Ambi Fade Cream was developed by Ambi Skin Care, a brand introduced in 1966 that has always catered to the skin care needs of women of color. Ambi Fade Cream is said to effectively and safely fade unwanted dark marks without changing your natural skin tone. The brand claims that you will begin to see results in as little as 2 weeks, and results improve with continued use.
In this Ambi Fade Cream review, we’ll give you the details on the product’s formulation, who may benefit from this product, how to use it, and what customers are saying about it.
Related: Best Dark Spot Correctors
Who is it for?
Ambi Fade Cream is meant to be used by those with hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin that can result from excessive exposure to sunlight, skin injury (including acne), inflammation, genetics, hormonal imbalance, and the use of some medications.
All of these factors lead to an overproduction of melanin by the melanocyte cells within the skin.
For example, when skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays for a prolonged period of time, specific triggers send signals to melanin sites. This activates the enzyme tyrosinase, which then stimulates skin cells called melanocytes to produce excess melanin.
The over production of melanin disperses upward in clumps that appear as dark spots on the surface of the skin. This process is also what causes the skin to visibly tan.
Whether your hyperpigmentation was inherited or caused by external factors, the Ambi Fade Cream may be able to help. Below we’ll discuss the key ingredients in Ambi Fade Cream that are meant to help fade dark spots and restore your natural skin tone.
Formulation insight
The key ingredients in Ambi Fade Cream include 2% hydroquinone, 2% octinoxate, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), and lactic acid.
Hydroquinone is used in Ambi Fade Cream because it is the gold standard treatment option for hyperpigmentation. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, hydroquinone lightens the skin by inhibiting the enzymatic conversion of tyrosine to DOPA (dihydroxyphenylalanine) in melanocytes, which results in the desired chemical reduction of melanin.
Ultimately, this leads to a decrease in the number of melanocytes and decreased transfer of melanin, which helps to fade dark spots.
One thing to know before using Ambi Fade Cream (or any product that contains hydroquinone) is that there is a potential for exogenous ochronosis to occur, especially if you have dark skin.
Ochronosis is a reaction where the skin darkens in areas where the hydroquinone was applied; the exact opposite of what it is intended to do! Interestingly, this phenomenon has only been documented in darker-skinned patients.
However, ochronosis is extremely rare and usually occurs with long term use of hydroquinone (especially in high concentrations or from adulterated products).
If you’re concerned about this risk, you may want to perform a patch test with Ambi Fade Cream on a small area of skin before applying this product to a larger area. If you see any amount of skin darkening, stop using the product immediately and consult your physician.
The next key ingredient in Ambi Fade Cream is octinoxate, also known as octyl methoxycinnamate. Octinoxate is the oldest and most commonly used UVB-absorbing agent in sunscreen. UVB rays are the type that cause sunburn, and UVA rays are the type that prematurely age your skin. Both types of rays can cause skin cancer.
While octinoxate does provide some protection against UVA rays, it does not protect against the entire range of UVA wavelengths.
Octinoxate is used in Ambi Fade Cream to help prevent the formation of new dark spots, however, you should still use a broad spectrum sunscreen if you’re going to be in the sun for a prolonged period of time.
Lastly, Ambi Fade Cream contains a small amount of tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) and lactic acid. Tocopheryl acetate functions as an antioxidant and protects the skin against free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots on the skin.
Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that is known for its ability to gently exfoliate and brighten the skin. However, both of these ingredients are present in very low concentrations in the Ambi Fade Cream formula.
There are two Ambi Fade Cream formulations available: one for normal skin and one for oily skin. The only difference between these two formulations is that Ambi Fade Cream for normal skin contains several silicone ingredients (cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, and dimethicone crosspolymer) and hydroxyethyl urea.
Silicones are used to improve product spreadability, giving the skin a silky, smooth feel. Hydroxyethyl urea is a synthetic ingredient that functions as a humectant moisturizer. A humectant is a hygroscopic substance that has a molecular structure with several hydrophilic groups.
This structure allows humectants to attract and retain the moisture in the air nearby via absorption, drawing the water vapor into or beneath the surface. Ambi Fade Cream for oily skin does not contain any silicones or hydroxyethyl urea.
How to use
Apply a small amount of Ambi Fade Cream as a thin layer on the affected area twice daily, or use as directed by a doctor. If no improvement is seen after 3 months of treatment, use of this product should be discontinued. Children under 12 years of age should not use Ambi Fade Cream unless directed by a doctor. To help keep skin even-toned and prevent darkening from reoccurring, it is important to use a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen with the use of Ambi Fade Cream. Once your natural skin tone is restored, you may discontinue use of the product.
Reviews
Overall, the reviews for Ambi Fade Cream on Amazon are positive, with the formulation for normal skin receiving an average of 4 out of 5 stars (after 580 customer reviews) and the formulation for oily skin receiving an average of 4.2 out of 5 stars (after 225 customer reviews). Positive Ambi Fade Cream reviews mention that the product is effective for fading dark spots while promoting a more even skin tone.
Negative reviews mention that Ambi Fade Cream caused skin reactions and clogged pores, leading to breakouts. This is most likely because both formulations (even the one for oily skin) contain stearic acid, which is comedogenic.
References: Ambi.com, AOCD.org/page/Hydroquinone, PaulasChoice.com “Hydroquinone for Skin Lightening”
