I just applied a small amount with my fingers.

Immediately after peel apply this once soaked in about a minute apply moisturizer.

It helped my acne right away but it might have been 4-6 weeks in with twice a day use before I noticed that I used less makeup to hide the dark marks left by the acne.

I found that the pads that it comes with do not absorb the liquid very much at all, however, you don't need to soak in this stuff in order for it to work. Here is what I do and I got great results:
I put 1/4 of the dropper on the pad and quickly apply to both cheeks in a downward motion. Both cheeks feel slightly damp with moisture - so it's on there.
I put 1/4 of the dropper on the pad again and quickly apply to forehead, nose and chin.
Keep in mind that this is not an astringent to clean your face, it should feel different and much lighter.
Hope this helps!

While they both contain ferulic, they are fundamentally different products. In the Skinceuticals, the ferulic stabilizes the Vitamin C (the main ingredient). In this product, the ferulic complements the Retinol (the main ingredient). Ferulic is just a pretty good antioxidant, but Vitamin C and Retinol are really the power players in each product. Vitamin C is the gold standard in collagen building and antioxidant protection (preventing/undoing cellular damage). Retinol is the gold standard in cellular turnover (making new, plump, radiant cells to replace the old, dull ones). While they function differently, they both result in more luminous skin and a reduction in wrinkles. Retinol will also prevent acne, whereas Vitamin C is better at correcting dark spots. Typically, you don't find Retinol and Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) in products together, since they inactivate one another.

In a perfect world (where money grows on trees), you'd want to use the Skinceuticals in the morning and a retinol product in the evening. You should always use retinol (like this product) at night since it is inactivated by sunlight. Also, you SHOULD NOT use a retinol and a Vitamin C product containing ascrobic acid (like Skinceuticals) one right after the other since they will inactive one another (a huge waste of money).

If you decide to use a retinol serum, there are cheaper, more effective products out there than this one. The two products at Sephora (to my knowledge) with the highest percentage of retinol are Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM (1.5% retinol, $65 for 1 oz) and Dr. Brandt Overnight Resurfacing Serum (2% retinol, $85 for 1.7oz). Skinceuticals also makes retinol products, but they're more expensive and arguably less effective. Note that with any retinol products, you're skin may look worse for the first 1-2 weeks, then it will start to look dramatically better--hang in there, it's worth it!!

Cheers, and good luck!

does nothing for any of the above

I don't know where you can get more pads, but you can also just apply it by hand.

I tried to use this as a toner,and it was to over exfoliating for me,so I use it as a spot treatment.I have combo skin with an oily t zone,and moderate breakouts.I use Kate Sommerville daily detox face wash,and Mario Badescu Glycolic toner for dry sensitive skin,lower % of acid,and Kate Sommervile oil free moisturizer.

A dark lip shadow sounds like it's hair follicles under the surface. I would say of you are removing hair from there, make sure you wax or thread (properly). Consider laser if it really bothers you, or adding some color to your skin (a tan) will also hid the dark shadow.

No, I don't think this product will help you unless you think it is scarring or hyper-pigmentation.

It helps a lot with breakouts less harsh than retin a