Brightening is one of the biggest categories in skin care right now, as many of us desire a more even-toned, radiant complexion. It’s that lit-from-within skin you see in skin-care ads; that glow that comes without highlighter. Sun damage, aging and other internal/external factors can cause dullness and dark spots, but certain skin-care products, like the new Ourself Complexion Brightening Serum ($189), can eliminate those concerns with one smart formula. Here’s my honest review of this new launch, which just hit the market this week.
The Benefits of This Brightening Serum
When it comes to skin care, I consider so many things: ingredients, delivery system, clinical data, texture, packaging, etc. I appreciate when brands go the extra mile to create new delivery systems and have them clinically tested for efficacy. I know that comes with a large cost that some indie brands don’t have, but when it’s doable, and done right, it’s very impactful. That’s the case with Ourself, a biotech skin-care brand created by the founders of Alastin. The brand created a novel delivery system called Tiered-Release Vesicle (TRV) technology, which it has patented and uses in its formulas.
So what makes TRV so unique? The tiny vesicles (aka capsules) contain more than 18 tiers that are packed with the key actives in each formula, and the brand tells me they can travel “further and faster” than others attempting the same task. In fact, they go “straight to the layers of the skin where they have the most visible impact” and “deeper than traditional serums.” In this particular serum, one of the key actives is Ourself’s patented “Intelligent Peptide” MI9, which is “designed to help interrupt melanin signaling at the source.” This means it reduces discoloration for a more even skin tone.
But, the real magic happens when this peptide is combined inside the vesicle with tranexamic acid, retinyl linoleate (a vitamin A derivative that’s less potent than retinol), niacinamide, and aminopropyl ascorbyl phosphate (a stabilized form of vitamin C)—so much brightening power! In clinical testing, 98 percent of users reported their skin tone was more even after five weeks, 68 percent of users saw improvement in their brown spots in two weeks. The majority of these participants also reported smoother skin. Additionally, an in-vitro skin test showed a 38-percent reduction in melanin after just two weeks.
How to Use It
Apply one to two pumps on clean skin, morning and night. If you are sensitive to vitamin A or vitamin C, start with once a day. The serum has a bit of a richer texture, so I recommend giving it a few minutes to absorb before applying moisturizer or any other products in your routine. Because the Complexion Brightening Serum contains vitamin A, the brand recommends avoiding it if you are pregnant, lactating or planning to be pregnant.
