Use this, look like this
THE CLAIMS: Come on, admit it. After a taxing slew of trendy seven-step regimes, a return to old-school do-it-alls can seem like a welcome reprieve, right? And boy, is the White Lucent All Day Brightener a do-it-all or what.
Here’s what Shiseido says this nifty new hero product will do. The White Lucent All Day Brightener does the work of a conventional moisturiser, for starters, what with its slew of hydrating ingredients the likes of the by-now familiar moisture magnet hyaluronic acid. Then there’s the perfectly decent SPF36 PA+++ rating, which means you can skip sunscreen if you’re pressed for time.
What else? The Japanese beauty brand’s also introduced some terribly exciting new tech by way of “regulated release” vitamin C micro-capsules. Regulated what? Think the timed release vitamin pills we pop every morning, only in topical form.
Translation: Vitamin C is dispensed drop by tiny drop throughout the day, for sustained antioxidative and brightening benefits. This ingenious idea is one of those why-didn’t-anyone-think-of-this-earlier moments; so clever, right?
Toss in radiance-boosting reflective powders and you’ve got yourself a formidable face fighter that’s the one to beat this year.
WHY I LOVE IT: What do I dig about Shiseido’s White Lucent All Day Brightener? Its terrific texture, for one, which straddles that sweet spot between watery emulsion and gloppy cold cream. The gorgeous glide also makes this potion perfect for priming purposes; pat it on under facepaint and you’ll find that your makeup pigments “grab” better.
Then there’s the incredibly intriguing light-activated particles, which Shiseido says emits light when exposed to UV rays. I’ve experimented by snapping selfies with and without this baby, and by golly, it works: The tint-free lotion imparts a lovely luminescence that’s beautifully beguiling in a #NoMakeup way.
No real complaints on the packaging front, either. The metallic mauve tube is total Instagram bait and should sit very nicely indeed on your dressing table. (I would have preferred a pump dispenser, but squeezable tubes beat unhygienic tubs by a mile.)
As for its purported long-term brightening powers, I can only relay an amusing personal anecdote: One of my girlfriends pulled me aside to ask if I could tone down on the illuminating highlighter; my colleagues were sick of being literally outshone by my complexion! (And for the record, I wasn’t using any; it’s all Shiseido.)
So yes, I was all for keeping this salve a secret skincare staple of mine, but I suppose good things must share ... You can thank me later!
GET IT AT: Shiseido White Lucent All Day Brightener SPF36 PA+++, $85 for 50 mL, is available at all Shiseido counters. For more information, visit www.sg.shiseido.com and follow the brand on Facebook.