Acne scars tend to fall into two categories—dark spots (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) and textured scarring—and the ingredients that help vary depending on which one you're dealing with. For discoloration, niacinamide is one of the most reliable options: it works by inhibiting pigment transfer within skin cells, gradually fading dark marks and evening out uneven skin tone without the irritation risk of harsher brightening actives.
For textured or pitted scarring, retinal is the stronger player. By supporting collagen production and speeding up cell turnover, retinal helps resurface skin over time, softening the appearance of both fine lines and shallow acne scarring with consistent use. It works more slowly on discoloration specifically, which is why many routines pair it with a brightening ingredient like niacinamide rather than relying on retinal alone.
As with most active ingredients, results build gradually—usually over several weeks to a few months—and consistency matters more than potency alone. Building both into a steady night time skincare routine, rather than switching products frequently, tends to produce the most visible improvement over time.
For scars that need both texture and tone addressed, KSECRET's SEOUL 1988 Retinal Liposome 12% Shot delivers a concentrated retinal treatment for deeper resurfacing, while the Niacinamide 15% Glow Serum targets discoloration and uneven tone. If your skin also needs extra barrier support along the way, the NiaCica 20% Repair Cream combines niacinamide with centella asiatica to help calm and repair skin while the other actives do their work.