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If you’re using retinoids but still struggling with dark spots, you might have come across the Remedy Dark Spot Solution by Dr. Muneeb Shah. Some people claim it works even alongside Tretinoin—but is that a good idea?
And more importantly, will it actually make a difference for your hyperpigmentation?
Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients, the claims, and whether it’s worth adding to your routine!
What the Remedy Dark Spot Solution claims
An all-in-one nightly remedy that stacks the impact of multiple products in a single targeted treatment to help fade the look of existing dark spots, prevent future discoloration, and promote even skin ton.
Facts about the Remedy Dark Spot Solution
Price and size
One bottle contains 30 ml and is available for 44,95 € on the website here. The bottle has a pump with a twist cap. When twisted, a nozzle pops up and retracts when twisted back. Not only is this fun to use, but it’s also travel-friendly, preventing leaks.
Texture and smell
The serum has as a similar color as the bottle, yellow but a little less bright than the plastic container. The color doesn’t transfer to you skin.
The texture is that of a light lotion and the scent hard to describe. I don’t hate it, but I am not the biggest fan either. After a lot of sniffing I would finally describe it as resembling the scent of freshly cooked carrots, the one you might be familiar with if you had children and fed them pureed carrots for weaning.
It’s faint though, so don’t worry—you won’t smell like a carrot stew all day.
How to use the Remedy Dark Spot Solution
As it contains Retinol, it is a night time product as it is recommended to use your retinoids then. As it is encapsulated though (and probably a very low concentration, I will touch on that later) you might be able to use it in the mornings as well if needed, but I personally put it in my night time routine, right after cleansing and before moisturizer.
Remedy recommends you start applying it every other night if your skin is sensitive or you are new to retinoids, but despite using it on my chest which can’t tolerate strong retinoids I could do every night right from the start. (More info: How to use retinoids with minimal irritation)
Ingredients of the Remedy Dark Spot Solution
sii|h 0 0, Niacinamide cci|sb|aacne|h, Squalane 
sii|emo 0 1, Cetearyl Olivate emu, Dimethicone emo 0 1, Mandelic Acid exf|amic, Tranexamic Acid sb|so, Sorbitan Olivate emu, Glutathione, Retinol cci, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate aox|sb, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract aox|sb|so|emo, Kojic Dipalmitate emo, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract aox|so, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract aox|so|sb|perf, Acetyl Glucosamine sii|sb, Ceramide NP sii, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract so|sb, Propanediol solv|h, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer vc, Isohexadecane emo|solv, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum vc, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Pentylene Glycol solv|h, Polysorbate 60 emu|surf, Polysorbate 20 emu|surf 0 0, Sorbitan Isostearate emu 0 1–2, Cetyl Palmitate emo 0 0, Laureth-23 emu|surf 0 3, Trideceth-6 Phosphate emu|surf, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Hexylene Glycol solv|emu|perf|surf 0–1 0–2, Phenoxyethanol pres, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Sodium Benzoate presHover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Let’s talk about the 0.1% encapsulated Retinol first: While it might sound a lot, you have to be aware that it isn’t a 0.1% Retinol – the encapsulated form is at 0.1%, meaning that the actual Retinol concentration is lower and released over time. That explains why many people are able to use the Dark Spot Solution in addition to their regular retinoid product – it is a lower concentration than what they are used to and, through the encapsulation, released over time.
It is also paired with ingredients that seem to help combat retinol irritation like Niacinamide. (More information: The benefits of Niacinamide in skincare explained)
If you are familiar with the best ingredients to target hyperpigmentation, you might be aware that Retinol, as much as I love it for everything it does for the skin, isn’t the best thing to actually use here. Luckily it is paired with quite a few other things that work on discoloration, like Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Kojic Acid, Licorice Root Extract, Glutathione, Silymarine, Acetyl Glucosamine and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a Vitamin C Derivative. (More info: The benefits of Tranexamic Acid in skincare explained, The benefits of Kojic Acid in skincare explained, The benefits of Licorice Root Extract in skincare explained, The benefits of acids in skincare explained and The benefits of Vitamin C in skincare explained)
Now we know the concentration of a few of these: 5% Niacinamide and 3% Tranexamic Acid for example, both in the recommended range.
For hydration, the formula includes multiple molecular weights of Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, and other emollients to help lock in moisture as well as Squalane, Green Tea Extract and Ceramides to smooth and sooth the skin. (More info: The benefits of Hyaluronic Acid in skincare explained, The benefits of Green Tea Extract in skincare explained and The benefits of Ceramides in skincare explained)
More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products
Does it live up to its claims?
Yes.
It combines multiple single products targeting hyperpigmentation, and in combination they can surely help fade existing spots. How it will prevent the formation of new ones though I am not sure, that is something I would solely attribute to sunscreen.
How does it compare to…
innbeauty Project Retinol Remix 1%
innbeauty has their own variation of serum that combines different ingredients to target dark spots, their Retinol Remix. This one has 1% Retinol by name, but actually uses a combination of different retinoids that all sum up to 1%. There is also Tranexamic Acid and Centella Asiatica as well as a Vitamin C derivative for brightening the skin. I think the effect on hyperpigmentation will be less in the innbeauty serum than it will be in the Remedy one, but both are nice products if you want one product instead of combining different ones in your routine.
Click here to read my full review of the inn beauty Project Retinol Remix 1%.
Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the Remedy Dark Spot Solution to?
While the Remedy Dark Spot Solution features an impressive list of discoloration fighting ingredients, there are some cases where a dedicated product might give you more noticeable results. Think AHAs for example, here a higher strength Glycolic Acid will have more effect than a medium to low concentration Mandelic one. In the end it comes down to how you want to build your routine: Do you want to carefully carter different products to your skins need each night? Or do you want one thing to grab ever evening so you don’t have to think about mixing and matching and potential irritation too much? If you prefer simplicity, this serum is a solid all-in-one option.As it is with all products targeting hyperpigmentation: You will need patience and time to actually see improvements. But if you are willing to invest that and are diligent with your sun protection of course, I think this product has good potential to help you with your concerns.
As for people already using retinoids… While there are anecdotes that people use it together with Tretinoin without any issues, I would caution against that. Despite being a gentler one, it is still a retinol and pairing it with other retinoids increases the risk for irritation rather than maximising your results. With retinoids, slow and steady wins the race. Irritation won’t get you results—consistency will.
Shop Remedy skincare here
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