My Honest Review of Topicals Faded Brightening & Cleansing Bar (2025)

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When I first heard about the Topicals Faded Brightening & Cleansing Bar, I was immediately intrigued. I had already seen the brand’s cult-favorite serum go viral for fading dark spots, so the idea of a bar version that could cleanse and treat discoloration at the same time felt worth trying. As someone who deals with uneven tone and mild hyperpigmentation on areas like my shoulders and inner thighs, I was curious whether this solid cleansing bar could deliver results without drying out my skin.

After using it consistently for several weeks, I can honestly say that the Faded Bar offers more than just a trendy skincare moment. It’s a carefully formulated treatment disguised as a soap. But it also has a few quirks that make it slightly polarizing depending on your skin type and expectations.

Packaging

The bar comes in a two-pack box with a total net weight of 3.5 oz (about 1.75 oz per bar). It’s a small, pastel-pink bar that feels surprisingly soft to the touch. The duo format isn’t just for aesthetics—it’s meant to cover an entire treatment cycle of four to six weeks, the period during which most users start seeing visible brightening results. That built-in logic makes sense, especially since a single smaller bar might run out before you start seeing improvements.

The external packaging feels premium but playful—a mix of Gen Z color palette and Y2K nostalgia, which is very much in line with Topicals’ brand identity. However, there’s one thing I wish they communicated better: there’s no mention of whether the paperboard packaging is recycled or eco-certified. For a brand that appeals to younger, socially conscious buyers, this missing sustainability note feels like a small oversight.

Still, I have to admit—between the soft pink color of the bar and the chaotic-but-fun box design, it’s the kind of product that immediately stands out on a shelf. It’s skincare that feels approachable, not clinical.

Ingredients

This is where the Faded Bar truly shines. The formula blends six clinically active ingredients—Azelaic Acid, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Lactic Acid, and Papaya Fruit Extract—to target discoloration and uneven tone. Together, these ingredients help fade dark spots while gently resurfacing dull skin. I particularly appreciate the use of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, a mild surfactant that creates a creamy lather without stripping the skin’s natural oils.

The base also includes Shea Butter, Glycerin, and Urea, which hydrate and cushion the skin barrier. This combination makes the bar feel surprisingly moisturizing for a treatment soap. It’s also fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and hydroquinone-free, which means it’s safe for most sensitive skin types. The pH (around 5–7) is close to that of healthy skin, so it doesn’t disturb the skin’s protective acid mantle.

However, a quick note for those with very sensitive or reactive skin: while the ingredients are gentle on paper, actives like Lactic Acid and Azelaic Acid can still cause mild irritation if left on too long or used too frequently in the beginning. I learned that starting with every-other-day use worked best for me.

Scent

Topicals markets this as a fragrance-free and unscented bar—and that’s absolutely true. There’s no added perfume, which I deeply appreciate since my skin tends to react to fragranced products. The faint scent it has comes naturally from the shea butter and oils in the base—soft, buttery, and gone in seconds.

What’s interesting is how this decision ties into the brand’s history. The original Faded serum was infamous for its odd smell, a side effect of its active ingredients. The company clearly learned from that feedback, and this unscented version feels like their way of saying, “We listened.” For me, that responsiveness builds a lot of trust.

Lather and Application

This isn’t your typical bar soap experience. When you lather it up, it produces a creamy, cushiony foam that feels indulgent rather than squeaky-clean. Topicals recommends applying the lather to damp skin and letting it sit for about one minute before rinsing off. That small detail really changes how the product performs—it works more like a short-contact treatment mask than a quick wash.

I followed this “one-minute rule” religiously and found that it helped even out some old marks faster, especially on my underarms. The bar rinses cleanly and leaves behind a soft, moisturized feel—no tightness or residue. However, because it’s quite soft and rich in emollients, it tends to melt faster than harder-milled soaps. I found that using a quick-dry soap dish (Topicals sells one) makes a big difference in helping it last longer.

Effectiveness

After about four weeks of daily use, I started to notice a real difference. The dark patches on my inner thighs looked lighter, and my overall skin tone appeared smoother and more even. On days when I used it on my shoulders, it also helped fade a few leftover acne marks. I especially liked that it never left my skin feeling stripped—something I can’t say about many brightening or exfoliating cleansers.

For me, the Faded Bar’s biggest strength lies in how balanced it feels: strong enough to fade discoloration, yet gentle enough to maintain moisture. Still, I did experience a little tingling the first few times, which went away once my skin adjusted. I also followed up with SPF every morning, which is crucial since ingredients like Lactic Acid and Vitamin C can increase photosensitivity.

That said, results depend heavily on consistency. This isn’t a “miracle overnight” product; you need to use it regularly for several weeks to see real progress. But when it works, it’s worth it—the kind of gradual, steady improvement that makes you want to keep it in your rotation.

Size and Lifespan

Each individual bar is about 1.75 ounces, which is smaller than most standard soap bars. Because of its softer formulation, it tends to dissolve a little faster—especially if left in standing water. On average, one bar lasted me around two and a half weeks with daily use. The two-pack setup helps cover a full treatment cycle, but if you’re using it on large areas like the back or legs, you might go through it faster.

To make it last longer, I’d strongly recommend storing it on a quick-dry silicone soap dish or at least somewhere out of the water stream. That one habit makes a huge difference. Despite the smaller size, the solid format feels travel-friendly and convenient, especially since it doubles as a body treatment bar.

Brand Reputation

Topicals as a brand has built a massive following since its launch in 2020. Founded by Olamide Olowe, it’s known for tackling real skin concerns—hyperpigmentation, eczema, body acne—while embracing inclusivity and mental health advocacy. I’ve always admired that mission. The brand’s commitment to transparency and community shows through everything from ingredient disclosures to their active engagement with customers on social media.

It’s also worth mentioning that Topicals is Black-owned, vegan, cruelty-free, and partners with organizations supporting mental health. Their community, lovingly nicknamed the “Spottie Hotties,” is a loyal and vocal group that embodies the brand’s ethos of skin neutrality and acceptance. That cultural authenticity adds meaning to every product they release, including this one.

Price and Value

At $28 for a two-pack, this isn’t your typical affordable bar soap—but that’s because it’s not trying to be one. When you break it down, each bar costs about $14, putting it firmly in the prestige skincare category. At first glance, it may seem pricey for a soap, but once you realize it’s packed with treatment-grade actives, the cost feels more justified.

Compared to liquid brightening cleansers or dermatology-grade serums, this is still relatively cost-effective. It combines exfoliating acids, brighteners, and moisturizers in one product. I also appreciate that Topicals offers bundles and occasional discounts on their website and through Sephora, which makes it easier to restock without feeling guilty.

Availability

The Faded Brightening & Cleansing Bar is available on the Topicals official website and at Sephora—both online and in physical stores. Sephora’s inclusion gives it a certain credibility and makes it easy to find if you prefer in-person shopping. It’s not available at Ulta or Target, which makes sense given Topicals’ choice to remain within the prestige retail space.

The bar ships to the US, UK, and Canada, and usually sells in standalone packs or as part of bundles like the “Faded Family Set.” I found that it’s often in stock at Sephora, though the brand’s own site tends to offer better deals and loyalty points through their Spottie Sphere program.

Overall Rating