This is the entry that matters. Eight weeks of the ritual, kept more or less every day, with SPF every morning. Put the week-one photo next to today’s.
What working looks like
Marks that were dark brown are lighter brown. Marks that were lighter brown are faint or gone. The edges of the larger patches have softened. New breakouts, when they happen, leave a smaller mark that fades faster, because the skin is no longer over-reacting to every inflammation. Texture is smooth. Tone is even. This is what a result on deeper skin looks like: gradual, cumulative, and real.
What not working looks like
No change at all in the marks, with everything else improved. This usually means the pigment is dermal, sitting lower than topical care reaches, and it is worth seeing a dermatologist who works with skin of color. Bring the photos. The ritual still protects against new marks while you decide.
What to do next
Nothing new. The ritual is maintenance now, and the marks keep fading through weeks twelve and sixteen. Keep the SPF; it is what decides whether the fading holds. Keep the diary, once a week instead of every night.
A note on panels
This diary describes what the ritual is designed to do. The Results page shows what our panels found, once they finish. We will not publish one as the other.