Where to purchase: Available at Beauty Bay / Cult Beauty / Look Fantastic (30 ml version) / Look Fantastic (15ml version) /
Volume: 30ml
Price: £50
What is it?: A serum that aims to fight hyper pigmentation. Helps uneven pigmentation, spots and overall pigmentation.
Why did I buy it?: I saw a blog review of this product – it faded the lady’s freckles slightly on their cheek and the photos looked so good, I thought perhaps this product could lighten a sun spot on my forehead. I’m sure this product must work differently for everyone as my results were a little contrasting!
Good for: Supposed to be aimed at those with hyperpigmentation! (not good for sensitive skins in my opinion as this felt stingy for me), dry skins, dehydrated
Directions: ‘Shake lightly. Apply serum to face AM and PM. If used as part of a NIOD regimen, apply after CAIS but before MMHC. Avoid unprotected UV exposure when using this formula […]’ (from the Niod website)
How I use it: I use it in the PM straight after cleansing and prepping the skin.
Key Ingredients: The Peptides, Glycerin, Lentinus extract and Butylene Glycol are all skin conditioners.
The ‘Brighteners’:
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid – apparently ‘sixty times more potent than kojic acid in visibly brightening skin tone.’ / Acetyl Glycyl Beta Alanine – brightening peptide solution / White Shiitake Ferment – targets the appearance of dark spots starting within less than a week of use / Azeloyl Glycine ( formed through condensation of Azelaic Acid and Glycine) – ‘brighten and more anti-redness activity than Azelaic Acid itself.’ / Encapsulated Oligopeptide-68 – reduces the appearance of UV-induced pigmentation with continued use. (I don’t know how long ‘continued use’ is – does this mean forever? / Solubilized Tetrapeptide-30 – ‘reduces contrast between areas of varying dermal pigmentation.’ / Red Evodia Fruit Derivatives – ‘encourages radiance and evenness starting with the very first application.’
(Sounds too good to be true for me! I’m surprised I didn’t see such a change in pigmentation when the ingredients seems so promising on improving your pigmentation! It’s a shame).
Lipo-Oligopeptides Delivery System (enhances the delivery of the formula) / Microfiltered Klamath Lake Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae (antioxidative and hydrating properties).
Full Ingredients: Lentinus edodes mycelium extract, Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Propanediol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl glycyl beta-alanine, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Tetrapeptide-30, Oligopeptide-68, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Algae Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol.
NOTE: Skincarisma have a full product ingredient list breakdown HERE
Packaging: Glass Dropper Bottle
Texture: A little bit thicker than water (but not thick). It’s a brown liquid
Fragrance?: No added fragrance but holy moly this serum stinks! (hence why I apply in the PM – to avoid people smelling my face).
Good under makeup?: I apply this in the PM so I don’t know.
How long have I been using this?: 2 months
The effect?: Didn’t see any lightening of dark spots
What I like:
- Hydrating
- Not heavy
- Non-pore clogging
- Absorbs quick
What I don’t like:
- Tingles in a very uncomfortable way after rubbing this in (it does disappear after a while).
- Didn’t see any change in my sun spot / pigmentation
- Stinks! I know I don’t like essential oils/fragrance in products, but man this smells worse than cheese.
Overall Rating and Conclusion: 2/5 – Didn’t see any results for me personally. I mean perhaps re-purchasing another bottle and continuously using that, I’d see more results, or start to see results BUT this is £50! I could spend around that price for 1 laser session treatment in Korea to lighten dark spots!
I would like to say that perhaps the spot on my forehead I wanted lightened was much too dark and perhaps lighter pigmentation spots may lighten up a lot quicker than mine, hence 1 bottle may just be needed to see results. I think it may depend on the pigmentation.
Would I repurchase?: No – as this didn’t lighten my pigmentation and it’s so expensive. I think to lighten my pigmentation, I’d rather try other ingredients like; Tranexamic Acid, Vitamin C or Alpha Arbutin and Retinol would be more useful.
Products that I think would be more effective: Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion / Paula’s choice retinol / The ordinary Tetraisopalmitate or Ascorbyl Glucoside OR Niod Ethylated Ascorbic Acid
My Skincare Regime 