b.glen Brightening Care review: We try out every product in this line to see if our skin really becomes brighter

When we think of brightening skincare, often the first product that comes to mind is a serum. With concentrated active ingredients, brightening serums seem to be the go-to products to tackle stubborn dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

While it’s true that many of the most popular skincare products in the brightening category are serums, we can’t help but wonder if there’s more we can do for our skin to maximise the brightening effect. Will it help to supplement a good brightening serum with other brightening products? Or will it make no difference?

To find out, one of our team members who has been using only a brightening serum (with other non-brightening products) tested out an entire skincare range dedicated to brightening for two weeks. Let’s see if she thinks it’s worth it to invest in more than just a serum.

b.glen Brightening Care “Luminous Glass Skin Set” review: the products we used

Reviewer: Alyaa, 22

For this experiment, I tried out the b.glen Brightening Care range including a face wash, a toner, an essence, a serum and a moisturiser. This entire range is based around two main ingredients Vitamin C and Arbutin to fade dark spots and even out the skin tone for an overall brightening effect.

I had heard great things about b.glen and their scientific, innovative approach to skincare, so even though I was hesitant about the idea of trying so many new products at once, I was mostly very excited.

Step 1: b.glen Clay Wash

The cleansing step is apparently one of the most neglected parts of the skin-brightening routine for many. During this experiment, I learnt that you need to remove all dirt and impurities thoroughly so your skin would look less dull and tired. A good brightening cleanser also allows other skincare products to penetrate more effectively.

The b.glen Clay Wash I used contains Montmorillonite clay to draw out dirt, dead skin cells, and oxidised excess sebum. This is my absolute favourite product in the entire range; I love that it leaves my skin feeling clean yet moisturised and supple afterwards.

Despite it being a clay wash, it didn’t strip my skin of its natural oils. It’s probably so hydrating thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid and squalane in the formula.

Step 2: b.glen QuSome Lotion

My skin has always been on the dryer, dehydrated side, but I’d never really associated the dryness to why my skin would sometimes look dull and tired.

That’s why the b.glen QuSome Lotion was such a game-changer. Its formula is intensely hydrating thanks to the ingredient Salicornia Herbacea extract – my skin felt instantly more hydrated and supple after applying. I love how lightweight and watery the texture is, because it absorbs very quickly without leaving any residue on the skin.

Apparently, the quick absorption comes from the QuSome® technology (hence the name “QuSome Lotion”!), which improves the penetration rate of not just the lotion but also the subsequent b.glen products I put on. No wonder all the b.glen products are able to sink into my skin so quickly!

Step 3: b.glen C serum

Vitamin C is one of the most powerful brightening ingredients to fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation, as well as increase skin turnover rate, so it’s no surprise that b.glen incorporates it into their brightening range, This highly concentrated serum is actually one of b.glen’s best-selling products, having sold over 1.3 million tubes since 2010, so you know it’s effectiveness has been well-tested.

Texture-wise, the C serum is watery and feels a bit greasy when first applied. However, after massaged into the skin, it does absorb completely and doesn’t leave any sticky residue behind. I also felt a warm sensation on my skin after applying the C serum, which apparently is a sign that the ingredients are really penetrating into the skin. The warm sensation goes away after a few minutes.

Step 4: b.glen QuSome White Essence

I was surprised to find that this “essence” doesn’t come in the same watery texture as other essences I have tried, but has a thicker, serum-like consistency, which I actually love. It feels really luxurious on my skin yet still absorbs very quickly.

You probably have heard that many brightening ingredients can’t be used during the day as they oxidise easily and lose effectiveness once exposed to daylight. However, I was glad to find out I could use the b.glen QuSome White Essence both in the morning and at night.

This is thanks to the QuSome® technology that helps stabilise the active brightening ingredient Arbutin in the essence so it doesn’t oxidise as easily and can work its magic any time during the day!

Step 5: b.glen QuSome Moisture Rich Cream

The last step in the routine is an anti-ageing cream designed to prevent and correct signs of ageing. I love that this product came with a spatula, so there wouldn’t be any contamination. I also appreciate that it doesn’t have any scent, so there’s less of a risk of irritation to my skin.

True to its name, this moisturiser has a rich and creamy texture, yet still feels lightweight and absorbs quickly. After two weeks of using it, I have noticed my skin feels more soft and plumped up. This is perhaps thanks to the unique QuSome® Age Recover Complex, which helps boost collagen production and firm up the skin. While I don’t experience any skin sagging yet, who would say no to more bouncy, supple skin?

b.glen Brightening Care “Luminous Glass Skin Set” review: the result and verdict

I have previously used only a brightening serum, hoping that it would help fade my hyperpigmentation and even out my overall skin tone.

However, I stopped using it because the result wasn’t very noticeable. I also disliked the texture of the serum – it felt sticky on my skin and the tacky residue made my makeup look bad on top of it.

Coming into this experiment, I was a bit hesitant considering how much I would be layering onto my skin, especially under the hot sun. I tend to keep my routine simple as too many products can easily overwhelm my skin.

Overall, I’m very happy with the experience. Compared to when I was using just a brightening serum, the result is definitely more visible!

After applying all the b.glen products, my skin has a very hydrated, youthful glow to it that makes me feel confident enough to leave home with just my brows and blush on! I feel like the dull area around my nose has lightened visibly, which is a huge win for me.

Although I have no major skincare concerns, I’ve always hoped that my complexion can reflect more light (glass skin!) so it looks more radiant even without putting on a highlighter. I think the range of b.glen brightening products that I’ve used had certainly helped me to achieve the radiance that I wanted (you can see from the before-and-after photos), so it’s a huge hit for me.

I didn’t expect this result, but I think it even made my makeup look more “glowy” as well. I was glad it worked well under my makeup – there was no patching, no streaks, and no blotchiness.

I also love that my dry patches have completely disappeared, which means the products not only gave my skin a radiant glow but also increased its hydration and moisture levels.

Although I would love an all-in-one product for convenience’s sake, having seen the result on my skin so far, I definitely think it’s worth it to incorporate more brightening products into my skincare routine. I will continue to use the b.glen Brightening Care products to see just how much more skin radiance I can achieve!

All products mentioned are exclusively available on b.glen’s website:

• b.glen Clay Wash: SGD57
• b.glen QuSome Lotion: SGD73
• b.glen C Serum: SGD67
• b.glen QuSome Essence: SGD73
• b.glen QuSome Moisture Rich Cream: SGD103

All five products are available in the Luminous Glass Skin Set, retailing for SGD373, or for SGD298.40 (20% off) with subscription.

Want to try out the routine first before making an investment? You can also get all five products in sample size with the Brightening Care Trial Set, available at SGD34.