A bright, even complexion is something we all covet. But, how exactly does one go from grey to glowing? Brightening serums might just be the answer.
Not to be confused with skin lighteners, which facialist Kate Kerr describes as using prescription strength ingredients such as hydroquinone to ‘actively lighten pigmentation by very quickly bleaching it out’, brightening serums take a much gentler approach that’s more about evening out skin tone instead of lightening it.
Over time brightening serums work to increase luminosity and enhance the way light interacts with our skin delivering that much-desired radiance, one of the cornerstones of a youthful complexion. Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr. Sam Bunting points out that brightening serums work in a variety of different ways depending on ingredients, ‘chemical exfoliants like lactic acid will increase skin brightness, by revealing the younger, more radiant cells underneath, as will topical retinoids, which speed up cell turnover’.
Luminosity boosting ingredients facialist Kate Kerr recommends looking out for include arbutin, liquorice, vitamin C and Kojic acid.
All skin types can benefit from incorporating a brightening serum in their routine. Dr Sam Bunting points out that ‘once you reach your mid 20s, cell turnover starts to slow down a little, and the impact of our 24/7 lifestyle can start to take its toll, especially for city dwellers.’ By adding a brightening serum to the mix it helps to increase skin cell turnover, slowing down the ageing process and helps to deliver a much-needed dose of luminosity to lack-lustre complexions. A real win, win result.
Read on to discover the best brightening serums to bring a touch of radiance to your complexion, including results driven product recommendations from Dr Sam Bunting and facialist Kate Kerr.