Dark Spot Corrector Fade Serum

Palmer's

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Palmer's Dark Spot Corrector Fade Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 40 ingredients (21 low-risk) rates it Excellent (86/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Serums, Essence, Ampoules
Ingredients
40
Low-risk
21
Fragrance
Contains fragrance
Origin
United States

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 6/4
Good for dry skin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Glycerin Propylene Glycol Sodium Polyacrylate Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Caution for dry skin
Glycerin Trilaureth-4 Phosphate Sodium Polyacrylate Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 3/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Retinol Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
Sensitive Skin 6/16
Good for sensitive skin
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Glycerin Sodium Sulfite Tocopheryl Acetate Sodium Metabisulfite Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Caution for sensitive skin
Caramel Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Glycerin Propylene Glycol Citric Acid Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Phenoxyethanol Linalool Citronellol Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone Limonene Butylphenyl Methylpropional Hydroxycitronellal Retinol

Ingredients list

40 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (9)
All40 Skin Conditioning23 Fragrance14 Masking8 Perfuming7 Solvent6 Humectant6 Preservative5 Hair Conditioning4
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
B
Sodium Polyacrylate
(Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Skin Conditioning Agent Emollient, Viscosity Controlling Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Skin Conditioning)
2
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming)
1
Tricholoma Matsutake Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Hexylresorcinol
(Antimicrobial Agent, Cosmetic Biocide)
9
A
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
(Bleaching, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Smoothing, Soothing)
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
(Astringent, Refreshing, Skin Conditioning, Tonic)
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
(Moisturising, Skin Conditioning)
Acer saccharum extract
(Skin Conditioning)
B
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
A
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
(Antidandruff Agent, Antimicrobial)
1
A
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant)
CI 77891
(Colorant)
2
Mica
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying)
1
Caramel
(Colorant, Fragrance, Cosmetic Colorant, Masking)
4
A
Sodium Metabisulfite
(Antioxidant, Preservative, Reducing)
2
A
Sodium Sulfite
(Antioxidant, Hair Waving Or Straightening, Reducing, Preservative)
3
A
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking)
3
A
PEG-12 Dimethicone
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
3
A
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative)
3
B
Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
7
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
(Perfuming)
Allergens
Allergens
5
Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
6
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent)
Allergens
Allergens
7
Hydroxycitronellal
(Fragrance, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
5
Citronellol
(Fragrance, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
5
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
Allergens
Allergens

My Ingredient Notes

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Key ingredients

Niacinamide
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant, Skin Protecting
Sodium Polyacrylate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
Tricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Good for dry skin
Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Retinol — higher EWG
Butylphenyl Methylpropional — higher EWG
Hydroxycitronellal — higher EWG
May not suit sensitive skin

EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent, Emulsion stabilising
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B AbsorbentEmulsion stabilisingFilm formingHair fixingSkin-conditioning agent -emollientViscosity controlling agentViscosity increasing agentBindingSkin conditioning
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 EmulsifyingSurfactant
PARFUM
Fragrance, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragrancePerfuming
Tricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial agent, Cosmetic biocide
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antimicrobial agentCosmetic biocide
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
Bleaching, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A BleachingPerfumingSkin conditioningSkin conditioning emollientSmoothingSoothing
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
Astringent, Refreshing
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AstringentRefreshingSkin conditioningTonic
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Moisturising, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A MoisturisingSkin conditioning
Acer saccharum extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A CIR A Antistatic agentHair conditioningHumectantSkin conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antidandruff agent, Antimicrobial
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antidandruff agentAntimicrobial
+ 11 more — see the full ingredients list above
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Retinol
Skin conditioning
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 9 CIR A Skin conditioning Bad for Sensitive Skin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant, Skin conditioning
Potentially comedogenic - can block poresRead moreShow less
EWG 3 AntioxidantSkin conditioning Bad for Oily Skin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A CIR B Skin conditioning Good for Sensitive Skin
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Propylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B FragranceHumectantSkin-conditioningagent - miscellaneousSolventViscosity decreasing agentSkin conditioningViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 7 Perfuming Allergens
Linalool
Fragrance, Deodorant
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 FragranceDeodorantMasking Allergens
Limonene
Deodorant, Perfuming
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 DeodorantPerfumingSolvent Allergens
Hydroxycitronellal
Fragrance, Masking
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 7 FragranceMasking Allergens
Citronellol
Fragrance, Masking
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 FragranceMasking Allergens
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming, Skin conditioning
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 PerfumingSkin conditioning Allergens

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Evening: Use at night — start 2–3× a week and build up as your skin tolerates it.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Often avoided
Retinoids (Vitamin A) (Retinol)

Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Retinoids (Vitamin A) 0.01–1%

Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.

Retinol

Vitamin C (ascorbic) 5–20%

L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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