Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
- Anti-aging
- Moisturizing
- Anti-blemish
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Exfoliation
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"NEOSTRATA - Illuminating Serum" is effective for: Evens skin tone, Moisturizing, Anti-aging and Anti-blemish
Ingredient callouts
- A good concentration of Niacinamide (1.60% - 2.40%). Niacinamide is a well-studied multi-tasking active. It is stable, and can work well in almost any hydrating formulation. There is solid evidence that Niacinamide can help support skin barrier, regulate oil production and reduce acne and clogged pores. It also helps to fight photodamage and improve the skin tone, reducing pigmentation marks.
- Humectants (acetyl glucosamine 3.30% - 4.90%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 87.89CA$ in Canada, for 85.00A$ in Australia and for 82.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Neo Strata's Illuminating Serum is designed to restore the natural glow of your complexion while reducing melasma, dark spots and other hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage and aging.
Source: Dermstore
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
Anti-blemish
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
Key Ingredients Neoglucosamine® a proprietary blend that increases natural cell turnover to exfoliate and fade existing skin discolorations Licorice Extract, Vitamin C and 7 Alpine Plant Extracts inhibit tyrosinase and melanin production to minimize hyperpigmentation Peptides improve cell's natural renewal functions Key Benefits Targets dark spots Combats uneven skin tone Brightens complexion
Source: Dermstore
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: glycyrrhiza glabra root extract.
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
Moisturizing
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": acetyl glucosamine, butylene glycol.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
A fruit extract that might have some antioxidant properties and might help attract water to the skin, but evidence of effectiveness is lacking
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
Can have some moisturizing properties due to its sugar content
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Neo Glucosamine A gentle exfoliator known to help fade the appearance of existing skin discolorations.
Source: Neostrata
This product might help exfoliate the skin with acetyl glucosamine, but This ingredient is not the most effective.
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-aging | |
| Evens skin tone | |
| Exfoliation |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 83/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 NEOSTRATA Illuminating Serum | Current | $-1.00 | |
Medik8 Clarity Peptides | 98% | $40.00 | |
 Daughters of Malay Post-Breakout Recovery Serum | 98% | - | |
Exuviance Professional Optilight Brightening Serum | 95% | $29.95 | |
 YEOUTH Niacinamide Serum | 93% | $15.00 | |
 Paula's choice 10% Niacinamide Booster | 93% | $37.40 |
Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Unknown, Glucosamine, Niacinamide, Unspecified form of vitamin c, Water, Acetyl glucosamine, Butylene glycol, Alcohol denat., Niacinamide, Polysorbate 80, Dimethicone peg-7 phosphate, Lavandula angustifolia flower/leaf/stem extract, 4-butylresorcinol, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Prunus armeniaca fruit extract, Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract, Jasminum officinale flower/leaf extract, Citrus aurantium dulcis peel extract, Elettaria cardamomum seed extract, Vanilla planifolia fruit extract, Plumeria rubra flower extract, Hedychium spicatum extract, Hibiscus abelmoschus seed extract, Gardenia taitensis flower extract, Pyrus malus fruit extract, Eugenia caryophyllus flower extract, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl glycol, Sodium bisulfite, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl alcohol, Ci 17200, Ci 19140
- Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatology
- Gehring, W. (2004). Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 3(2), 88–93. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x
- The effect of N-acetyl-glucosamine on stratum corneum desquamation and water content in human skin
- Glucosamine: an ingredient with skin and other benefits
- Genomic expression changes induced by topical N-acetyl glucosamine in skin equivalent cultures in vitro
- Incorporation of D-(^H)glucosamine into normal and psoriatic epidermal glycoconjugates
- Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine
- Double-blind, half-face study comparing topical vitamin C and vehicle for rejuvenation of photodamage
- Application of tetra-isopalmitoyl ascorbic acid in cosmetic formulations: Stability studies and in vivo efficacy
- Safety Assessment of Citrus Fruit-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics
- Photosensitivity in children: An approach to diagnosis and management
- Analysis of Dyes in Cosmetics: Challenges and Recent Developments