I’m a whitening sceptic. That is to say, I don’t believe that any product out there can “whiten” your skin short of bleaching it. So, if you come across a product that claims to substantially lighten your skin after a short period of usage, I’d be very wary.
So, I believe instead in “brightening”. Skin brightening to me is where the product may lighten some pigmentation and make your skintone more even so your facial skin looks clearer. However, it will not turn black to white and if you are tanned, you should not expect to have lighter skin but you might expect a more even skin tone which might have the perception of having lighter toned skin. This is not a scientific dissertation by any means, just my thoughts so do feel free to agree/disagree at will 🙂
With this firmly in mind, I recently put 2 whitening products to the test – Lancome Blanc Expert Spot Eraser and Lancome Blanc Expert Whitening Cellulose Mask.
Lancome Blanc Expert Spot Eraser (RM315)
The Spot Eraser comes in a long tube and a pointed nozzle. The lotion is white and liquid and has a scent. I rather like it so I’m not fussed. I also liked how it felt on my skin.
The Spot Eraser is supposed to target the melanin and “kill” it at the “roots” so you have less pigmentation and freckles. It is a very targeted treatment skincare to reveal transparent “white” skin and is more effective on stubborn melanin spot. I have fair skin so pigmentation and freckles show though and makes the skin look blotchy some times. The Spot Eraser is supposed to tackle this problem on the spot.
However, I did not notice any real marked difference in the pigmentation level. I deliberately tested this on some very stubborn pigmentation areas but there was not much discernable lightening. That said, it too did not get worse and elsewhere on my face, my skin did look more even toned. With only 1 month’s use I reckon its too early to rant or rave at it (I always believe that whitening products work on a long term basis) so I’m quite ambivalent. The masks however I love love love!
Lancome Blanc Expert Ultimate Whitening Bio-Cellulose Mask (RM250 for a box of 6)
The cellulose masks however are a totally different story. I seriously think these masks are awesome. They come in a box of 6 individually wrapped masks and are recommended to be used twice a week (after applying Spot Eraser). I use them once a week as a form of pampering especially since I’ve been having rough work days.
What I absolutely love about these sheet masks is the texture. Most of us are familiar with paper sheet masks – the pre-soaked paper or fibre sort that you open up and lay on your face. You’d be familiar with how they are too big/too small for your face or don’t adhere well to your skin.
These masks aren’t made of paper but a type of thick solid opaque cellulose material. It in fact feels slightly like a thick gel to the touch. I feel almost like the Man in the Iron Mask when I put these on – LOL!
Interestingly the masks come sandwiched between 2 sheets of open weave net that holds the mask in place. You open it up, remove one sheet, place the mask on your face, pat it in place as it adheres to your face like a second skin, then remove the other sheet. Then, lie back and relax for 10 minutes while the mask cools your face and infuses it with the serum. The thick gel mask really sticks to your face so you don’t have it flapping around like paper masks do even as it dries and it does not drip.
There is a typical Lancome fragrance which might bother some but does not bother me. I find it rather soothing. After 10-15 minutes, I remove the mask and slowly massage the balance of the serum into my skin. As for the mask, I don’t waste all that goodness – oh no! I fold it up and apply it to my neck and chest area until it dries up. Why waste a good thing? 😉
After just one use, I found that my skin felt smooth, radiant and moisturised. I can tell because my pores looked distinctly smaller, my face had that cool firm plump feel to it, and my facial skin immediately looked more even toned and clearer. This effect lasted for at least 4 days by which time, it was nearly time for another session. At the rate I’m going, the box will last me about 6 weeks – bliss! I think I need more. 😛
I had no reactions to the mask at all. Everything was fine and hunky dory!
I’d use these masks not because it has whitening properties but because I love how plump and moisturized my skin looks after using it. RM250 a box isn’t cheap but when you consider that its spread out over nearly 2 months or more that’s not too bad.
So these are my 2 recent forays into the realm of whitening/brightening skincare. Not surprisingly, they are mostly found in Asia. I can see the Lancome Cellulose mask firmly entrenched in my regular skincare regime for the future.
Do you have a whitening skincare fave or do you use any whitening or brightening skincare?
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
prettybeautiful says
April 9, 2009 at 9:21 amlast time i tried the bioxil whitening for 2 weeks, since 2 weeks of stock worth rm600 so i had some really high expectations. on whitening and brightening side, i saw the results. however, there is a stubborn patch of pigment on the side of my face just refused to disappear regardless of the stuff i use! gosh.
p/s: the mask looks really awesome, but considering that i pay 40+ for a piece of mask is really not very bank-friendly
ParisB says
April 9, 2009 at 9:32 amHeya prettybeautiful
I suppose I did not have that high expectactions due to previous experiences. I know nothing can get rid of the stubborn pigmentation but it did even out my skin tone and made it look clearer so I was pretty happy. As for the masks, they are truly truly awesome to me! But then I usually use higher end sheet masks so I guess I am not too fussed about the price 🙂
Nikki says
April 9, 2009 at 11:03 amCan I say even with mask on, I can see you have wonderful skin PB? That is not fair! LOL I am just teasing you! But thanks for the review! 🙂
ParisB says
April 9, 2009 at 11:27 amHey Nikki
*giggles* I have wonderful skin ESPECIALLY with the mask on LOL… have a great non-working day
Jenn says
April 9, 2009 at 11:20 amGosh, they raised the price for the spot corrector AGAIN? >..<
Jenn says
April 9, 2009 at 11:23 amHmm… what happened to the rest of my comment? :S It disappeared after the first line!
Anyways, i LOVE the spot corrector!! I’m on my 3rd tube now and i can’t live without it!
Your raving review for the mask makes me wanna try it! I wish it wasn’t so expensive though!! 😀
ps: who would’ve known that whitening products really sell here in India! I’m surprised at the number of whitening ads on TV… they even have some for MEN! :S
ParisB says
April 9, 2009 at 11:29 amHiya Jenn
Wow what is it that you love about the spot corrector? Does it work for you? I do like it as a serum under my moisturizer but I’m going to use it up and see how it looks after a couple more months. And seriously? Whitening is big in India? Who’d have thought!
Shay says
April 9, 2009 at 12:01 pmSeriously, I have know an indian and a sri lanken in Singapore who do not wish to go for outdoor walks so that they do not get the sun and become dark. !?!?
ParisB says
April 10, 2009 at 9:53 amHi Shay
Well I won’t be able to guess what’s in their mind but I guess they have their reasons 🙂
Jenn says
April 9, 2009 at 5:23 pmIt does work for me when all else (even hydroquinone) failed 😀 I’m sticking to this for good (unless it no longer works for me lah) 😀
ParisB says
April 10, 2009 at 9:59 amHi Jenn
I’m going to take your word for it and continue using it until I’m done THEN I’ll report again 😀
Synaesthesia says
April 9, 2009 at 12:52 pmmany whitening or brightening products that I’d tried don’t really deliver what they claim. Thus I don’t really buying any whitening or brightening products nowadays unless i’ve been provided a sample and I feel good from the product.
ParisB says
April 10, 2009 at 9:54 amHi Synaesthesia
I’ve had pretty good experiences with most brightening products as I find they do make my skintone look more even. No “whitening” but “evening” 🙂
Tine says
April 10, 2009 at 3:52 pmI’m afraid I do not have any whitening products as I don’t believe they actually do “lighten” the skin. It’s just me 😛
ParisB says
April 10, 2009 at 4:50 pmHey Tine
Yeah whitening is a very personal sort of thing but asians lap it all up! 🙂 Afraid I’m guilty of it too hehe
tiggercheeze says
April 15, 2009 at 1:39 am1st time commenting!
anyway, i think u can give a try on this brand of mask “Silk Whitia”. currently i’m using the pearl finest powder whitening mask.
it’s sold at SASA. bought in SG, but i suppose Malaysia should have it. cost S$20.90 IIRC for pack of 4, but usually i’ll wait for 1-4-1 or S$2/pc promotion.
i don’t know what is ‘opaque cellulose material’, but Silk Whitia sounds kinda of the same material, and comes sandwiched in similiar ‘styrofoam-y’ material. but it fits my face very well, and doesnt slide of easily.
plenty of serum in 1 pkt. too much in fact! haha~
can see immediate effect. i just started, so no comment on the long term effect thou … but good enough for frequent maintainence. =)
ParisB says
April 15, 2009 at 11:47 amHi tiggercheeze
I’ve used that before – did not quite like it for some reason. Perhaps I could take another look. Thanks.
Juan says
August 24, 2009 at 8:48 pmi was browsing around for product reviews and found this useful site of yours.
as for the whitening spot corrector, i used this a couple of years back when i was so into whitening. i have to say that it worked like a charm! it was really good that i only needed to use 2 tubes for my old pimple scars to lighten almost to an invisible effect, until now. i guess for it to work really well, the secret is to use the entire whitening range from lancome. i stopped using them because i always exhaust their cleanser and toner too quickly and they’re not cheap. but i definitely recommend them to anyone as i didn’t have any negative reactions to lancome compared to others like clarins, estee lauder or shiseido.
lotus says
November 21, 2009 at 8:51 amI am a SKII user for 7 years now. My first brand was Estee Lauder. I find that after using these two brands for a period of time, my skin is like stagnant, there is no difference and no improvement. My skin looks dull and lifeless.
I met an old friend at the airport when I was on my trip abroad and she happened to give me a sample of Lancome blanc expert ultimate whitening hydrating cream and I used it, for a week. Friends I meet, like the glow in my skin. When I met my own beautician, she also remarked there was an extreme improvement in my skin texture and improved so much.
I am now more confused as to whether I should move on to Lancome or stay put with SKII. I still have various SKII products in stock (approx. RM2k). Please advise, you beauty experts out there. Thanks.
michelle says
May 4, 2010 at 10:04 amcan we use that product under the eyes
ParisB says
May 4, 2010 at 10:09 amWhich product?
seema walia says
June 7, 2010 at 9:58 amI have melasma, dark pigmentation on cheeks and forehead and they are spreading dramatically.I have this problem from the last 14 years its deep in my skin,i have tried a lot of stuff and nothing has shown any results so i would like to know what could be the best product for me.