At some point, we've all purchased something whose results were, er, questionable, and didn't live up to our expectations or deliver the results we were so boldly promised. But no more! For the sake of you and your hard-earned money, The Huffington Post Canada Style team is putting the latest products to the test every week.
Testing: SkinCeuticals Pigment Regulator
Testing Period: Two and a half months
Tested By: Sarah Kelsey, Editor, Style
Price: $98
What It Is: A daily skin brightening treatment that promises to lighten and reduce hyperpigmentation and improve the overall tone of skin. It can also help with age spots.
How To: Apply the cream to hyperpigmented areas after washing your face and before applying your regular moisturizer.
What We Thought: I never break-out, my epidermis is never really oily and I have nary a wrinkle. What I do have is hyperpigmentation. I tan easily, so even though I wear SPF 30 on a daily basis, my skin still darkens in the summer. The problem now that I'm getting older is the delicate parts of my face have started to hyperpigment from damage (yes, in spite of my sunscreen use). It's left me with one dark spot under my eye and, I'm being very candid here, an embarrassing blotch under my nose.
The product itself is easy enough to use, and it doesn't smell or look funny (though the colour of the cream darkens over time -- that's normal). I applied it to affected areas morning and night, after washing my face and before slathering on moisture cream.
So did it work? Yes, the spots on my face are lighter, and I have some product left in the bottle, but the affected areas on my face aren't as light as I would like them to be (or expect them to be after regular use of a product). That being said, no other product has worked as well (of the many I've tried). And the company recommends using it for three months to see its true effects -- I've only been using it for two and a half. My mother has told me she's noticed a remarkable difference in how dark my "spots" are (meaning, they're lighter than they once were).
The Downfalls: My own impatience? I want things to work faster than they actually do.
Tips: Follow the instructions to a tee and always, always apply a heavy sunscreen to the areas you're treating. This product makes skin sensitive and you're apt to burn while using it. (No need to add to the skin damage you're trying to undo, right?)
Final Remarks: Forgoing my own impatience to dissolve my face's hyperpigmentation, I'd say this product is worth the investment. Follow the application instructions closely; this product works best when used consistently.
Do you have something you want us to test out? Let us know @HuffPostCaStyle.
Check out the other products we have put to the test.
