I don’t know if anyone notices, but March every year is all about whitening products. Every brand out there comes out with something new in their whitening or brightening range, and its all such a mind-boggling array of products it just throws you out of whack. So, I like to buck the trend, and NOT inundate with you with news of whitening products then. In fact, I like to buck the trend, period. I’m not a mag, thank you 😛
But part of the reason I have to buck the trend is because I only got my hands on some whitening products in March so there’s no way I could have told you about it then. One of the products I got my hands on was the Shiseido White Lucent Spot Targeting serum.
Its not new but its new to me 🙂 I’ve tried some products from the White Lucent line a few years ago, and I found them alright but nothing quite spectacular. What caught my attention was that this serum promises to lighten dark spots and brighten skin within 14 days. Ooh boy! Let’s put them to the test! 😀
Here’s a before and after shot of the same part of my face, which is my cheek area. I have freckles and pigmentation on my cheekbones and let’s be honest, nothing I’ve used in the many years I’ve been messing with skincare will ever get rid of them. The only thing I can hope for is some lightening of the worst afflicted areas.
I’ve kept the images intentionally untouched. I didn’t even brighten them so these are literally photos off my camera. Comparing the two, I would say that there is some very minimal lightening of the darkest spots and perhaps the skin in the after shot looks a little less blotchy overall, but in the main, any difference is quite minimal.
I was using this serum for about a month in total, and on its own, I’d say that there isn’t a drastic brightening or whitening, used on its own. However, if I pair it with a day and night moisturizer with whitening properties (both from different brands) the results were more significant.
This supports my theory that if you really want to lighten or brighten your skintone, you really have to have at least a serum and moisturizer in the whitening range of skincare to see the best results. However, if you aren’t overly fussed, but just want to keep the pigmentation under control as I do then perhaps a serum would be sufficient.
The serum itself is quite light and I use about 1.5 pumps for my whole face, concentrating on where the pigmentation is worst. I was out in the sun quite a bit while I was in Singapore one weekend, but I had this with me, and I do believe that this serum did help control the pigmentation from getting out of hand, as it usually does after a bout of prolonged sun exposure. It could have been worse, who knows!
Pros: Light serum, Absorbs quickly into the skin, No breakouts, A little lightening effect
Cons: Pricey, Results may vary from person to person
If you are planning to try this serum, make sure you pick up a complementing whitening moisture cream as well, to see the best results. The products I tried previously from the White Lucent lineup weren’t bad so that’s a good place as any to start 🙂 I always allow Asian brands a bit of edge over their Western counterparts when it comes to whitening skincare. They’ve been at it a lot longer, and that’s where the market really is so they have to make sure they work! 😉
Have you tried anything from the Shiseido White Lucent line? Or how about this serum? Keen to give it a go? You could see how it fared for gal-pal Xin over at PrettyBeautiful for an alternative point of view 🙂
Paris B
Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum retails at RM410/30ml at Shiseido counters.
plue says
April 4, 2011 at 4:04 pmmine is i see overally brightening effect, but my freckles… still there and not much of a change though… you using them day & night or only at night?
ParisB says
April 4, 2011 at 4:15 pmI used it day and night.
carina says
April 5, 2011 at 1:00 amVery good review, PB 😉
Currently im using shu uemura whitefficient intense whitening essence n pen 56 instant spot brightener..hoping that they will make me ‘happy’ by end of this month..
yeah…cleo n women’s weekly MARCH edition were all about brightening n lightening products… *lightning* XD
Wow..this serum damn pricey…cant afford it! 🙁
now,i am worried that i’ve been using too much brightening products to lighten my dark spots…sigh….only for my dark spots im using brightening products..the rest,im using normal products…make sure my skin is hydrated 24/7..
I read from an article…if skins too dry,eventually the dark spots will appear…where is my Hyaluronic Acid lotion uh?? apply n go to bed~~~ good night! hahaha!
ParisB says
April 5, 2011 at 10:45 amLol! If it works for you, it’ll be good! I have never used any whitening product that could “erase” my dark spots as they claim. And yes, I do realise that when my skin I’d dehydrated, the pigmentation is more prominent so keeping skin hydrated will help reduce the appearance too. And if you’ve been out in the sun, a whitening mask after that will help calm down the skin too 🙂
Fran says
April 5, 2011 at 1:50 amI love Shiseido, and it totally works. I don’t use it daily tho, i use it one per week, since my dark spots are gone, and my skin is finally in one tone. Yes it is very pricey but is worth it!
Currently im using the Shiseido powder SP50 and it also protects the skin from sun. One of the best products i have ever try. <3
ParisB says
April 5, 2011 at 10:46 amGlad to know it works for you! 🙂 I haven’t tried the powder but I’ll take your word for it! 😉
jen says
April 5, 2011 at 2:10 amThis is great! I have little packs of this serum as samples my mom gave me. I do see a big difference from right under your eye. It lightened the spots so much!
ParisB says
April 5, 2011 at 10:47 amThanks there was some lightening but its been stagnant thereafter. Did you try the samples? What did you think? 🙂
juan says
April 5, 2011 at 10:16 ami used shiseido white lucent before but the moisturisers were too oily for my oily skin. i love their scent and texture, nevertheless but had to stop before i could finish the entire bottle.
what really worked on my brown spots was lancome. want to try them again but cannot tahan at how much i have to spend on the entire range… the cleanser and toner only lasts about 1 1/2 – 2 months only and they’re super mahal.
ParisB says
April 5, 2011 at 11:07 amYes, the Lancome line is good for spots but I’d just do the essence and cream or toner. I don’t think the cleanser works 😛
AbbyC. says
April 5, 2011 at 11:55 pmNew reader here! 😀
I’ve tried this. In fact I have a friend that is working in shiseido so she put me on this 14 days challenge. I use the whole range. From cleanser > Softener > Serum > Moisturizer then occasionally mask. OMG. It breaks me out like crazy! (maybe because I have oily skin) I think the moisturizer is root of the problem for my breakouts. For the serum, it did not lighten my spots but eventually it even outs my skin a lil. Not that bad afterall. Would continue if its not too oily but oh well I can’t stand the breakouts. I guess this is not for oily skin. other than that its alright?
I have some mask and samples left btw. Letmme know if you want some. I’ll give it away. 🙂
Kate says
April 6, 2011 at 1:08 amRead your post with much interest as I don’t seem to have much luck with this serum too, despite hearing of so many comments about it being some sort of “miracle” product. The lightening effects seems minimal on me, if any. That said, I have tried one product that really helped with lightening, and it even “erased” one of my acne scar, that being the Murad essential-C renewal complex. Didn’t continue with it as I think it sensitized my skin after a while, probably the ingredients were too strong. Doesn’t help that the price tag is not very affordable.
Kat says
April 7, 2011 at 11:52 amthanks for the review! I am interested to try this product too to lighten my acne scars. another product i’m interested in is kanebo blanchir whitening conclusion since im already using the whole blanchir line and suit my skin well.
and yeah i read before that it will be more effective to use the whole skincare line when focusing on whitening, rather than mix and match.
ParisB says
April 10, 2011 at 2:32 pmI used to use the Kanebo Blanchir Whitening Conclusion. Used up a whole bottle but results are about the same as this one. Nothing very drastic 🙂
Coraline says
July 3, 2011 at 10:40 pmjust wonder if you have tried the Shiseido Revital Whitening Serum AA EX? can’t wait to read reviews from you 🙂
ParisB says
July 4, 2011 at 9:46 amSorry Coraline I haven’t tried that one – is that the new one?
Coraline says
July 4, 2011 at 8:59 pmwell, it’s not really new, I saw it at Changi Airport at the end of last year (November). I don’t know if it’s available in Malaysia. It’s from the Revital range of Shiseido. I’m thinking if I should get one for my mom when transiting at Changi soon
ParisB says
July 5, 2011 at 1:05 pmOh then I guess I’m just not familiar with the Revital range 🙂 I think I saw something about a launch of the line here (it sounds familiar) but I haven’t paid much attention sorry!
Felicia says
November 7, 2011 at 2:58 pmHi, i just read your review about Shiseido white lucent intensive spot serum.. are u using the whole product of white lucent line? im sk-ii user, now im still using cellumination series, but the cellumination essence is so-so, it smoothes my skin but i didn’t see anything on brightening effect, so im looking for another serum, is it ok if i tandemed sk-ii with shiseido serum? thank u for your review
ParisB says
November 7, 2011 at 10:33 pmI’m not using the Shiseido White Lucent line. I think it’s possible to use the products together but I have found that usually for whitening, products in the same range/brand work better.
Raquel says
April 9, 2012 at 7:08 pmWould you say this is better than the even better serum from clinique? Cause I saw a post from January about it and I’m using it and the rest of the line and seeing results but slowly… Wanted to know if this one was worth the value! 🙂 thanks x
Raquel says
April 9, 2012 at 9:33 pmI just realised this one was 2011 but also saw but still curious to find out about the comparison between the even better serum and the new white lucent, if you could please help 🙂 x