea. Others – at your own risk.Hanna K

For reference, I am in my mid 40s, have normal to combo skin on summer and normal to dry in winter and have wrinkles, enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation and texture of all sorts. I don’t have redness but my husband does and this products works wonders to tone it down. And it works for me as well. I really like it! PROS – Color correcting properties: I don’t have redness but my husband does and this product really tones it down. – It has a green undertone but turns beige upon application, for a better match with the skin (I don’t think that it will work on all skin tones though…) – Good ingredients: it offers skincare ingredients that help with sensitivity. – Good SPF properties: it has good protection level if applied liberally. – It leaves a beautiful glow on the skin not feeling greasy. – It works perfectly on top of my skincare and under my foundations. – Mineral sunscreen: I prefer it over the chemical options because I can apply it over my lids without irritating my eyes. CONS – It is a little pricey but you also get quite a good amount of product. – It takes some time for the product to get absorbed and set, so you have to be patient massaging it. – It will probably look quite ghostly on darker skin tones. I am sharing my honest and authentic opinion as a Sephora Beauty Insider Community AmbassadorSaradestin

I bought this repair, the cleanser, the acne oil free wash, the soap, instant tone corrector and the moisturizer for combination skin. I honestly regret putting my faith in neutrogena. The cleanser doesn't really cleanse at all; the soap tightens your skin and is a harsh, when I first used it, it felt like I had applied lemon on my face; the combination moisturizer is supposed to moisturize dry parts of your skin and remove shine in oily areas but it doesn't do that kinda magic, it left my skin dry and flaky; maybe i did not use the repair long enough for it to repair but it did not moisturize my skin at all so I couldn't use it; the instant tone corrector I did not like it when I used it I had to wash my face again. I am so disappointed I thought all other products were going to work like the blackhead eliminating, it removed my black heads just like it said it would but all the other products I tried, I regret spending on them. If you have sensitive, combination skin please stay away from these products. You don't want to spend money on something that you will just put in bag and hide somewhere so that your heart doesn't break every time you look at it. I wish I could return the products but i no longer have the receipts.Auline

I have extremely pale skin, so any discoloration on my skin is wicked noticeable. I needed a new nighttime moisturizer, I didn't really know what I wanted when I walked into the store, but when I saw this product I was weirdly drawn to it. I say weirdly because there's literally nothing overly exciting or eye catching about the packaging. Anywho, I read the packaging and it claims you'll notice a difference within weeks. I noticed a difference working one week. I have really vibrant circles under my eyes, like distinct blue/indigo/purple, and the redness in my face is diminishing as well. Nothing in my diet and sleeping pattern has changed; being a college student I'm up till 1 and get up at 7 for work. My only problem is that i know it absorbs but it doesn't do it very quickly, and I still wake up with a semi greasy face; and I don't have that normally. Otherwise fabulous productCj

I have been using the Rapid Tone Night Moisturizer for about a month. I added it to my existing Neutragena routine. I am 47, have oily skin, and some acne scarring, large pores, and fight occasional breakouts. Now my skin is clearer, brighter, more even, and even glowing! And I haven't had any breakouts since using this. Please don't ever stop making this! I have tried many products to finally find this and I am just so thankfu! I wash with the Neutragena foaming cleanser, follow with Stress Control acne toner, use the Rapid Repair Wrinkle Serum and follow up with this moisturizer at night. I have found the perfect combination and my skin has never looked better! In the mornings I use the foaming cleanser, toner, and Neutragena Rapid Clear acne lotion. It works great as a primer and an oil free moisturizer for my skin! I don't normally write reviews but I am having such great results, I felt I needed to share. Love Neutragena products!1HappyMimi

I've been plagued by sensitive/reactive/difficult skin for most of my adult life and received diagnoses that range from acne through peri-oral dermatitis to, most recently, rosacea. Even dermtologists don't seem to be sure what the problem is. Al I can definitely say is that azealic acid is great at calming things down. It's not miraculous: it has taken more than six months' of usage for me to see a marked improvement but, in my opinion, it works to reduce inflammation, smooth texture and even pigmentation. I apply it (generously) only at night because it is just one layer too many during the daytime, under sun protection cream and foundation. It may have a quicker effect for those who use for an entire 24 hours. For reference, I can't tolerate any form I've so far tried of retinolid but the azealic acid has never irritated my skin.. I use it in combination with niacinimide on spot-prone areas. A month agao I stopped taking the long term antibiotic I was prescribed for its anti-inflammatory rather than anti-microbial effect because it never worked very consistently or well on its own, and because I was worried about the side effects. The positive results from the azaelic acid have given me the confidence to bin the pills and – so far – my face is doing fine.Jeremiad

This has been a life saver while pregnant. I haven't had much acne in my life but when I got pregnant it seemed to flare up worse than ever. A lot of the other products I would use for other skincare concerns or sporadic acne I was unable to use while pregnant. I first bought the smaller size which is only 10 dollars then the large size for 20. It does not get any better than that. The large tube has lasted me two months so far and still has a ton left in it. I definitely can't use this product alone because it can go on a little dry., I do have dryer skin though. The ordinary always delivers with the bests price and quality products that work. I love how the products are simple, no fragarance and takes most of the guessing out of the equation. Sometimes the brand can be confusing when knowing what products to buy or mix but this is a product that can mix with pretty much everything if not everything (I don't know of anything it does not layer well with. It definitely has helped my acne and gotten rid of dark spots faster. Definitely, definitely recommend. It is absolutely worth trying and I will continue to buy even after pregnancy.taylor.n

As a preface, I'm trying to cut out actives from my routine that are for proactive prevention, and am substituting those for actives that address problems I currently have with my skin as my skin is sensitive. I bought this and used it every day for a week when I started breaking out on my forehead, chin, and cheeks. Most of my acne is on my cheeks, but breaking out on my forehead and chin was new so I knew it was because of this product. I really want to love this since I know azelaic acid is good for both active acne and acne scars. I followed the instructions on the box and applied this after serums and before moisturizers. The only other active I use at the moment is niacinamide (and propolis, not sure if that counts as an active ingredient), see my routine below for more details. Any tips or suggestions from fellow acne-prone/sensitive skin people would be greatly appreciated! My routine ATM- Gel-based face wash Hydrating toner Serum with propolis and niacinamide (Would put this suspension here when I used it) Moisturizer. On occasion I also do sheet masks, the only actives would be ceramides or hyaluronic acid.Sunny

I ABSOLUTELY loved this cooling, calming cream! I keep it in my cosmetics fridge to cool , so that it works doubly to soothe and calm skin. I have Combo skin that is very sensitive and fair and tends toward ruddiness. I use this at night with The Ordinary's Niacinamide and Hylauronic Acid for an overnight cocktail to sooth skin and wake up to even, soothed skin. I also avoid overly hot or very warm water on my face. You can also use it as a makeup primer to even out your skintone, although not sure if it helps makeup stay on all day. Unless you have dry skin, probably not. Anyway, I would give this five out of five stars for doing what it says it does and not breaking out or upsetting my skin. A winner!Georgine

Overall, I really like this product and do think it helps my redness. I had been using azelaic acid for about a year and then added phytocorrective gel in the AM and redness neutralizer in the PM. It has helped tone down the rest of the redness and sensitivity I had remaining. I did find that the redness neutralizer does not layer well with other products. So I did have some trial and error to find things it plays well with. I also found it difficult to pump the product out of the container. It is quite thick and when the bottle had only 1/2-1/4 left it was nearly impossible to get out. I did repurchase the product but do hope that the packaging changes in the future. Maybe an airless pump would work better.LoganC

Bought this on a whim. Have used for several weeks, and I've noticed a difference in the redness of my décolleté and face. I use this with SkinCeuticals vitamin ce & ferulic. I have sensitive skin that turns red if I even think about going in the sun, or scratching an itch on my neck. I've been applying after my serum and before my moisturizer and sunscreen. In general my skin feels and looks calmer.Anya

This is certainly overpriced for what it is, but it’s worth it if you wait for a sale. There are cheaper OTC azelaic acid products but they just aren’t formulated as nicely as this. Every once in a while, I’ll find a little granule in this cream, but it’s otherwise quite smooth and emollient. I would caution that it’s easy to overapply because of how creamy and lovely it feels. I have very sensitive and dry skin, and this doesn’t dry me out! My skin does flush sometimes after application. I find the flushing is worse if I go right in with an occlusive layer on top — perhaps the occlusive layer traps a bit of heat? I apply this at night after lightweight essence or serum, then I wait a half hour or so. Then I follow up with a richer cream to lock it all in. Works beautifully for me! Time will tell if it helps with hyperpigmentation, but so far no adverse reactions.Christa

If you have Rosacea pustules constantly – GET THIS! I have been struggling with my skin for so long and the last few months have been unbearable – so much so – I gave in and went back to a Dermatologist, which in the past never seemed to help and only make matter worse. I am 44, sales professional that travels for work at least 1 week a month for face to face events. I couldn't take it anymore of trying to hide or have my confidence shot because of my skin. After numerous prescriptions, pills and topicals I was desperate to find cure. I kept getting treated for ACNE even though it was clear the rosacea was reactive and causing pustules. Did my research and purchased a travel size of this. OMG I saw a difference after the first night but had to give a few days before I really jumped for joy. This healed my face within 3 days! Even began to lighten previous marks AND a small burn mark I had pigmentation from a curling iron mishap. After day 4, I immediately came back and purchased a full tube. THANK YOU for saving my skin, sanity and confidence!Mellowjade

I have normal/combo skin that's prone to breakouts so because of that I have several dark spots from previous breakouts as well as some dullness, fine lines and enlarged pores. I was pleasantly surprised by the texture of the product as it is a nice thick cream that spreads over skin in a silky smooth layer. It makes it really nice for using on its own as well as mixed with moisturizer. I've used this both ways depending on which skincare products I'm using for the day and I've found it to work well regardless of how I choose to apply it. There's no discernible scent and despite being quite thick it doesn't go on heavy. After two weeks on consistent use most of my dark spots have faded to the point that they're not very noticeable and my texture has evened out considerably. The enlarged pores on my cheeks have appeared smaller and less clogged looking. My skin definitely looks like it has more clarity and a glow. The versatility of this product is awesome and I found it didn't aggravate my skin at all either.ItsLP

You will see a difference in one night. This stuff is powerful. So powerful I can only use it every other night while I use a more gentle hydrating moisturizer on the off nights. I have extremely sensitive skin and initially gave up on this because of the burning, but that was before I realized that EVERY tone correcting or Vitamin C product burned my face off, even the high end stuff. Determined to get rid of my sunspots anyway, I have found work-arounds to use these products and get the advantages out of them without the suffering. Mostly by trading off every other night or even doing just a couple of nights a week. Sensitive skin folks, beware. You cannot use this nightly. But the good news is that you will still see amazing results! Start at twice a week and build up if you can. It's worth it.Kewpieghost

I was super excited to receive this voxbox. I love being able to try new things and have repurchased almost everything that I have ever gotten in one. Lotions always make me nervous because my skin likes to get very, very angry. I take this reviewing business very serious, so I stopped using all of my other moisturizers/serums and used only this for a week, along with the accompanying serum (which I also ended up loving!). I wanted to see how my skin would react to just these things. First, no breakout. Even when something does end up going well, I usually have a few small pimples pop up until my skin gets used to it. The preexisting spots that I had seemed to heal faster than normal upon beginning this skincare routine. You can feel the very slight vitamin c sting, which I love. Note: sting, it doesn’t hurt or anything. It is not too oily as it goes on and hydrated my dry skin very well. It wore well under makeup and alone and felt pleasant all day. I really am all about this, and not because I received it in a voxbox – I am reviewing this in places that I do not have to for the campaign. I had just bought a $75 Philosohy moisturizer and it both broke me out and didn’t hydrate well. I’ll take this. Excellent product – improves my skin texture, subjectively helped with hyperpigmentation, affordable and feels great on the skin. I will repurchase both this and the serum when I run out. Great job, Neutrogena! And thank you Influenster for letting me try something that I may not have chosen to purchase otherwise!cody dawn.m

This cream promises results in 1 week, with twice daily application so that's what I'm basing my review on. I'm going to say this right away: Do not use this twice a day. At the very least not to start with. Let me explain why: The cream features Vitamin C and Retinol SA. If you're not used to retinoids, twice a day will be too much. Pair that with Vitamin C, and you have an even higher likelihood of sensitivity. Dry and red sensitized skin were common complaints from others in this campaign. I was able to mostly mitigate damage from using it that way but I did still notice increased sensitivity around day 5 or 6. However, I have also used a gentle retinol before so this was not my first experience with retinoids, which likely helped. Aside from the problematic directions, I really rather liked the cream! It is surprisingly lightweight, absorbs quickly and did not make me feel oily at all. On the same note, this did not provide much hydration so I don't think this would work well for dry skin. A week, as always, isn't really enough to fully form an opinion but I wanted to test their claim. That said, I don't think there are any noticeable positive changes. The attached picture with a headband is my starting point, one without is 7 days later. Both taken in the AM after cleansing only. I am curious to see if I'll notice any significant effects once I adjust usage. It is too soon for me to be able to really recommend it, but I will definitely keep using this as a night cream a few times a week, alternating with exfoliation nights. For me, using it this way will last me a long time so that is decent value (cost is USD 35.49 for 1.7 oz/48 g per the company website). It's also much too soon to predict if I'll repurchase it once I've used it up but for right now I do like it – just don't follow the twice daily application recommendation.cosima.k

I have to say the reviews surprised me. I've been using this serum with my routine for 3 weeks now and can only say good things. My skin is very dry and dehydrated. I'm in my 40s with some old sun damage and fine lines and my goal was to help heal my pregnancy melasma and help texture and lines. I use a korean essense first, followed by this niacinamide serum, vitamin c serum, a moisturizing ceramide toner and a moisturizing sunscreen every day and use a peptide-cerimide mousurizer unstead of sunscreen at night. The only thing I changed 3 weeks ago was switching out my old hyaluronic acid serum for this product. My skin is glowing. Im noticing a slow decrease in the extra texture and "patchiness" and keep getting complimented by friends who see it too. I saw a change after my 2nd time.

I layer a lot of products, although I mist between layers to help it soak in. Im my case I need all that moisture, and for my dry middle aged skin this has been great. Reading the reviews though I wont be trying it on my boyfriend who has rosacea… Eek!Tara Klang

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus 2% Zinc helps improve uneven skin tone, minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, skin texture, and fine lines while balancing excess oil production. Key Ingredients: – Niacinamide a stable form of Vitamin B that helps overall skin improvements including the fading of dark spots and smoothing of skin texture – Zinc PCA redness and irritation in addition to excess shine and oiliness. It’s also an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial – Glycerin replenishes and restores the skin by drawing and locking in moisture The texture is a creamy gel that is lightweight. It does absorb fast but leaves a tackiness behind once it has. This serum leaves my skin feeling hydrated, has reduced redness in my cheeks slightly, and overtime I have noticed my pores are smaller in appearance. I would recommend for all skin types. PROS: – Doesn’t Irritate my skin – Leaves skin feeling hydrated – Reduced redness in cheeks – Overtime I noticed a difference in my pores – Skin is noticeably brighter – Helped to unclog pores CONS: – Feels tacky on skin after it absorbscourtney.h

I too have fallen for the Niacinamide fad that had happened on Insta and have tried my share of different Niacinamide serums. The @naturium serum is by far my favorite stand alone Niacinamide product. It checks off everything in the box, high percentage, formulated with Zinc, works well with layering. It shows a visible difference in my skin when used consistently. The other ingredients include, Propanediol, Glycerin, Zinc PCA, Vitamin E, by and Sodium Hyaluronate. Zinc is supposedly an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and regulates oil. It also shows to protect and aid in wound healing and regeneration. This is why Zinc Oxide is so often found in high performing sunscreens, as it can reflect the sun and it creates a barrier between the skin and any damaging UV rays. The serum feels hydrating, non-sticky, and has very light creamy/gel texture. The serum absorbs into the skin nicely and helps reduce some of my dark spots and provides a nice glow. It also helps with reducing the redness in my cheeks, and my overall appearance of my skin has improved. #skincare #skincarecommunity #beauty #antiaging #antiagingskincare #wrinkles #menskin #menskincare #selfcare #skincareproducts #skincareblogger #reviewsmatter #skincarejunkie #skincareaddict #mensbeauty #proaging #skinblog #productreview #discoverunder2k #serum #selfcare #instaskin #instatester #naturium #skincareserum #niacinamidelandon.g

I just love this serum. I was unsure about it when I ordered it based on other reviews and because I had been using other products with niacinamide and tranexamic acid for a while, without seeing many results. I am so glad I tried it anyway! My skin on my cheeks has had significant red and brown acne scarring for quite some time, with large pores and sensitive skin. I've been really self-conscious about it and have been considering laser treatment. This serum seems to have made a huge difference in the time that I've been using it over the past few weeks. My cheeks are even and actually glowing now? Who would have thought. I'm looking at cancelling my laser appointment and waiting to see if the results hold up. I'm so pleased with this product. I also don't think the smell is that bad, at all. I braced myself when I opened the tube, thinking it would be horrific based on other comments, but it was .. fine? I definitely have used other products that I thought were smellier. I actually considered taking a rapid test because I thought maybe there was something wrong with my smell, but I think it just doesn't bother me as much. Even if it did, the results that it's given me so far would be worth plugging my nose!vw358

If you are sensitive to bad smells this is not the serum for you. HOWEVER, if you are like me, who struggles with acne and hyperpigmentation and are desperate for something that works, get this NOW. Yes the smell is actually horrible but this stuff works. I have been using this for a few months, I started with once a week and have built up usage to every night and it has done wonders for my hyperpigmentation. I found that most hyperpigmentation products ive used before tend to work on only new spots but have a harder time treating deeper marks. While it takes a little more consistency, this product reaches those longtime spots and even my partner has seen them fade significantly. The only reason why I give this product 4/5 stars is because the smell (which lingers and is horrible) and the packaging which gets bent and mishapen super easily. These two things can be easily forgiven as I have been struggling with acne and hyperpigmentation for most of my life and this is the first product that has made me believe that clear skin might one day be a possibility for me.Amy98

This is literally the only product besides tretinoin that has faded my pih. I was on rx hydroquinone and every vitamin c serum I could find including skinceuticals and everything in between, and nothing worked! Hydroquinone works with time but it also dries & irritates, so while your on it you don’t see much happening. *Topicals faded* erraticated a bunch of bad breakouts due to trying new products & 8 red/purple spots in about 4 days. People definitely over exaggerate the scent. It has the scent of sulfur like 4 days after a perm. It’s faint and goes away after a minute & leaves a scent that is amazing! So amazing I was smelling everywhere trying to figure out what it was lol. I’m so glad I didn’t pass on it based on bad reviews. The closest thing I can compare the scent to is head and shoulders dandruff shampoo and if your constantly using sulfur products like me… It won’t phase you. I love that it applies seamlessly and I can use it over my vitamin c and under my serums without pilling AND it doesn’t burn. This stuff is chok full of amazing ingredients. The only thing comparable is peace out skin dark spot serum but that’s not the best choice for trentinoin users with sensitized skin. If you give this a chance and let the scent subside you will definitely see good results. I have acne prone, sensitive, sensitized Tretinoin, combination skin prone to hyperpigmentation and hormonal acne monthly. I’m 35 years old, & this worked wonders for me. I will never ever not have this in my collection, it’s my new holy grail treatment. I can use it for breakouts, it makes my pores look smaller & keeps them clear. I’ve noticed my skin is more firm and the texture is so smooth. I honestly wouldn’t change anything about this serum. You only need a tiny amount because it’s a perfect consistency and spreadable texture so the price is great, especially for the ingredients you get. This is a do all serum. Between this and like butter I don’t need much else.SamanthaJean87

This is a very soothing calming serum, as soon as I apply it, it immediately feels hydrating on any irritated skin. I have super sensitive skin with mild rosacea and often have redness from sensitivity. This works best on redness due to sensitivity like a reaction to a harsh product etc. It helps relieve tightness, itching from dry skin, repairs and hydrates any flaky areas. It’s a light texture but adds much needed hydration without leaving any residue on skin. I found it helped my rosacea, it reduced the redness slightly and definitely was soothing but overall it did not make a huge difference. However for redness from a reaction or very dry compromised skin it is an excellent serum.emk

So I've tried a ton of products designed for people with redness issues, and I have to say, this is one of my favorites! I definitely noticed a reduction in redness when using this over the course of a week, and it feels very soothing and calming when I put it on. It doesn't feel like it's just "masking" the redness like some primers, but actually fixing it, which is awesome. I've noticed a noticeable difference in my skin feeling hot throughout the day and I don't get flushed as much. I also love that the ingredients are clean and I can feel good about wearing it! This is a top quality product right here, and I'm glad to have it in my collection. Another thing I really like about it is that it layers well with all my makeup. I've attached a photo of me wearing it with full foundation, primer, etc over it. I've had issues with other serums smearing or not blending well with foundations, but not this one! I absolutely love the fact I can trust it to stay put all day.Sarnath

REN gifted me their redness relief serum. I loved that this serum felt more water based. It was milky, smooth, and instantly hydrated my skin. It felt nice on my skin, did not leave it oily. It is actually my first time trying a redness relief serum. I will continue to use this often. Retail Price: $58 What it is: A velvet-touch soothing serum that helps calm and relieve discomfort in irritated and sensitive skin prone to redness. What it does: It helps strengthen skin's moisture barrier to protect against environmental aggressors. Redness appears reduced and skin feels calm and soothed and is better protected against pollution damage. How to use: Spread a small amount between your hands and press over clean skin until absorbed, starting with areas of high sensitivity and working outward. The pressing motion helps reduce friction compared to massaging should your skin feel sensitive to the touch. For an extra-cooling sensation, store your bottle in the fridge. #redness #rednessrelief #Serum #skincaretipsfountains.k