
1 of 1 advertised claim delivered
“Brighten areas of resistant hyperpigmentation with PharmaClinix Lightenex Gold 30ml, now available at Face the Future Advanced Skin Clinic and Online Shop.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinal.
In addition, this product contains acetyl glucosamine, alpha-arbutin, lactic acid, niacinamide, salicylic acid. This ingredient (ingredients) might help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the effect, if any, is likely to be small.
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: arbutin, ferulic acid, glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.
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.
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": hyaluronic acid, lactic acid.
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
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinal, acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: ferulic acid, lactic acid.
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.
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: lactic acid, salicylic acid.
This product contains antioxidants (ferulic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - arbutin also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide, retinal, salicylic acid. These ingredients is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
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Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin
More about Alpha-arbutinBeta-arbutin. Can help to reduce hyperpigmentation and has an anti-oxidant effect when used in high enough concentration. Is less effective compared to alpha-arbutin
More about ArbutinA derivative of vitamin C that is more stable, but less bioavailable than the pure form of vitamin C. It does not penetrate the skin well, but has been shown to convert to pure vitamin C once in skin. It can be helpful in stimulating collagen production and lightening the skin tone, but the required concentration is likely to be very high
More about Magnesium ascorbyl phosphateAn exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
More about Lactic acidHelps oil and water mix together. Might help suppress growth of acne-triggering bacteria in skin
More about Octadecenedioic acidUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
More about Salicylic acidOne step removed from the biologically active in skin form of vitamin A. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinal is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. Concentrations of 0.05% and 0.1% are shown to be effective. It can, however, be irritating
More about RetinalA plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
More about Glycyrrhiza glabra root extractIs 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
More about NiacinamideAn 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
More about Acetyl glucosamineOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation
More about Hyaluronic acidA potent anti-oxidant that has been shown to be effective in neutralizing free radicals in skin. There seem to have a synergetic effect of ferulic acid, vitamin E and C, meaning that when the ingredients are used together, they enhance each other's ability protect the skin against free radicals. Ferulic acid also helps to stabilize other ingredients - including vitamins C and E. It can help to even out the skin tone. Ferulic acid is approved for use as a sunscreen ingredient in Japan in concentrations up to 10%
More about Ferulic acidPure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolAlpha-arbutin, Arbutin, Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Lactic acid, Octadecenedioic acid, Salicylic acid, Retinal, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Niacinamide, Acetyl glucosamine, Hyaluronic acid, Ferulic acid, Tocopherol, Bioflavonoids
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| PharmaClinixLightenex Gold CreamYOUR PRODUCT | HELPAnti Dark Spot Serum | Urban Skin RxHydraFirm + Brightening Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 58% | 51% |
| Price | $93.56 | $7.26−$86.30 | $23.00−$70.56 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 10 | 4 of 10 |
| Key difference | — | Azelaic Acid | Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 |
| Irritancy | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop |
Judging from the ingredient list, "PharmaClinix - Lightenex Gold Cream" works well for improving skin hydration
There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
The product retails from 56.85£ up to 74.99£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 25 studies and safety reviews.
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