According to the Daily Vanity Survey conducted in January 2017, dull-looking skin is among the top five most common skincare concerns among Singapore women. More than 50% of 2,008 respondents reports that they are concerned about dull complexion.
Thankfully, we have many skincare solutions that target at helping Asian women achieve brighter-looking skin. Here are 11 newest ones in the market that you can consider, and that we have curated based on prices. For more articles and product recommendations for brighter skin, you can also visit the Daily Vanity Radiant Skin Guide.
Affordable buys
1. SNP Cho Seok Brightening Mask
This may come in a fun and adorable packaging, but it packs a punch in the effectiveness department. Enriched with Niacinamide, an ingredient that’s used in many respected products for its skin-restoring benefits. Use this sheet mask regularly to help even out your skin tone and brighten how it looks. This retails at SGD3.90 and is available at Watsons.
2. Pure Beauty The First Intense Treatment Essence
Essences have gained popularity in the last few years because of how lightweight they are and how quickly they penetrate into skin. They are also used in skincare practices such as the 7 Skin Method that the Koreans made popular. If you’d like to start using an essence in your daily skincare regime, try this one by Pure Beauty that’s formulated with 95.3% Galactomyces, a ferment ingredient commonly used in Korean essences. This product helps hydrate and brighten skin. It retails at SGD35.90 and is available at Watsons.
3. The Body Shop Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Eye Cream
Don’t neglect your eyes in your skin brightening regime. The new addition to the Drops of Light collection is an eye cream that helps brighten your eye contours. It works by stimulating blood circulation around the eyes when you massage it into your eye area using the cooling applicator. You’ll find that your eye area look brighter, and less puffy instantly after usage. This retails at SGD36.90.
Moderate budget
4. Clinique Even Better Brighter Milky Lotion
The Even Better Brighter range by Clinique doesn’t just prevent the appearance of dark spots, but also correct them, thanks to the introduction of the Infinite Bright Technology. The range of products in collection work together to break the dark spot cycle and treat them at the same time. Check out one of the new additions to the collection – the Milky Lotion – which soothes skin and seals moisture into skin. It is launched together with the new Moisture Cream, Moisture Gel Cream, and Moisture Mask, and retails at SGD65.
5. Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Brightening and Smoothing Moisture Treatment
Glycolic Acid is loved by dermatologists as a peel that help with skin renewal, but it’s usually used sparingly because it can be irritating to skin. The Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Brightening and Smoothing Moisture Treatment uses a precise concetration of this ingredient so that its exfoliation benefit is retained, but is tolerable even for sensitive skin. In fact, it’s so gentle that you can even apply a thick layer of it on your skin as an overnight mask. This product also contains Activated C, a stable form of vitamin C that features prominently in all products in the Clearly Corrective range, and is able to brighten skin, while nourishing it. It retails at SGD78 and is available at all Kiehl’s stores.
6. Laneige White Dew Original Ampoule Essence
The star product in the new Laneige White Dew line is the White Dew Original Ampoule Essence, which contains Mela-vita Crusher to suppress melanin formation, Phyto Sugar Water to purify and moisturise skin, and vitamin C to improve skin clarity. While it has a rich texture, you’ll be surprised at how quickly it is absorbed into skin. This product retails at SGD80.
7. L’Occitane Reine Blanche Whitening Rich Cream
The Reine Blanche range of products by L’Occitane is classified as a quasi-drugs by Japanese authorities because of how potent the active ingredients are. Formulated with Reine des Prés flower, a pure white flower known for its lightening properties, the range helps skin to restore its natural translucency, protect it against UV damage and other environmental aggressors, and brighten its appearance. Try the Whitening Rich Cream, a moisturiser that nourishes skin and plump it with moisture. This, together with the other products in the range, such as a scrub, mist, and serum, are all available at L’Occitane stores. The Whitening Rich Cream is available at SGD98.
8. SK-II Atmosphere Airy Light Emulsion SPF30/PA+++
Did you know that just 10 minutes of UV exposure may damage your skin? And on top of this, other aggressors such as infrared light and pollution also take a toll on our skin, and it responds by turning darker. This is why city life can make our skin look duller. The new SK-II Atmosphere Airy Light Emulsion isn’t just a regular sunscreen. Besides giving general UV protection, it also protects skin from darkening and turning red when exposed to UV, shield skin from pollution and infrared, as well as improve skin’s fairness. It retails at SGD98, and is launched together with the Atmosphere CC Cream SPF50/PA++++.
Luxurious purchases
9. Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Serum
The Sulwhasoo Snowise collection has always been a favourite among its fans, and this year the Snowise Brightening Serum goes through an upgrade and is presented as an even more effective solution to dull-looking skin. The brand believes that besides melanin-inducing pigmentation, loss of firmness is another cause of skin dullness. As such, this serum doesn’t just help to add luminosity to skin, but also deliver firming effects. Formulated with the White Ginseng, this gel serum works well with the other products in the range, which includes the Snowise Brightening Water, Emulsion, Eye Serum, and UV Protector. The Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Serum retails at SGD268.
10. La Mer The Brilliance White Mask
This two-step treatment delivers concentrated formulas to help skin look softer and brighter. It begins with The Brilliance White Soothing Primer, which can help soothe and calm the appearance of skin, then The Brilliance White Gel is used to help skin look brighter, more hydrated, and youthful. While the eight-minute treatment is powerful, it is gentle enough to be used as a daily ritual. You’ll see your skin appear healthier and more radiant, while fine lines and wrinkles appear less obvious in no time. The duo retails at SGD440 at all La Mer counters.
11. La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion
While most brightening products are targeted at fighting melanin, La Prairie scientists find that uneven skin tone and dull-looking skin can also be due to skin redness and dullness. The La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion is formulated to fight all three causes, using a combination of golden caviar extract, a stable form of vitamin C, and Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, which helps regulate melanin production. This retails at SGD850 and will be available from mid-March at all La Prairie counters.
Want to get more radiant skin tips and product recommendations? Visit the Daily Vanity Radiant Skin Guide.
