This Clinically Proven Illuminating Serum Smooths and Brightens Skin in One Step

Founded by dermatologists in 1988, NEOSTRATA is the brand that pioneered the use of glycolic acid in skin care—it knows what it’s doing. Every product undergoes rigorous clinical testing and there’s a full range of products for every skin concern. One of my favorite collections is called Enlighten and focused on brightening benefits, which I’m always after. The Enlighten Illuminating Serum ($88) is a personal favorite for minimizing discoloration, and here’s why.

The Benefits of This Brightening Serum

It’s been a few months since summer ended, and even though I’m incredibly diligent about sun protection, I’ve seen a couple dark spots pop up. This Illuminating Serum inhibits melanin production and encourages cell renewal to help fade and prevent dark spots. To achieve this, the formula utilizes a thoughtful blend of key brightening ingredients, including vitamin C, neoglucosamine, niacinamide, licorice root and butyl-resorcinol. The vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, or THD) not only supports collagen production, but also defends against free-radical damage, which accelerates signs of aging.

This is a great antioxidant serum to boost the protection of your sunscreen, too. Vitamin C has been shown in multiple studies to prevent and reverse cellular damage caused by oxidative stress, and because SPF does not block all the damage from UV rays, pairing it with an antioxidant bolsters your protection.

In a clinical study, after four weeks of twice-daily use, 97 percent of participants said their skin was brighter and their skin texture was smoother. Additionally, 94 percent said their skin tone was more even and healthy-looking; 89 percent said their skin discolorations were diminished.

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How To Use It

Apply two pumps on your face and neck in the morning and at night, and use any extra on the backs of your hands if you have dark spots/discoloration there, too. The serum is lightweight and nongreasy and has a subtle, citrus-floral scent that’s courtesy of orange peel and orange fruit extracts, jasmine, gardenia and lavender. I like to let the serum sink in for a minute or two before applying other serums or moisturizer on top, or makeup.