I wish I could tell you I hated this and it did nothing for me. Truth is, I cannot because it did work for me and I like it. I was so convinced it wouldn’t work that I took shots of my skin pigmentation and freckles before I started using this essence hoping to debunk it.
The Clinique Derma White Clinical Brightening Essence is an essence or serum that is meant to give you smoother, more even toned skin and to reduce the signs of past damage. I’d been using this serum all over my face (except for a part on my left cheek) for over 2 months and truth be told, I’d forgotten that I was supposed to review this.
When my Mum saw me recently, I was at my worst. I was all hot and bothered from cleaning my house and bedraggled and sweaty. Yet she said that my skin was looking radiant and brighter. Mum has a strange habit of complimenting me when I’m looking at my worst 😛
So that was when I took my “after” shot and lining up the before and after shots side by side, I must say there is a noticeable difference in the patch of pigmentation on my cheek and in the color of my skin. Photos were taken in similar lighting using the same camera.
The picture on the left shows you my skin before I started using the Clinique Derma White essence. Its not terribly uneven in skintone but my pigmentation/freckles are darker.
On the right, is the picture taken most recently which shows an overall lightening of pigmentation and generally more even skin tone. Where I have indicated with the yellow arrows are spots where I see the most improvement but on an overall basis, I do see a general brightening of the skin, which is great for me. This comparison is made after about 2 months.
Do not expect miracles! You can never get rid of pigmentation only lighten its appearance.
The directions call for you to use it twice a day – morning and night – but I only use it once at night because I don’t like using brightening or whitening essences in the day. I also always use a high SPF sunblock in the day and I will advise anyone using whitening products to do the same. This is in particular as this product contains Acetyl Glucosamine and Salicylic Acid which exfoliates the skin.
During this time, I used the Clinique Derma White essence over the Dior One Essential serum on alternate days. Perhaps the Dior One Essential serum helped speed up the process – its meant to prep your skin to absorb other skincare better.
The serum is light in texture and feels smooth on the skin with no scent. I follow up with moisturizer (any brand/type but without whitening properties) and I did not experience any problems with this essence.
So yes. I wish I could tell you this was a bummer. But it wasn’t for me 🙂 Its expensive at RM240260/30ml but it works and that’s all that matters! Once I finish this bottle (its been 2 months and still going) I will stop it for a while. I usually use whitening serums for “treatment” but if I were to recommend a skin brightening serum, this would likely be it for 2010 🙂
Pros: Helped brighten my skin tone, Reduce the appearance of pigmentation, works!
Cons: Expensive for some
This has been out a while and I believe Clinique was giving out samples or holding introductory workshops at some stage. Did you manage to snag a sample to try? Are you using it and did it work for you too?
Paris B
The Clinique Derma White Clinical Brightening Essence retails at RM260/30ml at all Clinique counters. This product is also known as Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector in the USA – same technology different name.
I love Clinique!! For me, everything from the line works for me, yay! Congrats that it did the same for you too!!!
Funnily enough, the 3 Step doesn’t work and Total Turnaround doesn’t work but the rest seem to be find. Yes I’m very happy with this one
it actually works! i am also looking for some whitening products to get rid of the patch of pigmentation on my side of face, after reading connie’s review on the TBS roll, i might it it cause it is quite affordable and it seems to work too
Yes it does and I’m very very impressed coz everything’s looking brighter! LOL…
Good morning 😀 Thanks for the review and the “before” and “after” photos. No, I didn’t get samples of this when I visited Clinique yesterday. What I found out though is that I’m *just* beginning to get freckles (at my age!) and was asked to slap on SPF 40 sunblock.
Have you tried any Shiseido products for it? I have Chinese aunts who are huge fans of Shiseido and they have maintained their lovely fair skin…
Anyway, I’ll be looking out for your posts on pigmentation – bleagh. Thank God it’s Friday 😀
You are lucky to only just be getting freckles! I’ve had to live with it for as long as I can remember 😛 Sunblock is definitely the best prevention for new pigmentation to form and for existing ones to get darker. I haven’t tried Shiseido though I hear the White Lucent line is good for this.
*screams in pain* RM240!! Now I see why you didn’t want to like this… =(
Yup! I didn’t want to but I was forced to – don’t you hate it when something works and then costs a lot? LOL Lucky I use it mainly for “treatment” so I could do with a bottle a year 😉
gagging coughin rm240 for 30ml * ouchhh
i’m lookin for whitening & brightening potion recently to lighten & prevent the brown spots formation 🙁
i hav no freckles but brown spots are appearing so rampant on my nose area
i hate agingg & sun hahahaa Treatments are soo expensive!
me using immortelle loccitane very precious cream, fancl moisturizing toner&milk lotion..and dior skin repair serum
Actually its RM260 🙂 Its not that bad. Its going to last me at least 4-5 months coz I only use it in the evenings.
RM240 for 30ml. *faint* But I guess, these serums are all like that. Yes, what matters is it works! =) I don’t know why, but I just can’t seem to be attracted to Clinique. :PPP Maybe in years to come, I might.
Serums usually tend to be more expensive because of the treatment factor. Honestly I’m not that fussed coz I just came across one that’s costing a LOT more 😉
240 is cheap to be honest. shiseido costs twice as much. i will def try this. i have dark spots from pimple scars to get rid off. thanks for the review!
Sorry, I’m told its actually RM260/30ml still not that bad 🙂
gosh…any cheaper alternatives? i have brown spots caused by pimples.
I’m afraid I don’t know of any because I don’t use the drugstore serums 🙂
Thanks for the review! Have been thinking about it but I’m not sure if I need it as I don’t have any freckles. Am currently using Turnaround during the day and Estee Lauder’s Advance Night Repair at night, and they’re miracles for me because it speeds up my pimple scar recovery! : )
If you don’t have pigmentation or scars that need lightening, I don’t think this essence is really necessary. Glad to know the ANR works for you. I’m thinking of getting that one soon!
Hi Paris,
Thanks for the review. I remembered you used something once and your mother complimented you too, what was it?
Erm… I’ll have to look that up – I can’t remember now either 😛 Probably something expensive? 😛
hi Paris
I read your first paragraph and am trying to understand why did u buy this product when u don’t believe that it will work at first?
Sorry, just curious.
Sorry for the confusion 🙂 It was a press sample. I’ve updated with a disclaimer 🙂
You’re mom’s really sweet 🙂
looks like a winner! Will pass on the word to those who have problems with pigmentation
Hi Paris
How are you 🙂
I went off and purchased this serum because of your review and the sales assistant gave me a big sample of the face cream as well. I can’t wait to use them 🙂 it really does work on you so I’m hoping it would work on me too, I’ll review it once I’m ready too 🙂 I’m hoping to get rid of some stubborn big Sun spots 🙂
Hey there! Hope you are doing well and that this one works for you 😀 Do let us know yeah?
Hello~
I’ve bought this product in Singapore, but i couldn’t find it on clinique.com website (or maybe i wasn’t trying hard 😛 ) and instead i found this newest product which has the same form bottle and color, only this one said “Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector”
http://www.clinique.com/templates/products/spp/index.tmpl?ngextredir=1&CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY21368&PRODUCT_ID=PROD15706
So my question is, is this same product? or even better product? or.. ?
Greets~~ ^.^v
It is useful to note that some products bear different names in different parts of the world. Usually brightening or whitening is limited to Asia. It looks like the same product just a different name for the US market
Hi, I like your review. Btw, I read that u also have clarins white plus HP series review right? Actually which one do u think works better?
The Clinique by far. I wasn’t too impresed with the Clarins samples I tried.
i tried Clinique Derma White and i think it did smoother my face in a few weeks. My face looks brighter more or less in a few weeks.
iprospc
hello, thanks so much for the review.
Btw, I would like to ask if it works for acne scars. Since I have quite alot of it.
Hopefully it works well for me too.
It does help lighten old scars and marks. Doesn’t get rid of them totally, but lightens them somewhat. I hope it works for you too.
Hi ParisB, just out of curiosity, what do you use for your day serum?
Changes all the time. As at today (2011) its either Estee Lauder Hydrationist serum or Vichy Aqualia Serum
I’m using clinique step 123 anti blemish solution(green bottle) since 2009 for a pimples problem. And then by 2010 it’s totally clear me up. And yey it’s help me from breaks out again until now! Now I just continue using clique product but the mild one. Huh it’s really help me alot. anyone have any pimples problem should try this!
But now the pimples scare brings me into a night mare haha.. Will do anything for beauty and fairer skin … I went to clinique parkson store last night for buying my facial mild cleanser, and I’m interested with this Derma White. After about a couple of minutes and I decide to try it. I bought rm260/30ml . I get 1 free facial case bag, maybe after i shops for rm497..
What I hope is it’s help me to make my skin fairer and reduce the pimple black scar that I hate most !!!! So ya …. Wish me luck .. Borneo !! –
Hi, I have freckles since i was a kid, I’m the only one in my family who has it, my mom only got it when she’s over her 30’s..
I’m 23 and I just bought a complete set of this derma white series.. do you think I should keep using all the product or just continue to use the serum?
This is the first time I use serious skin care products, before this anything works for me.. until my freckles become more noticeable that I decided to do something bout it..
If you use a whole whitening range, usually it works better/more quickly. But otherwise, if you choose not to, I think the serum alone is fine.