L'oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum is a Dud

I would have easily overlooked this product as a over the counter fail but after reading many great reviews and personally using it for 2 month- I've been put in my place.  This serum is amazing.  Kudos to L'oreal for delivering a serum the provides great hydration, instant luminous skin and constant fading of hyperpigmentation (with NO hydroquinone!)  The consistency is silky and light and glides onto skin without clogging pores, making it a fantastic primer.  The serum does have a pearl appearance which gives skin the "luminous" look, but it has long term affects on the skin with constant fading (my Retin-A working).  My skin looks luminous and has drastically lightened my resistant dark area: hyperpigmentation on my smile lines and surrounding my mouth.  These lines have been a constant problem for me and are now GONE!  I am beyond thrilled with these results!  

"Works from within to skin's surface to help correct and fade dark spots, reversing the formation of pigment, resulting in a dramatically more even skin tone. Now, vibrant with a youthful look, skin instantly appears luminous as if lit from within."-L'oreal

Don't forget when you treat hyperpigmentation it is key to protect your skin with SPF 30 for lightening to take affect and prevent it from re-occurring after.  For better results use in combination with a Clarisonic, exfoliant and SPF 30. I use the Clarisonic Mia 2x a day, Differin or Retin-A in the evening, Murad Intensive Radiance C Peel weekly or Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Origins Modern Friction.  


*Update 1/20/13: Unfortunately,this serum irritated the heck out of my skin, bumps under the skin, redness, a rash.  This serum also seems to sit on the skin, the Vitamin C is not active enough to do any good (my Retin-A was doing all the work).  Don't let the pearlescent appearance fool you and save your money.

Available at Ulta, CVS, Walmart, Target
1 0z.
$20-$25

*All brighteners/lighteners are tested by me at different times and not combined through initial testing period.

Product Shout Out! Luminaze

Correct dark spots, uneven skin tone and reveal a glowing complexion with Luminaze.  Luminaze breaks down melanin for faster fading of dark spots and a more even skin tone in just 7 days!  Clinically proven to be more effective then the leading prescription ingredient, hydroquinone.  Gentle enough to use twice a day, morning and night.

Harvested from mushroom enzyme in the Swiss Alps, the creators of Luminaze noticed that bark surrounding the mushrooms  had lost their pigment.  The same enzyme breaks down the unwanted melanin in the skin safely and effectively.  A great solution for improving the appearance of hyperpigmentation!  Available at Luminaze 1oz. $120.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyacrylate 13, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol Liquid Paraffin, Phenoxyethanol, Ligninase (extract of Phanerochaete chrysosporium), Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, veratryl alcohol, PEG-4 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, Citric Acid, PEG-4, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Hydrogen Peroxide.

Product Shout Out! Control Corrective Intensive Skin Lightening Cream SPF 30

A definite must for those struggling with hyperpigmentation!  This product is a great choice for evening out your skintone and preventing further darkening from re-ocurring with spf 30.  This is a non-greasy moisturizer+SPF 30 that prevents free radical damage and brightens your complexion!  Accelerate brightening/lightening by applying a Vitamin C serum and a lightening gel/cream underneath this SPF.  Available at Control Corrective.

• For all skin types.
• Hydroquinone Free
• Contains full spectrum SPF 30 protecting your skin from UVA rays (aging rays) & UVB rays (burning rays.)
• For sun damage, hyperpigmentation, age spots, sun spots.

This is not a sponsored post.

Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum

I love this product!  I deceided to put it to the test and take before & after photos.  I was thrilled with the results in only a 2 week period.  I applied every evening for 2 weeks.  Some days I applied during the day time.  My skin has heavy discoloration from past acne and a bad peel (not done by me).  My clients always come to with their frustrations using lightening products and this is my new top pick.  This serum is suitable for hyperpigmentation: sun damage, acne scarring, sun spots, age spots, melasma, uneven skin tone.  You will love the results!

Murad:

• Clinically proven to restore clarity and even skin tone by  reducing the appearance of sun spots and age spots by 33% in 1 week.
• Helping prevent the development of new pigmentation.
• Hydroquinone fades existing dark spots, age spots and freckles.
• Hexapeptide-2, an advanced skin lightening peptide, complements the results of Hydroquinone and prevents future damage/scarring by helping prohibit pigment formation.
• Glycolic Acid exfoliates to remove dead skin cells, helping the active ingredient penetrate more quickly for faster results.

This product does all that it claims.  The Glycolic Acid effectively exfoliates skin and allows the Hydroquinone to penetrate skin and goto WORK!  I had a significant amount of hyperpigmentation around my mouth and it is almost gone.

A normal side effect of using Glycolic Acid on a daily basis is dehydrated skin.  My skin felt a little dehydrated (but far less then other lighening gels/serums), I suggest layering on moisturizer after applying this serum.  Allow the serum to absorb1-2 minutes first.  After moisturizer apply your SPF 30 to protect your skin and prevent skin from further darker pigmentation from occurring.   SPF 30+ is a necessary for lightning to occur and prevent darkening from reoccurring.  I will continue to use this product to even my skin tone and look forward to even better results.  TIP: Use with Clarisonic for even better results!  This will allow better penetration of the active ingredients like Glycolic acid and Hydroquinone.  Murad delivers with another fantastic product!

Active Ingredient: Hydroquinone (2.0%)

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-10, Nonoxynol-10, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rice Amino Acids, Lysine Lauroyl Methionate, Zinc Aspartate, Chitosan Ascorbate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Chitosan PCA, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tetrasodium EDTA

1 Oz.
$60
4/5
Available at Murad.com


Product provided by Murad.  This review is my honest opinion.

 

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Make Your Skin Glow with Turmeric

Turmeric is well known as a cooking spice, but also a natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic.  With these properties, turmeric makes a great skin care ingredient.  I have created home-made facial masks, scrubs and spot treatments with turmeric and absolutely stand by its ability to heal skin, even out skin tone, and give a nice glow to a complexion.

Turmeric contains  a compound called Curcumin.  Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that helps heal damaged skin caused by UV rays, environmental factors and psoriasis.  It prevents the formation of damaging free radicals (they cause sun spots) and slows down the spreading of free radicals, has anti-cancer and healthy liver benefits.  Turmeric is also 2x stronger then Vitamin C or Vitamin E and is available as a supplement as well.  Turmeric is also great for stretch marks, acne, body scrubs, masks, reducing unwanted pigmentation & evening skin tone, fighting free radicals, skin rashes, burns, reduces facial hair growth, minor cuts, gum infection, anemia, and diarrhea.

Home-made turmeric concoctions can me mixed with plain yogurt, gram flour, lemon, or milk.  I do suggest using turmeric on skin at night, because the spice can stain skin. Gentle wash skin again in the morning with cleanser.  There are products available that contain turmeric already and can be used anytime of the day.  JUARA Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask is a non-drying mask that brightens, detoxifies, and strengthens skin.  Super By Nicholas Perricone Day Light Savings Spf 25 Moisturizer is a great day moisturizer that gives skin a nice glow.