Ambi Fade Cream is one of the most popular cosmetic products for reducing skin discoloration. The brand describes itself as “Scientifically Proven For People Of Color.”
But does Ambi Fade Cream contain ingredients proven to reduce discoloration and improve skin quality? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? Why did Ambi’s manufacturer receive an FDA warning letter? And is Ambi Fade Cream better or worse than popular discoloration products like Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Ambi Fade Cream to give our take on whether or not the product is likely to be effective for reducing skin discoloration, and whether or not it's healthy.
We’ll also explain why the brand received a warning letter from the FDA, and compare Ambi Fade Cream to other popular discoloration products to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Contains two inactive ingredients we consider unhealthy
- Brand received FDA Warning Letter over unapproved drug ingredient
- We do not currently recommend Ambi Fade Cream
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Ambi Fade Cream are shown below:
There are a number of active ingredients in this formulation with research backing both for depigmentation and anti-aging.
Ascorbic acid, better known as vitamin C, was analyzed in a 2020 medical review on melanin pigmentation and its ability to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmented spots.
The researchers analyzed results from seven clinical trials on the topic, and concluded the following: “The authors have reported a favorable outcome, suggesting the possible effect of Vitamin C on melanin pigmentation.”
Betaine was shown in a clinical trial published in the Food Science and Biotechnology journal to be a “potential skin-lightening agent,” although this was an in vitro (test tube) study which makes its results weaker than a trial with human participants.
There are other active ingredients in this formulation shown to improve skin quality.
Sodium hyaluronate is one of the most well-studied anti-aging ingredients, as we documented in our review of another cosmetic product containing it called CeraVe Eye Repair Cream.
Glycerin was shown to improve skin moisture content in a clinical trial published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.
Niacinamide was described in a 2004 medical review as a compound that “smooths out wrinkles” and can be effective in treating a wide range of skin disorders due to its potent anti-inflammatory effects.
Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice is a natural moisturizer.
Clearly there are a number of effective ingredients in Amdi Fade Cream for both treating hyperpigmentation and improving skin quality generally.
However there are also two inactive ingredients that may be questionable from a health perspective.
Fragrance is a broad descriptor that could refer to any number of thousands of chemicals added for scent.
It’s not only a common skin allergen, but a 2016 medical review analyzed safety data on fragranced consumer products and concluded that the additive can “impose serious risks to human health.”
Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic preservative shown in a 2020 clinical trial to be toxic to human cells.
Overall, we consider Ambi Fade Cream to be likely effective for its intended purpose, and even potentially effective for reducing wrinkles, but we don’t currently recommend the product due to the questionable inactive ingredients highlighted above.
Why Did the FDA Warn Ambi?
In 2022, the FDA sent a warning letter to Ambi Enterprises LLC, the manufacturer of Ambi Fade Cream.
The warning letter calls out Ambi’s use of hydroquinone, which is a skin bleaching ingredient only available with a prescription.
Since Ambi was selling products containing hydroquinone over-the-counter (OTC), this classified the cosmetics containing this ingredient as “unapproved new drugs.”
Since this letter, Ambi appears to have removed hydroquinone from their Fade Cream and Fade Serum. The brand even includes “Hydroquinone-Free” in the title of both products at the time of publishing this article.
We do not consider this to be an ongoing concern that consumers need to worry about, since it is related to an ingredient that has since been removed from the formulation, and one that does not appear unsafe when used appropriately.
As we documented in our Musely reviews article on a prescription skincare brand that sells hydroquinone products, this compound was described in a medical review as “one of the most effective molecules for the treatment of hyperpigmentary disorders.”
The efficacy of Ambi as a lightening cream has likely dropped since the removal of hydroquinone, but the ingredient has serious side effects if overused. It should only be used under the guidance of a dermatologist.
Ambi Fade Cream vs. Popular Discoloration Products
Here's how Ambi Fade Cream compares to other popular skincare products used to treat skin discoloration, in terms of potential effectiveness and healthiness, in our opinion:
Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum
Contains an active ingredient which is clinically shown to treat hyperpigmentation at a similar concentration as in this product.
Good Molecules also publishes the concentrations of every ingredient in this serum, and doesn't use any unhealthy ingredients.
Winner: Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum
Urban Skin Rx Retinol Rapid Repair & Dark Spot Treatment
Urban Skin Rx's retinol serum contains some research-backed active ingredients for anti-aging, but none we were able to identify for dark spot treatment, as we documented in our Urban Skin Rx reviews article.
Since both products contain ingredients we consider unhealthy, we give Ambi Fade Cream the edge here from a potential efficacy standpoint.
Winner: Ambi Fade Cream
Green Mask Stick
Unclear manufacturer, product quality issues.
While the FDA warning that Ambi's manufacturer received gives us pause, now that the issue is resolved, we consider Ambi Fade Cream to be the safer choice.
Winner: Ambi Fade Cream
Our Clean Skincare Pick
MindBodyGreen Best Skin+ is our top anti-aging skin supplement.
It contains orange extract which is clinically shown to increase skin moisturization, skin elasticity and skin radiance.
This supplement also contains astaxanthin which is clinically shown to cause "wrinkle formation reduction."
This supplement is free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Ambi Fade Cream Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Contains many research-backed active ingredients
- Highly affordable
- Should be effective for dark spot treatment
- Potentially effective for anti-aging
- Potentially effective for skin moisturizing
- Now free of hydroquinone
Cons:
- Contains fragrance
- Contains synthetic preservatives
- Brand received FDA warning letter about unapproved new drug ingredient
- Unimpressive Amazon reviews
- Doesn’t appear clinically tested
