I have combination to oily, acne-prone, Indian (NC44) skin. All my blemishes leave scars on my skin, that are significantly darker than my skintone. I also suffer from hyperpigmentation around my mouth and chin.
I have tried many different dark spot correctors over time, and Philosophy is another one that did not work for me. I decided to pick it up because it was raved about on Paula's Choice/Beautypedia, and it had a high dosage of niacinamide, which is a good skincare ingredient with lightening properties, that I had never tried before.

The product itself is a bit heavier than other dark spot correctors that I have used, it is less of a serum and more of a cream but still light enough to wear under a moisturizer. I think the packaging was good (opaque pump bottle) for the ingredients, and it did not break me out at all.

I used the entire 30 ml, and only used it on the parts of my face with scarring and/or hyperpigmentation, and it changed absolutely nothing for me. My blemishes did not get significantly lighter, except for very slight gradual changes, that I am almost sure are just the results of time and sunscreen.

For me this product did not work, but I've learned that skin lightening/brightening is extremely personal and has different results for everyone. You really have to find out which ingredients work for your skin. I think it is worth the try to see how your skin reacts to niacinamide, or if you are experimenting with dark spot correctors and want to avoid hydroquinone.

I bought this to fade a scar on the body, and it works great in a short amount of time! I also dotted some on a small mark on the face every other day for two weeks, and it reduce color by half. I can't imagine using this on large areas of the face, or on anything less than on the random, bad scar or mark, as other reviewers did, because it's quite emollient and find that light marks just take patience to fade, and don't need chemicals-natural or not. Love the pump dispenser, but at the rate at which I've used this, I would not buy again. There will be better products out there by the time I'm done, which would be several years.

Unfortunately, this clogged my pores so badly I had to discontinue use after just a week. (It did manage to lighten a stubborn post-acne mark on my chin in that short amount of time, so I'm giving it two lippies instead of just one.)

I had high hopes for this product but I had to stop using after 2.5 weeks because it was causing tiny clogged pores all on my face. I did not see any lightening, mostly due to the fact I only used it for 2.5 weeks, but it wasn't worth it to continue if my face was reacting to it. This is the only new product I introduced to my skincare routine so I am positive this was the cause of the tiny bumps.

I have been using this for the past 4 months every night to deal with some sunspots on my cheeks. It has done nothing to lighten the spots. However, it does live up to its claim as a face brightener. My skintone is more even, giving me less reason to put makeup on. Hence the 3 stars. Still, I bought it for my spots, so no, I will not buy it again since it failed in that department.

In short, it's effective on causing acne.
I'm certain that this caused me to breakout since on my clear skin days I'd wake up with acne when I go to bed with clear skin and apply this. I've tried this as a spot treatment, and wherever I've used this I break out by the morning.
The only good thing is that it made my face shiny and looking bright by the morning and remains bright during the day, but that's it. I might as well just use makeup or a brightening moisturizer. This did not erase any of my acne marks. Also, this smells horrible, highly medicinal. The product is a strange light brown paste-like substance.
P.S. Other reviewers mentioned using the retinol along with this. I tried the retinol too (alone), and the effect on me was more breakouts.
Please go with some other brightening product from companies like Shiseido, Clarins, Estee Lauder, Origins, or Clinique. I've used all the above, and they didn't damage my skin.

I bought this for my post acne marks. I have been using it for two months now, and it's working for me! I only started seeing a difference after a month of use but it's been working great so far. My face is not mark free by no means (Probably need procedures for that...) but I think this is will get me close to it if I continue to use it. I use two pumps all over my face and jaw/neck area where I have marks every night after cleansing and toner. My only complaint is the packaging. I can't tell how much is left and also little amount always dries around the pump area exposed to air.
I decided to try this after not seeing results with many hydroquinone products, and I am so glad I did. Little expensive but definitely a must have for me.

Used this product faithfully for 5 months, morning and night, on my sunspots. Absolutely no results. I do not recommend and would certainly not buy again.

I bought this product with the retinoid pads and have been using it every night for a month. I did not see any fading of my dark spots which only lightened considerably after I used the Talika Duo. It doesn't sting and it is easily absorbed into the skin. It also didn't break my skin out but, for me, it isn't the "Miraculous all-over brightener and dark spot corrector" it claims to be. (Actually, I bought it for the dark spot corrector aspect of the cream - I am already fair as it is - unfortunately, that means any dark spot on my face contrasts greatly with it!) :(

I have been using this without the retinoid pads. But I do use this twice per day. I like that it doesn't break me out and that it comes in a pump bottle. Since it's a retinoid, it technically shouldn't break you out because it's similar to what's used in Accutane. But anyway, it didn't make me break out, but be careful if your skin is sensitive. Does it work? I've been using it for about 2 weeks, and my acne scars have faded slightly. Will update after more time has passed. Make sure to apply sunscreen with this, it makes skin very photosensitive!