The Brilliance Brightening Essence Serum

4 Reviews

1. 

   emptySeafowl4

   Reply

   This review is for The Brilliance Brightening Essence, which is the same product as The Brightening Essence Intense.

   I find the serum on the thin side, which in itself would be a plus especially in warmer months.
   It has a very nice feel and fluid enough to apply easily.

   What I do not find it so appealing is that the high amount of filler (Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer) absorbs oils (while providing an excellent feel to the product) makes the finish too matte. This product is intended for an older clientele (who needs brightening and can afford this high-priced “remedy”), they tend to have drier and/or matter skin due to age and/or sun damage. This skin need all the “glow” it can get.

   The product has (as many La Mer serums) an excellent range of actives along with the Miracle Broth and a higher amount of Ascorbyl Glucoside (stabilized vitamin C). My guess is that it is at 2% concentration. At this concentration it does have the possibility to provide (some) lightening and be a potential anti-oxidant.

   The formula is based an Estee Lauder Frution and Re-Nutriv Firming Plus Complex. Both were launched in the 90s and were best-sellers. No surprise here that ELC have reused the same formula with the addition of Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer (and minor changes made to the silicone oils).
   I wish they left out this and left the formula as it used to be for providing more “glow” setting to a satiny finish and giving the impression of more hydration too.

   The product contains the classic La Mer scent (that is also in the Creme de la Mer).

   Ingredients: Ingredient Listing: Water\Aqua\Eau , Dimethicone , Trisiloxane , Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer , Butylene Glycol , Polysorbate 40 , Ascorbyl Glucoside , Algae (Seaweed) Extract , Myristyl Alcohol , Polyacrylamide , Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil , Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder , Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake , Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal , Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil , Sodium Gluconate , Copper Gluconate , Calcium Gluconate , Magnesium Gluconate , Zinc Gluconate , Tocopheryl Succinate , Niacin , Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Powder , Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract , Glycerin , Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) Root Extract , Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Leaf Extract , Corallina Officinalis Extract , Saccharomyces Lysate Extract , Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract , Yeast Polysaccharides , Chlorella Vulgaris Extract , Tourmaline , Palmaria Palmata Extract , Laminaria Saccharina Extract , Molasses Extract\Saccharum Officinarum\Extrait De Melasse , Plankton Extract , Panax Ginseng (Ginseng) Root Extract , Sucrose , C13-14 Isoparaffin , Caprylyl Glycol , Tocopheryl Acetate , Caffeine , Trehalose , Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate , Acetyl Glucosamine , Laureth-7 , Sodium Hyaluronate , Yeast Extract\Faex\Extrait De Levure , Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate , Whey Protein\Lactis Protein\Proteine Du Petit-Lait , Lecithin , Hexylene Glycol , Sodium Hydroxide , Alcohol Denat. , Sodium Benzoate , Potassium Sorbate , Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate , Fragrance (Parfum) , Silica , Disodium Edta , Bht , Phenoxyethanol , Geraniol , Hydroxycitronellal , Linalool , Citronellol , Limonene , Mica , Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)

2. 

   cynicalGatorade5

   Reply

   I really don feel that this product does much in terms of brightening. I really wanted to love it. Radiant serum much preferred.

3. 

   giddyWigeon1

   Reply

   This serum has done utterly nothing for me. I do not have melasma, just a few slightly dark spots that can be covered up with concealer. I was already using a prescription retinoid in the PM and a good Vit C serum in the AM. I will finish up the bottle, but will not repurchase. Perhaps if you cannot use retinoids or Vit C, this might be an option, but if you’re already using both of these, save your money and don’t try this.

4. 

   ecstaticOcelot6

   Reply

   UPDATE: 12/21/12 …… Okay, it’s 12/21/12 and we’re all still alive (Mayan calendar anyone? Ha ha!) …..but apart from that I thought I should update this review. First of all, I downgraded this to 3 lippies because it sort of leveled out and stopped working for me. I still have the initial lightening effect that this gave me, which is good, but it hasn’t progressed any further. maybe there is only so much a product can do for pigmentation. I still like it just fine, but seeing as how it’s leveled off in it’s effectiveness, I think I am going to try another product.

   — ORIGINAL REVIEW: ….Wow. That is all I can say. I have tried so many products that claim they will lighten discolorations and not many work, and of those that do, they lighten just a little. But this Brightening Essence Intense is different. In just 2 weeks I already see a difference in my skin! My skin is so much more radiant and even-toned. I had some old, reddish-pink acne scars and a few age spots (from sun damage) on my cheeks, and in the past two weeks these have all lightened considerably … The old acne spots are now just a very pale pink, and the age spots are a little lighter. This seems to work faster on the acne spots than the age spots, but it still works on both. And considering it’s only been 2 weeks and I can see a difference already, I am very impressed! But even more surprising is just how even and radiant my skin looks overall – I could even go without foundation now. Just a few dabs of concealor and some powder to set, and I am good! This has really been transformational for my skin. I use this at night with a little of the La Mer Soft Cream over it, and then in the daytime I use the La Mer Oil Absorbing Lotion (t-zone) and La Mer Soft Cream (cheeks and eyes). My skin has never looked as good as it looks now since starting to use La Mer skincare! Love it!