Your skin needs regular care and maintenance for it to remain smooth, supple, and blemish-free. One way for you to achieve this is to have the best brightening serums on hand. These products are known to nourish the skin, making them appear healthy and youthful too. Let’s find out how to get that radiant complexion here.
How Do Brightening Serums for Face Work?
Who doesn’t want to have radiant skin these days? Our skin suffers from constant exposure to the changing weather, makeup, dirt, dust, oils, and sweat that it can get dark and dry real fast. Yes, removing your makeup at night is a must, but adding a brightening serum to your skincare routine can do more for you. But how do brightening serums work, anyway?
As the name suggests, this type of serum is designed to help brighten your skin by evening out your skin tone. Its lightweight nature makes it effective as it easily penetrates the skin for faster repair. Here’s how using a serum for face works.
- Exfoliation.
One reason why your skin appears dull and dark is because of the buildup of dead skin cells on the surface. The accumulation of dead skin, plus oils, sweat, and other minuscule particles can also make your skin feel rough to the touch. Using serums that contain acids like alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, or lactic acid can help with the exfoliation process. - Slow down melanin production.
Dark skin is caused by melanin production which is possible to inhibit by using a brightening serum that contains ingredients like ascorbic acid, which is a different type of vitamin C, arbutin, and glutathione just to name a few. These ingredients offer high amounts of antioxidants into your system to prevent melanin production. - UV protection.
Another way that serums help with keeping your complexion bright is by adding a layer of UV protection on your skin. The sun’s UV rays can make your skin feel dry, rough, and even cause your melanin production to go up. Using a serum, on the other hand, can cause the ultraviolet rays to simply bounce off against your skin thus helping preserve its natural beauty. However, experts recommend that you still apply a UV cream on top of the serum to double your skin’s protection against the harsh rays of the sun.
Benefits of Using a Brightening Serum for Your Face
You might be worried that adding another product to your skincare routine can already be too much. This is understandable since there are skincare products that can be too harsh on your skin. Well, there are several benefits to be gained from using a face serum and these are:
- Effectiveness.
One of the main advantages of using a serum is that it contains more of its key ingredients without the need for a doctor’s prescription. That said, this product is usually thick which is why it is always the first one to be applied in your skin. As a general rule, always start with the thickest skincare product that you have. - Ideal for oily skin.
Those who have oily skin are not really fond of applying moisturizers since they tend to make their face shinier than usual. However, without a proper moisturizing solution, the skin can become dry and rough. Using serums, on the other hand, will not make your skin glisten because of too much oil. This is because of its lightweight properties making it easy to absorb. You will see a remarkable improvement after a few minutes of use. - Anti-aging.
Signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles are sure to appear as you age, but not when you invest in the best serum to brighten your skin. Most of these products contain some form of anti aging that will help you retain that youthful glow. The antioxidants contained in this product can help keep your skin soft and supple. - Boosts elasticity.
Our skin’s elasticity will decline as we age which is one of the reasons why premature aging starts to appear early. However, with the regular application of this type of product, you will be able to improve your skin’s elasticity to retain that smooth and fresh look. - Brightens skin.
The vitamin that is contained in this product can help correct dark spots and improve skin tone to give you that bright complexion you have always wanted. You can even use this product on dry skin without worrying about side effects. You will see that your face will look brighter within a few weeks of use. - Good investment.
What other benefits can you get out of buying the best serum for brightening your skin? You will save more in the long run and will not need to buy whitening products anymore. Like was mentioned before, these skincare products are highly effective hence you will see improvements on your skin with regular use.
Top Brightening Serum Products to Try
Searching for the right serum to help brighten your skin is going to be tough, especially when you see the number of products that you have to go through. I experienced the same thing when I decided to get one for myself. That said, I wanted to give you a good start in your quest for the best serum to make your skin youthful once more hence I have rounded up six of my favourites here.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic combines ferulic acid, as well as vitamin C and E in one powerful product to help provide protection to your skin to combat the free radicals damaging your skin. It is also designed to address skin issues like wrinkles and lines while brightening your skin at the same time. The L-Ascorbic aims to combat different signs of aging while at the same time assisting in making your skin appear bright. The vitamin E ingredient, on the other hand, fights free radicals while giving your skin’s lipids their much-needed boost. Of course, the ferulic acid increases antioxidant levels on the skin while making the vitamins C and E more stable.
This product can be used on all skin types which is a plus. Any blemish or dark spots on your skin will be dealt with so that you will be able to bring back that youthful glow to your skin. You can expect that the effects of vitamin C will last up to three days with just a single-use.
Pros:
- The unique combination of ingredients creates a powerful solution to help brighten one’s skin.
- Antioxidants and vitamins fight anti-aging.
- Ideal for all skin types.
- The effects of vitamin C can last up to three days.
Cons:
- One customer was disappointed with the cost of the product.
- Another user reported that it was too thick and that it did not absorb quickly.
- A reviewer commented that it wasn’t great for those with oily skin as it made her skin worse.
OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Serum®
Another brightening serum that I was impressed with was the Truth Serum for OLEHENRIKSEN. According to their website, Ole was among the early practitioners of using vitamin C to their skin believing that the antioxidants contained in this vitamin is crucial for skincare. With a little tweak, they have made a product that nourishes and brightens the skin easily. With its unique blend of ingredients, the Truth Serum aims to combat dryness and signs of aging, while leaving your skin smooth, soft, supple, and bright at the same time.
The four key elements in the Truth Serum are aloe juice for softening and conditioning the skin, True-C Complex, which combats signs of aging while helping the skin appear brighter, collagen for elasticity, and green tea and orange extracts for nourishment. There are no harsh chemicals present here like sulfates and parabens which is a plus.
Pros:
- Combats dryness and signs of aging effectively.
- Free from harsh chemicals like phthalates, parabens, and sulfates.
- Contains vitamin C, aloe juice, orange and green tea extracts, as well as collagen.
- Affordable price.
Cons:
- It doesn’t work well on those with sensitive skin as one user broke out in acne.
- Another user wasn’t happy with the use of colorants on the serum.
- One customer complained about the packaging since the dispenser is hard to control.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum
If you are looking for a skincare product that packs plenty of vitamin C then this one is for you. Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma combines antioxidants, fruit enzymes, nutrients, and chronopeptide to help create the perfect skin care product that will not only brightens but also erase any signs of premature aging. It contains ferulic as well as L-ascorbic acids together with vitamin E to help combat the effects of free radicals. If you are worried that wrinkles and dark spots are keeping you from that youthful look, then you need to try this one out.
You can expect that this product is made from quality products that will work even on those who are a bit sensitive to their skincare products. The problem with those who tends to breakout quickly is that they are often exposed to irritants that cause said reaction. This will not happen with Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day serum which is a huge relief for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with breakouts anymore.
Pros:
- Powerful vitamin C serum designed to protect and nourish the skin.
- Ingredients like antioxidnts, chronopeptide, and fruit enzymes can help combat effects of aging.
- Ideal even for those who have sensitive skin.
- No harsh reactions when used.
Cons:
- One user complained about the lingering smell of the product.
- A customer reported that the serum changed color after two weeks.
- The price is too high for a serum.
The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA
You should also check out the Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA by The Ordinary if you want a brightening serum to add to your routine. This concentrated serum comes with hyaluronic acid and pure alpha arbutin which are good for treating dark spots as well as uneven skin tone. If you notice some blemishes on your face and uneven coloring, the 2% alpha arbutin can work to your advantage especially when combined with hyaluronic acid. I like the fact that it doesn’t contain any harsh ingredients to it that may lead to irritation.
You can use it in the morning and in the evening, but you also need to apply a sun protection afterwards. It is a simple, straightforward skincare product that is designed to bring back that youthful complexion you’ve always wanted. It is cheap too which is something you should consider when buying this type of product to add to your daily routine.
Pros:
- 2% alpha arbutin and hyaluronic acid improves skin’s condition quickly.
- No more dark spots and uneven coloring to worry about.
- Brightens skin easily.
- No harsh ingredients like phthalates and parabens.
Cons:
- One user complained that they had break outs after using it.
- Another reviewer reported that the discoloration on their face remained even after weeks of use.
- A customer wasn’t completely satisfied with the results even after repeated use.
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Radiance Serum
Reveal your bright complexion with Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Radiance Serum that is guaranteed to improve your skin’s condition easily. The main goal of this brand is to create a green product that you will not be afraid to apply on your face which is exactly what they did. They discovered that the grapes from their vineyard contain powerful antioxidants that are useful for improving your skin’s condition hence the Vinoperfect was born. It can remove dark spots, even out your complexion, and will not make your face become extra shiny.
I like that it does more than just brighten your complexion since it can also maintain moisture too which prevents dryness from occurring. There are no dangerous and harsh chemicals present here as well which is another reason why I have added this brand to my list of best face serums.
Pros:
- High-quality ingredients from different grape variants combined for the perfect brightening serum.
- Powerful antioxidants from grapes help keep signs of aging at bay.
- No harsh chemicals present.
- Retains moisture to combat dryness and roughness too.
Cons:
- A user reported that it did not do much to brightening their face even with repeated use.
- Another reviewer complained about the smell.
- Its price is not equal to the effects that it can provide.
Dr. Dennis Gross C + Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum
Dr. Dennis Gross C+ Collagen serum is another option to consider as it this C serum is weightless and gets absorbed quickly too. It combines their proprietary vitamin C and collagen amino acids which boost collagen production for that youthful glow to your face. It can also repair any damage such as signs of aging, dryness, expression lines, and more. With repeated use of Dennis Gross skincare, you will not have to worry about environmental debris causing breakouts and dryness anymore.
Another thing that you will like about this Dennis Gross skincare is that it was formulated by a certified dermatologist with more than 25 years of experience. His knowledge about the industry and his medical background helped propel him in creating a serum that can help improve your skin’s overall condition. There are no harsh ingredients present here which is a plus since you don’t want to expose yourself to ingredients that can cause side effects.
Pros:
- A weightless and highly absorbent serum that is easy to use.
- Promotes more collagen production to combat signs of aging.
- Does not contain harsh ingredients.
- Created by a certified dermatologist with more than two decades of experience on skincare.
Cons:
- The price of the product wasn’t worth the results that some users experienced.
- One user had a severe reaction to the product because of their skin’s sensitive nature.
- Another customer did not notice any changes even after weeks of use.
Conclusion
Which of these brightening serums do I think is the best? I think OLEHENRIKSEN’s truth serum is the best place to start. Their product combines antioxidants with a host of ingredients aimed to banish dryness and discoloration without causing any breakouts or that weighted feeling even. With regular use, your skin’s elasticity will be better and your complexion fairer too. This is definitely worth starting with if you want to improve your skincare routine.