Does Bioderma Pigmentbio C-Focus have an identification disaster? It claims to be a “excessive safety Vitamin C remedy for intense pigmentation correction”, however to me, it’s extra of an exfoliant with Vitamin C advantages. Am I simply being choosy? It’s true Vitamin C has skin-lightening properties – and so do exfoliants. However, have they got the extreme pigmentation correction energy Bioderma is speaking about? Darkish spots are stubbornly exhausting to fade away in spite of everything… Just one solution to discover. I’ve put it to the check to see how nicely it could possibly fade away all sorts of hyperpigmentation:

Key Elements In Bioderma Pigmentbio C-Focus: What Makes It Work?

GLYCOLIC ACID TO EXFOLIATE SKIN

Glycolic acid is the smallest member of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) household. Dimension issues right here. As a result of it’s so small, Glycolic Acid penetrates pores and skin extra simply. Translation: it really works higher and sooner than different AHAs (like lactic and mandelic acids).

However what does Glycolic Acid do? It’s an exfoliant. It dissolves the glue that holds pores and skin cells collectively, to allow them to slough off and reveal the smoother and brighter pores and skin beneath.This trick makes pores and skin softer to the contact, smooths out the look of wrinkles, AND reduces darkish spots and hyperpigmentation. By eradicating the uppermost, darkest-toned layer of pores and skin, you uncovered the extra even-toned ones beneath, so darkish spots look much less darkish.

Bioderma Pigmentbio C-Concentrate comprises round 8% Glycolic Acid. It’s not as highly effective because the peels you will get on the derm’s workplace, however with common use, it’s going to fade away your discolourations. Yet another factor: Glycolic Acid hydrates pores and skin, too. It really works by attracting moisture from the air into your pores and skin and binding it there. This makes it an exquisite alternative for dry pores and skin.

Associated: The Full Information To Glycolic Acid: What It Is, What It Does, And Aspect Results

Need assistance creating an anti-aging routine that actually works? Signal as much as the publication beneath to obtain the “Anti-Getting older Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it consists of product suggestions, too!).

SKIN-LIGHTENERS TO REDUCE DARK SPOTS AND HYPERPIGMENTATION

Bioderma Pigmentbio C-Focus is filled with actives that brighten pores and skin and scale back darkish spots:

• Ascorbyl Glucoside: A Vitamin C by-product that brightens pores and skin and reduces darkish discolourations. It’s not as efficient as L-Ascorbic Acid at treating darkish spots (and particularly at this low focus), but it surely’s mild sufficient for delicate pores and skin, too.
• Niacinamide: A type of Vitamin B3 that hydrates pores and skin, fights wrinkles, soothes irritations, reduces sallowness, and sure fades away darkish spots, too. It really works even at small concentrations (between 2 and 5%).
• Azelaic Acid: Naturally produced by the nice micro organism in your pores and skin, it helps deal with each pimples, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. However you want a minimum of a 15% focus for it to work.
• Licorice root extract: This pure extract comprises glabridin, a substance that inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme that’s mandatory to provide melanin. Cease the surplus manufacturing of melanin and darkish spots slowly fade away.

The catch? All these skin-lighteners are current in tiny quantity. With common use, you’ll see a distinction. However this serum can’t compete with a 15% Azelaic Acid serum or 2% Alpha Arbutin. If in case you have cussed or outdated darkish spots that gained’t fade, these are nonetheless your greatest choices.

Associated: Battle Of The Pores and skin-Lighteners: What Is The Greatest Different To Hydroquinone?

The Relaxation Of The Formulation & Elements

• Aqua/Water/Eau: The bottom of the product, and the principle solvent. It helps to dissolve different components within the system.
• Propanediol: It helps energetic components penetrate your pores and skin deeper, to allow them to work higher and sooner. Plus, it has moisturising properties.
• Glycerin: A humectant that attracts moisture from the air into your pores and skin, leaving it softer, suppler, and extra dewy.
• Dipropylene Glycol: It enhances the feel of skincare merchandise.
• Propylheptyl Caprylate: It’s primarily used as an emollient to make pores and skin softer and suppler. It additionally helps to stabilise emulsions, in order that they don’t separate of their oily and watery elements.
• Sodium Hydroxide: It helps alter the pH of skincare merchandise.
• Salicylic Acid: An exfoliant that dissolves the glue that holds pores and skin cells collectively, to allow them to slough off and brighten pores and skin. Plus, it will get inside your pores, unclogging them from inside.
• Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer: A movie-former that additionally thickens formulation.
• Sorbitan Sesquioleate: An emulsifier that permits water-based and oil-based components to mix collectively seamlessly, bettering the feel of the system.
• Pentylene Glycol: A humectant that attracts moisture from the air to the pores and skin to maintain it hydrated. It additionally helps energetic components to raised penetrate pores and skin.
• Tocopheryl Acetate: An antioxidant that fights free radicals earlier than they may give you wrinkles.
• Xanthan Gum: A thickener that improves the feel of skincare merchandise.
• Sodium Citrate: It helps to regulate the pH of skincare merchandise.
• Lysine: An amino acid that hydrates pores and skin and makes it softer and suppler.
• Mannitol: A kind of sugar that hydrates pores and skin and makes it softer and smoother.
• Xylitol: A pure sugar with moisturising properties. It hydrates pores and skin and makes it softer to the contact.
• Sodium Metabisulfite: A preservative that makes your skincare merchandise last more by killing micro organism that get in it.
• Andrographis Paniculata Leaf Extract: A pure extract that moisturises and nourishes pores and skin, serving to it to remain smooth and supple.
• Rhamnose: A pure sugar with humectant properties. It hydrates pores and skin and makes it suppler.
• Saccharide Isomerate: A posh combination of hydrating corn-derived sugars with hydrating properties. They draw moisture from the air into the pores and skin to maintain it hydrated.
• Tocopherol: One other type of Vitamin E. However, at this small focus, this antioxidant is healthier at serving to different components last more than combating wrinkles.
• Fructooligosaccharides: They’ve humectants and antioxidant properties that hydrate pores and skin and forestall wrinkles.
• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: It’s an emollient that makes pores and skin softer and smoother.
• Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract: A kind of algae with moisture binding properties. It hydrates pores and skin and retains it softer.
• Perfume: Essentially the most irritating ingredient in skincare, it makes the product odor good however could cause irritations.

Texture

The serum has a light-weight, gel-like texture that sinks in rapidly into your pores and skin with out leaving a greasy residue behind.

Perfume

I don’t like fragranced merchandise. Perfume is probably the most irritating ingredient in skincare. Positive, in case your pores and skin is resilient, you should utilize scented merchandise with none issues. However in case you have delicate pores and skin or allergic reactions, perfume may give you a rash… or worse. I hardly ever use fragranced merchandise for that reason – regardless that I’ve each resilient pores and skin. In the event you don’t have delicate pores and skin and you want your merchandise to odor good, it’s possible you’ll benefit from the scent. It’s clear and delicate, so it doesn’t keep round lengthy. I’d say it’s there extra to cowl up the disagreeable scent of a number of the components than to make the serum odor wonderful.

How To Use It

This serum has exfoliating properties, so use it as you’d every other exfoliant: each different evening, after cleaning (exfoliating too typically irritates pores and skin). Right here’s how:

1. The primary time you utilize it, press firmly with each thumbs on the pack’s cap to launch the Vitamin C powder into the bottle.
2. Screw on the dropper applicator and provides the powder shake for 10 seconds.
3. Apply 5 drops each night to face and neck.

I actually don’t get why the Vitamin C powder comes separate. It’s true L-Ascorbic Acid is very unstable and goes dangerous rapidly. Including it in proper earlier than you begin utilizing the product ensures freshness and retains it efficient for longer. However this serum doesn’t comprise L-Ascorbic Acid. It has Ascorbyl Glucoside, a by-product that’s far more steady. You don’t have so as to add it final minute for it to work its greatest. That is simply further work for the buyer. Me no likey.

Associated: How Can You Inform If Your Vitamin C Serum Has Stopped Working?

Packaging

The serum is available in a white bottle with gray accents that evokes the texture of luminosity. The dropper applicator is sensible, too. The one factor I don’t like is the dimensions. The bottle is small. You solely get 15ml.

Efficiency & Private Opinion

As I discussed above, Bioderma Pigmentbio C-Focus is extra of an exfoliant than a Vitamin C serum. Why? Simply take a look at the ingredient checklist. This child comprises 8% Glycolic Acid and solely 2% Vitamin C. Guess what’s actually gonna fade away your darkish spots?

Glycolic Acid can also be the explanation why you could use this at evening. I wish to layer Vitamin C underneath sunscreen to spice up solar safety, however exfoliating in the course of the day is a no-no. It could possibly make pores and skin extra vulnerable to solar harm.

Does it work? I can’t vouch for its capacity to fade away darkish spots as a result of I’ve none (fortunate, I do know). However I can inform you this: I’d completely use this to fade away darkish spots left behind by pimples. It’ll take some time to do away with them fully, but it surely will get the job achieved.

In the event you’re coping with melasma or different types of cussed hyperpigmentation, this alone isn’t sufficient. Exfoliation should be part of your routine (and this serum is an effective solution to get your repair). However, you additionally want one thing stonger like 20% Azelaic Acid, 2% Alpha Arbutin or prescription Hydroquinone.

Both approach, this serum is barely hydrating. Plus, it makes pores and skin softer, smoother, and a bit radiant. While you take away outdated lifeless cells, mild can mirror higher off your pores and skin, giving it a dewy glow.

Associated: How To Fade Away The Darkish Spots Left Behind By Pimples

What I Like About Bioderma Pigmentbio C-Focus

• Hydrating, makes pores and skin softer and plumper.
• Exfoliates pores and skin, which has a smoothing and brightening impact.
• Light-weight, fast-absorbing texture.
• Can fade away new darkish spots, particularly these brought on by pimples.
• Sensible packaging.

What I DON’T Like About Bioderma Pigmentbio C-Focus

• Has a lightweight perfume, which may irritate delicate pores and skin.
• Doesn’t have what it takes to scale back cussed darkish spots. It might lighten them a bit, but it surely’s not the extreme remedy Bioderma makes it out to be.

Who Ought to Use This?

• Dry, sun-damaged pores and skin (glycolic acid is a good exfoliant for this pores and skin sort)
• New darkish spots (particularly these left behind by pimples)

Does Bioderma Pigmentbio C-Focus Dwell Up To Its Claims?

Worth & Availability

£26.00 at Look Incredible and Sephora

The Verdict: Ought to You Purchase It?

In the event you’re in search of an exfoliant to brighten and smoothen pores and skin, this can be a good possibility to contemplate. Simply bear in mind, there’s solely so little it could possibly do to deal with darkish spots. Exfoliation does assist to lighten them up, but it surely must be used along with different lightening therapies for higher and sooner outcomes.

[penci_review]

Dupes & Options

• It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Glycolic Acid Serum ($35.00): A glycolic acid exfoliant with Ascorbyl Glucoside (Vitamin C). It’s extra hydrating than Bioderma, however gained’t do a lot for pores (neither will Bioderma). Out there at Cult Magnificence, IT Cosmetics, Sephora, SpaceNK, and Ulta.
• Murad Vitamin C Glycolic Brightening Serum ($88.00): That is costlier, but it surely has two types of Vitamin C, together with the pure kind (Ascorbic Acid). So it does a greater job at brightening pores and skin. Out there at Cult Magnificence, Look Incredible, Murad, Sephora, and Ulta.
• Pacifica Glow Child Vitamin C Booster Serum ($18.00): This glycolic acid exfoliant makes use of Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a type of Vitamin C that’s higher fitted to oily and acne-prone pores and skin. Out there at Pacifica and Ulta.

About Gio

Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that can assist you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – day-after-day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising jargon that can assist you determine what’s well worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally supply skincare consultations that can assist you create the very best skincare routine to your distinctive wants.