The glowy, dewy skin trend is still going strong and has shown no signs of stopping in 2024. As brands continue to introduce new products that promise brighter, more luminous skin, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth investing in. And that’s what we are here for!
Whether you have been meticulously building your brightening skincare regimen for a while, or are brand new to the game, here are the latest brightening products to add to your routine to get that dewy, glowy-from-within look.
What are Brightening Products?
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Brightening products are specialised skincare formulations designed to enhance the radiance and luminosity of the skin, creating a more even complexion.
These products often target hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and dullness, working to reveal a brighter and revitalised skin tone. Brightening products can encompass a range of formulations, including exfoliating agents, serums with potent ingredients like vitamin C, and moisturisers infused with hydrating and brightening components.
Incorporating these products into a skincare routine can contribute to a healthier and more radiant appearance.
How Often Should I Use Brightening Products?
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The frequency of using skin brightening products depends on its ingredients. Some ingredients may be too strong if used daily, causing dryness or irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin.
Hence, it’s essential to consider your skin’s sensitivity and adjust usage accordingly. But, be sure to follow the products directions carefully to maximise the effectiveness. As a general guide, here are how you can use some products that have brightening factors:
- Exfoliating Products: Use one to 3 times a week. However, do not over-exfoliate as that can lead to irritation.
- Brightening Serums: Typically used once daily, usually in the evening. Follow the product instructions, and if using multiple serums, consider layering them based on their consistency.
- Moisturisers: Can be used both day and night to maintain hydration. However, be sure to choose a moisturiser that complements your skin type.
- Sunscreen With Brightening Ingredients: Regardless of the weather conditions, never skip sunscreen, whether it possesses brightening benefits or not. Sunscreen plays a crucial role in preventing additional skin damage and preserving the brightening effects of your skincare routine.
What Ingredients To Look Out for When Purchasing Brightening Products?
When selecting a brightening skincare product, look for ingredients like vitamin C for radiance, niacinamide for even tone, and alpha arbutin for reducing dark spots. These components work together to boost luminosity and address pigmentation.
Each ingredient works in its distinct way to address various factors causing uneven and dull skin tone. They target different issues, collectively contributing to a brighter and more vibrant complexion. It’s like having a team of specialists addressing specific concerns, ensuring your skin gets comprehensive care for a radiant and lively look.
The Best Brightening Products For a Glowing Complexion
Decorté Whitelogist Bright Concentrate
Scientists at Decorté believe that blemish correction has to be tackled at the roots and through intensive research
The new Whitelogist Bright Concentrate is the result of intensive research done by scientists at Decorté to tackle blemishes and hyperpigmentation at the roots. It contains the whitening active ingredient Kojic Acid, which has been discovered to be able to directly target blemish-producing cells and suppress the production of melanin.
The serum is formulated with a unique Bright Concentrate Complex, containing Angelica Acutiloba Extract, Jujube extract and Grape Seed extract to improve penetration and moisturise the skin at the same time.
Decorté Whitelogist Bright Concentrate retails for S$170 (40ml) at all Decorté stores islandwide.
LANEIGE Radian-C Cream
Get that much coveted Korean spotless skin with the new LANEIGE Radian-C Cream, formulated with LANEIGE’s patented Radian-C SuperblendTM technology and supercharged with three powerhouse brightening ingredients: vitamin C, vitamin E and Amorepacific’s patented ingredient MelasolvTM.
This intensely moisturising cream delivers a complete brightening solution with its ability to lighten both visible spots and non-visible ultrafine spots, to give you the luminous and even skin tone that your favourite K-celebs possess.
LANEIGE Radian-C Cream retails for S$73 (50ml), available at all LANEIGE boutiques, Shopee, and Sephora.
CHANEL Sublimage La Collection Lumière
If you want to completely revamp your skincare routine to specifically targeting dull complexion and hyperpigmentation, consider the CHANEL Sublimage La Collection Lumière for a comprehensive, does-it-all brightening solution. Previously only consisting of the SUBLIMAGE L’essence Lumière, the collection is now complete with two additions: the SUBLIMAGE La Lotion Lumière Exfoliante and the SUBLIMAGE La Crème Lumière.
The exfoliating lotion SUBLIMAGE La Lotion Lumière Exfoliante contains AHAs to stimulate skin cell renewal and Vanilla Planifolia water to give the skin an antioxidant boost. The natural anthyllis extract will help even out the complexion and reduce the appearance of dark spots.
Follow it up with the SUBLIMAGE La Crème Lumière, which also contains Vanilla Planifolia and natural anthyllis extracts, for further radiance-boosting action.
CHANEL Sublimage La Lotion Lumière Exfoliante and La Crème Lumière retail for S$195 and S$594 respectively. They will be available at all CHANEL Fragrance and Beauty boutiques.
L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence
The L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence is a no-nonsense, effective skin-brightening essence. It contains ingredients well known for their brightening properties such as salicylic acid and sulfonic acid to gently exfoliate the skin, remove dead skin cells to reveal a clearer and more luminous complexion.
The watery, lightweight texture absorbs very quickly into the skin for an instant and long-lasting boost of hydration.
The L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence retails for S$45.35 for 130ml You can find it at Watsons, Guardian, major super/hypermarkets, selected department stores, Lazada and Shopee.
DIORSNOW Ultimate UV Shield
Sunscreen is perhaps one of the most important products in a brightening routine, as exposure to UV rays will undo any brightening effect from your other skincare products and even cause further damage to your skin.
The DIORSNOW Ultimate UV Shield boasts an SPF 50+ PA++++ with broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB. It also helps prevent the oxidative stress from blue and infrared light, for a complete protection against photo-ageing.
What’s even more exciting about this sunscreen is that it comes in a breathable, lightweight formula that doesn’t feel stuffy or sticky on your skin.
DIORSNOW Ultimate UV Shield retails for S$99 (30ml), available at all Dior counters islandwide.
Lancôme Clarifique Dual Essence
If you think that essences are just glorified water and don’t do much for your skin, the Lancôme Clarifique Dual Essence is here to prove you wrong.
The new product from Lancôme is formulated with 97% clear essence with French beech bud extracts and 3% essence with grapeseed oil to stimulate skin surface and accelerate cell renewal. The two powerful ingredients are activated when you shake the bottle to mix them up.
And thanks to the patented in-bottle whisk that helps to create micro-bubbles, you can expect the activated formula to absorb even more easily and feel exceptionally comfortable on the skin. Your skin will become visibly brighter and smoother just after one week.
You can look forward to skin that’s more refined, brighter, more translucent, with less visible pores.
Lancôme Clarifique Dual Essence retails for SGD166 (150ml), available on Lancôme and at major departmental stores (Metro, Paragon, Robinsons, Tangs, Takashimaya, Isetan, OG, BHG).
Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution
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Known for addressing various types of dark spots caused by factors like ageing and UV exposure, Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution is a serum that not only corrects dark spots but also enhances your overall skin brightness.
This paraben-free serum is recognised for delivering a 2X improvement in visible clarity. It works effectively to reduce hyperpigmentation, post-acne marks, and a wide range of dark spots, promoting a more even and radiant skin tone over time.
For those seeking a glowing complexion, starting with Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution is a recommended choice.
Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution retails for S$140 (50ml) on Kiehl’s.
Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules Radiance Renewal Serum
Vitamin C, one of the most effective ingredients for brightening, is the star in Elizabeth Arden’s new addition to their Capsule Serum line: the Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules Radiance Renewal Serum.
Each capsule contains a dosage of vitamin C that is 178 times more potent as well as more stable than traditional vitamin C to deliver optimal skin brightening and dark spot correction. The serum also contains ceramides to protect the skin from moisture loss and maintain the look of glowing, radiant skin all day long.
Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules Radiance Renewal Serum retails for S$81 (30 capsules) and SGD153 (60 capsules), available at all Elizabeth Arden counters islandwide.
Sisley Phyto-blanc Le Concentré Pure Bright Activating Serum
Dark spots are one of the major signs of ageing, and if you are looking for an solution to combat those stubborn spots, you can’t go wrong with the Sisley Phyto-blanc Le Concentré Pure Bright Activating Serum.
The inspiration for the product came whiteness of the palms of our hands, scientifically called palmoplantar whiteness, caused by a melanin production inhibitor named protein DKK1. In researching this protein, the scientists at Sisley have discovered the active ingredient Egyptian Myrobolan, which can give a similar lightening effect to the overall skin tone by reducing the melanin production.
The serum also contains other powerful active ingredients – Pea peptide extract, Hexylresorcinol, Wild thyme extract and Vitamin B3 – which target all stages of the melanin production in the skin to visibly reduce dark spots.
Sisley Phyto-blanc Le Concentré Pure Bright Activating Serum retails at S$490, available at all Sisley counters islandwide.
ést.lab LumiWhite Exfoliating Scrub
Exfoliation is the key to a brighter and more even complexion, which is why ést.lab has recently relaunched their popular LumiWhite Exfoliating Scrub with an enhanced formula for an even stronger brightening effect.
It now contains vitamin C, a powerhouse brightening ingredient to help reduce hyperpigmentation and even out the overall complexion. The existing ingredients such as Jojoba Exfoliating Beads, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and Panthenol (Vitamin B5) have also doubled in amount to further strengthen its exfoliating action.
ést.lab LumiWhite Exfoliating Scrub retails for S$78, available on ést.lab’s eShop and at all Estetica Beauty Studios islandwide.
Featured image credit: Laneige, Kiehl’s
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